Pictured at the family Christmas luncheon, clockwise, are Jonathan Whelan, Jonathan’s maternal grandparents Dale and Carol Stumpf, his aunt Sandy Harvaugh and adopted grandparents Barbara and Charlsie from Reflections. (submitted photo)

Dwight Barbeau lives out his days in Reflections at Garden Place Senior Living in Columbia, reminiscing about when he would zip around the Belle-Clair Speedway with the nickname “Cyclone.”

“They called me ‘Cyclone’ because I would come around the track so quickly,” the 90-year-old Barbeau said recently. “I thought, hey, that’s not a bad nickname.”

Barbeau raced for 50 years in the St. Louis area as No. 81. Twice, he qualified in the stock division at Daytona International Speedway when it first opened in 1959, but said he didn’t complete a race.

“I only lasted 10 laps and then the motor let go,” he said of one of the times he qualified.

When Columbia High School special education teacher Gina Gunn’s student Taylor Ratajczyk first learned of Barbeau’s racing history, they established an instant connection. The two met because of Gunn’s implementation of an Adopt a Grandparent program at the beginning of the school year.

Pictured, Dwight Barbeau and Taylor Ratajczyk hit it off during their first meeting, thanks to a shared enthusiasm for race car driving. (submitted photo)

“I raced against (Taylor’s) grandpa, who is now deceased,” Barbeau said.

The Republic-Times went over to Gunn’s classroom recently to speak with her and the kids about the program, and Gunn introduced the newspaper to Taylor almost immediately.

“Tell him about ‘Cyclone,’” Gunn encouraged Taylor. “What did he do?”

“He’s good at racing,” Taylor replied.

Later, Barbeau briefly told the Republic-Times that he has enjoyed his experience with Taylor thus far, saying, “We’ve had a great time when they come over.”

According to Gunn, the students visit with their adopted grandparents once every other week for about 40 minutes — the length of a class period — while alternating between Reflections and the high school as meeting places. The program includes her six students and six adopted grandparents.

While teaching previously at Waterloo High School, Gunn developed the idea for adopting grandparents from when she used to take her kids to a nursing home to visit residents with no family or people visiting them.

“It gave those residents something to look forward to,” she said. “It’s an opportunity for bonding.”

Gunn explained that the program teaches her students about being part of a community, building independence, establishing employment connections and gaining life skills.

“It is mutually rewarding, too. Look at the smiles on their faces,” she said while showing photos of the students with their grandparents.

“It’s doing something for someone else,” she added. “They’re loving and kind individuals. They have a lot to give.”

After her explanation of the program, Gunn continued her earlier conversation with Taylor.

“What did Dwight give you?” Gunn asked Taylor.

“A coloring book,” Taylor answered.

“Yeah, he gave you a coloring book about ‘Cyclone,’” Gunn elaborated.

In December, the students hosted the grandparents for a holiday dinner, during which they cooked mashed potatoes and baked chicken. They also made a couple of desserts.

“The kids picked the menu for the holiday dinner, and they chose the hard stuff, too,” Gunn boasted.

As the program evolves, Gunn said she hopes to include excursions such as going out to restaurants or going bowling with the grandparents.

“When (the students) walk (into Reflections), they are greeted with smiles and hugs,” Gunn said. “Everybody wants to be wanted somewhere.”