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Posts Tagged ‘Washington Quarter Midget Association’

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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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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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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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.

Big sis Finley (left) joins the trophy show.

Returning to the track Sunday, the Helm sisters made a serious run at nabbing all the prizes on day two.

Finley racked up 2nd place in her heat, and a 3rd place in the main event, with Scotlyn roaring to another victory in her finale.

Riding on tires provided by a scholarship from Wilkie Excavating, the Helm sisters made Pops beam.

“These girls really worked hard this weekend,” Jerry Helm said. “Couldn’t be more proud of their fight and perseverance.”

“Eat my dust!”

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Scotlyn Helm is here to collect all your trophies. (Photos courtesy Jerry Helm)

It’s the sound of victory.

Finley and Scotlyn Helm continue to pile up trophies while chasing down would-be competitors at Washington Quarter Midget Association racing events.

With dad Jerry keeping their souped-up vehicles revving at high speed, the sisters are leading the way as an ever-growing group of Coupeville kids take over the Monroe Speedway.

They are Wolves, and they’re here to make their gas pedals howl.

Finley Helm, ready to hit the open road.

A student of the game.

“Don’t make me drive over your back bumper, cause I will.”

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