Ready! Set! Race!

BY CHUCK TUCK | JOURNAL REPORTER If you ask most city mayors what their favorite part of the job is, you may get a well thought out politically correct answer of “serving the community.”

Ask them what their favorite day of the year is, and you get race day!
Sponsored by Foster Press in Lake Stevens, the Mayor’s Cup Race is becoming an annual event bringing together city mayors from the neighboring towns of Lake Stevens.

Held at Monroe’s Evergreen Speedway, each mayor had to endure some rigorous training insuring safety for themselves as well as others.

Mayor Cathy VonWald of Woodinville, driving the number 1 car says feels very excited having never done anything like this before.

Rumor has it that Monroe Mayor, Donnetta Walser said the reason she ran for Mayor is to race in the Mayor’s Cup.

Lake Steven’s own Mayor Vern Little sat snug in the number 7 car which was plastered with car manufacture emblems of nearly every make and model.

When asked what the game plan to Little’s race was, he replied, “Go fast, turn left,” as he smiled, then put on his safety helmet.

As the sun started to go down and the smell of gasoline filled the air, there was an intensity and excitement waiting for the race to begin.

The racers started their engines and headed out of pit lane to the main track for the race.

Waiting for the flag to drop to signify the start of the race, the anticipation could be felt from the grandstand to the mayors’ pit crews.
There was a sign of confidence coming from Little’s pit with trainer Chris in the wings cheering on, saying they had a fast car and Little could win this.

The flag dropped, and tires chirped as the racers were on their way, albeit very slow at first.

By the third lap or so, the motors were really working hard hurtling car and driver in a series of left turns.

Halfway through the race there was a crash that took Walser out of the race for good breaking a tie-rod as she slammed into a crash barrier designed to protect the drivers and spectators.

A red flag came out bringing the racers to a temporary halt and a restart.

The intensity was even higher now.

Looking between the protective race gear around the drivers, you could see the concentration on their faces as they thought out their next moves; this time Little was ready to make a big one.

Racing resumed and Little made his way to the front of the pack fast.
Catching the leader, a true race was on.

For several laps Little countered the move of the leader, until the right moment came when Little took the lead while making a “left turn.”

After taking the lead Little never looked back until the checkered flag gave the Mayor of Lake Stevens the victory!

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