Remembering Dad
As I reflected on the events of this past week and what it means to have someone care about us, my thoughts turned to my father. I wondered how many of us have a passion for something because our father put it there. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
I remember the first time I went to a racetrack, it was in the mid 60’s and my dad brought me to Stafford Motor Speedway. I was your typical seven year old, I didn’t sit still, wanted everything the concession stand had to offer and watching the racing was secondary. However, I was hooked, I wanted to come back.
To this day, I get that feeling in my stomach; excitement like it was the first time. I attend Stafford’s Friday night races many times every season but that feeling is still there. I hope I never lose it. Thanks dad.
The race that cemented my interest in the sport happened one summer night a few years later at Catamount Speedway in Vermont. Bobby Dragon and Canada’s Jean-Paul Cabana dueled for the entire feature. As they came out of turn four one car erupted in flames. As they rolled to a stop the other driver was halfway out of his car with a fire extinguisher in his hand to help the man he just fought tooth and nail with for the win. What a show of sportsmanship.
The part that really hooked me though was when the night was finished we went through the gate at the start/finish line and walked into the pits. I had a chance to see the drivers and their cars up close and personal. I was in awe, theses guys were larger than life and that night left an impression that has fueled my feeling about racing to this day.
I have my father to thank for that. My dad didn’t live too long, he passed when I was fifteen, but during the time we had together he taught me a tremendous amount about life and how to live it. I think every parent only wants that opportunity, the opportunity to pass on their passion to their children. We want to teach them what and how this life should be lived.
I wonder how your dad touched your life. I look at the names of the drivers and I see the Jr.’s after many names. Each one is there to honor the dad that blazed the trail and imparted on his son the passion to race. There is at least one cheering for them, dad.
As I said before my dad passed away when I was fifteen but that doesn’t stop him from being an influence in my life. Much of who I am and how I view things I learned from him. I know he didn’t always do things right but he was always my dad.
I am reminded of how many times Jesus referred to his father. Jesus wasn’t out there alone, his father was there for him. There would however come a time when Jesus would leave this earth and turn the ministry over to the men he trained, much like sons. As he talked with His disciples, His sons, about His upcoming death He provided them words of assurance and direction.
John 14:1-6, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus is preparing a place for us in His Father’s house, Heaven. He will come and claim what belongs to Him and we will be there with Him. We do not have to live separated from our heavenly Father. We know the way; Jesus Christ. Let Jesus instill a passion in your heart for living in a way that would please your heavenly Father. Jesus is that way, that truth, that life.
Remember the man who you call dad this week. Thank him for the passion he put in your heart for the things you love. Also remember your heavenly father and the place he has for you. Turn to him to get you through the days ahead. Trust Him with your very life. God Bless, Rev. Don
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
Stayed close to home this weekend, headed out Thursday night to Thompson with the hope that the weather would cooperate and we would get some racing in. The weather had other plans and 10 laps into the 50 lap Late Model extra distance feature the rain came. Having no hope of drying the track and finishing the racing they called it a night at 8:30.
I did have a chance to talk with a couple of the young guns that tested Monday at Bristol, Rowan Pennink and Woody Pitkat. Both confirmed what we had heard, FAST! Laps were being turned approximately 4 seconds quicker than at Stafford’s half mile. Just the thought of how quick that is boggles the mind. We thought Concord was fast, Bristol is even faster. The speed requires that the equipment is top notch. If there are cars out there that can’t maintain the speeds they will easily become very dangerous to have on the track. The closing speed and reaction time will be kicked up a notch. While you can’t flat foot it all around there is only a split second burp of the throttle in the center of the turn required to keep your car in the track.
Another challenge will be correcting your car when it gets out of shape. Some of those testing learned the hard way, against the wall. I was talking with Glenn Reen about his adventure. It ended up that the banking helped him into the inside wall as he tried to correct getting loose in the turn. The car was done and needed to be clipped. Rowan explained that only a very minor correction was needed. If you correct like you are used to you will be making acquaintances with the wall quickly.
I think the top teams will find a comfort zone that they can race at. It remains to be seen if there will any issues when you get 43 cars out there with lapped traffic. I can’t wait to see the show.
Friday I headed off to Stafford despite the rain. Some didn’t bother and missed another legendary Modified race. Keith Rocco and Ted Christopher put on a show as they swapped the lead back and forth sometimes with the lead changing three times a lap. Doug Coby and Jeff Malave had front row seats as they followed in third and forth. Both were sure something would happen and they would need to take evasive action. Keith and TC didn’t flinch and with ten laps left Keith took the lead for good. Let the record show this rivaled the Sunoco Modified Race that opened the season at Thompson.
So far this year we have seen some classic action, don’t let the forecast keep you home, get out to the track and watch your racing live and in person.
The #6 Sunoco Modified team at Thompson lost a family and crew member, Greg Cooter Hopkins, this week. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as the deal with their loss.
Be a witness for our Lord with the ministry decals and apparel. See them at the Online Apparel Store at www.RWJM.org. Call us with your prayer and counseling needs and list all your prayer needs, no matter what part of our racing family you are in, with the Racing Family Prayer Request Page www.rwjm.org/page/prayers.php also send your prayer request by mail. Until next time, remember that God loves you, we love you and
Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing. GOD BLESS.
Mail reaches us at Racing with Jesus Ministries, PO Box 586, Tolland, CT 06084. Check our weekly printed pages in “Area Auto Racing News”, the East Coast’s largest weekly racing paper” See our on-line Apparel Store for subscription information. Check our home page www.rwjm.org for past articles. We invite you to input your thoughts as you sign our Guest Book. Please remember, we can only do what we do because of your prayerful financial support.
Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
May God always Bless you, everyday in everyway. Rev. Don
CHECKERED CHEERS
***WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES***
June 17
DEBBIE AND CHRIS McMURRAY- from Catskill NY are celebrating their 4th wedding anniversary
June 19
CHRIS & LORI HALSTEAD- Point Pleasant, NJ ProStock driver at Wall Stadium and wife celebrate anniversary No. 10.
June 21
DENNIS & PAT PUNCH- This Hickory, NC Wolf Head’s Oil NNS Public Relations/ Team Manager pro and wife have their 25th anniversary. Dennis is also ESPN’s Dr. Jerry’s brother.
June 23
STEVE & ESTHER DEVINE- This Lebanon Valley Speedway Modified driver and wife from Danbury, CT complete 25 laps together.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
June 17
TOMMY BARRON- Ontario, NY driver of the dirt ProStock 28T at Fulton Speedway.
WAYNE SAVLUK- Lisbon, CT former Mod/ProStock driver; proprietor of Savluk’s Service.
PAUL SURPRENANT- Agawam, MA NASCAR Whelen Modified Series driver.
ELAINE LaLUMIERE- Jefferson, NH wife of former ACT driver Rene.
June 18
GIL HEARNE- Hueytown, AL born retired multi-time Wall Township Speedway Modified champion.
JOE MAMMOLITO- Long Island retired Modified Series driver.
GAYLE FERREE- From Saxonburg, PA is the wife of Ed; championhsip Big Block LM dirt driver.
JILL OKULA- Daughter of Wayne,Team manager for the #28 King Racing Modified and Charger Driver for #67 – Riverhead Raceway & Sharon.
June 19
SCOTT RIGGLEMAN- Howell Township, NJ ARTS Truck championship driver.
June 20
JERRY COOK- Six time NASCAR Modified champion from Rome, NY, now in the Safety Department of NASCAR in Charlotte, NC.
RON HORNADAY, JR.- Palmdale, CA NNS/CWTS driver.
DAVID HUTTO- Rock Hill, SC NASCAR driver.
JODY TANNER- Portland, OR NASCAR West driver.
BRIANNE LEHMAN- The daughter of Smithville, OH AARN columnist “Doc” Lehman.
DAVE SUKUP- A son of retired Midget owner, Joe Sukup, of Schodack Landing, NY.
TYLER HEARN- Son of famous dirt Mod driver Brett.
June 21
CHRIS JONES- New Milford, CT NASCAR Modified driver.
BOB SLOTTER- PA asphalt Modified driver.
PHIL PARSONS- Detroit, MI Former driver now TV commentator.
JUDY WIBBELSMAN- The wife of RWJM advisor Dick, down in Gainesville, FL.
June 22
JAY SAUTER- West Salem, WI born, Mooresville, NC NASCAR CWTS/NNS driver.
DAN JIVANELLI- Hampton Bays, LI Riverhead Raceway and Legends driver.
JEFF WARD- Glasgow, Scotland born, now San Juan Capistrano, CA IRL driver.
RED SEAVER- Stafford Springs, CT member of the Brad Hietala WAARS SK Modified team at Stafford.
PAT JONES- Enfield, CT Brad Hietala fan.
June 23
ROGER TREICHLER- Retired D.I.R.T. Hall of Famer.
MELISSA RESNER- Wife of Riverhead LM team owner Richie.
*** REMEMBRANCES ***
June 20
Rev. Pat Evans- This was the Founder of RWJM’s Birthday, please remember his wife Betty today.
*** NEW BEGINNINGS ***
BILL McKELVEY- Passed away on June 7 at the age of 69. Bill was a master welder, who worked with several top racing chassis builders such as Buckley, Shaw and Stallard. He also fielded winning Micro-Sprints at Delaware’s Airport Speedway; and contributed his talents to the restoration of the famed “Brief Encounters” dragster. Card of condolence may be sent to his wife Dorothy, to: P.O. Box 9692, Newark, DE 19714.
SHARE YOUR SPECIAL OCCASIONS WITH YOUR RACING FAMILY. SEND THEM TO RACING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES AT PO BOX 586, Tolland, CT, 06084.
Sources: Rev. Don Rivers/RWJM