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Wall Racers Cheer Matheny Children
by Walter Elliott

PEAPACK, N.J. -- Racers from Wall Township Speedway and other New Jersey speedplants - including organizer Kevin Eyres, of Colts Neck, and former Keyport crew chief Bob Thomas - helped make the 20th Annual Matheny Education and Medical Center Christmas Party a success here Saturday afternoon.

Saint Nicholas arrived at a Matheny sun room to greet about 40 student-patients at about 1:52 p.m. It took the icon an hour to distribute the individually identified presents. St. Nick had a lot of help.

There were about 75 people to pass out gifts or making last-minute wrapping and name-tagging. They included Eyres and former Flemington Speedway publicist Wendy Kennedy, who were checking their lists before and during the presentation.

Eyres, Kennedy and Perth Amboy photographer John "Ace" Lane, Jr., have been holding the party as Committee of Auto Racing Supporters. CARS has been holding parties, field trips and fundraisers for Matheny's charges since 1974.

"I've been involved with CARS and the party since 1984," said Eyres. "Today's been one of the best parties. Every child got a gift and some several. We'he had a lot of support from people." Kennedy, a remaining CARS founder with Lane, agreed. "The party has come a long way," said Kennedy. "Today was one of our best, thanks to all of the help."

CARS was founded to help liven up Matheny's patient-students. Matheny has been treating and mainstreaming children and adults who suffer from cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida and similar conditions since 1946.

Eyres, who has AVIS car rental agencies in Keyport, Matawan and 13 other central New Jersey towns, first met CARS during his occasional Flemington drives. CARS then had help from racers at Wall, East Windsor, Pine Brook and Nazareth, Pa., speedways.

Area Auto Racing News columnist Ken Kuhlman recently recalled the party's start as a racing movie fundraiser at the Willows Inn in Green Brook. Kuhlman recalled Hazlet's own Ray Evernham attending Christmas parties with the likes of Frankie Schneider, Al Tasnaday, Kenny Weld, Brett Hearn, Billy Pauch and Jimmy Horton.

Wall drivers have stepped into gaps left when most of the other said tracks have closed. Sunday's supporters included Wall modified drivers Justin Gumley and Steve Senerchia; sportsman Eyres, Chas Okerson, Bobby Richards, Jr., Kevin Davidson and Thomas Kearns; Legends Cars' Steve Stull; street stocker Elliott Wohl, factory stock drivers Vern McLaughlin and Gary Pein and occasional Sunday Series champ karter Jesse MacFarlan.

WTS Office Administrator Sue Simpson, announcer Gary Larsen, photographer Lane, writer/announcer Walter Elliott, Area Auto Racing News' Kuhlman, editor/publisher Lenny Sammons, 3Widesracingonline's John MacFarlan and WLAR phone line's "Jalopy Jack" were also among those assisting, covering and/or celebrating.

Some of racing's veterans also made the party.  Bobby Thomas, now of Tinton Falls, was seen alongside modified maven Sammy Beavers. Thomas made a name for himself mainly as a crew chief for Evernham and other drivers. A charter member of the Garden State Vintage Stock Car Club - whose Racing Through Time Museum is at Wall - Thomas worked with the International Race of Champions the last 24 years.

"I took up with IROC when its president, Jay Signore, brought the cars from Penske's Reading, Pa. shop in the early 1980s," said Thomas. "I helped out a driver named 'Hollywood' Evernham when he was starting out. I started in Keyport and lived at Old Bridge for nine years before moving to Tinton Falls."

Evernham, who was also involved with IROC's revival, won several Wall NASCAR Whelen All-American Series modified mains before becoming crew chief. He and Jeff Gordon teamed up to win 47 Cup races and three championships in the 1990s. Evernham, who occasionally races at Wall, fields five drivers for Dodge in NASCAR's Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series and Craftsman Trucks.

St. Nicholas asked a moment of silence for Wall champ John Blewett III and party supporter Amy Ring. Blewett, of Howell, died in a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Thompson, Conn. Aug. 16. Longtime Matheny resident Ring died Nov. 27.

Photos © 2006-2007
Ace Lane Jr.
unless otherwise noted

©2007 Wall Township Speedway, LLC