Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Pubishing, Inc.

In a May 11 post on Roadracingworld.com, racer John Jewett reported that fellow CCS racer Matt Hartlieb was seriously injured in a crash at the Las Vegas Classic Course.

While Hartlieb dealt with his head injury at Las Vegas University Medical Center, Jewett organized a fund-raising drive to help defer Hartlieb’s medical expenses. An electric go-ped scooter was raffled off at the May 18-19 CCS race at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Arizona.

CCS Southwest Region Race Director Randy Stem e-mailed Roadracingworld.com with the outcome of that raffle.

Stem’s e-mail follows:

“The raffle of the electric go-ped was a huge success. Approximately $3800 was raised in one weekend by tickets purchased by our riders, race staff and spectators. We had a major donation by J6 Racing to start of the raffle. Throughout the weekend our announcer kept the crowd informed of the need to help Matt and his message did not go unheeded. Everyone was in the raffle spirit. John Jewett, the racer responsible for organizing the raffle, held the drawing after the Unlimited Grand Prix Expert race. He asked the race winner, local fast guy Rob Martin, to draw the winning ticket. Just as Rob drew the winning ticket he announced he was adding the entire purse of $500 to the fund-raising effort. This sent a big cheer through the crowd.

“There was a bank account started also for Matt with generous donations from racer Scott Willock and Dave and Alex at North Valley Honda. As of May 5, 2002, that account had $1300 in it.

“Matt’s Mom and his girlfriend could not believe how generous our riders were. Mrs. Hartlieb was in tears when she expressed how amazed she was that so many people cared so much about her son. I am not amazed by this outpouring, just very proud of our racing family.

“Hours prior to Matt getting injured in a race at the Las Vegas track, racer Patrick Richardson had started a fund to raise money for the purchase of sun shade for the cornerworkers. In the course of a weekend $625 was raised by these same racers with a generous donation from Heatwave Cycles, Matt Hartlieb’s sponsor, to start the fund. Within two weeks of starting the sun shade project our cornerworkers now have shade on each and every corner.

“My whole point in writing this e-mail is to personally say ‘Thank You’ to all of the wonderful and very special people we have in our racing organization. The camaraderie and friendships my wife, Heidi, and I have made in our many years in our sport have never been more satisfying. From John Jewett whose only comment was ‘I just hope they would do this for me if I were injured’ to Dale Kieffer who would not accept payment for the scooter he made available for this raffle, to the many people who stepped up with major donations to make sure that Matt is taken care of, I am very proud to be associated with each and every one of you.

“See you at the races.”

Randy B. Stem,
Race Director
CCS/SW Region