Cold-roddin'

March 28, 2006

DAWN DE BUSK

Frontiersman reporter

WASILLA - When Wasilla resident and race-car driver Kelly Sawyer signed her first autograph, won her first trophy, and received her first cash prize at North Star Speedway, she caught a glimpse of her teenage son, Christopher, high-fiving his friends in the stands.

&#8220How else can a mom connect with her 14-year-old son?” she asked.

Sawyer, who been racing at the speedway with JAGs, or Just All Girls, in borrowed cars for two years, recently purchased a &#8220legends” race car.

She and Christopher hand-screwed all the studs on her tires.

Although Sawyer had no intention of competing with the big boys during Saturday's Legends on the Ice races on the 4-inch-thick ice of Lake Lucille, it didn't take much arm-twisting to get her behind the wheel later in the afternoon.

&#8220Omigosh, it was so much fun. I didn't scream until I got back in and took off my helmet,” Sawyer said. &#8220The car has potential, but the driver needs work.”

Family friend Ron Thomas drove her midnight-blue Legends car during the first few 10-lap races, and won. Afterward, he chatted with other drivers who used narrower tires, asking how they handled.

&#8220You know, I thought those narrow ones would do better with the sloppy slush. But these wider ones were pretty good - I got by everyone,” Thomas said.

The turnout for Saturday's unsanctioned race was so good that speedway manager Karen Akres said they would like to hold ice car races four times during the winter.

The legends cars are 5/8 scaled replicas of 1937 Fords and Chevrolets, according to technician Ralph Bozard of Houston.

&#8220With all of these cars, the engines are sealed. So they can't be worked on,” Bozard said.

If an engine breaks down, the car is shipped to a legends mechanic. No one can soup-up the engine, he said.

&#8220Essentially, everyone has an equal chance,” Bozard said.

Delighted that her car won with Thomas handling it, Sawyer was too thrilled to care how she placed.

Sawyer loves the racing environment because it's a sport that can involve the whole family but allows her to express herself as an individual.

&#8220You're always doing for your kids. My daughter's involved in school. Christopher joined the hockey team, and my 6-year-old son started soccer. All winter, I'm someone's mom,” Sawyer said. &#8220It's nice to have them reciprocate when I'm racing.”

Her husband volunteered his time as a flagger on Saturday.

&#8220When she goes full-time racing, I'll be full-time crew chief,” Jesse Sawyer said.

The Sawyers started out as spectators at North Star Speedway when the youngest member, Tucker, was 1 1/2-years old. Soon, he knew all the racers by first name.

&#8220He knew every single driver,” sister Amber Sawyer said. &#8220Still, he gets more excited than any of us about the races.”

Five-year-old Big Lake resident Daniel showed up to cheer on Al Palma Sr., who works with Daniel's dad, Rob Fletcher.

&#8220Al gave me a picture of his car and signed it,” Daniel said.

Anchorage resident Todd McFarland treated his son to this springtime event. Four-year-old Jayce sat on his dad's shoulders as the cars lapped around the track with Nos. 2 and 38 vying for the lead and drawing shouts of excitement from the crowd as the ice vibrated and the engines revved.

&#8220He's that age. He watches car races on TV,” McFarland said. &#8220He's almost a lil' motorhead.”

Contact Dawn De Busk at 352-2252 or dawn.debusk@frontiersman.com.