34racrs_wife
06-28-2007, 11:33 AM
From The Bureau County Journal:
Racing is in the blood and a family event in the Ramer household during the summer
When is comes to racing, the Ramer family considers it a family affair and wouldn’t want it any other way.
This season, though, Matt Ramer has gone in a slightly different direction at the Bureau County Speedway. He is now the track’s flagman on Friday nights.
“The track officials asked us before the season started if we wanted to volunteer to help in any way at the track,” Ramer said. “I told them I have never been a flagman before, but I wouldn’t mind trying it out. To say the least, I love doing it.”
Ramer hasn’t been racing much this season. He was involved in an accident in a demolition derby that left him in a knee immobilizer. “I don’t mind so much, though, not being able to race,” Ramer said. “It’s a total rush to be that close to the action. I’ve learned a lot about racing and driving by being up in the flag stand.” As Ramer found out, there are times when the flagman
is asked to make some tough decisions during the race. “If someone obviously spins someone out, it is my job to discipline, I guess,” Ramer said. “Whoever gets spun out goes back to the spot they were in, and the person who spun them out goes to the back of the pack. The nice thing is, after both times I had to do that, both drivers came up to me and said, hey, you made the right call.”
Matt is not the only member to be seen working around the speedway as his dad is now running the tow truck, and his wife helps run one of the scorebooks. The Ramer family is also the demo derby promoters. “My parents have been doing that for some time now,” Ramer said. “I have run the flag post for that also, and I help inspect the cars before the races. And before I hurt my knee, I would help run the tow truck as well.”
Demolition derbies are becoming few and far between as cars aren’t as easy to come by as they once were. “You used to be able to find a car for $50, somewhere, that was just perfect to run in a derby,” Ramer said. “These days, no one has as many of those cars sitting around, or they are just asking too much money for them.” Before hurting his knee this season, Ramer was able to taste a bit of the victory stand, collecting his second
ever feature win. “That was definitely a highlight this year,” Ramer said. “I won it at the LaSalle speedway, and to win on different
tracks is pretty amazing.
Then again, I just love being around the track and being involved with everything.”
Racing is in the blood and a family event in the Ramer household during the summer
When is comes to racing, the Ramer family considers it a family affair and wouldn’t want it any other way.
This season, though, Matt Ramer has gone in a slightly different direction at the Bureau County Speedway. He is now the track’s flagman on Friday nights.
“The track officials asked us before the season started if we wanted to volunteer to help in any way at the track,” Ramer said. “I told them I have never been a flagman before, but I wouldn’t mind trying it out. To say the least, I love doing it.”
Ramer hasn’t been racing much this season. He was involved in an accident in a demolition derby that left him in a knee immobilizer. “I don’t mind so much, though, not being able to race,” Ramer said. “It’s a total rush to be that close to the action. I’ve learned a lot about racing and driving by being up in the flag stand.” As Ramer found out, there are times when the flagman
is asked to make some tough decisions during the race. “If someone obviously spins someone out, it is my job to discipline, I guess,” Ramer said. “Whoever gets spun out goes back to the spot they were in, and the person who spun them out goes to the back of the pack. The nice thing is, after both times I had to do that, both drivers came up to me and said, hey, you made the right call.”
Matt is not the only member to be seen working around the speedway as his dad is now running the tow truck, and his wife helps run one of the scorebooks. The Ramer family is also the demo derby promoters. “My parents have been doing that for some time now,” Ramer said. “I have run the flag post for that also, and I help inspect the cars before the races. And before I hurt my knee, I would help run the tow truck as well.”
Demolition derbies are becoming few and far between as cars aren’t as easy to come by as they once were. “You used to be able to find a car for $50, somewhere, that was just perfect to run in a derby,” Ramer said. “These days, no one has as many of those cars sitting around, or they are just asking too much money for them.” Before hurting his knee this season, Ramer was able to taste a bit of the victory stand, collecting his second
ever feature win. “That was definitely a highlight this year,” Ramer said. “I won it at the LaSalle speedway, and to win on different
tracks is pretty amazing.
Then again, I just love being around the track and being involved with everything.”