At the occasion of the 2011 Long Beach Grand Prix, I was able to get together with one of my all-time racing heroes, a most unique person in the racing world and a prince of a man, Anthony Joseph Foyt.
I brought with me the rare hard-cover 1961 Indy Year Book published by the late Floyd Clymer and had A.J. sign it for me in several places, and he also autographed two of my favorite tinplate toys, the large and medium-size Watson friction powered toys issued by the Japanese Yonezawa company in 1962. The larger one is a true rarity, especially in the condition in which I found this example years ago, absolutely pristine in its original box also in excellent condition.

Yonezawa also made this toy in a medium size (seen here at right) in friction and electric powered versions. The electric car was part of a set of two Indy roadsters racing around a mock-up oval track with conical pylons tracing its contour.
 

The larger toy seen here over the May 2011 issue of Road & Track, that has a great article on A.J.'s career and life after racing.

A.J. signed the larger toy on its bottom, so that it joins the large Yonezawa "Agajanian Special" signed for me at the Indianapolis Memorabilia Show by Troy Ruttman in 1992.

A.J. also signed the medium sized toy, that I recently found at a swap meet in California.

Despite his very tight schedule and shortly after his driver, Vitor Meira, qualified in 18th spot for the Grand Prix, A.J. was kind enough to receive me in his motor home and spend quite some time talking about the old days. I was quite honored to be treated with utmost courtesy by one of the greatest or the best there ever was and still is.The great man himself belied his unfair reputation of somewhat of a Texan roughneck by being as courteous and kind as one can be. Here we pose together for a little souvenir picture in the Foyt Racing motorhome.

 Thanks A.J.!