Our Military - Their Race Cars
 

Hey everyone,

Yesterday I was thinking about our veterans and our current men and women that serve in the military. Without them we would not be able to do what we do. I thought it would be great to do a story on the veterans and the current service members that drag race. It does not matter what car, what class, if you have a race car or raced in the past, I would like to hear from you. I have met many racers that have served our country and it always humbles me to be in their company. The respect I have for them is immense, and I never seem to have the right words to express my thanks when talking to them.

I would like to mention just a few of them, even though they would probably rather me not say anything.

Richard Adkins is one of racers I came to know and respect, not only because of his service, but his genuine kindness and thoughts for others, he is a good man. Some of you may know him, he used to race a beautiful white 67 Shelby here in Div 1, It was such a cool car. Richard is a veteran and did more than his share of duty in Iraq. I hope Richard comes back and races with us someday, they were good times, even when the times were not so good.

Bob Bender, he currently races here in Div 1, and is a member of Class Racer. He races a big old Chevy white wagon. Bob was a combat soldier that served in Vietnam, and though he does not talk about it much, you can see the pride he has for the service he has done for his country and his fellow soldier. He is a great guy and always has a good word and a smile on his face. I for one look forward to seeing him at the races. He usually gets to the races early as do I, and when I see him I know all is right with the world. He will get mad at me for saying this, but I will anyway. Bob earned a Bronze Star in Vietnam, he is a humble man and a very good man.

Nick Reiter, what can I say about Nick. He is as colorful as his car, the car he has had since it was new. A 1971 Charger 440 Six Pac R/T in Citron Yella, yup that’s the color. Nick is a Vietnam vet and served as a combat soldier. You can ask him anything about his service and is more than willing to talk about it. He is also very humble about his service and tells me I just did what I did, and got through it. A good man and a good friend.

These three men have my utmost respect and I am honored and blessed to have been able to know and race with them.

If your served or are currently serving, please send me a photo of you car and of you, and a few words about the car and yourself. You deserve the respect and recognition that you have earned. You can also post here if you like.

kenmiele@classracer.com

Re: Our Military - Their Race Cars
 

Awesome Idea Ken. Those are some great guys you are talking about right there and many more that race among us. Happy Veterans Day and thanks for your service.

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Here in D 3 we have been blessed to race with Vietnam Vet Bill Rink. COLORFUL does not begin to describe BIll and his wheel standing 74 GTO.....OH, the stories we could share about Bill.....Thank You for your service.....

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Let us not forget George Cottell! A retired Marine. He may not be racing anymore but most of our Div 1 racers will always remember his Olds Cutlass and the very colorfully painted Stars and Stripes 69 Camaro. Richard, Bob, Nick, George and all the many other Veterans - Thank you for your service. God bless you all.

Ken Kopecky
1454 E/SA

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Thank you to all our service members
Mike A114

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Mr Cotells stars and stripes car will always stick out in my mind

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Great thread Ken, I am forever grateful to these men and others like them. Bob has became a good friend to us and we thoroughly enjoy coming north because of Bob and others. Thank you to all of you and would love to hear more of these stories!

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Great thread Ken. Looking forward to hearing from the people that I respect more than anyone.

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Bill Belden is a Vietnam vet. I believe Mike Farrell is an Air Force vet. Thanks to all vets for their service.

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Don't forget Fred Elisass,the Sarge. Thanks to all of the men and women who have served our nation.

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I'm willing to to bet there are hundred's of Vet's racing NHRA sportsman classes. Stock D1 also has Ed Bednaz, Thank you ALL for your service!

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I served in the Marine Corps, my dad served in the Marine Corps and my grandpa served in the US Army in WW II in France. I have his 3 bronze Stars.

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My Grandfather served in WWI, my Dad served in WWII, I served in '66 & '67 and my brother was killed in Viet Nam on June 6, 1969, the 25th anniversary of D-Day. He would have been 71 this month.

Re: Our Military - Their Race Cars
 

Ken, thanks for thinking of veteran racers. I served in Viet Nam while in the Navy. There are several other D-1 racers that are Viet Nam vets, and one I know from the west coast.

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Thanks Ken, I'm a long time reader of the forum but never posted until now. I was a chopper pilot in Vietnam, served 6 yrs in the Army. Don't like to blow my horn but very proud of my service. Seems vets are finally getting recognition that we didn't get in the day. Raced nostalgia S/S with a 65 Dodge I bought from Roger Lindamood, that was like his 64 "Color Me Gone" car.
THANKS AGAIN!!!

Vic Raupe
NHRA R494

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I served four years in the Marine Corps. My dad is a Marine Corps, Vietnam Vet. My grandfather was a Marine also, as were all of my uncles but one. Several cousins also. The Marine Corps is a family tradition I suppose. I bracket raced for years, and have been building a Chevy II to run in SS/F. Its been a long process but should be out in 2018. I also worked for Sox & Martin on the Pro Stock truck team and helped Ronnie a good bit with match racing. I really enjoyed that and have been very blessed. My daily job is working at Kowalsky Racing Engines. Proud to have served this country and would do it again in a heartbeat. God Bless the USA

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Thank all of you very much. Sounds like the military was a family tradition for many of you! I signed up for the draft when I turned 18 in 1972, was attending Pasadena City College and was closed 1-H, then a standby draft lottery was taken the following year, and I was #22. I immediately got new draft cards recalled as 1-A, but the draft expired shortly afterwards. You guys that went and served are a real special group of great Americans. The stories drag racers tell are pretty amazing, just add military stories and the material for discussion increases immensely. Thanks again for your service.

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I enlisted in the Air Force in 1966 upon graduation from Carol City High School in Miami FL. Wanted to join to see aircraft. Went to basic training in Lackland TX. Then to a Navy base in Oxnard CA, then an Army base in Pensacola FL and off to beautiful Viet Nam. Was attached to 7th Pacific Air Force, and visited Pleiku, Bien Hoa and Cam Rahn Bay, but was never on an Air Force base, never got to see planes except in the sky. Went back to the states and was told to wait for my discharge papers at home as they had no need for equipment operators at Homestead Air Force base. Several months later received my discharge papers. Still, no planes. Have no regrets serving my country, would do it again.

Other racers that I know who served, Daran & Daryl Summerton, Bruce Fulper and Bill Grubbs, know there are many more. Thank you all for your service.

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I would also like to add, if any young man or woman comes out of high school and is really not sure of what to do with their lives, the military is a sure bet to be a better person overall. It is real, growing up fast, learning to take care of yourself and others, to take responsibility, to learn, to be a better person mentally and physically. It is an experience that changes you for the better. I encourage young people to join and be a big part in America's future. It is an adventure.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA proud to be an American.

Re: Our Military - Their Race Cars
 

I believe there's a series that caters to veterans. I know they work with a veterans group and donate money, etc... I'll see if I can find it.




They'll be at Yellowbullet.com Nationals for 2018. Warriors Racing. They do something with the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

http://www.warriorsraceteam.com

http://specialops.org

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I couldn't agree with you more, Ron! It's been my opinion for many years that some program of "compulsory National Service" be started and properly funded to allow ALL young people to get involved supporting our democracy. Everyone should be able to serve in some capacity; the Military, if they are qualified, for a short period of training and service would be a good place to start, as would any number of National and local service organizations that are dedicated to making America a better place to live. Creating a pool of pre-trained personnel would also be beneficial in any National emergency, and giving EVERYONE an opportunity to "share the load" would allow more people to understand what sacrifices a small group of our fellow American's now make for the rest of us.

It was an honor and a privilege to wear the uniform of our great military and serve our Nation. I followed in my Father's footsteps and enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard in July, 1967. After 6-years and a short break-in-service, I joined an Army Reserve field artillery battalion in 1975 as a Track Vehicle Mechanic. I retired from Active Duty as a Transportation First Sergeant (E8) in 2008, with 38 years time-in-service. My race car commemorates that service, and honors the countless men and women who, past, present and in the future will be there when our Nation calls. "SPEARHEAD!".

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I served in the Army 1966-68. As Ron Ortiz posted the military is a great career for young people, my daughter joined the Air Force the day after she graduated high school and served 23 years retiring as a master Sargent. She is only 43 and I m still working.

Re: Our Military - Their Race Cars
 

I would like to add Pete Kost who still races in Division 6 Stock Eliminator.

Pete served in the US Army during WW II. He was member of the predecessor units to the US Army Special Forces hunting high value targets in Europe.

He was also a member of the US Army Boxing team that toured throughout the world entertaining the troops, and was the undefeated champ in his weight.

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Even though I don't race now, many of you on this forum know me. I proudly served in the Navy from 1967 to 1971 on a nuclear submarine and 2 submarine rescue ships. Veterans Day always has been, and always will be, a very special day for me.

Re: Our Military - Their Race Cars
 

Thanks so much for your comments, and of course your service. I finished the story on our veterans and service members that race. I don't write many stories, so forgive me if my grammar is not what it should be, but my sentiment and support are. Click story to read the article.

I hope all our veterans and service members have a Happy Thanksgiving, thank you so much for what you have done.

Story

Re: Our Military - Their Race Cars
 

Ken, I hit on story and get a blank page.

Ed

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Re: Our Military - Their Race Cars
 

Nice story Ken and a huge thank you to all those guys again.

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Ed, the links works now. James, I just update the story with another vet. I will continue to update as the vet's send me info and photos.

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Thank you Ken. In the photos I sent I'm the one in the rear seat of the Jeep. The guy with the sniper rig was a guy from Georgia. I had to lug that thing with a 45 Lb. battery on my back on DMZ night stake out once. I only weighed 145 lb. at the time.

Re: Our Military - Their Race Cars
 

We can't forget Charlie Snyder, he was 20 yrs old when he was drafted, sent to Vietnam and assigned with the 101st Airborne and was killed a few months later on August 27, 1968.


http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YRsJ1LmLUl...+%2540Show.jpg

Re: Our Military - Their Race Cars
 

Chevy55 your post is similar to my thinking about all of those who’s names are on all the memorials around the country, particularly the One in DC with 58,000+ names on it. Many were like others of us who grew up in the Muscle Car era. We were hooked on drag racing and once hooked you can never really unplug. Many never got to join our racing ranks, they were simply denied the opportunity because their country called upon them to write a blank check. I joined the Air Force in 1971 and soon found myself a medic in northern Thailand, supporting part of the “secret” war to the North. My personal story dims in comparison to those of you like Gary who still bear the scars or Jimmy who lost a brother but all of our stories combine in retelling that freedom is not free. All Americans should stand next to those memorials from time to time, we’d be a better nation for it.

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You're right Jim and welcome home brother.
I was one of the lucky ones, drafted, sent to Nam in '68, heavy equipment mechanic with a mechanized infantry unit up by the DMZ. and came home in one piece.
In my free time my mind wandered between my wife, race car and my job back home. Drag strips on Long Island were always packed and it was and exciting time to be alive.

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Duplicate...oops

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In the 60's, when you got out of the service, ya got a new, fast car, as soon as you could make the payments. No one got married when they got out. No reason to....Did not need a draft deferment anymore.....so, spend money on cars and fast women. My purchase was a 69 Roadrunner, 383, air grabber, 4 speed, 391 sure grip. Still have the car and most original pieces. I bought the Roadrunner because everyone else was getting ss396 Chevelles and I wanted to be different and faster.
Like someone said, the draft was a good thing, we should still have it.. We will never see the draft again....too bad.

Jim, if you are referring to my "scars", thank you. I have PTSD and cancer as a result of my military service. No tears for me please.....I've raised a wonderful family......got my kids through braces and college. My oldest grandson just completed his Navy service and is in the Phoenix police academy. I've been a good husband, father, brother and grandfather......our Lord and Savior has surely blessed me. When my country called....I served the best that I could, made E5 with 13 months service and an honorable discharge. I have no regrets.

My friend and Stocker driver, Dwight Machelle from Las Vegas, was a Huey pilot and downed 4 times.

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Gary Hansen, boy did you bring back memories. When I was in Vietnam I ordered a 1968 1/2 Plymouth Roadrunner to be delivered to Miami FL. Had a 383, 4 speed, 391 sure grip. Bought it for $3,400. Also bought a reel to reel tape deck, amplifier and huge speakers. Heck I also remember that you could go downtown Bien Hoa and buy a pack of Marlboro with filters that was pot for $5.00

Thank you again for all who have served our country.

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Yes indeed Gary, I was referring to your continuing health issues resulting from your service. I was one of the SS396 Chevelle crowd but “saw the light” later and switched over to a 68 Charger. In my case I’m very thankful for having the opportunity to serve, know it was what finally put my butt on the right path and met my wife of 42 years in the service. And thanks for sharing Dwight’s service , had a eerie experience 3 years ago while touring the excellent Evergreen Air and Space Museum in Oregon. Walked by a Huey on display and it brought back a lot of unpleasant memories. But such adversity is what makes us stronger, even in great loss there is something gained. I’m sure all veterans have such moments, I especially feel for those who never really overcame it all. God bless them all.

Re: Our Military - Their Race Cars
 

Thanks for this thread Ken! I'd like to remember the man who introduced me to Drag Racing back in the 60's Gus Puskas NED Div. 1 Drag Racer, Machinist extraordinaire and Vietnam Veteran.

Gus instilled in me a love of our sport so strong it survived it my 23 year Naval career as well as the 15 years of DoD support that followed my active duty retirement. With real no kidding retirement rapidly approaching I just recently purchased Greg Luneack's 73 Duster to return to the sport we love, bringing me full circle!

Thank you to all my Brothers & Sisters in Arms, and all of the rest of you for never forgetting!

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My Dad served in the Army Air Corp in China. Morse code operator. I still have his "bug" as they called them. My brother was headed to Korea when he got shingles and got sidelined. I'm a Viet Nam era vet. (1971) Our family certainly served our country. Mom? She stayed home. :-)