September, 2003 Maple Grove, PA -
This year's Pet Contest was a huge success, and allowed DRAW to raise $495. Many thanks to all who donated by casting a vote (and paying a dollar) for their favorite pet.

The winner was "BLUE" who belongs to "Ace" and Linda McCulloch. In a close second was "DIGGER", who belongs to Jim and Kathy Smulligan. Jim had "VOTE FOR DIGGER" on his race car as he went down the track so we got a lot of attention. Both pets will be receiving plaques for their efforts.

There was one very unique entry - "KAHUNA" - a stuffed pet that is held by the top COMP F-Altered winner of each race. Kahuna was entered in the contest just to raise money for DRAW. Thanks to those who put money in Kahuna's slot, even though he wasn't an actual contestant!

August, 2003 Indianapolis, IN -
The third year is a charm! A very successful barbecue was held in the pits on Thursday, August 28, 2003, organized by MPR, Dynotech Engineering, Affco Racing Products, Portatree Timing Systems, Burgin Motorsports, Lyons Racing, and Guiliano Racing.

The event was spectacular and included a great free raffle with proceeds going to DRAW. Racers visited, ate mass quantities of food, and enjoyed a fun-filled evening meeting new friends and old. Wait till next year when INDY turns 50 – It will be an awesome barbecue!!!

Those involved were: MPR – Mike Pustelny, Kathleen King, Pete Beauregard, Mike Pustelny, Jr., & Doug Beauregard; AFFCO – Eric Saffell, Frank & Marlene Parsley; DYNOTECH – Jim Villalpando, Jim Giordano, & Steve Harris; PORTATREE – Al Smyth; BURGIN MOTORSPORTS – Robert Burgin & Charles Lackey; LYONS RACING – Mike and Jodi Lyons; GUILIANO RACING – Mike Guiliano; DRAW – John and Diane Cole, Bob and Jeri Galla, Terry and Rosalee Noble.

A heartfelt "Thank you" to the sportsmen racers for inviting DRAW to participate and for providing the items to be raffled. During this fun-filled event, $742 was raised for DRAW to help provide “Fast Help for Fast Friends.”

August, 2003 Bowling Green, KY -
During the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, KY, the racers participated in a “Shoot-Out.” A donation of $288 was made to DRAW from the proceeds of this event.

DRAW wishes to acknowledge the generosity of the racers and the NHRA staff, and for their consideration of fellow racers who may need assistance after being injured in a race related accident at a drag strip.

August, 2003 Norwalk, OH -
DRAW held its 2003 World Nationals Golf Tournament on Wednesday August 20th, at the Eagle Creek Golf Club prior to the Sunoco World Nationals in Norwalk, OH. Door prizes included t-shirts, golf shirts, product gift certificates, company logo golf tees, golf balls and other golf items, automotive memorabilia, jackets and baseball hats.

DRAW wishes to thank all the volunteers, donors, spectators, and racers whose participation made this event such a huge success!

July, 2003 Sonoma, CA -
DRAW held its Inaugural Wine Tasting Fundraiser Thursday, July 31, 2003 at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA. Donors were treated to a "taste tour" of Sonoma Valley's wineries and received a complimentary goblet engraved with the DRAW logo.

Karen and Rodger Comstock started promoting this fundraiser last April, working with Infineon Raceway and locating items for a silent auction. Karen also recruited the Cannon family to help. Unfortunately on the way from Seattle to Sonoma, Comstock's experienced several tire explosions which caused extensive damage to their motor home. Unfortunately, they were unable to attend the wine-tasting.

In true DRAW fashion, we all "pushed up our sleeves" and got to work. Brent and Shari Cannon contacted several area wineries that agreed to donate the wines Korbel, Vianessa, Clos du Bois, Buena Vista, Cline and the gourmet Deli of Lee Lombardi. A great big “thank you” to these wineries for their generous donations.

Special thanks to Betty Doke, Steve LeSueur, Robert Buck, Sheyenne Buck, and Jade Rasmussen for setting up and handling all the decorations. Thank you also to Terry and Rosalee Noble for setting up the silent auction (among other things) and Gerilyn Steiner for helping all the bidders. Thanks to those who donated items to the silent auction.

Mickey and Beth Prestridge provided use of the RFC tent along with lighting and music. Many of the men and women from the t-shirt trailers donated their time to pour the wine for our tasters. An extra thank you to Tammy & CL Stickler from the Nitrofish trailer, Butch & Linda Cramer from Amato and Cruz's trailer, Phyllis Nielsen, Lee, Heather and Ashley from Race Girl, Jennifer Peck, Sharon Kalwoda, Tom Harshbarger, Glenn Collins and photographers Richard Shutz and Cliff Whitmore.

Everyone had a great time, please join us for this event next year!

June, 2003 Joliet, IL -
During the Lucas Oil Route 66 Nationals, DRAW held their 18th annual Silent and Live Auctions. The emcees for the Live Auction were the ever-popular Bob Frey and Alan Reinhart. The live auction got started at 7:30pm with a full house despite the frigid weather!

The highlighted item of the night, once again, was Louise McClelland's "2002 World Champions" quilt. John Force and Jerry Gwynn had a small bidding war between them. Force outlasted Gwynn with the final bid of $10,000. There were many racers in attendance including Force, Tony Schumacher, Troy Coughlin, and Cory McClenathan, and Doug Herbert.

Thank you to all the racers, spectators, donators, and volunteers who supported this auction and helped raise over $40,000 for the injured racer's fund. This event would not have been possible without your participation.

June, 2003 -
From Rodger and Karen Comstock for their friend Don Rhyne:

As fate would have it my wife, Karen and I were competing in S/G and S/C respectively at the Lucas Oil Division 7 race in Tucson Arizona March 27-30 2003. We were looking forward to a fun weekend racing with our friends Kathi and Dick Vander Meer, Gerry and Don Rhyne and the rest of their P.O.S. racing team. During the test and tune on Thursday Don took great pride in showing off his new Super Gas car to everyone and pointing out the painted dedication to his son Cody who had been killed in a auto accident the previous year. There was no doubt that Don was doing what he loved to do with people he loved being with. Then tragedy struck and everything changed.

After Don's accident that afternoon the DRAW members who were present and the Racers For Christ Team provided caring support to Don's family and friends during the long hours at the hospital. After Don's passing this support has continued on. If you ever wonder what you do as DRAW members "really makes a difference" call any of Don's family and friends.

At Don's memorial service Gerry asked that Don be remembered by donations to DRAW and RFC.

Rodger and Karen Comstock
rkcomstock@earthlink.net


From Gerilyn Steiner for her father Gerry Steiner:

On March 8, 2003, Gerry Steiner had a horrendous racing accident that has stunned the Nostalgia Drag Racing Community. He went through the lights at a speed of 227 MPH where he had a top end accident. The front engine, top fuel dragster, flipped several times and landed on its side as it slide at about 200 ft. All the driver, 63 year old Gerry Steiner, was able to do at this time was to hang on. When the car finally came to a stop, the trackside safety crew extracted him from the car, where he was air lifted to Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, CA for treatment. Gerry was unconscious, but breathing on his own. When he arrived emergency staff made sure that he had no broken bones or internal injuries. What they did find was that Gerry had suffered a severe concussion. At that time, they admitted him into ICU for observation.

Gerry was in the ICU for 7 days and then moved to the DOU (direct observation unit) for 6 days. He was able to make direct communication at this point. He was then later transferred to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, CA for Rehabilitation Therapy. As far as his recovery has gone at this time, he is at about an 85% point. He is walking and talking very well now with the doctors giving an optimistic view towards a full recovery!

I wanted to put out a special thank you to the Safety Crew, Bill Dunlap and the Mike Fuller Crew. A VERY BIG Special thank you should go out to OUR crew for handling all the details at the track while we were at the hospital. Gerry looks forward to Cards and Letters to know what is going on out there with all his friends from racing and hot rodding. He is looking forward to seeing and visiting with all his friends at the upcoming Goodguys Nitro Nationals, at Infineon Raceway May 17th & 18th.

I would also like to put out a personal thank you to the Hashim family for coming to see me and my dad everyday at the hospital and to all of our friends and family, that gave me the love and support that was much needed at this time of distress.

Thank you to all,
Gerilyn Steiner

Cards & Letters can be sent to:
    Gerry Steiner
    14596 Jacksol Dr.
    San Jose, CA 95124

May, 2003 -
Tracy Winters of J.W. Performance Transmissions has embarked on a new adventure. Training under veteran announcer Hasley Hood, Winters is providing additional coverage for the sportsman racers at NHRA Division Two and Division Three events. Tracy has worked the NHRA Division Two events in Gainesville and Orlando, Florida and the NHRA Division Three event in Chicago, Illinois.

Tracy plans to attend two more NHRA Division Three events, one Division Two event and the popular Florida Winter series events held in November and December. Winters serves on the DRAW Board of Trustees and the SEMA Motorsports Park Manufacturers Council. For details you can e-mail Tracy at tracyw@digital.net

April, 2003 -
One of the largest expenses that DRAW incurs each month is the US Postage that is required to mail the DRAWing Attention Newsletters to its members. We are considering the feasibility of providing our newsletter electronically. To help us determine how many members have e-mail capabilities at this time we ask that you send us your e-mail address so we can put it on your member-ship account in the DRAW Membership Roster.

Send all correspondence to:

    DRAW & The Internet
    102 Walnut Drive
    Oak Leaf, Texas 75154
    or e-mail to judy@jographix.com

(Be sure to include your membership number with all correspondence.)

March, 2003 -
January 2002 marked the founding of TMH Enterprises, L.L.C. in Haslet, Texas. Located in the shadow of Texas Motor Speedway, TMH was created for the purpose of promoting and marketing 'fine racing art' reflecting the passion for racing of artists that are fans themselves.

The artists, officers, and staff work with one shared vision shaped by respect for drivers, crew, and fans alike. Artists draw on their race fan experience and their goal is that their artwork will be displayed not just as a product of paint and paper, but as a lasting reminder of racing experiences shared with family and friends.

TMH offers the works of six long-established artists in the field, including NHRA, NASCAR, AMA Pro Racing, Formula 1, and an exceptional selection of prints covering the most popular non-racing motorcycles owned by millions and admired by non-owners alike.

Products appeal to the entire fan base, including high quality, heavy grade paper posters for the youngest fans, limited edition signed and numbered prints, as well as framed, museum quality prints on canvas for the discerning collector.

DRAW is proud to announce a yearlong corporate sponsorship from TMH. This source of financial support is funded by the purchase of any TMH Fine Art print or related product from their retail website — tmhracing.com. The process is simple. When a retail purchase is made from tmhracing.com using the special promotional code for DRAW, whether for an NHRA related product or any other racing venue, TMH will donate ten percent of the selling price to DRAW.

February, 2003 Gainesville, FL -
The Drag Racing Association of Women and Car Craft All Star Drag Racing Team will host their annual Florida Golf Tournament prior to the NHRA Mac Tools Gatornationals held in Gainesville, Florida. The tournament will take place on Wednesday, March 12, 2003, with a tee time of 1:00 p.m. at Ironwood Golf Course in Gainesville, Florida. Lunch will be served from 12:00 to 12:45 p.m. prior to the tournament. The entry fee is $65 and mulligans may be purchased for an additional $5. Presentation of awards and a light snack will follow the tournament.

There is good news for sportsman racers. If you pre-pay your entry fee you may receive early pit parking to accommodate lunch and 1:00 p.m. tee time.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for this event including hole sponsors for $125, beverage cart and food sponsors at $500 each. For details contact Tracy Winters by phone at 321-632-6205 ext. 13, or by email at tracyw@digital.net