surfnsprint

Semper Fi
Race Day 5
May 13, 2006

9w keeping an eye on the competition

After about two weeks, after negotiating a plethora of danger including pneumonia, aneurisms and infections, Ben emerged from the coma. It was all small steps at first, reactions to pin pricks and warm voices. A constant stream of corrective surgery began. His wife, six months pregnant, slept in the corner of the intensive care (Tripler Naval Hospital in Honolulu) room and kept vigil along with his mother who had flown in from California.

VRA Senior Sprints started the action tonight with three heats. Alderman claimed heat one, Ron Bach claimed heat two. Heat three featured Jack Parker in Kevin Kierce’s car for his first ever sprint race (methinks?). Jack checked it out as Rick Hendrix rode a flat front left tire to first place with Tim Moon in pursuit.

The Senior Dwarfs fired it up and ran two heats. Constant Ed Niedzwiecki ran first in the first, points leader John Lynch grabbed heat two. Pro Dwarfs took the track for another two heats. Jeff Shelton took his first heat for the season while Chuck Lippert took the second heat for his first heat win. Chad Kincaid was also looking strong.

The pony stocks pitted seventeen cars for two heats. It was the battle of the front wheel drives as Mike Frazier defeated Joel Chavez as they got out front by a half track. Heat two had Jack Hoyt and Andrew Greiman both going to the pits after a few laps. Tom Fish raced hard with or without them to take the flag.

VRA Sprint Heat number one had Jimmy Crawford besting Billy Camarillo and Kevin Kierce. Errol Sack claimed the final transfer spot. They were all on the gas. Heat number two was interesting. Tom Hendricks set the pace with heavy hitters Troy Rutherford and Greg Taylor in the back. Heidi Tresler had the pole and wasn’t getting out of the way for anybody. Soon both Troy and Greg passed her but Taylor over-steered coming out of turn two and Heidi couldn’t avoid clipping him. He got in the popcorn maker and turned his rig over. Number 7 was on the hook. On the restart, Rutherford took the flag followed by Hendricks, solid Wes Richardson and Richard McCormick who barely sent Rob Kershaw to the “B” main. Third heat had Luis Espinoza quickly move to the front, followed by Jeremy Ellertson and Michael Trimble. Trimble passed Ellertson for second and Chris Wakim came from the back for the fourth spot. Final heat was about persistence, with last weeks main event winner Steve Conrad getting upside down, restart at the rear and still working back to second place. John Nock’s steering broke and he drove into the wall. John Wright (I don’t know him) took first, Conrad second, fast Mark Weitzman third and Hobie Conway in fourth by holding off Rusty Carlile.

By week three, the neurosurgeons were getting simple reactions from Ben, but there was no way to judge the extent of brain damage. It appeared he was going to survive. He did start exhibiting recognition, that is, moving his body when familiar voices would address him. There were plenty of familiar voices, with Marine and family friends streaming in from all points. His best friend, and fellow Marine, Shane got leave from Guantanamo Bay and vowed to stay until Ben was out of danger. Semper Fi (always faithful).

Mini Dwarfs Main Event’s B and A ran in the infield. These six year olds got at it with the enthusiasm of newbies. Although it was hard to follow the leaders, I do know that Chase Lippert took the B Main while Austin Figueroa continued his winning ways and took first place in the A Main. Tanner Kershaw was leading most of the race but had a mechanical breakdown near the end. Matt Orozco has been also putting up a good fight.

Austin and Angel Figueroa

VRA Junior Midgets ran a Main Event with Chris Olson taking the checkered flag. These are real Jimmy Neutrons in appearance, light and rocket-like for the 11 to 16 year olds. Christian Copley and Ramon Rivas also ran hard.

VRA Sprint Semi Main featured Greg Taylor starting in the back driving in Errol Sack's car. Two big stories here: the first is how Rob Kershaw tore up the track leading from the start. Put this guy out front and stand back. Second story is Heidi Tresler holding off Greg Taylor for a good part of the race. Taylor the Terrible was breathing right down her neck and it didn’t seem to bother her a bit. She may be “girl racer” but she’s no “sweet” sixteen. Fast, very fast. It was Kershaw in first, Ron Wade in second (don’t know him), Dennis Rodriquez up front for third, Taylor taking fourth and Heidi Tresler transferring in fifth. These are all great racers.

VRA Senior Dwarf Main Event was a burner with John Lynch taking on all comers. Ed Niedzwiecki gave it hell, but Lynch drove a perfect race taking advantage of traffic to stuff Niedzwiecki, Tom Bellinger and Glen Monk. I really am starting to appreciate the high speed maneuverability of these dwarf cars.

VRA Senior Sprint Main Event was an exciting contest with smooth Bob Alderman continuing his winning ways. I missed seeing the Miller brothers on the track, but Steve Stasa provided plenty of drama taking second place, although I did see the flag man give him stink eye once or twice. Steady Ron Bach took third with Rick Hendrix coming across fourth. I really like this Rick Hendrix, his driving shows skill and commitment.

The Pony Stocks got in a ten lap main event which again showed off the front wheel drives finishing top three. Mike Frazier beat back a determined Jack Hoyt the first half of the race and an equally determined Joel Chavez for the second half. Frazier in first, consistent Chavez in second, Hoyt for third and Jim Evans for fourth. That fourth place finish keeps Jim Evans as point leader of the ponies. Everybody else better shop for a front wheel!

Andrew Greiman, sitting second in points

Now Ben kicked his recovery into gear. The toughness and leadership skills he learned as a Marine seemed to manifest in fighting these injuries. On almost a daily basis, he started reacting in the most elementary terms and astounding the doctors. Most importantly, he started communicating with his wife, responding to her commands and directions. He began to relay his confusion, "why am I here?" They explained to him “you had an accident, you hurt your head but you are okay now”.

The VRA Sprint Main Event turned on under a full moon. The race started with a crash in turn three that took out Kershaw, Tresler and Wakim. Michael Trimble, who drives down from San Jose to race in Ventura, took the lead with Tom Hendricks and Jimmy Crawford behind him. But again a crash brought things to a halt. Jeremy Ellertson and Greg Taylor mixed in turn two. Taylor’s team scrambled and he was able to restart. Now the race finally kicks in and Trimble again sets the pace. He is chased by Crawford and Hendrix, with Luis Espinoza going high and gaining, Troy Rutherford also high, also gaining. Suddenly Taylor crashes again and this one goes on the hook. Restart, now Wes Richardson is out at turn two. In the distance, I can hear a werewolf howl.

Now we get racing again and it’s all about Trimble. He had some distance before the yellows, now they are all bunched up again. It’s Trimble, a persistent Espinoza on the move, Crawford, Rutherford also gaining! Dr. Weitzman departs. Tight racing between the top four! Steve Conrad and John Wright mix in turn two and we are yellow. The yellows are killing Trimble and helping the other three. Trimble again holds the front by going low, Espinoza again threatens by going high! Crawford in third by going low, Rutherford again pushing him by going high! Suddenly Conrad crashes again and this time he’s done. They wheel the sprint carcass off the field as vampires flutter above. Out of a twenty car field, only eleven are left. They begin setting up a triage in the infield.

On the restart, Crawford wobbles badly and drops a spot to Kevin Kierce. Five laps to go and Michael Trimble is struggling to keep it together. Luis Espinoza, switching at will from high to low is gaining. Rutherford is right behind him banging the walls and threatening every moment. Finally on the white flag Espinoza has passed him cleanly on the straightaway. Going into the turn two, Trimble and Espinoza lock up together and Trimble gets turned around. Espinoza is slowed almost to a stop but is able to extract and get back on the gas! Too late. Troy Rutherford opens the Cracker Jack box he was given and pulls out the surprise prize! Espinoza in second, hard charging Tom Hendricks in third and Kevin “never give up” Kierce in fourth. Richard McCormick had the most passes with eight, finishing in seventh.

Don’t worry about it, Troy, luck favors the prepared!

So let me finish my story about Ben and his miraculous recovery. He is now in week seven, communicating in short sentences, recognizing people and on the gas with his physical therapy. The first time he stood up, the physical therapist congratulated him and advised they would try walking the next day. “How about today” the hard charging Ben whispers. But my favorite anecdote is when he is finally able to give his wife a hug. “You don’t know how much I needed that”, she says. He thinks for a second and softly replies “stop by anytime”….

posted: 9:35 AM