No one has ever seen a race quit like it, and no one ever will. It was just another Saturday night at the races. Like most new season kickoffs, it was billed as the 2000 WinterNational, but would become known as the 2000
Supernatural. What race fans witnessed will be debated for years, was it a promoters trick to get more attention, or the hand of fate reaching down from a fallen fellow competitor.
"WILD" Bill Revard was well known and like in the racing circles at Sunshine "ACTI()N" Speedway in St. Petersburg, Florida. He was so easy going thatfellow competitors were often frustrated at their attempts to ruffle his
feathers. He lived for three things, his son, his Mom, and entertaining race fans in the "Wild" world of figure 8 racing. Bill had passed through the
figure eight X literally thousands of times, having driven in figure 8 races for more than 10 years. He was a past Champion and back-to-back winner of the 1998 and 1999 Sunshine Speedway WinterNational 50 Lap Figure Eight races. The tragic loss of"Wild" Bill on November 13th will forever be etched in the minds of those attending that evening's event.
The tribute race planned for the 2000 WinterNational was modest by most standards. Only sixteen cars took to the track for what is sure to become the most prestigious race in local figure eight ranks. As "Wild" Bill watched
down from above, his long time friend and fellow competitor, Art Calkins won the Ist Annual "Wild" Bill Memorial, holding off a hard charging Jimmy
Thompson on the final lap. As Art stood in the winner's circle with tears in his eyes answering my traditional questions, I felt the chill of"Wild" Bill
standing there with us. The crowd of over 5000 and I would come to believe in more than just miracles before this night was over.
It was the final event of the night, the crowd pleasing School Bus Figure 8 Race. That's right full size school buses, racing through the daredevils crossing 40 times in a 20 lap main event. This race would be different, out
of the pack of eighteen buses on the grid, some new female heroes of bus racing would be born, the promoters miracle roll over would become legend, and a sandy haired heir to the speedway throne, would win the event.
It was lap 6 and Bonnie Henry was showing her stuff, swapping the lead 4 times with fellow bus driver "The Grasshopper", Ron Veller. As she entered turn one; Bonnie found herself up on two wheels just inches from rolling over to the right. As she crossed the X again and began the right hand turn into turn 4, her luck would run out and the bus would gracefully lie over on its side and slide into the turn 4 wall. This would set up a chain of events that
would lead to the miracle roll over. As all 13 or 14 buses entered the X behind Henry and Veller, they began to see the rolled over bus. Some braked hard others cut into the infield. Track promoter and driver of bus number 28, Frank Hill saw what was happening and cut hard right for the infield. Franks right turn, and hard on the brakes action, would start the #28 bus sliding sideways for an instant, then the wheels would catch and over he would go also. All the way to the roof, looking like a turtle on its back, for what seemed like forever but was only 3-5 seconds. The bus was still running and wheels were turning, there it teetered for that split second, then rolls back onto its right side. As it did all the weight of the wheels and driveline being in the bottom of the bus, gave the rollover enough momentum to turn back upright, onto it's wheels and Frank drove off as if nothing strange had happened. Now 5000 people are not a huge crowd, but at that instant, as the #28 bus upright's its self and drives away, they sounded more like 50,000.
The miracles were not over. After the Henry bus was upright and rolled to the infield, Bonnie was not about to be upstaged by Frank Hill. She got people together around the asphalt scared bus and began working to get it running
again. As the now stunned crowed recovered from the wrecks and rollovers, Bonnie Henry and her ride along passenger, strapped back into her running bus and to the screams of the admiring crowd, rejoined the race. Proving that it's not only men that have true grit. A few laps later, the #69 bus driven by Teresa Pelo rolled over in turn 4. The large lips painted on the side of the #69 bus looked like pressed lips on a mirror. They kissed the asphalt like Pope Paul visiting Kennedy International Airport for the first time.
Once righted, Pelo and her riding companion, Tammy" Mrs. Python" Neikens reentered the bus and were soon back on the speedway, in route to a top ten finish. Adding new meaning to "Girls Night Out" in racing circles.
The 2000 WinterNational event at Sunshine "ACTION" Speedway will always be remembered as the Ist Annual "Wild" Bill Revard Memorial. Although for the 5000 fans, drivers, and employees attending, it will be remember as the night
"Wild" Bill looked down from above, and insured we were entertained better than we had ever been. Thank You "Wild" Bill and we will see you again next year for the 2001 WinterNational experience.
"From Behind the MIC" by Bill Green
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