Re: Chris Wertman RIP
 

David,

I also lost a son eight years ago and nothing could be worse. It changed my life forever.
I wish I could tell you the pain will go away, but it will get better. The most important thing now is for you continue moving ahead in your life and to enjoy Chris through your grandchildren as much as you can. Easier said than done and I was in a funk for quite a while myself. I knew I had to get out of it and that is the main thing that brought me back to drag racing after a many year lay-off. It worked as I've made new friends with similar interests and have found that it's fun to be around people once again.

I see from your post that you've got profound insite that it took me quite a while to recover.
My prayers are with you and if you should need or want to talk please pm me.

Re: Chris Wertman RIP
 

When I first read this post I thought it was a cruel hoax but upon further investigation unfortunately it was true. I met Chris for a brief time last winter and to say at that first meeting that he was a "kinda of a kooky, colorful ,seemed like a scatterbrained " kinda guy would be an understatement. But he definately got your attention and he for sure knew what he was talking about engine/racing wise although he admitted most of his racing had been the 2 wheeled kind not 4 wheel.

He had ideas, ambitions, projects that most of us had never attempted nor would we ever try to attempt . Seems like he was trying to re-invent the wheel or at least make it better. Some of his ideas seemed way out in left field but upon closer observation they really were not that far fetched--Take for example his latest idea of making a turbo 4 cylinder engine competitive not only in Super Comp but also as a Competition Eliminator entry.

I think we all are going to sense a tremendous void regarding future posts on Classracer.com I know I am going to miss his posts. "It just ain't gonna be the same anymore".
To his father ,I too have felt your anguish we lost a baby at 6 months,and believe me "you will never get over it", it will always be in that special place in the back of your mind!

Do not feel ashamed or embarrased to admit it and always think how it was the great times you all had together, the funny as well as sad moments but at least you had those moments. To his Dad -WE all have come to love you and offer our hand out for any help you might need don't be afraid to ask. Racers all stick together and they are probably the best bunch of people you will ever meet. You know Chris loved you.
to his children it is a great loss that will never go away but it will get better just never go away completely---Remember your Dad for the kind of man he was. You know he lived you.
To Mandie, Enjoy the thoughts of the great and not so great times you had together and take comfort in knowing that the racing community shares in your loss too. Our thoughts and prayers be with you, RIP Chris alias Drooze,---Dick & Sue Ullrich Comp 387

Re: Chris Wertman RIP
 

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family. Truly shocking news.
God Speed!

Re: Chris Wertman RIP
 

I don't know what to say. I've typed many different things, but nothing seems to fit right. I, too, am speechless.

There are no words for this. Although I never met him - I feel like I lost a friend.

Godspeed Chris.

Brad

Re: Chris Wertman RIP
 

David, may God bless, and comfort you in this time of need. God and your faith will be your strength.

Re: Chris Wertman RIP
 

David, In an earlier post I never mentioned it but my wife and I also lost a son, at age 15 the good Lord thought he needed Brian ,and that is now 27 years ago, and I'm here to tell you ,one never forgets for a day about looseing a child ! Again our prayers to David, and family ! Also our Prayers for to you with your battle !

Re: Chris Wertman RIP
 

David,

After meeting you, Chris and Mandie at the Indy divisional, speaking to you and reading all of the posts, I am sure Chris KNEW there was a better way to fight a fire and he was trying it.

God Love him, he is yours now.

Steve

Re: Chris Wertman RIP
 

You know what Jimmy, I think you're absolutely right. If he possibly could, he WOULD try and maximize this marketing opportunity.

Kenny, I'm glad you thought he was dressed well. Right before Norwalk Nationals I had taken him shopping for some spiffier clothes. We were trying to find him a new lady friend. ;)

I really enjoy reading what everyone had posted on here. I know Chris' mom did too. I talked to her on the phone a few hours ago and she said she had read this thread and it was nice to see that even people who had never met him appreciated his hard work.

Since I started working for NHR in April, I have spent more time with him than anyone else and we became very good friends. We had a lot of conversation about a lot of things, and I certainly learned a lot from him. If there's one lesson I learned from him, as many of you have pointed out, it would be to not give up. He didn't. There were a couple times we thought we wouldn't make it to race, but suddenly he would rally and we'd figure out a way to make it happen. I remember one time in particular I was really disappointed to not be going and an hour later he called me and said "Ok, I know you're disappointed, so this is how we're going to make it work." So I put on my rally cap, and drove 45mins to the shop and we worked all night. And we did it too. Kind of like when we were pushing for Vegas my very first trip and he didn't want to disappoint his dad by not making it. He practically killed himself (and me) trying to get there.

I've been crying my eyes out off & on since yesterday Morning and my head is killing me. I'm pretty sure he'd be giving me crap about it and making fun of my boogers or something if he could. He became a very good friend to me and was always looking out for me. I'm hypoglycemic and need to eat every 3hrs or so, and you know its bad when the person who loses everything all the time can't find his phone or his wallet, but remembers that Mandie probably should eat something. LOL

I was also sad to learn that two of their cats also died in the fire. They had three, but the one had "gone on vacation" last week. (he's known to disappear for a couple months and then one day return.) R.I.P. cats Billy and Autumn. :'(

I guess the most comforting thing for me is that I know he had a really good week last week. He had told me a couple of times on Friday before I left in the evening. We had been working on his house (finally!) and had gotten a lot accomplished. He was really happy with that and as you all know he had been saying forever that he needed to get it done. Unfortunately, we didn't get that far. We were supposed to start dry walling today. I would take a month's worth of heavy drywall dust in 100 degree humid weather any day over being without my friend. :'(

Re: Chris Wertman RIP
 

A devastating loss to our racing community. My thoughts and prayers go out to Drooze and family.

Re: Chris Wertman RIP
 

R.I.P. Chris. You certainly had our attention and will not easily be forgotten. Your family will be in our prayers.