Racing & Teaching

There are so many people who are involved in dirt Late Model racing that work outside of the sport during the week and then use evenings and weekends spending time, energy and resources with their ‘racing jobs’, whether that ‘racing job’ is as a driver, promoter, sanction official, media member or any number of niches that need filled in the sport. One interesting profession outside of racing that many people are engaged in is teaching.

Over the years I’ve been amazed at how many people in not only dirt Late Model racing but dirt racing in general spend their weekdays, often thanklessly, teaching the nation’s youth. Many in this area know that dirt Late Model driver Jack Pencil is an eighth grade algebra teacher and coach. He is not alone.

Drivers like Greg Ault of Brownstown, IN teaches drivers education at a school near Brownstown, IN and driver Wayne Brau of Annawan, Illinois is a teacher and coach. Other folks involved in the sport who either teach or work for a school system include the recently retired Dixie Phillips of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, Lernerville Speedway’s Carol Gamble and Denny Chamberlain crew chief Art Petitto is also a school teacher.

There are many others, like writer Mike Sullivan, a teacher at a preschool (for three and four year olds) for Campbellsville Independent Schools in Kentucky while well-known announcer Michael “Spanky” Despain teaches in an alternative school with middle and high school kids who are there for grades, discipline or court ordered and former driver and famed radio host Don Gamble is the Director of Vocational Education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Driver Tim Tungate works in the transportation department for Campbellsville Independent Schools while Lucas Oil/BoB Flagman Noel Hargis is the Director of Transportation for a school in Kentucky.

In this publication I know that columnists John Snyder and Guy Smith are teachers. The list goes on.

We decided to contact several teachers who are deeply involved in the sport and get their perspective on several subjects, such as are they ever able to ‘mix’ racing and school with their students? Do any of the students show any interest in racing? Have the teachers ever encouraged them about racing? Can there be a correlation between school and racing?

“Each year several discussions about my racing comes up,” stated David Payne, a popular Murphy, North Carolina Late Model driver who has taught for a decade now.  He started his teaching career at Murphy High School and Peachtree Elementary and after three years he was assigned to the Murphy High School full time.

“The kids will tell me that they saw me this weekend and most of the time I try to talk to them about the race.  Some of my students, past and present, are now driving in lower divisions.  Just this year I was able to help out a student with his senior exit project that is required for graduation.  He put together a crate motor racecar.  He would have questions and I even give him a few parts.”

“Ironically, I guess I had a larger impact than I first thought,” was how long time dirt Late Model racer and current P.R. Director for KC Raceway Scott Wolfe responded. Wolfe has been a teacher and principal for a quarter century and has taught from grades 7-12 with the last seven years involved Senior English, Sophomore English and Integrated Math.  He has spent 18 years at Reedsville-Eastern and seven years at Southern Local in Ohio. Recently he moved into administration and is responsible for Federal Programs and Special Education.

“Although we tried to stay on task, occasionally we strayed into some good ole racing stories throughout the years,” continued Wolfe. “Also, especially in math I often related racing with the need for mathematics.  The guys always thought that was pretty neat to have a race driver as a teacher. Many times I lugged the quick-change gears to class and we used them to figure out ratios and used the stock car to work on different aspects of geometry.”

“A race car is a good resource for different types of geometry and symmetry.  I guess I have had at least 25 of my former students become drivers in various divisions. Many more were fans.”

“Yes, working at a career and technology center has allowed us to integrate the sport of racing into education,” replied Regina Geesey of the MACS series to the multitude of questions that were poised to her. Mrs. Geesey and her husband, Jeff, are both teachers and both a vital part of the MACS series. Mrs. Geesey is a special education teacher at the Indiana County (PA) Technology Center and has taught for 12 years at the Indiana County Technology Center and five years at the Indiana Junior High School in Indiana PA.

“Through career counseling as well as motivational strategies we have developed workshops and assemblies for students focusing on teamwork as well as the technological influences of racing relating it to the academic curriculum like reading and math,” added Mrs. Geesey. “We also attempt to integrate the various career and technical education programs of auto technology, graphics, collision repair, electrical and welding.”

“We have invited local drivers as well as race directors, officials, promoters and media personnel to our school to speak with students about various aspects of motorsports.  Additionally, we have developed incentive programs for our students where they can ‘win’ tickets to local race tracks. At least at the tracks which are willing to participate.  When Jeff worked with Jack and Donna Lentz at Challenger Raceway, Indiana PA our school was a marketing partner to the track.”

Mrs. Geesey’s husband has been teaching for 27 years and is currently teaching Welding Technology at the Indiana County (PA) Technology Center. He is a certified welding inspector and certified welding educator (CWI/CWE). Geesey is also a K-12 principal as well as completing the finishing touches on his Director’s Certification that is one level up from a principal at a Career and Technical Center.

“I am constantly drawing references from racing as it applies to welding because welding is directly applicable to the Motorsports industry in many facets of joint design, construction, and esthetics,” commented Geesey, the Race Coordinator of the MACS series. “The science and art of welding technology involves more than the arcs and sparks of yester year. It is a highly sophisticated, technological career path that has a direct bearing on driver safety.”

“Several of my former and current students want to pursue a career in welding and metal fabrication as it relates to racing.”

Geesey has also been active in mixing education and dirt Late Model racing. “Yes, in many ways and many times,” stated Geesey. “I have worked with Jack and Donna Lentz to provide discounted event tickets to the students and have also promoted an ICTC night at the races, signage, banners, photo opportunities, speaking engagements, cars on display and whatever else we can come up with.”

Being a teacher requires a special self-discipline and one wonders if that quality helps teachers in their racing activity.

“I also serve as head coach of a JV football team and a varsity boys basketball team,” explained Payne. “The self discipline it takes to organize a team of individuals and put them in place for a common goal on field can also be applied to the track.  At each place you have to show the public how well you have prepared the team.  It certainly takes self-discipline to listen to their opinion when your performance was not very good.”

“Self discipline during the teaching would best be displayed by teaching different levels of students with a lot of different thing going on in their life. As a driver I face different things each time I sit down in the seat.  I would say that self-discipline has certainly helped me in my coaching, teaching and racing career.  Self-discipline is a trait that you can apply to any part of a persons life if he or she wants to be successful.”

“Definitely!” responded Wolfe to the issue of self-discipline in teaching and racing. “To be a good teacher you have to be prepared.  To be a good racer you have to be prepared not only mentally but also in preparing and maintaining your equipment. I was also a coach, another area where that competitive nature kicked in and the discipline makes or breaks you.”

“I feel very lucky to have the best of both worlds, racing and education,” said Mrs. Geesey. “I truly see an overlap between the two.  For me, each supports the other in addition to the fact that they are the perfect ‘escape’ during stressful situations in either setting.”

“Without a doubt!” exclaimed Jeff Geesey in agreement. “In addition to self-discipline it also takes organizational skills, tact, public relations, public speaking, diplomacy and many more people schools in education as well as racing.  There are many parallels.”

So with all of that said is there anything promoters can do to reach students and encourage them to attend racing events and cultivate them into new race fans or even participants?

“I think the high school shop or mechanics class, especially in larger schools is a great place to win students to racing,” explained Wolfe. “I always thought getting the kids to put together a race car would be a great experience and win kids to racing.  I think having kids night is very important and to involve the kids in activities on a regular basis.”

“One time the late Joe Lalonde really promoted the heck out of our kids night and we had 75-85 kids in the bicycle races.  Other times we weren’t so aggressive and we had a couple handfuls of participants.”

“I think ideally you first have to physically go to the schools, talk to the principals, and give the kids a free ticket on this night.  Even better, have a driver take his car to the school and be in uniform and give a talk on safety to help promote your event.”

“Hopefully MACS have effectively advertised and promoted our Junior Racer’s Club reading program that many of your readers are familiar with it,” stated Mrs. Geesey. “Recently at our 10th Annual Awards Banquet, with the support of Jason Covert’s car owner Barry Klinedinst we were able to award a 2006 Dell Lap Top computer to nine year old Rachael Caretti from Weedville PA.”

“We believe that programs such as these will support and encourage the involvement of young people into the sport.  I feel that promoters need to recognize that keeping the interests of kids as well as the supporting the ‘family dynamic’ at race events will spark their interest and desire to get involved at some level.”

Jeff Geesey also acknowledges that race promotion through schools is a viable option but cautions that follow-through is vital. “There are many things, but all require work and follow through,” said Geesey. “Having top drivers who are good public speakers present to the student body, not just about racing but their careers, how they achieved their success both on and off the track, what it takes to run a successful team, all of that.”

“I did that on two occasions with a variety of people including Don Gamble, a noted media personality, Dave Satterlee, a multi-time Late Model Champion at Marion and Challenger Raceway and Jack Lentz.”

“One of the topics was goal setting.  Other activities that can be utilized are school district nights, student guest flaggers, report card night, team (football, basketball, baseball, track) night, mascot night, band night, the list is endless.”

“The track has to establish a rapport with the superintendent and get his or her support by showing the value to the district and why they need to be involved in providing a positive and productive activity of their students to be involved in outside of the school day.  Principals and superintendents match races to raise money for charity is another potential win-win for the track, school and the charitable organization.”

Wolfe then more or less bottom-lined the situation.
 
“Because of federal regulations involving parent and community involvement schools usually have newsletters, where the track could buy a spot to promote their kids activities,” informed Wolfe. “I think schools are an often an untapped resource and provide the most valuable racing resource: our kids.”

“They are the future of not only the growth, but the very existence of racing–the future fans of the sport.”

©2007-2008 Doc Lehman/Dirt America

Tags: David Payne, Greg Ault, Guy Smith, Indiana County Technology Center, Indiana Junior High School Indiana PA, Jack Pencil, Jeff Geesey, John Snyder, Michael "Spanky" Despain, Murphy High School, Peachtree Elementary, Regina Geesey, Scott Wolfe, Tim Tungate