The Women of NEMA
Part 2: ”For Sale” – “A Message” – ”Passion”
You’ve heard the ole cliché, “behind every good man, there’s a great women”. Similarly, “behind every good Auto Racing club, there’s a great group of women.” As the Northeastern Midget Assoc. enters it’s 61st year, it does so on the shoulders of a number of dedicated hard working women. In 1953, NEMA’s inaugural year, women had no shot of even getting into the pits; nowadays, they’re calling the shots.
I recently had the opportunity to sit down for a candid conversation with a number of NEMA’s dedicated females whose duties range from officials to sales person to one who loves to drive very fast.
Cyndy finally said yes to the question, “you want to go to the races”? The question came from NEMA president Mike Scrivani back in 2008. Shortly after, the two were wed and Cyndy became part of a family with a long racing history. But, Cyndy Scrivani confesses that initially she really had no interest in racing, but that was then. Today, she is now fully entrenched in the club and her duties as merchandise salesperson, responsible for the purchasing and marketing of hundreds of caps, tees, decals, key chains, etc. Ever since 2010, the job has put this “blond with the never ending smile” one-on-one with the fans as the merchandise trailer is parked directly in the speedway’s paddock area so she can easily wheel and deal with the fans. Her duties prior to NEMA sales, “provided all with plentiful food and drink”, a task she still performs at the close of each race weekend. Over in the RV park, where the campfire is as tall as the stories being told, there is Cyndy, still providing that food and drink for all that attend. Similarly, at the annual NEMA picnic, Cyndy plays a major roll in the organization and set up of tents, serving tables, grills, coolers, menu,…..and when the evening closes down in the very early hours, there she is helping with the clean up. And even though she loves to escape occasionally to the Rhode Island beaches, the family atmosphere keeps her tied to NEMA. So in 2011, to show their appreciation for her dedication, the club presented Cyndy with the Marilyn Angelillo award; a very deserving honor.
“I climbed up in the trailer and sat down. A message came, a clear message. I knew what it was and who it came from. So I got up, walked out of that trailer and went to work”. To stand back at any NEMA event and watch Tara Stoehr perform her work is amazing. She’ll start the evening at the Stoehr family hauler where daughters Bethany and Kathryn work side by side with mom in preparation of the two racers for Bethany and husband Greg. Then it’s off to the drivers meeting where, as the only female Chaplain in the Racing for Jesus Ministries, she’ll lead the group in prayer asking for safety for all in attendance and to remember a friend who may be down on his luck. Tara’s racing life began in 1982, dating then go-cart racer turned stock car driver Greg, at Seekonk. She boasts that she has only missed one of Greg’s races in all these years and is very proud of him as a driver and family man. “Greg has impeccable patients when teaching the girls about racing”. When asked of any interests outside of racing, Tara explains of her family’s love for outdoor activities such as hiking and the beach. Tara’s response when asked about her best moment in racing, “there’s a few, she says, like the time at Volusia County Speedway in Florida. Greg wins the feature in a old jalopy after an other car owner says he can’t believe we drove all that way to drive such a sub-par racer. As I proudly walked to victory lane, and without saying a word, I made sure I made eye contact with that car owner.“ Another moment came when Bethany set fast time at Waterford in her ex-Mike Jarret midget; but the most memorable is when NEMA honored her with the “Woman Behind the Man” award in 2011. Truly, Tara is a hard worker as she continues to carry along that “message”
She posts on face book, “My dad sold my NEMA Lite car, so I’m free to drive your Lite, modified, super modified, SK, or late model.“ That’s how Bethany Stoehr defines her “Passion” for racing, by wanting to drive anything. It all began in 2001 when dad Greg found the perfect go cart in a strange place, a flea market. That cart solidified the forth generation of Stoehr’s to participate in auto racing starting with great grandfather Bill, than grandfather Paul and father Greg. While driving that cart, Bethany, along with sister Kathryn, would crew Greg’s midget at NEMA events. They didn’t just help the crew, they WERE the crew, performing it all; tires, fuel, gears, shocks, driving the push quad and learning all that dad had to teach. And when they were big enough to see over the steering wheel, they steered the car to the pits after a race. When asked what draws her interest in NEMA, this eighteen year old is quick to explain, “the great people and my friends” which she truly misses in the off season. And Bethany’s off seasons are usually empty, but she fills her time as a convenient store clerk and singing with her sister….”singing is fun, but I’m not very good at it”. And that’s fine with us, as long a she sticks with what she is good at, following that “Passion“.
We would be remiss without mentioning two NEMA angels that have left us, Miss “Ellie” Seymour and Marilyn Angelillo. Without ever having the opportunity to meet these ladies, one only has to inquire to any veteran NEMA member of the work and contributions to NEMA they made, and the stories will be free flowing and plentiful. From secretary to announcer to hauler driver the longevity, love and support they gave to this racing club is unmatched. So, with the memories of the past fresh in our minds, the Northeastern Midget Association looks ahead to a strong future with help and support from “The Women of NEMA”.
Sources: Bill Van Slyke/NEMARacing.com