Stephanie May was buying her husband a card for their 46th wedding anniversary when she received a phone call telling her he had died while motor racing.
Len May, 68, from Devonport in Auckland, was driving his treasured 1961 Formula Junior Cooper in a vintage car event at Hampton Downs, Waikato, last week when he struck a wall.
Witnesses said he made no attempt to slow down or turn. A medical event is believed responsible.
"When I got the call from police telling me Len was gone, I was in a shop looking at a funny card for him to celebrate our anniversary," Stephanie May said.
"Len loved his cars but I still can't take in what has happened. He died about half an hour after the crash from injuries sustained in the accident. We don't know as yet what preceded the crash but I would like to believe he was not conscious when he left the track."