Columnist John Katsilometes: Singer's car a mangled reminder

John Katsilometes' column appears Tuesdays and Sundays. Reach him at 259-2327 or [email protected].

Some guy bought George Jones' wrecked car and wants to put it on display at a casino on the Strip.

Wait. There's more.

In this case, "some guy" is Dr. Raymond Turek of Nashville, Tenn. The George Jones is the George Jones, the legendary country warbler. The car is Jones' 1999 Lexus sports utility vehicle that Jones mangled beyond repair in a single-car accident near Nashville on March 6.

Jones, who has a history of battling drug and alcohol addiction, pleaded guilty to driving while impaired and violating the state's open-container law. The accident nearly cost Jones his life, but he's made an inspired recovery and is working again.

But the Lexus, alas, is not. Turek, a general practitioner, bought the smashed SUV from an auto salvage lot and hopes to bring it out to Las Vegas for public display.

The cynical argument is, this seems a bit twisted. Why not transport the plane that killed Buddy Holly, J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson and Ritchie Valens out, too? The Hard Rock Hotel might love to have that. Or the crunched Porsche James Dean was killed in? Or the surfboard Beach Boy Dennis Wilson was navigating just before he drowned in the Pacific?

Turek, however, is not one to tastelessly exploit tragedy (or near-tragedy) for monetary gain. The day after he bought the rig, he was offered $2,000 more than he paid. Days later a guy offered $64,000 for a vehicle that sells for $66,000 -- new -- and Turek turned down both offers.

So what's this guy's motive? Charity, he says.

"My dream would be to have a Las Vegas casino lease the car to draw some tourists into (its) hotel and lease it from me," Turek said during a phone interview last week, emphasizing the volume of Las Vegas tourist traffic. "I'd like to give it some high-profile visualization and educate people about the dangers of drunk driving."

Turek says he'd use the money to assist the needy. He owns a nonprofit clinic, the Turek Life Center, designed to help disadvantaged patients in the Nasvhille area.

"I've been trying to raise money for glasses and hearing aids people can't get with fixed incomes," he said. "I can think of 30 people who need hearing aids and 60 who need glasses. There's a great need and this is an investment toward that."

Turek assures that any money he raises will go toward that cause. His life center is registered with the Tennessee secretary of state as a nonprofit organization and he's a well-trusted, well-liked local figure.

"I've already enlisted local celebrities who know and trust me," Turek said.

Just last week popular Nashville disc jockey Curtis P. Mayfield and local police officials were on hand as the Lexus was hoisted high above busy Interstate 65 in Nashville to serve as a haunting public service announcement against drunk driving.

Jones, while not actively taking part in Turek's efforts, has given a nod of approval for the Lexus campaign through spokesperson and Asylum Records President Evelyn Shriver.

"If the car can help do some good, then George is fine with it," Shriver said.

No local casino official has yet contacted Turek, but it's worth a shot. It's for a good cause, and if any city can morph questionable taste into charitable entertainment, this is it.

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