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As many of you know, I
had the unfortunate opportunity to put the Regions 1,2,3 Safety Rescue Team
through it's paces last Sunday at Mays Landing, NJ. Officially headed by
Brian Small, the team is also composed of members from the Region 4 Safety
Rescue Team lead by Ken Smith. The two teams are actually intertwined.
Prior to my Pro Stock accident last Sunday, I recall being taken aback by
just a simple act performed by Region 4 Safety Rescue. At Cambridge, MD this
year, while sitting in the infield after blowing an engine on the first lap
of Sunday's JSS final, Ken Smith came over on the jet ski and threw us two
bottles of ice water. Wow, was I impressed. Necessary? Maybe not. But the
temp was well into the nineties that day and we do sit for some time fully suited
up while waiting for our heats five minute gun. Even in an open boat it gets
hot and you sweat a ton. Capsuled drivers suffer considerably more. This
simple action of delivering water to us while waiting under the hot sun for
the race to be completed and getting a tow boat over to us showed me just
how dedicated and thoughtful these people are when it comes to the comfort
and well being of us racers.
Last Sunday though, the situation was far more serious. In this instance, I
barrel rolled the Wendt Racing Pro Stock boat as I neared the exit of turn
two on the first lap. The boat went over fast and hard and pitched me into
the water chin first at over ninety miles per hour. The most serious (and
painful) part of my ordeal came immediately following the accident as I
floated in the water. Not surprisingly, rescue personnel were in the water
next to me in a matter of seconds. Although I ultimately came out of this
incident without serious injury, it was initially thought that I had
sustained serious neck and shoulder injuries making the handling of me a delicate
matter. Surprisingly though, the smoothest part of my journey to the
hospital was from the water to the ambulance that was waiting in the pits. I can now
tell you first hand that these people and the equipment they use are the
best. They're perfectly suited for the task they have chosen to undertake. I
just can't thank these guys (and gals) enough for their dedication and level
of expertise.
Expressing my accolades toward this exemplary team to the many people across
the country who called me this week to convey their concerns for me, I was
surprised to hear how impressed others were with what I was telling them
about the Regions 1,2,3 and the Region 4 Safety Rescue Teams. Unfortunately
though, I also heard of shortcomings of rescue teams in other parts of the
country, some in the inboard division as well as other boat racing divisions
and organizations. (I talked to an awful lot of people this past week and I
wasn't taking notes during any of the conversations, so please don't ask me
to remember exactly what teams or what divisions or organizations were mentioned.)
Those of us served by The Regions 1,2,3 and the Region 4 Safety Rescue Teams
are extremely fortunate to have such dedicated individuals at our disposal
and they deserve every bit of support and gratitude that we can muster.
These combined teams are beyond comparison, they are the standard that all
Safety Rescue Teams used in power boat racing should emulate.
To the Regions 1,2,3 and the Region 4 Safety Rescue Team members:
I know I've thanked most of you personally, but let me once again thank you
all on behalf of myself and my fellow racers for what you do. THANK YOU. You
are the best.
Sked
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