Drooze

[david ring]

I haven't yet read Kevin's article, but I know the tribute he wrote about Jimmy "the Shoe" Harrington was outstanding, so I expect the one about Drooze to be great as well. And good luck to David and Keith this weekend. Scott McClay introduced me to those guys at Norwalk last year and it was an honor to meet them, even if they were hanging out with guys like Jim Marshal and Gene Monahan.

[Jim Wahl]

Very, very well done article Kevin! Great tribute. Jim

[Joe Marcinowski]

Nice article. I really miss the guy. Good luck to David and Keith at Indy.

[340Cuda]

Great story, good luck to the New Hemi team at Indy!
Bill

[69camz28]

David,

Me, my dad and my little brother helped you guys push your car onto the trailer after you guys broke on Thursday. I knew of you and Chris' story from this website but I didn't read the ND article until later that day in the stands at Indy. It was very touching...I lost a brother a few years ago at the way too young age of 30, I know how bad the loss of someone you love hurts first hand. It hurts even worse when it happens way before there time....I'm glad you can find some peace in your racing efforts, your son has to be smiling.

On a happier note, your crew guy Jerry was kind enough to use his pit pass to help me rent a golf cart on Thursday - which made getting around Indy much easier! I usually only make it to 2-3 national events a year (Indy, Chicago and now STL again), but I will stop by and say hi the next time I see you guys. From a Chevy guy to a Dodge guy - good luck in all your efforts!!

[hemidup]

Originally Posted by 69camz28

David,

Me, my dad and my little brother helped you guys push your car onto the trailer after you guys broke on Thursday. I knew of you and Chris' story from this website but I didn't read the ND article until later that day in the stands at Indy. It was very touching...I lost a brother a few years ago at the way too young age of 30, I know how bad the loss of someone you love hurts first hand. It hurts even worse when it happens way before there time....I'm glad you can find some peace in your racing efforts, your son has to be smiling.

On a happier note, your crew guy Jerry was kind enough to use his pit pass to help me rent a golf cart on Thursday - which made getting around Indy much easier! I usually only make it to 2-3 national events a year (Indy, Chicago and now STL again), but I will stop by and say hi the next time I see you guys. From a Chevy guy to a Dodge guy - good luck in all your efforts!!

Hi Jeff. Nice meeting you guy's and thanks for helping out.

After the car broke on Thursday, David, Keith and Keith's wife headed back to Ohio with hopes of getting back by Saturday. I offered to go and help out, but Keith said being since its Labor Day weeked there was a 50/50 chance the car would be ready due to getting parts and machine work done if needed. He said thanks for the offer, just stay here, enjoy the races and hope to see you Saturday.

Thursday night I recieved word that the motor spun a rod bearing and the crankshaft was toast. I can't recall who drove to Kentucky to pick up the new crank, but many thanks go out to him.

Friday was spent rebuilding the bullet and low and behold I received a phone call late Friday nite with word that the Mega Maniac and crew where on there way back. They made it back in the pits by 2 am Saturday morning and caught up on some much needed sleep.

Once back and with an untested engine, Keith dialed in a 10.00 for the first pass in eleminations. Luckily he did cause somewhere in all the previous havok, he missplaced his gloves and didn't realize it until just before the water box. All that hard work would have gone down the drain if a 9.99 was on the window.

Anyways, back to the race. Right at the topend of that pass, the electrical gremlin showed its ugly face. The engine studdered at the big end and while on the return road stalled and didn't restart. (I'm really starting to hate EFI lol) Towed her back to the pits and pushed her back in the trailer.

What really amazed me this past weekend was the dedication of love that David and Keith have shown keeping Drooze's dream alive. Thoughout all the hardships in the past, this team just keeps going and going. Nothing gets them down. Personally I would have thrown in the towel a long time ago.

All in all I'm very proud to have been a part of Drooze's dream at Indy 2011. Once back home the guy's at the shop asked what I had learned. Being in Wertman's pit I learned nothing about racing, just alot about life.

[69camz28]

Great post, Jerry! Hope to catch up with you again sometime.

~Jeff

[Wade_Owens]

Originally Posted by david ring

even if they were hanging out with guys like Jim Marshall and Gene Monahan.

They broke the molds after those 2...........

Wade O

[NewHemi]

There is never a shortage of good people at the track. Kind people who will always help you in time of need. We appreciated the help getting the car back in the trailer, and I never doubted that we would make it back. It only took a couple of days, and a couple thousands dollars.

And it was great to see Jerry and Don again. Good people!

Yes, Kevin did a great job on the article, and yes, it was indeed Mr Paul Dilcher who went out of his way to pick up the crank for us.

After getting back to Indy Friday night, with our engine reassembled with new crank, resized rods, etc... We ended up breaking a cam pin, and then tapping some pistons with some valves, both intake and exhaust. So all we got was that round one of eliminations. Too bad we beat Dennis Breeden in that round, and then could not go on, It would have better if we broke before that, and then he could have run more runs. So apparently our bad luck was contagious. Sorry Dennis.

Chris and I, used to joke about having a black cloud following us around...But no cloud was ever dark enough, to cause us to quit.

The timing on the article was special too. It ended up appearing very close to the time, a year later, that we lost Chris.

So, maybe we will see some of you in Columbus..

God Bless

David
The New Hemi Guy