Fierce Competition and Faith at Carolina Motorsports Park

April 18-19

ìCrashfestî, ClichÈ I know, but being in the first practice group out on the track, for the first session of the weekendÖon the first lapÖtwo bikes slammed into each other right in front of me going into T4, bodies, bikes and dirt going everywhere, and by T7 a buddy checks up hard on his brakes, I swerved around him as he high-sided with a full face plant in the middle of the track. The red flags not losing any steam as the races began, three were flying in the first race alone! The CCS folks did a great job of trying to re-adjust the schedule with twin-sprints and a big team challenge race, all in one weekend.

My Saturday race was forfeit as I took off to the hospital in Cambden SC. 3 of our racers were being treated for broken collar bones, ribs, fingers n toes. Itís great talking to bros on morphine, they sure do smile a lot. In true roadracing fashion, one of em even asked me to take his pic in the hospital room. As I was leaving I overheard the Doc saying to his staff, ìthese are some pretty tough guys.î Strange, isnít it. They all have broken bones, so they are obviously not ìbullet proofî, but the Doctor would openly declare how ìtoughî these guys are. I believe Itís because of how we deal with suffering.

That Doctor looked at the broken bodies in front of him and was surprised how determined these racers were to persevere through their discomfort. There are many people who choose to ignore or deny the existence of God, because there is so much suffering in this world. But if we honestly look at ourselves and ask, ìwhen did I first start to care for others? At what point did I begin to have compassion for people? What compelled me to give of my life to make a difference in the lives around me?î All these questions are answered the sameÖit is when we suffered or directly experienced the sufferings of another. We are not born with a godly character, but through suffering, we can develop compassion, humility and perseverance. Following His sufferings, Jesus rose from the dead and told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Comforter. This ìComforterî was the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God, because Christ knew how much we would suffer in this life, and wanted to guide us through, not around trials. This is the message that 40 of our racing bros and their family members heard at our trackside chapel service, and there were many who expressed the difficult situations they were enduring, and how knowing Christ understands their pain, encouraged them to press on.

I picked up my race on Sunday as it was a twin-sprints weekend, and the pace had not slacked off from Saturday. For two laps I held onto third place, when coming into T4, a bike came in too hot, cut directly into my line and forced me off track. ìDonít touch that front brake!î I yelled at myself as the bike struggled in the scrub and sand after leaving the track at triple digits. I breathed a sigh of relief as the bike remained upright, then became very concerned as I realized I would not be able to stop before entering the fast line of the track in T5. I cut in, having lost two positions that I could not regain and ended the race with a 5th place finish.

With the bike safely on stands, I took time to consider the near tragedy that could have befallen me. If a Doctor can marvel at a smile amidst a few broken bones, how much more a hurting world, marveling at kindness, courage and love, shared from a life that has endured many difficult trials, and painful losses. Because God is real, our hope does not rest in this world, suffering becomes a tutor, strengthening us and preparing us to help others. Dennis, Joseph, Brad, Eric, Leon, Greg, heal up quick bros! Press on with the mission CSBRacing, Art Lohman.