2007 archives
(5/4/07) It has been 1 year since my accident that left me an incomplete paraplegic. At times it seems like the longest year of my life and other times it seems like it has flown by.
I look back on this year with my accident and the loss of our Dad in September and I could easily say it has been the worst year ever. But I can’t really say that because all I have to do is think of the outpouring of love and support from family, friends, our church, and even people I have never met. The opportunity to return to racing, the chance to share with others what God has done for not only myself but my family, and how close it has brought our family has made this the BEST YEAR OF MY LIFE.
We were hoping to already be up and running with our racing program ,but some delays and some unforeseen financial obligations have set us back 1 maybe 2 months. We are still getting close to being on track we are just going to put some of our larger expenses off till just absolutely necessary.
I was hoping we would be able to be going on the help we have already received, but that may not be the case. One thing this year has taught me is that anything that we do in life cannot be accomplished without the help of others. It has been a humbling experience to receive the love, support, and help that I have this year and any help we get in getting us back on track will be greatly appreciated.
Thank You and God Bless
Tim Totherow
t39racer
(7/11/07) Hello everyone. We are close to being on track, but with a different car than we originally were going to use. Due to some unforeseen changes we have switched to our modified street/b-hobby camaro and have put the crate late model on the back burner for monetary reasons and the availability of parts we have on hand. This will still get us back on the racetrack this year and get me some much needed seat time.
It has been a very busy few months for me with therapy, where I am still making gains in strength and control of my legs. I still don't have any movement from my knees down ,but with bilateral A.F.O.s(ankle braces) I drive and walk with canes or walker. I still use my wheelchair as walking is difficult. I have had some problems with swelling in my legs and infections, but we have gotten those under control.
And most importantly my Wife and I have taken a more active role in our church with the AWANA program for kids, Vacation Bible School, and to teach the 5th and 6th grade Sunday school class. I also have been nominated for a deacon position, which I have prayerfully considered and I know that the Lord will guide me to the correct decision.
It is a possibility that my therapy will end in less than 2 months as they feel that I am close to MMI(maximum medical improvement). This does not mean that I won't make more improvements, it is a decision associated with the insurance company more than anything else.
I am going through the TN State Dept. of Vocational Rehab with the good chance that I will return to school to earn a degree to allow me to return to work at some point in the future.
Your thoughts and prayers are appreciated more than I can describe
(8/21/07) Hello all. I have been invited to be on a local radio show, "Dirt Track Racing", on WGOW Talk Radio 102.3. Hosted by Steve Milling and DJ, host of the NASCAR hour on SportTalk. The show airs every Wednesday from 7:00pm till 8:00pm. I will be there on September 5th. This coincides with my expected "first night" return on September 7th. That's right, we will be racing on Sept 7th at Boyd's Speedway in Chattanooga TN. This has been a long time coming.
I was also featured in a story in "The Chattanoogan.com", a weekly e-newpaper concerning news around the Chattanooga area.
I have picked up Bell Racing as a product sponsor. Bell makes some of the best safety equipment in the business. I have been a long time user of Bell helmets and will be very proud to be associated with Bell.
(9/10/07) Well, we didn't get everything together in time to go on the 7th. We had some issues with the clutch and release bearing clearance. That stuff has to be just right for me to be able to use it with a hand control device. We will make it out to Boyd's for my return on the 14th.
On another note. We have made an agreement with Carolina Trailers for them to come on board as an associate sponsor. We are working out all the details right now. Look for an official press release very soon
(9/15/07) Can you believe that after all we have been through to get this car (and me) ready to go race, it RAINS. The races were cancelled for the 14th, but my hopes were not. I am more excited than ever. If the weather cooperates next week, we will be racing on the 21st. Steve Milling has promised that I can carry the American flag for the playing of the National Anthem. I have always wanted to do that.
Dano Pacheco with Carolina Trailers delivered our new trailer on Thursday, and it is beautiful. This is one of the nicest store bought trailers I have ever seen. It is very well constructed, has a very nice set of ramps and loads easier than any trailer I have ever used. I was proud to have my race car sitting on such a nice trailer.
(10/2/07) WE DID IT!! We finally made it to the races Friday the 28th at Boyd's Speedway. It was awesome to get back in a race car for the first time since my injury. It didn't take long for me to get the coordination down for using the hand operated clutch and once I got going I was able to shift the car. I was very nervous before going out for hot laps but once I got out there I was able to handle the car. It took me a few laps to get up to speed and I noticed a couple of small things in the drivers compartment that we had to make small changes to so that I could get from the throttle to the brake with minimal effort. The car worked really well and is a much better car than the driver for now. Our game plan was to start in the back of the heat race, stay out of any crashes, and make laps. We accomplished this and I was able to even pass some cars for a 5th place finish. We used the same plan in the feature with a 9th place result. With more seat time I will feel comfortable getting more aggressive to have better finishes. I have many, many people to thank for helping me accomplish this dream, first is God, my wife Shanda, my daughters Shanoa and Mckenzie, my brothers Mike and Jarvis, my nephew Zach, and all of my family for all the hard work and support. Carolina Trailers for a great trailer to transport the car, Bell helmets, John Finger Mazda, Boyd's Speedway, and many more. We are returning to Boyd's Speedway in Chattanooga, TN. on Oct. 5 for my next race, so come on out and enjoy the races, I know I will.
God Bless,
Tim Totherow t39racer
(10/7/07) There are many days in my life that I will never forget; December 2, 1990, when I married my wife Shanda. The days that my children( Shanoa 13 and Mckenzie 9) were born. The day I accepted Jesus. March 5, 2006, when my children and I were baptized. May 4, 2006, the day I fell and received my disabling injury. July 21, 2006, when I came home from 10 weeks of hospitalization. September 19, 2006, the day our father passed away. September 28, 2007, my first time back in a race car. Two days later on September 30, I was ordained as a deacon at Mount Carmel Baptist Church. Most recently on Friday night October 5, 2007, with it being my second time back in a race car in several years, we did what I thought would take a long time, if ever, and that was WIN THE B-HOBBY FEATURE at Boyd's Speedway. I still don't think it has sunk in that not only am I once again a race car driver, but with the Lord's strength and help and support from family and friends, a WINNING race car driver. It is an awesome experience to have so many fans, drivers, and crew members come up and tell me "way to go", or "great job", or that I am an inspiration to others. One of the biggest reasons that we have worked so hard for so many months to get the car and me ready was to show people, disabled or not, that with God all things are possible! I praise God for the good days and the bad days, because they have made who I am today.
Tim Totherow t39racer
(10/13/07) After our first feature win Oct. 5 at Boyd's Speedway I am eager to race again, but with this being an off weekend for Boyd's we will have to wait until Oct. 19. We didn't have much to do to the car this week, other than weekly maintenance, all that had to be done was straighten out the front bumper and right front fender where I got into another car, embarrassingly after the heat race where I finished 3rd.
We still had a great weekend as I was contacted a few weeks ago by Elaine Adams, Recreation Therapy Coordinator with The City Of Chattanooga Parks and Recreation Division, and asked if I would attend this years "Go Fest" Celebration on Oct. 13 by bringing the race car for one of the many displays of activities that a person with a disability can do. "Go Fest", held this year at The Chattanooga Zoo and Warner Park, promoted all ability diversity showcasing resources that enhance life for individuals with disabilities and their families. It was amazing to see the adaptive bicycles, wheelchairs and other equipment that allows anyone, no matter their ability, to participate in just about any activity from adaptive golf, bicycle racing, powerchair soccer, to wheelchair tennis and everything in between.
God Bless and see you Friday
Tim Totherow t39racer
(10/19/07) We had another good race night this week. We won our heat race and finished 2nd in the feature. In the heat race I started on outside of the front row. I got a good start, and lead the entire race. In the feature I again started on the outside of the front row. I got another good start and led several laps before I was involved in a crash. Our car wasn't hurt, but I had to restart last and still managed to make it back to 2nd. I had to get aggressive with a couple of cars that were racing side by side, but weren't as fast as we were. If the race had been 5 laps longer, or if there had been another caution that would have bunched the field up, I think we might have had our 2nd win. All in all it was another great night and I have the Lord to thank for keeping me safe, allowing us to do something that I enjoy, making it a family and friends affair, and allowing me to glorify God's name.
God Bless
Tim Totherow
(10/26/07) Can you believe it? We had another great night of racing. When we left Boyd's Speedway Friday night, we left with another heat race win and another 2nd place finish in the feature. That makes our feature finishes 1 win, 2 seconds, and my first time back in the car a ninth. I must say I'm having the time of my life and I know that the Lord has blessed me beyond measure. Our car developed a miss in the engine during the feature and didn't have the power I needed to catch Chad Collins in the #08. However, it ran good enough to get us that 2nd place finish. We have possibly two more races at Boyd's this year and I hope to make both of those. So come on out on Nov. 2 and enjoy some good racing.
Thanks and God Bless
Tim Totherow t39racer
(11/9/07) Well, the racing is over at our home track, Boyd's Speedway, for this year. We ran the season finale Friday night. With temperatures in the low 40's the track held moisture really well, maybe to well, and with some of the "upper" classes not wanting to get their cars muddy packing the track it made for a long night.
Since the last race we made some chassis changes that really helped the car turn great and I had plenty of forward bite, however, we are still being plagued with carburetor problems. The car runs good on the primaries, but terrible when you go full throttle. We worked on it after hot laps and it was better for the heat race where we finished 2nd. We looked at it again after the heat, but didn't have much time to do a lot, so we went with what we had.
No one had anything for the 08 of Chad Collins, but I gave the 57 of Doug Gibbons all he could handle. He held on to 2nd with me 3rd (on two barrels) and the 2 of Denny Nash was 4th. It was a great night of racing as we didn't tear the car up and we had FUN.
We are going to the 'Fall Brawl" in Winchester TN on Nov. 17th to run in the Modified Street class. This will finish out our racing for the year. Come on out and enjoy the races, we sure will.
I have many to thank for this year; my wife and children, my brothers and nephew, Mom, Carolina Trailers, Hightower Racing Transmissions, Bell Safety Equipment, Boyd's Speedway, and many more, but most of all I want to thank and GLORIFY GOD, because if not for Him none of this would be possible.
God Bless and Thank You
Tim Totherow t39racer
(11/18/07) It has been many years since we raced at Winchester Speedway in Winchester TN. and I was surprised at the improvements that have been made to the facility and how well we were treated by the owner Darrell Day, all the track personnel, and the racers.
Our racing, however, wasn't as good. We felt like we brought a knife to a gun fight. We had the wrong tires, we were on Hoosiers and everyone else was on American Racers. One of the regulars there told us that once the track starts taking on rubber from the A/R's, the Hoosiers just won't get a grip. We also had the wrong gear. We turned about 500 rpm less than we should have. I guess my notes from there are long gone with everything that has gone on in the last few years.
The heat race was wild, with cars going everywhere. We managed to finish third even after being ran off the end of the track in one of the many cautions. The feature was calm and went caution free. We finished seventh. I could have finished better, but it took me quite a few laps to find a line I could drive the car in.
When we go back next time we'll be better prepared. We look forward to racing at Winchester Speedway again some next year.
Thanks and God Bless
Tim Totherow
(12/15/07) Wow, have I been busy? My brother Jarvis and I traveled to Louisville Kentucky on the day after Thanksgiving to a Sentman Auction and Trade Show. I had been asked to speak about my accident and the safety issues in racing that are important to me. I had not been to one of these in many years. My Dad and I used to go frequently and being there brought back many fond memories. While we were there we bought a few things at the auction and met some vendors that we will most likely be doing business with next year.
Shortly after returning from Louisville I got word back from Sandy Howell, a writer for Sports N' Spokes magazine. Sports N' Spokes is a national magazine devoted to wheelchair sports that is published by the Paralyzed Veterans of America. I had been interviewed before leaving and will be featured in an upcoming issue.
Last weekend my wife, the girls and I took a mini-vacation to Orlando. However, it wasn't really a vacation for me. I was there for the PRI show. I met with Johnny Hightower of Hightower Racing Transmissions and got a sneak peek at the new Borg-Warner T10 that I will be using next year. Hightower has specially modified the shift collars and such so as to allow shifting with out operating the clutch. This will be very beneficial to me on restarts. The way it is now I am at a terrible disadvantage. I also was interviewed by J.A. Ackley of Speedway Illustrated Magazine. It seems I may be featured in that magazine as well. I had a long conversation with Brad Smith of RH2way concerning the Hans device I hope to be using next year. DJ's Safety equipment was very helpful as well. We talked about special zippered side legs on a SFI 20 suit that I am looking at very seriously.
In between all the excitement, I have taken my college placement test and signed up for the classes that I need. I have had a myriad of doctors appointments due to the infection in my leg that I just can't seem to get rid of.
Activities at Church and the upcoming Christmas Holidays have kept me and Shanda pretty busy too.
