There are many people that have great ring collections. I don’t think mine is any better than most, but I happen to own some very special rings.
I’ve earned rings throughout my life and I’ve only lost one, my High School ring, and I will get that one replaced one day.
Below are some pictures with stories about my rings. I hope you enjoy it.
First up is my college ring. I graduated from McNeese State University in 1988. McNeese is in Lake Charles, LA. I grew up nearby.
It took me 4 and a half years to graduate because I bounced around between schools. I started out at McNeese, then transferred to the University of Louisiana. From there, I took some classes at Houston Community College so I could continue working at the waterpark I was working at year round. After all of that, I transferred back to McNeese and graduated.
After graduation from McNeese, I went to the University of Houston for Post – Baccalaureate work.
I enjoyed college and had some very fun times. I remember drinking lots of coffee and staying up all night to finish a project or cram for a test.
I made lots of friends in college and I often wonder what they’re up to. Maybe one day I’ll track them down and surprise them.
When I wear my college ring, I wear it with pride because I know how hard it is for some to afford college, or even make the grades to get into one. Hell, I got into four, lol.
I like my college ring because it reminds me of my friends from school, the good times and the hard work I put in to earn it.
This ring will always be very special to me.
I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, in 1988.
My next ring I earned while working at a waterpark called WaterWorld in Houston, TX.
I was on a lifeguard team that won 10 straight State Championships. We were awesome.
This is another ring that reminds me of good times and old friends. When we had our moment in the sun, we were the best and we reveled in it.
Not many can say that they were a champion lifeguard when they were in their youth.
I got my nickname, Spider, at the waterpark and we were called S.T.O.R.M. (Strong Team of Rescue Men).
After lifeguarding for over a decade, I went to work in motorsports.
It was my job to travel all over the U.S. and attend these big auto races and do marketing for really big companies.
I got to work hand in hand with the race teams and I got to know and like them all quite a lot.
I was with Sam Hornish, Jr.’s team, Panther Racing & Pennzoil, when he won his two IndyCar Championships. That’s how I received this next ring.
Working in the IndyCar series, I attended the Indy 500 every year and that was a blast.
I came close to being eligible for a team ring for the Indy 500.
Sam never won the Indy 500 while I was working with him, but after he changed teams he won The Great American Race, the Indy 500.
I like my IndyCar Championship ring. It reminds me of all the fun I had at the Indy 500 each year.
I have lots of photos and videos to remember those days, but my ring is most special to me.
I enjoyed my time with Panther Racing and the IndyCar League.
While working in motorsports, I also worked in NASCAR as well as IndyCar. I also worked in the NHRA too.
When I was working in NASCAR, I got to work with Jeff Gordon’s team doing Marketing work and entertaining their VIP guests.
I would take the VIP’s down into the Pit Area and Garage before the races and teach them all about NASCAR and racing.
What I taught them in about 30 to 45 minutes improved the quality of their race viewing that day because they understood better what was going on.
I traveled to many tracks across America to earn this ring and I’m probably most proud of it.
Jeff Gordon is a four time champion and I worked with his team for all four championships.
They say that there’s about 75 million NASCAR fans. I bet some would give their right arm to have had the chance to earn a ring like I did.
I’m one of the few people living that has earned a ring in the IndyCar Series and also NASCAR. Pretty rare, I have to say.
My Jeff Gordon Championship ring might be my favorite.
Here’s another ring from my NASCAR days. It’s from one of the bigger races in the season.
It’s from the Brickyard 400, which is run on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway track.
So I got a ring from Indy after all, lol.
My Brickyard ring is pretty cool and I like it a lot.
I started out my career in Motorsports working in the NHRA (Natl. Hot Rod Assoc.). I’m happy to have a ring to remind me of all the good times and good friends I made in those days.
My first job in Motorsports was that of a Banner Boy. I loved it and would do it again.
In 1987, I got certified as a SCUBA Diver.
I went on several dives and loved diving.
I went down in the Bahamas, in the Florida Keys and some places in Texas.
I had this ring made for me specially because the Dive Organization doesn’t sell them.
One day, I’ll get them to use my design and sell it to other divers. I know other divers would love a dive ring once they got certified.
This first ring was just a test and it came out pretty good, although I don’t wear silver. 113 was my radio number at the waterpark. And PADI stands for Professional Assoc. of Diving Instructors.
Well, I contacted PADI and Jostens Rings to come up with this Dive Ring. I’m still working on getting it to all divers.
Jostens gave me the first ring off the production line for free.
This ring is much nicer. I was certified in 1987.
When I went to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, I came across this booth selling rings from the Rally, so I definitely got one to commemorate my experience there.
My Sturgis ring reminds me of some good times I had there.
Quite impressive when lined up side by side, if I do say so myself, lol. These rings represent lots of long, hot days on your feet all day. Also, lots of great friends and fond memories. And don’t forget all of the laughs I had along the way.
I have some other rings in my collection, but these are my favorites.
I hope you’ve enjoyed looking at my rings and reading about them.
That completes this NASCAR 101 Course. Give yourself 3 Credits towards Graduation. Congratulations on your Quest for a Degree from The Universite de Arachnida.
To see other course requirements for your degree, see next link.
Motorsports Degree Requirements
Any questions and/or comments may be directed to the following:
Dr. Spider Michaels, Phd.
Spider@SpiderMichaels.com