Daytona Speedway CCS Roadracing, March 2009

Season 2009 is officially underway for CCS as the race engines fired to life at Daytona Speedway. Lots of bros pitted under tents and not in the garages, evidence that many roadracing privateers were trying to trim expenses in a tough economy and survive financially.

A slow economy had no effect on the speed of the bikes and from lightweight to heavyweight machines, the racing action was intense. For CSBRacing however, this weekend called us off the track, to meet the needs of many racers who needed support and encouragement, teammate Joe Cotterino flew in from PA a to help out.

Our weekend actually started on Thursday as teams began to arrive at my home near the speedway in Daytona Beach, and by Friday my wife was feeding 10 hungry racers who would be living with us through Sunday.

For the Friday Team Challenge race, I learned the delicate skill of jumping the pit wall, getting the bike on stands, and slamming a quick fuel dump into the tank while stressed by the clock. Joe was soon stripping apart engines and wrenching as mechanic to the masses.

You would think that our greatest labor this weekend as chaplains would be to speak boldly at track chapel service, but it soon became clear that the strongest message was happening not at the track, but back at home as the guys hung out with my family. ìLet your light so shine before men, that they will see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven.î We were living this verse from the Bible, and not only were the racers watching how we engaged bros at the track, but they were also experiencing family life, as my wife and 3 curious kids interacted with them. The media pounds a selfish message that marriage and traditional families are outdated, what a surprise as the racers began to share their hearts late into the night as we sat in the garage, that they desired to get married and raise families. There was genuine heartfelt sadness as they told of times past, where the opportunities to have the joy of a wife and children, were missed. It became apparent that this ìhands onî family encounter, was having a deep impact on the guys.

Our race ìweekendî finally ended the following Tuesday, after spending 4 days in the hospital with a bro who wadded real hard coming into the chicane. As we helped him get safely off to his home in New Jersey, we had barely enough time to get the bikes ready to reach out to the guys on the street as ìbike weekî was now upon us. A great start to the season bros. Art Lohman.