Lona Smith

Dynamite Mike McGee Lona Smith

An iconic racing figure in the 1970's, Dynamite Mike McGee was beloved by many. Few of those seeing him standing in the winner's circle knew of the challenges he had overcome. No one could know of the challenges he would face in his future. Born with dwarfism and a myriad of birth defects, Mike was not expected to live out his first week. He was never expected to live past his twenties. Despite all odds, Mike went on to live life to the fullest. He built and raced cars. He married and fathered a child. At age forty-one, Mike had achieved as much as any man. After years of danger and accidents on the race-track, a simple mishap resulted in brain damage that changed his life forever. Divorced, custody of his child lost, confined to a wheelchair, his speech diminished, his hearing and balance impaired, and ultra-sensitive to light, Mike's life had gone from the winner's circle to again facing incredible odds against him. This is the story of how Mike McGee, now a well-known artist, faced daunting challenges to build a life for himself, not just once, but twice.