May 29, 1999
                      
                             TUNNELS OF RACING

Have you ever been in the tunnel in Mobile, Alabama?   As a child, it
felt like that tunnel lasted for miles under the river.  Sometimes in
racing, we go thru tunnels.  Some are short, others long but we long
to see the sun again.  It may take awhile but eventually the sun does
come back and the warm light of day touches the face.

Any amount of time in racing when you feel like you are in that
tunnel is hard.  We all work hard to race and when week after
week something happens to your car, sometimes it feels like
it will never be okay.  You build a brand new engine, put more
money into it than you should have, and 17 laps later, it blows
up all over the track.  The tunnel is very dark now but if you want
to race, you must work you way back to the surface.

Then you are leading the race, your first win hopefully, and your
tire blows out.  Straight into turn 4 wall we go, no one can stop
you or help you.  It was not your fault or any one else's but once
again a tunnel appears and you go in it.

But tunnels won't last forever.  Just ask George Hall, III. one of our
Classic car drivers.  When he had a stroke at a very young age of
27, he had a long tunnel to fight thru and he did.  Because even though
he was not l00% himself, he got back into that Classic car and he
raced with all his friends and it did not make any difference to him where
he finished, he was that he could do it.  His tunnel was no longer dark
and his face felt the warm sunshine once again.   Even though we try to
feel what he must have felt, we really can't but the joy he had that night
showed and everyone could feel that.

Mike McLaughlin, a Hooter's Pro Cup driver, was in a firey accident last
year at Homestead.  He had to work his way back into racing and almost
one year to the day, he won his first race from that firey accident.  LeRoy
Porter never got to race again from his firey accident but you can find LeRoy
at the tracks still, crew chiefing for a friend, and still loving racing but
promoting safety for sure.

We all have tunnels in life.  We all have tunnels in racing.  Even though
at times it feels like we will never get out of that darkness, we will. 
Tunnels teach us to appreciate the sun just alittle more. 

                                                           -Jane Smith
                                ****************************************************
May 26, 1999
                                             Heart of Hearts

Ok, we all have heart of hearts.  It is there that our intermost feelings
are hidden.  It is there that we know right from wrong and what we
really want in life.  So, your heart of hearts is telling you that you want
to race at your local track.  You don't have alot of money but you have
the desire that is needed to race.

If you are a wise person, you realize with little money to start your
racing career, you need to start towards the bottom or at the bottom
and work your way up.  Most local tracks run a novice class and this
is where you really need to be until you get the hang of racing.  It may
look easy but you do have lessons to learn.  To jump into racing say in
the Sportsman class can be very hazardous to your health and the health
of the other drivers.  You may have built your car to specs but that does
not mean it will run with the BIG BOYS and when that happens, watch
out for the wrecks.

So, we are wise now and we go for the novice class.  First, you must chose
your charriot.  Do you want a short, sleek car or a long gunboat?  Have you
purchased your rule book to build the car by?  Better do that right away.
Rule book in hand, we start to work.  You go by the rules to the letter and
you don't skip on the safety factors.  Buy a new harness, put in good solid
roll bars, buy a new fire extinguisher and make sure you have easy access
to it.  Get yourself a good firesuit, a good helmet, racing gloves, and shoes
if needed.  Be safe in following your heart of hearts. 

Once you have finished your car and you have everything you need for
you to be safe, go practice.  Learn how the car handles - does it push,
is it loose in the corners, does it handle good for you?  Start out slow
and really feel the car out and then start building up speed.  Talk to drivers
in the division you are entering and listen to their advice.  And if you run
slow for awhile when you first start racing, don't run so slow that you
cause an accident.  Stay down and let the others pass you but if you
are a hazard and you will know it, get off the track and go practice some
more and get your car up to speed.

The first time you get on that track, you will know whether you love racing
or not.  Every now and then someone thinks that is what they want but
find out, it really isn't.  That is why we have racers and we have fans
because
not everyone wants to be on that track.

If racing is what you want, be smart and do it wisely.  Don't go into a class
you cannot afford because even local racing is expensive.  Don't go out
thinking that you have one bad car and that is all you need, because it isn't.
Do it right and realize you are a novice and all good things come from
learning.
                                                                -Jane Smith
                           ***********************************************
May 8, 1999
          IT IS GRADUATION TIME - LET'S CELEBRATE

This is dedicated to all those racers out there who will be graduating
from high school this month and spreading their wings and flying. 
You already have racing in your blood and you have no intention of
giving up that smell of the track or the feeling of friendship you have
with your fellow racers but new doors will open for you.  It may be
scary at first but just because you are grown-up now, you will always
have your family and your racing family behind you all the way.

It is not just the tracks where my family races but all our tracks that
have watched some of these young people grow from little kids to the
young men and women they are now.  And I am sure that you are just
as proud of these young people as we are of our's. 

Because good kids don't always get the credit they deserve, maybe
the racing community can change that.  If you have a graduating high
school student at your track that you would like to say CONGRATULATIONS
and "We Are Proud of You" please do so here.  Send them a message
and let these kids know they have done good.  And if you don't mind, I
will gladly start our messages:

Chad Pierce, driver of the old #57 Bomber and present #57 Sportsman,
you have made your racing family and parents very, very proud.  We have
watched you grow from a wrecking machine to a very fine driver.  All the
best to you Chad and spread those wings and fly.

Kimber Schneider, powder puff driver and old runabout division, you never
gave up your dream to race and with the help of many good friends, you
finally got your first trophy.  We have not seen the last of you yet in
racing and you have made us proud with your determination.  Never give up your dreams and never think that just because you are a girl, you can't get somewhere in racing.  Fly as high as you can.
NOW IT IS YOUR TURN - PLEASE LET THESE KIDS KNOW JUST HOW
PROUD YOU ARE OF THEM.  SEND THEM A MESSAGE AND MAKE THEIR DAY.
                                 *******************************
May 5, 1999
                                   ONE STEP AT A TIME


Safety is a key issue right now at our local tracks.  Due to the
Ocala accident, drivers, fans, and track owners have had to look
at the tracks they love so dearly and see if they are truly safe for
fans and drivers.  Some have changed, others have not but I would
like to give credit to one track owner who is trying.

Robert Hart owns both Orlando SpeedWorld and New Smyrna
Speedway.  These tracks belonged to his late father, Clyde Hart,
who truly loved racing.  If you ever go to New Smyrna Speedway,
right below the flag stand, you will see an old green pick-up truck
that belonged to Clyde.  This was placed there when Clyde died so
he could sit in spirit and watch the races he loved so much. 

After the accident at Ocala and Ted Novinger getting burned so badly,
drivers and owners had to reevaluate their tracks.  Did they have
qualified EMT'S, an equipped ambulance, fire safety equipment? 
Some owners really listened to their drivers and their concerns about
safety.

At New Smyrna Speedway, it was brought up at the drivers meeting
that our fire safety man did not have a firesuit.  If he had to get one
of the drivers out of a burning car, without a firesuit, he would be burned
also was David Roger's point.  Robert Hart heard this and last Friday night
at Orlando SpeedWorld, Bruce made his debut in the first FASCAR
firesuit.

Robert heard the drivers and he saw the importance of having safety
at our tracks for not only the drivers but fans and employees alike.
Robert has made himself available to all drivers listening to any
ideas, complaints and that is taking a step in the right direction.

Some still believe that safety rests on the driver and car safety does
but owners must be responsible for the safety at their tracks not
only for the guy behind that stock car wheel but his pit crew, fans,
and his employees. 

Robert Hart, in my book, deserves credit for listening to his drivers.
I watch him every week become more and more involved with his
drivers and listening to them and for this, I would like to publicly say
"Thanks Robert."

                                                                      -Jane Smith