thedrifter
09-30-06, 07:25 AM
Racers Against Drugs holds show at Camp Pendleton
Joe Naiman
Village News Correspondent
9/29/2006 5:23:29 PM
Racers Against Drugs went to Camp Pendleton August 26 for a car show hosted by Camp Pendleton’s Young Marines program.
“It was actually wonderful. We were very, very thrilled with it,” said Patti Estep, the field training officer and public affairs officer for the Young Marines at Camp Pendleton.
The Young Marines range in age from 8 to 17. Not all of them are military dependents, and the program allows them to serve the community and to develop various traits. Approximately 200 registered Young Marines are in Camp Pendleton’s program.
Estep estimates that between 70 and 100 Young Marines and adults attended the two Racers Against Drugs presentations while Jeff Coskey, who handled the car show for RAD, estimated that approximately 60 youths attended the presentations and demonstrations.
“It was a great time,” Coskey said. “There were a lot of smiles on kids’ faces.”
Coskey, who races a Late Model at Orange Show Speedway, brought his car. Jack Doland, who owns two junior dragsters which race at the Barona dragstrip, attended and provided both of his cars. The Barona Speedway oval produced three drivers along with their cars; Larry Sisson provided his dwarf car, Jimmy Kordahl brought his Street Stock, and Dan Shank was accompanied by his Factory Stock. Tess Taylor, who was with Doc Harrison’s crew when Harrison raced at the Cajon Speedway and who has remained active with Racers Against Drugs even though she is no longer affiliated with any specific car or driver, also provided assistance at Camp Pendleton.
The presentation included starting the cars, and Young Marines were allowed to sit inside the junior dragsters and let the motors gain speed. “We had a blast up there,” Coskey said.
The presentations and demonstrations also elicited numerous questions from the Young Marines.
“It was absolutely fantastic,” Estep said. “They just did wonderful speeches. They were outstanding with the kids, the Young Marines.”
Racers Against Drugs utilizes the cars and drivers to encourage children and others to stay off drugs, and the presentations included speeches in which the racers discussed experiences with family members or friends on drugs and loss of family members to drugs. “I think this is one of the best programs for race fans,” Estep said. “They were very experienced, very knowledgeable.”
Estep contacted Racers Against Drugs president Debi Chapman to request a presentation. Chapman had a conflict that day, but Coskey agreed to be the spokesperson. During the presentations Coskey also put his car on a jackstand so that the Young Marines could look underneath the racecar.
“They’re a wonderful group,” Estep said of Racers Against Drugs. “We’re planning on having them back.”
RAD’s next visit to the Young Marines at Camp Pendleton likely won’t occur until next year, but Estep is working with Barona Speedway to arrange for a Young Marines trip to that racetrack.
“We just thank them for coming,” Estep said of Racers Against Drugs. “We’re going to have them back.”
Ellie
Joe Naiman
Village News Correspondent
9/29/2006 5:23:29 PM
Racers Against Drugs went to Camp Pendleton August 26 for a car show hosted by Camp Pendleton’s Young Marines program.
“It was actually wonderful. We were very, very thrilled with it,” said Patti Estep, the field training officer and public affairs officer for the Young Marines at Camp Pendleton.
The Young Marines range in age from 8 to 17. Not all of them are military dependents, and the program allows them to serve the community and to develop various traits. Approximately 200 registered Young Marines are in Camp Pendleton’s program.
Estep estimates that between 70 and 100 Young Marines and adults attended the two Racers Against Drugs presentations while Jeff Coskey, who handled the car show for RAD, estimated that approximately 60 youths attended the presentations and demonstrations.
“It was a great time,” Coskey said. “There were a lot of smiles on kids’ faces.”
Coskey, who races a Late Model at Orange Show Speedway, brought his car. Jack Doland, who owns two junior dragsters which race at the Barona dragstrip, attended and provided both of his cars. The Barona Speedway oval produced three drivers along with their cars; Larry Sisson provided his dwarf car, Jimmy Kordahl brought his Street Stock, and Dan Shank was accompanied by his Factory Stock. Tess Taylor, who was with Doc Harrison’s crew when Harrison raced at the Cajon Speedway and who has remained active with Racers Against Drugs even though she is no longer affiliated with any specific car or driver, also provided assistance at Camp Pendleton.
The presentation included starting the cars, and Young Marines were allowed to sit inside the junior dragsters and let the motors gain speed. “We had a blast up there,” Coskey said.
The presentations and demonstrations also elicited numerous questions from the Young Marines.
“It was absolutely fantastic,” Estep said. “They just did wonderful speeches. They were outstanding with the kids, the Young Marines.”
Racers Against Drugs utilizes the cars and drivers to encourage children and others to stay off drugs, and the presentations included speeches in which the racers discussed experiences with family members or friends on drugs and loss of family members to drugs. “I think this is one of the best programs for race fans,” Estep said. “They were very experienced, very knowledgeable.”
Estep contacted Racers Against Drugs president Debi Chapman to request a presentation. Chapman had a conflict that day, but Coskey agreed to be the spokesperson. During the presentations Coskey also put his car on a jackstand so that the Young Marines could look underneath the racecar.
“They’re a wonderful group,” Estep said of Racers Against Drugs. “We’re planning on having them back.”
RAD’s next visit to the Young Marines at Camp Pendleton likely won’t occur until next year, but Estep is working with Barona Speedway to arrange for a Young Marines trip to that racetrack.
“We just thank them for coming,” Estep said of Racers Against Drugs. “We’re going to have them back.”
Ellie