It's nice to have friends

Tom Turner · 05-11-2011, 09:02 PM

Just wanted to thank the people that made it possible for my gang to race in Boise (and get home). The engine in my motorhome expired just before Ontario, Oregon on the way to Firebird (about 60 miles to go) AAA towed the bus to the track, Boise Valley Towing (Dick Vandermeer) came on a minute's notice and picked up my stacker. Arriving at the racetrack on two tow trucks was a new experience but we got parked and set-up; only 2 hours late. We raced, went a few rounds, not a bad weekend...how do we get home?? Mick Alley to the rescue! Mick and Jackie loaned me their motorhome to tow my stacker home, (511 miles! ) Did I mention that Mick and Jackie won with both their cars (Stock and SS, very cool). They ran home (after pictures of course), dropped their trailer, unloaded the motorhome and came back to the track, helped me hook up and sent Dallas, Steve and I down the road (about midnight). It's nice to have friends. Thank you so much. TT

Dave Ribeiro · 05-11-2011, 10:02 PM

Tom,

Glad to hear you made it home OK & you are right about great friends .... Thanks what's so great about Drag- Racing , it's the people
you meet they are the Best .. Nice touch by Mick & Jackie ....

Bob Gullett · 05-12-2011, 12:30 AM

Mick and Jackie are 2 of the nicest people Charlene and I have ever met. Dick Vandenmeer is also a super guy. He stored my truck and trailer at his shop and refused to take any money. Class guy.

david ring · 05-12-2011, 02:29 PM

That's a great story of friendship-here's one that was in the Boston Globe today of someone stepping up and helping out people in need.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/mas...?p1=News_links

Jim Wahl · 05-12-2011, 03:16 PM

This just proves there are still some good people left in this world! Jim

Div 6 Fan · 05-12-2011, 03:38 PM

It is great to hear that you received the help. It just goes to show that what comes around goes around. What Tom did not tell in the story is that when another racer at the same race had problems with his car at the end of the track he and the Glenn family were the first people to come to the end of the track to offer assistance. Tom also helped us at the World Finals last year when we crashed our car by offering us a set of front tires to allow us to get the remains of the car in the trailer. Tom is a great competitor and a great guy.

Alan Roehrich · 05-12-2011, 04:01 PM

Drag racers are family, often even the most fierce competitors are like family as soon as the race is over.

Tom Turner · 05-12-2011, 09:23 PM

Alan has it right. We participate in, (call it what you want) what is basically "smash mouth" drag racing. A primal, hard core competetion that consumes most of our civilized thoughts much of the time; or at least that is the way it is for me, BUT (big but) that person in the other lane is only the enemy from the water box to the stripe; after that, we are family; disfunctional as we may be at times; a pretty tight group: this is the reason for this post and why I still race. My friends were there when I needed them and I am thankful.
On another note; I don't know how many racers Del Marcum has hauled back and forth from the Boise airport over the years but he has transported me about 20 times! It's nice to have friends. TT

05-11-2011, 09:02 PM	#1
Tom Turner Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lake Tapps, Washington Posts: 137 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	It's nice to have friends Just wanted to thank the people that made it possible for my gang to race in Boise (and get home). The engine in my motorhome expired just before Ontario, Oregon on the way to Firebird (about 60 miles to go) AAA towed the bus to the track, Boise Valley Towing (Dick Vandermeer) came on a minute's notice and picked up my stacker. Arriving at the racetrack on two tow trucks was a new experience but we got parked and set-up; only 2 hours late. We raced, went a few rounds, not a bad weekend...how do we get home?? Mick Alley to the rescue! Mick and Jackie loaned me their motorhome to tow my stacker home, (511 miles! ) Did I mention that Mick and Jackie won with both their cars (Stock and SS, very cool). They ran home (after pictures of course), dropped their trailer, unloaded the motorhome and came back to the track, helped me hook up and sent Dallas, Steve and I down the road (about midnight). It's nice to have friends. Thank you so much. TT

05-11-2011, 10:02 PM	#2
Dave Ribeiro VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Williamsburg, Va.---USA Posts: 1,827 Likes: 1,612 Liked 56 Times in 27 Posts	Re: It's nice to have friends Tom, Glad to hear you made it home OK & you are right about great friends .... Thanks what's so great about Drag- Racing , it's the people you meet they are the Best .. Nice touch by Mick & Jackie .... __________________ Dave Ribeiro 1033 STK

05-12-2011, 12:30 AM	#3
Bob Gullett VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,098 Likes: 55 Liked 458 Times in 110 Posts	Re: It's nice to have friends Mick and Jackie are 2 of the nicest people Charlene and I have ever met. Dick Vandenmeer is also a super guy. He stored my truck and trailer at his shop and refused to take any money. Class guy. __________________ 68 Chevy11 327 F/S

05-12-2011, 02:29 PM	#4
david ring Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Oneonta.,NY Posts: 889 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: It's nice to have friends That's a great story of friendship-here's one that was in the Boston Globe today of someone stepping up and helping out people in need. http://www.boston.com/news/local/mas...?p1=News_links

05-12-2011, 03:16 PM	#5
Jim Wahl Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Central Florida Posts: 5,843 Likes: 663 Liked 682 Times in 128 Posts	Re: It's nice to have friends This just proves there are still some good people left in this world! Jim __________________ Jim Wahl....NHRA #2239 S/SS - IHRA # 8 Stock, D2 Stock Champion (forever I guess) 2019 Baby Gators Stock Champion 2009 D2 National Open Stock Champion 1981 D2 West Palm Beach LDRS SS Runner Up Past President, Southern Stock / Super Stock Association.

05-12-2011, 03:38 PM	#6
Div 6 Fan Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 35 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The Other Side of The Story It is great to hear that you received the help. It just goes to show that what comes around goes around. What Tom did not tell in the story is that when another racer at the same race had problems with his car at the end of the track he and the Glenn family were the first people to come to the end of the track to offer assistance. Tom also helped us at the World Finals last year when we crashed our car by offering us a set of front tires to allow us to get the remains of the car in the trailer. Tom is a great competitor and a great guy.

05-12-2011, 04:01 PM	#7
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,065 Likes: 1,486 Liked 1,630 Times in 378 Posts	Re: It's nice to have friends Drag racers are family, often even the most fierce competitors are like family as soon as the race is over. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

05-12-2011, 09:23 PM	#8
Tom Turner Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lake Tapps, Washington Posts: 137 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: It's nice to have friends Alan has it right. We participate in, (call it what you want) what is basically "smash mouth" drag racing. A primal, hard core competetion that consumes most of our civilized thoughts much of the time; or at least that is the way it is for me, BUT (big but) that person in the other lane is only the enemy from the water box to the stripe; after that, we are family; disfunctional as we may be at times; a pretty tight group: this is the reason for this post and why I still race. My friends were there when I needed them and I am thankful. On another note; I don't know how many racers Del Marcum has hauled back and forth from the Boise airport over the years but he has transported me about 20 times! It's nice to have friends. TT