Postby WildcatOne » Mon May 01, 2017 7:42 pm
Thanks, BP! It's great to be here!
My pick for Racers of the Week are Shawn and Chrissy Deters, from Moline, Illinois. Shawn and Chrissy were recommended to me by our friend and former Racer of the Week, Steve Plumb. Thanks, Steve!
The Deters are one fo the most popular and respected drag racing families in the Quad Cities area. Chrissy was recently named Sportsman of the Year from the Cordova Raceway annual awards. The Facebook graphic and intro got 180 likes, 30 comments, and 13 shares. That brings it in 3rd all-time behind Bret Kepner and Jim Wilson.
Chrissy sent me some great info about them and their history in the sport, and I'd like to read what she wrote:
A little bit of our background: Shawn and I both grew up around this sport. My dad, Pat Richardson, is the one who started this back in 1967, and he's been doing it ever since. I should mention here that Pat Richardson was Racer of the Week on September 15th, 2014. Chrissy said: Growing up, I had two choices...to either stay home and play with my friends, or go racing. I chose racing.
In 1996, I traveled the Midwest with my dad, while he was running with the MPSA (Midwest Pro Stock Association), and I met a lot of amazing people.
I was still in high school, and the comraderie of people basically speaks for itself. We were always surrounded by awesome people and racers. I like to think I learned a lot about the sport during those 5 seasons, back then.
During one of his weekends off, my dad put me behind the wheel of his 1980 Plymouth arrow, which was set up for Super Comp. He put a throttle stop on the car, so I could at least get the feel...well, that first pass went out of control, to say the least. Right along with my nerves. Somehow I managed to confuse the throttle stop button with the line lock button and needless to say the car stood up on the backend, and came down real hard, almost running my dad over. Then I decided to foot brake it off the starting line, and against the chip, (which was a sound I wasn't familiar with INSIDE the car) I lifted and decided I was better off being on his pit crew. We laugh about it now, and have for many years, but that was a moment neither of us will ever forget.
Many years later, I ended up in my '82 Olds, and taking my first real "W" on a Father's Day weekend. What an amazing day, and another one for the books.
Just this last fall, I licensed in my dad's Top Sportsman 66 GTO! To some, it's not a big deal. But to us, it most definitely is.
This past winter, I received the "Sportsman of the year" award, from our home track, Cordova International Raceway. That in itself is truly an honor. What an amazing award to receive coming from the girl many years ago, who used to sit back in the pits, and get suited up and strapped into her car, as I was afraid to be up against some of the best! Those people in turn, have become some of the greatest friends and family that a person could ever ask for!
Shawn grew up across the street from Don Speer, and has always referred to Don as his "2nd dad".
Shawn bought his first race car in 2003, and ran Super Pro, and after a few years, he traded that mustang for the Chassis Concepts dragster he has now. Over the years, Shawn has learned a lot from Don, as have I. Don was also best man in our wedding, and rightfully so.
We both have truly been blessed with the knowledge and expertise that stems from both my dad Pat, and Don. What a couple of great mentors!
My 82 Olds has a 468" BBC, and runs anywhere between 10.20's to 10.0's, depending on the kind of air we have. On a cool day, that car always seems to pick up! But I'm not complaining!
Shawn's 247" wheelbase dragster has a 555" Chevy, blown on alcohol runs 6.80 at 197 mph.
He is currently running (this year) a 632" BBC injected on alcohol, and runs 7.50 at 175 mph. He's focusing on the Quick 16 races this year, to free up time to also focus on our kids getting their seat time, since this is their first year in a Jr dragster. We are excited to see what this season brings for our family!
And thanks to Steve Plumb for referring us for this recognition. What a great friend/person Steve is!!
Chrissy asked me to send our prayers and condolences to Clyde Scott and his family in Canton, Texas. Clyde's shop, his cars and most profoundly, his father-in-law were lost in the storms that went through there Saturday night. Our prayers are with you and your family, Clyde.
Also--(please mention this if you have time)
Thank YOU JB, for always taking your own time to put together these segments! It truly gives the veterans of this sport recognition for what they've accomplished their entire life! Without people like them, we wouldn't be here following in their footsteps!
Chrissy, without DragList.com and RacersReunion Radio, I wouldn't be here to do what I do, either. We're all part of a truly great family.
Thanks for the great info, Chrissy. For you and Shawn, we wish you good luck, safe racing and the best of times in the future!
A quick shout-out to our friend Jim Jr. Sanders in St. Louis. Today was Jim Sr. Sanders' birthday. Happy birthday in Heaven, Jim Sr.!
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