Eric Medlen, one of the NHRA's most popular drivers, died last week as a result of injuries received during a crash in testing at Gainsville. Medlen made his living by strapping himself into an earthbound 8,000 h.p. rocket, in itself a dangerous proposition. Despite the danger and the hard word, Medlen was known for his sincere smile and his unlimited energy. He loved what he did, and made the most out of his short 33 years. His impact will be felt long after he makes his last turn off from the shut-down area of this life. We will miss him as he teaches the angels a thing or two about drag racing.
Godspeed Eric.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
I've gotten the impression from past posts that you are not a huge John Force fan, but the note JF wrote ref. Eric's death was touching and well done. I was glad to see it.
John and I have a very complicated relationship. He was just breaking into the scene when I stopped watching drag racing, a love I rediscovered only a few short years ago. And there was John, all go no stop balls to wall John Force. I love his desire to win and his maniacal interviews.
Then the worst possible thing happened. A&E started that damned Driving Force tv show, exposing John's separation from wife, and his unerring ability to trip over his own yank in dealing with his girls. He became. almost, a mere mortal. Almost approachable.
Last September, wife, myself and 4 year old son (who recognizes most of the driver's cars, and knows the drivers' names) were in the pits on Thursday evening. No crowds, no racing, just tuning for Friday's first two qualifying rounds. Force wondered up from nowhere, and after several waves from my lovely wife, he finally came over to sign a special scrap book page wife had made for son, which included a picture of his John Force funny car birthday cake (purchased off of Force's page at an ungodly markup). After years of working with adults with severe developmental disabilities, and 6 years in the practice of law (one retard really is like any other) I can read most people, their body language, and their "vibe". This was a special moment for the boy. The Force "vibe" was that he just didn't want to have anything to do with any of us, and would have preferred that we weren't there.
On Sunday morning, when I asked John to sign the bill of my NHRA hat, he ran from my Sharpie like it had a mixture of plague and HIV on it. Not for nothing, but when I asked John for his autograph (this was backstage at the driver's introduction) no one was talking to him, he was standing there by himself, just like my father at most social events.
Me and John, we got a lot of issues to work out...
Godspeed to Eric Medlen. The entire racing community will never be the same...
Post a Comment