Friday, Feb. 27, 1998 | 4:35 a.m.
By the dozens they somberly filed past Chris Trickle.
Some shed tears. Some couldn't to bear look.
But those who turned out were not there to mourn. They were there to celebrate. For Trickle was not lying in a casket. He was sitting upright in his wheelchair.
Trickle made his first public appearance since being shot between the eyes just off Interstate 15 at the Blue Diamond exit on Feb. 9, 1997. The once-promising race car driver was wheeled by his family to a fund-raiser in his honor Thursday night at the Santa Fe hotel-casino as an emotional gathering looked on.
"I think for the first time since he's raced, I've had so much excitement for Chris," said his father, Chuck Trickle. "I want him to see this excitement. We want him to experience these feelings. Every little feeling helps."
Approximately 450 people turned out for the event that raised $20,297 through donations, T-shirt sales and a memorabilia raffle.
The 25-year-old, who has suffered extensive brain damage and cannot speak or care for himself, immediately began to cry when he entered the room. Several joined in.
"It's heartbreaking seeing him tonight," said Mary Knight, a teacher at Ann Lynch Elementary School. "My emotions are going full speed. I'm very happy he's out and about, but it's hard."
Trickle continues to slip in and out of his coma. He fell asleep several times Thursday as fans tried to wish him well.
According to Trickle's neurosurgeon, Lt. Gov. Lonnie Hammargren, the former racer has undergone "at least five" major surgeries since the shooting. The scars are evident.
Trickle's body temperature consistently hovers around 95 degrees, giving him an ashen complexion.
"The little things that you and I take for granted -- breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, I could go on -- we have to check every day," Chuck Trickle said.
"His eyes are open, but he doesn't see anything. He hears and he can make sounds to let us know he's uncomfortable. But he has feelings. He knows what's going on."
Chris Trickle cried again when he heard the name of his famous racing uncle, Dick Trickle, announced. Fellow NASCAR driver Hut Stricklin also was on hand to sign autographs. Even Trickle autographs were available courtesy of a hand stamp.
No one has been arrested in the shooting and Metro Police have no leads.
"What I do is I don't put my mind on such negativity," Chuck Trickle said. "The police department will catch him. I put all of my positive feelings into Chris.
"But whoever this person is who did this, he must be living in hell. His life must be miserable. Nobody in his right mind would do this and be able to live with it."
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