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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2006)
TRIBAL MEMBER NEWS Hobby of Collecting Trophies bv Brian Smith of The Columbian in Vancouver, Hash, (originally printed Oct. 3, 2006; reprinted with permission) also won four titles at the Portland Most everyone has a hobby. Speedway - in 1984. 1987. 1988 and 1998. Some people go shopping. In fact. Cherington's been so sue- Some watch television. cessful on the track throughout his ca Some work in the garden. reer. it may have actually brought about Something they do on the week a temporary hiatus to his racing life. end. in their free time. “I might take a year off." he said. Something they'd rather be doing “I've been racing for a long time now. than working. And I told myself that I was just going to For Vancouver’s Joe Cherington race this year to win another cham and Stacey Fordyce, it's racing. pionship and make it three in a row." “I'm proud of it." Fordyce said. Crediting experience and an under “It's a passion of mine. The competi standing of how to fine tune his car tiveness of it just makes it fun." as being the keys to his success. Fordyce and Cherington are more Cherington quickly learned how to than competitive. At River City Race make his car work for him. way in St. Helens. Ore., the Vancouver Currently racing a purple 1981 Datsun drivers are champions. 210 two-door hatchback in the four- Fordyce's love of racing is a fam cylinder division, the 45-year-old Hazel Vancouver racecar driver Stacey Fordyce won the sportsman division at River ily affair. Dell native was able to apply lessons "My husband (John Fordyce) got me Ci tv Speedwav in St. Helens, Ore., this season. (DAVE OLSON/The Columbian) learned at his day job as a parts worker into it,” she said. "He used to work at at Westlie Ford in Camas to his hobby. “We’re building a car for my son “That's my biggest concern right the Chevron in Hazel Dell. He's showed “I own the car, do the maintenance me a lot. At the beginning, 1 was busy now,” the 33-year-old stay-at-home to race out in Madras (Ore.),” Fordyce and besides one other person, am ba said. “You only have to be 12 to drive with my own thing. But as soon as I got mom said. “I time in faster than a lot sically my own pit crew." Cherington of them. 1 think I'll probably get some it. and he's really interested in it. We'll interested, I loved it. Now I can't imag said. “Most of being a good racer comes flak from them if I do move up. too. My have our whole family racing. ” ine doing anything else.” down to experience. Older guys just know husband gives me a great car to drive, Cherington first experienced dirt Racing a blue and silver 1987 more tricks than the younger guys. But so we’d do well.” racing in 1983, at the now defunct Port Chevrolet Monte Carlo at the River City it's also about handling and horsepower." A major factor in Fordyce's devo land Speedway. Speedway in St. Helens, Ore., Fordyce And even with the long hours at the tion to racing is her ability to include “ My buddy and I got into it, ” track — Cherington estimated that he put has quickly made a name for herself, her extended family. Cherington said. “We used to race ja 15 hours a week into his car during rac winning the championship title in the On race days, her husband, son, ing season - and his nine track titles and women’s sportsman division in 2006, sister, mother-in-law, father-in-law, lopies. It just kept building and became 23 years of racing. Cherington's not yet after finishing third in 2005. nieces and nephews all lend their at what it is now." In the 23 years since. Cherington sure he’s ready to stop. As a result of her quick success - tention and support while she is out on “Maybe I'll just race something has become something of a small race Fordyce has only been racing for four the track. different.” he said. “It's fun and enjoy And there are even plans in the track legend in the Columbia River area. years - and a shrinking pool of women A five-time Columbia County Rac able. and I guess that's why I've done drivers, Fordyce is ready to move on works to establish a tradition of racing it this long.” ing Association champion. Cherington in the Fordyce family. to a bigger challenge: the men. Guess Who? Above: From the Lincoln County Leader, Toledo, Ore. Making His Money the "Hard Way” This 13-year-old makes his spending money the "hard way, ” making three packs a day up a steep hillside. He gathers chit bark which he sells. Each trip he brings up 50 pounds or more. His parents report that he earns around $100 during the season. Right: Attending the Veterans Memo rial Rededication Ceremony held Aug. 27 at Chinook Winds Casino Resort are Bill (left) and Don Foelker (right) of Milwaukee, Ore, who are the oldest commissioned officers living in Oregon. Siletz Tribal elder Maria Alicante Westervelt (center) who lived in Japanese-occupied Manila, Philippines, during World War 11, joins the Foelker brothers at the memorial. November 2006 • Siletz News •
