---
title: "83-Year-Old Man’s Birthday Wish to Ride in a Lamborghini Comes True"
description: "Turns out, you're never too old to have your best birthday ever."
date: "2017-08-03"
modified: "2017-08-04"
authors:
  - name: "Kyle Cheromcha"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kyle-cheromcha"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/13184/83-year-old-mans-birthday-wish-to-ride-in-a-lamborghini-comes-true"
categories:
  - "Lamborghini News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "Birthday"
  - "Gallardo"
  - "Lamborghini"
  - "Spyder"
  - "Supercar"
---

# 83-Year-Old Man’s Birthday Wish to Ride in a Lamborghini Comes True

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/08/20294077_1578271855577811_6140961110291158040_n.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

An elderly North Carolina man living in a retirement home was able to ring in his 83rd year in style last week, when a kindhearted staffer took it upon herself to make his birthday wish come true by arranging a thrilling ride-along in a Lamborghini Gallardo.

In a [report by the *Shelby Star,*](<https://www.shelbystar.com/news/20170728/fast-times-at-nursing-home>) Peak Resources activities director Jessica Hickson described how she created the birthday of a lifetime for her "best friend" Donald Hambright. For his 82nd birthday last year, Hambright only wanted one thing—a Lamborghini. A six-figure supercar isn't exactly a practical gift for a wheelchair-bound senior citizen, but Hickson searched high and low for the right scale model to give as a substitute.

This year, Hambright joked with her that he had put too many miles on the Lambo since then and needed a replacement, but that he'd also settle for just seeing one in the metal instead, [according to *WBTV News.*](<https://www.wbtv.com/story/36025781/83-year-old-man-gets-lamborghini-surprise-for-his-birthday>) That's when Hickson sprung into action—two days before his birthday, she put out [an urgent call on Facebook](<https://www.facebook.com/JayBlakesMommy/posts/10210177885668930?pnref=story>) looking for anyone she knew who might have access to one.

An exotic car dealer in nearby Charlotte caught wind of the story as word spread, and as Metrolina Auto Group manager Kit Sittiwong told the *Shelby Star,* "How could you say 'no' to a request like this?" In less than a day, Metrolina had arranged for a black 2011 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder to be delivered to the assisted living facility on the afternoon of Hambright's birthday. With that, the surprise was set.

On July 27, staffers and residents of the facility gathered in the driveway next to the supercar while Hambright was wheeled out wearing a blindfold. When it was finally removed, Hambright was understandably blown away. But that wasn't the end of the surprise—he then got to ride along on a spirited backroads jaunt, [admitting to *WBTV*](<https://www.wbtv.com/story/36025781/83-year-old-man-gets-lamborghini-surprise-for-his-birthday>) that the Peak Resources administrator was less than pleased with the top speed he and his chauffeur achieved.

"It was like being in an airplane. Such a roar. It took my breath away," Hambright [told the *Shelby Star.*](<https://www.shelbystar.com/news/20170728/fast-times-at-nursing-home>)

The day was such a success that Hickson and the rest of Peak Resources [have started a program](<https://www.facebook.com/JayBlakesMommy/posts/10210238747870447?pnref=story>) called Twilight Dreams, where they'll work to grant a special wish for every one of their permanent residents. If it leads to more pictures like this one, we'll, we're all for it:

![message-editor%2F1501800929597-19905460\_1578271858911144\_8158760518571320812\_n.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1501800929597-19905460_1578271858911144_8158760518571320812_n.jpg>)
**Facebook | Peak Resources**

We're not crying. You're crying. \[sniff\]

## Author
Overseeing an expert staff of writers and editors from his lair in Los Angeles, Kyle shapes The Drive’s singular approach to covering the automotive industry and car culture. He’s been with the site as a writer since 2017, taking over as editor in 2019. On a daily basis, Kyle is responsible for directing The Drive's editorial news and car review content strategies, setting special coverage priorities, managing complex reporting projects, and ensuring what you read on the page meets our high internal standards for quality and trustworthiness. He is also the executive producer of The Drive's YouTube channel, which was relaunched in February 2024 to great acclaim and has accumulated over 14M new views in its first year back on the scene. He hosts a biweekly series on the channel where he breaks down fascinating and complicated stories from the automotive world.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/kylecheromcha.bsky.social>)  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/kylecheromcha>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-cheromcha-1550248a/>)