In 1966 Ma Bale brought that hat back from Australia and gave it to Bale #3, Lawren Bale a.k.a., Larry, who was studying in Hawaii at the time. But the hat looked better on Mac and he started wearing it. So Lawren gave the hat, and the ceramic teeth hatband to Mac, who proceeded to make it into "THE HAT." After Mac was killed in the crash at Bakersfield, Dwight "HEY" Bale never went to a race without that hat, and it became sort of a legend.

I've heard that THE HAT is still around. Someone has saved it, with the ceramic teeth hatband, all these years. I used to hope that maybe, since I let go of it so long ago, THE HAT would eventually return to me; by now I know that won't happen.