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Helm sisters roar to auto racing glory

Posted in auto sports, tagged auto racing, awards, Finley Helm, Jerry Helm, Scotlyn Helm, Washington Quarter Midget Association on January 27, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Coupeville just produces better racers than other places. No lies, all truth. (Photos courtesy Jerry Helm)

They’re in the empire building business.

Coupeville sisters Finley and Scotlyn Helm, with some help from the family, have taken the auto racing world by storm.

Dad Jerry is the lead mechanic (and a bit of a racer himself), mom Lindsey the benevolent power behind the throne, and lil’ bro Kasen hot to trot to join his older siblings behind the wheel.

“Brakes? Where I’m going, I don’t need brakes!!”

The latest triumph for the Helm sisters, who are in 6th and 3rd grade respectively, was the Washington Quarter Midget Association’s season-ending awards banquet Friday at Angel of the Winds Casino.

The wrecking crew.

Both Scotlyn and Finley brought home awards, with big sis claiming a 3rd place in the Heavy Honda division.

Finley also was tabbed as the 2023 Senior Rookie of the Year, which has been handed out since 1979.

Her name is now engraved on the trophy along with previous winners.

“Pass me? As if.”

Meanwhile, somewhere in the background, Kasen has made off with the keys and is already practicing for his own run at nabbing the award.

Spoiler: he can only reach the gas pedal, and not the brakes.

“Pops! Clean out my room! I’m bringing all the trophies home!!”

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One family, many trophies

Posted in auto sports, tagged auto racing, Finley Helm, Jerry Helm, Scotlyn Helm, Washington Quarter Midget Association on September 11, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Scotlyn Helm, building a mountain of trophies. (Photos courtesy Jerry Helm)

They’re in the empire-building business.

Coupeville’s Helm Race Team, featuring dad Jerry and speed demon daughters Finley and Scotlyn — with mom Lindsey and junior mechanic Kasen keeping things running smoothly — continues to tear up the racing oval.

The trio of pedal through the metal contenders all ran strongly this past weekend at off-Island events.

Scotlyn, the Helm driver with the most time in the competitive seat, claimed 3rd place in her Washington Quarter Midget Association main event.

To get there, the elementary school hotshot showed major gumption, fighting from behind after a spin-out sent her to the back of the pack for a hot minute.

Finley Helm, standing tall in the auto racing world.

Big sis Finley, who made her middle school debut with the start of a new school year, had her own car-related issues to overcome.

After trading metal with another racer, the oldest of the Helm children did a nifty 180-degree spin and launched backwards through a wall.

Recovering quickly, Finley jammed the gas pedal through the floorboards, driving with “fire in her belly,” eventually sliding past a foe to snatch 2nd place while adding to her legend.

While pops didn’t get a chance to pull off any last-second come-from-behind moves like his daughters, Jerry Helm did set a new PR in just his second official race while piloting the big car.

Finishing 12th out of 17 racers, he earned a (small) nod of approval from his lil’ mechanic, Kasen, and is getting “faster and more comfortable with every lap.”

Jerry Helm, lookin’ smooth in the #27 car.

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Defying gravity, one hill at a time

Posted in auto sports, tagged gravity, John Fisken photos, North Whidbey Rotary, Oak Harbor, race cars on August 28, 2023| Leave a Comment »

“Do I have a driver’s license? Doesn’t matter, cause the cops will never catch me!!” (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

“Brakes? Where we’re going, we don’t need brakes.”

Well, OK, maybe they had brakes after all, but that didn’t stop young racers from picking up some speed flying down Oak Harbor’s hills.

The North Whidbey Sunrise Rotary Club held its 31st annual Challenge Series Saturday, which raises money for special needs families in the community.

Two young drivers team up in each car, with gravity helping to send the vehicles careening towards the finish line.

Back on Whidbey after a summer trek across America’s backroads, photographer John Fisken was front and center to snap pics, which he shares with us here.

To see everything he captured on film (all photos are free to download), pop over to:

https://www.johnsphotos.net/Events/2023-08-26-Gravity-race-SE-Barrington/

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Dad can drive fast, too

Posted in auto sports, tagged Central Whidbey Island Fire and Rescue, CHS Wolves, Evergreen Speedway, Jerry Helm, NASCAR, quarte on August 21, 2023| Leave a Comment »

“Vroom vroom, old man! I make the car do what she does!!” (Photos courtesy Jerry Helm)

The family that races together polishes trophies together.

Following in the footsteps of daughters Finley and Scotlyn Helm, Central Whidbey Island Fire and Rescue Chief Jerry Helm has been bitten by the car bug.

The Coupeville High School grad and former firefighter calendar heartthrob is now an officially licensed NASCAR Street Stock Division racer.

“Pops” Helm punches the pedal through the metal at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe.

Jerry Helm (right) blazes a new trail, one lap at a time.

With a little help from his main mechanic, Kasen, the family patriarch is a regular at the Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series.

That puts three of five family members in the driver’s seat, with Finley and Scotlyn racing in the Washington Quarter Midget Association.

Passing cars like a young Dale Earnhardt.

Mom Lindsey is holding things down as a popular teacher at Coupeville Elementary School, while the aforementioned Kasen is champing at the bit to get his own car.

“Yeah, he definitely knows when the race cars are nearby,” dad said with a laugh. “He’s my little shop hand until he can reach the pedals.”

“Listen up, Pops. Use my tools, put ’em back where you got them from!”

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Helm sisters burn up track

Posted in auto sports, tagged CMS Wolves, Coupeville Elementary School, Finley Helm, Scotlyn Helm, Washington Quarter Midget Association on August 7, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Scotlyn Helm visualizes another sweet, sweet victory. (Photos courtesy Jerry Helm)

They’re not slowing down, for you or anyone else.

Coupeville speed demons Finley and Scotlyn Helm continue to tear up the track at the Monroe Speedway, piling up trophies and earning mad respect.

The duo was back at it this past weekend, punching the pedal through the metal while dad Jerry kept their turbo-charged rides hummin’ along.

Saturday was qualifying day, with Scotlyn missing out on setting a new track record by just four tenths of a second.

Lil’ sis, who has the most time behind the wheel of any of Lindsey Helm’s three children, qualified 2nd in her class, before storming to a win in the main event.

Older sibling Finley, who is headed to middle school in a few weeks, qualified in 5th, saw her ride get a complete suspension rebuild, then bounced back to claim a personal-best 3rd place finish.