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Posts Tagged ‘auto racing’

Scotlyn Helm, ready to run you off the track. (Photos courtesy Jerry Helm)

#LetOurKidsRace.

That’s the hashtag catching fire, as parents, including some from Coupeville, are asking Snohomish County Council members to help them preserve access to a facility in Monroe built and funded by racing families.

The property in question houses the Washington Quarter Midget Association and sits near the Evergreen Speedway.

WQMA has used the property since 2007 to train young drivers and give them their first racing adventure.

Among those behind the wheel have been Coupeville sisters Finley and Scotlyn Helm, who have been piling up the trophies and the stories here on Coupeville Sports.

Finley Helm

Scotlyn Helm

Their dad, Jerry Helm, is the Chief at Central Whidbey Island Fire and Rescue and has been bitten by the racing bug himself.

Mom Lindsey is a teacher at Coupeville Elementary who specializes in kicking unholy amounts of booty as an internationally feared taekwondo champ.

With precocious lil’ bro Kasen already working as a mechanic for the family’s racing dynasty, the Helms care deeply about their racing future.

Jerry, writing about the WQMA:

 

We’ve poured our hearts, time, and resources into creating a space where kids can learn, grow, and race.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been invested by our non-profit organization to build and maintain the track and its facilities.

This place has been a pillar in the lives of so many of our young drivers — a place where they’ve made friends who are like family and shared memories that will last a lifetime.

Now, our future is uncertain.

The county is putting our beloved track up to the highest bidder, asking for a minimum 2.5 times what we pay now.

For our non-profit kid’s organization, that’s a huge challenge, and it threatens to take away the only location our kids have for the sport they love.

Some kids choose baseball or football, and they’re provided with fields. Our kids choose both, and they deserve a track.

Our drivers aren’t just kids playing a sport — they’re the future drivers for Evergreen Speedway next door, a big part of our community.

Our races bring in visitors from across the Pacific Northwest and Canada, supporting local businesses and enriching our community.

Please, Snohomish County Council help us continue to be here for the next generation of racers.

We’re asking for your support to let our kids race, to keep their dreams alive, and to allow this track to stay their home.

 

To add your support, email:

Jared Mead – SCOJMM@co.snohomish.wa.us
Megan Dunn – SCOMDD@co.snohomish.wa.us
Nate Nehring – SCONAN@co.snohomish.wa.us
Sam Low – SCOSEL@co.snohomish.wa.us
Strom Peterson – SCOSHP@co.snohomish.wa.us
Tom Teigen – Tom.Teigen@snoco.org
Dave Sommers – Dave.Sommers@co.snohomish.wa.us

“Do it!”

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Jerry Helm, and some of his progeny, meets the public. (Sylvia Arnold photo)

Sometimes he puts out the fires, and sometimes he starts them.

Metaphorically speaking…

Central Whidbey Island Fire and Rescue Chief Jerry Helm spent this past weekend laying down rubber and scorching the racetrack while driving the #27 car.

Battling against a packed field, he claimed fourth place in a NASCAR street stock main event, part of a strong rookie season for the father of three.

Ready to rumble. (Photos courtesy Jerry Helm)

“Solid day at the track yesterday,” Helm said. “Fell back to fourth behind some very talented drivers with fast cars but settled in thanks to the spotter/coach in my ear, Gene Watson.

“His calm voice in my ear helped settle this rookie down and focus on driving the wheels off the car.”

Helm, who will be in action at Evergreen Speedway Aug. 31, also sent props to his crew — Matthew Garstin, Wyatt Waldron, Gary Garstin, and Jerry Helm, Sr.

And the sponsors who keep the speed-happy driver punching the pedal through the metal?

They would be Tiger Construction, Fisherman Jack’s, The Muse Whiskey & Coffee, and North48 Real Estate.

Zoom, zoom.

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Jerry and Lindsey Helm hang out with the family’s ace mechanic, Kasen, who just celebrated his second birthday.

They’re finding their groove.

Central Whidbey Island Fire and Rescue Chief Jerry Helm and his crew continue to surge to the front of the pack in the world of auto racing.

Helm’s first-hand report from the track:

 

Race #4 update…

Following the previous race, the race team went to work on the #27 car.

The goal, find some speed and shave seconds.

After some engine maintenance by Michael Matros, and suspension and tire adjustments by Phillip Brotemarkle and Shawn Calkins, the #27 car showed up ready to run.

Practice session went well as we worked to fine tune braking and alignment settings.

In the heat race, the car felt great. Setting a team best lap time of 18.39 seconds.

We qualified and started 9th for the 15-car main event.

After a long and extended race, riddled with wrecks and yellow cautions, we had worked our way up to 5th place with four laps to go.

On the last lap, we drove the car in deep and passed two cars on the inside of turn 1. This made for three car wide racing going into turn 2.

The adjustments the team made to the car really showed in this moment.

The look of speed.

The car hooked up, got traction, and shot out of turn 2 in sole position of third place with half a lap remaining to the checked flag.

Holding off the cars behind for the final two turns, we crossed the line in third place. Although, that’s not quite where the drama ended.

NASCAR track officials announced that the car behind us (that we had passed during the race after all the caution restarts, and again on the final lap) was awarded third place.

After a discussion with the NASCAR track officials, they agreed with us, and officially scored us correctly in third place.

Because of the time it took to figure this out, we missed our chance to stand on the podium for the television cameras, get our trophy, and thank our friends, families, and sponsors.

However, we are very thankful that the NASCAR track officials made the right call in the end.

While we wait until the next race to get our trophy, we want to thank everyone for the kind words of encouragement and support through an emotional roller coaster of post-race events.

Thank you to Tiger Construction, The Muse Whiskey and Coffee, Fisherman Jacks, and North 48 Real Estate for keeping us on track.

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When Jerry Helm revs his engine, his fan club comes running.

The fire captain is burning up the track.

Even when his equipment fails to fully cooperate with him.

Overcoming a snapped front spindle, Central Whidbey Fire and Rescue head honcho Jerry Helm scrambled to pull his racing car back into shape Saturday, then unleashed holy heck on the track.

Is it just me or does this broken piece look like it’s complaining to the world?

“Opening night turned out to be challenging for us,” Helm said. “Got hit hard during qualifying.

“Huge shout out to Dirk Kruiswyk for running out to his shop for a spare to get me back out for the heat race and main event.”

Racing the clock, Helm and his crack pit crew proved you can slow down a Cow Town legend, but you can’t stop him.

“Huge shout out to Michael Matros, Philip Brotemarkle, and Max Waldron for the amazing pit work getting it swapped out just in time for the heat race,” Helm said.

Not that his night went 100% smoothly from there, as he promptly got hit during the main event as well.

This time, Helm had his rear tire blown clean off its rim.

Never fear, however, as the pit crew was there to save the day.

“After being towed off the track, my superstar pit crew were ready for me when the tow truck got me back to my pit stall,” Helm said.

“They had tools and my spare tire waiting for me,” he added. “They had the tire and rim swapped out before the tow truck even set me down.

“And to the screams and cheers from my racing family, I was able to get back out and finish the race.”

Daughters Finley (middle) and Scotlyn Helm, superstar racers in their own right, came out to support pops.

While it was a tough day for the #27 car and its team, just finishing was the real win.

“Given what we were dealing with, I’m amazed we were still able to finish the race,” Helm said. “Definitely a team effort.”

Backed by the smell of burnt rubber, he gave shout outs to Mike Shimek, Austin Lee Camp, and Tyler Hill for their assistance, and Scott Isenhart and Tiger Construction for their support.

You can catch Saturday’s racing action by tuning in to KSTW – Channel 11 next Sunday, April 7 at 5:00 PM, when #wqmastreetstockdads will be featured.

While Helm didn’t make the podium (this time), his cousin, Mike Shimek, did.

“We’ll be back!”

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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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