Saturday, May 24, 2008

Taylor receving help after transporter fire

Here's a heartwarming story for you. After the race in Laguna Seca Wayne Taylor Racing's transporter en route to the team's shop in Indianapolis burned to the ground just outside Amarillo, Texas. The team lost just about everything, from important race data, to spare parts, tools and even a copy machine.

"This all has been so devastating," Taylor said, emotion choking his words

"The only thing (spared) was a Dallara frame, and it's back at the shop in Indy. Everything we had for an entire racing season was on that truck, and it's all gone. Everything we possibly could need to run a race, repair or replace other parts was on that trailer; everything for the entire season."

And then like something seen only in some sort of Chirstmas Special came help from the friends and rivals of Wayne Taylor Racing.

"People have offered cars, parts, transporters, whatever we need," he said. "I've gotten calls from Bob Stallings, Bill Riley, Kevin Doran, Mike Shank, Gene Sigal. Timmy Keene at Chip Ganassi Racing (in Indianapolis) has just been utterly phenomenal with his help."

"It's just so remarkable that every one of these people would do all they can to beat us on the track and yet do everything they can to get us back on it."

"Jim France and the SunTrust people have been on the telephone throughout the day with me, asking and doing what they can to help. Their just being there for us has been utterly incredible and comforting."

Again fighting to express words that his brain wished to convey but at which his voice balked, "It's just remarkable, this Grand-Am community - competitors and fans, alike - how they've rallied to my aid. I just don't think there is any other racing community like it anywhere. I've certainly not encountered anything like it before in all my decades of racing."

"I'm just so proud to be among them and have friends who've gone well beyond being only my competitors."

Now after some doubt that they would be able to make the 6 hour classic at Watkins Glen, Wayne Taylor said that they would be able to make the race on June 7th.

Makes you just want to go volunteer at the nearest Goodwill doesn't it?

DC chats with Wayne Taylor: Suntrust on Fire (Motorsport.com)

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