By SUMMER KELLEY First published in the Dec. 12 edition.
(LEFT) - Trooper Jason Geddie with the Georgia State Patrol burns up the course at Dade County High School in his Dodge Charge on Dec. 1. Contributed photo/Ray Soldano
If you had stopped by the high school on Dec. 1, you would have seen something out of the ordinary. The Chattanooga Region Sports Car Club of America held its first “Rumble at the School” event.
“Rumble at the School” was a fundraiser for the Dade County Sheriff Department’s Hope for the Holidays program and the event also raised money for the high school’s art classes. Local law enforcement agencies were invited to bring their vehicles and maneuver them through a course set up in the high school’s parking lot using traffic cones. The cars were timed as the Dade County Sheriff’s Department, Trenton City Police Department, Georgia State Patrol, and law enforcement from Hamilton County squared off.
The Sports Car Club of America holds auto racing events in order to provide people with a safe, easily accessible way of racing, says Assistant District Attorney Len Gregor. The Chattanooga Region Club holds their racing events at Chattanooga State and Dade County High School.
“It gives people a safe and legal way to race their cars,” Gregor said.
Gregor, who works with the Lookout Mountain Judicial circuit, has enjoyed participating in the sport the lasts two to three years. Gregor’s 13–year–old son also joins him for the events.
“It is something we have fun with and do together,” Gregor said. “We have a good time doing it.”
Gregor not only drives in the events, but he is also a tech inspector, making sure that the cars used by the participants are safe and ready for racing. Gregor’s son is also an inspector and works as Gregor’s assistant and rides along as his co-pilot.
“Hopefully I’m promoting to him the idea of safe racing and not doing it on the street,” Gregor said.
The Sports Car Club of America also offers classes to teenagers that go beyond normal driver’s education. The group teaches young drivers how to safely operate their vehicles and even simulate slippery streets using water and soap in a controlled environment. The next “Street Survival School” is being held Dec. 15 at the Hamilton County Sheriff Department Annex, but Gregor said they are hoping to offer a class in Dade County later on. The class costs $65, but teens receive a discount on their insurance.
“We are trying to attract younger people and drivers,” Gregor said.
According to Gregor, “Rumble at the School” was planned as an exhibition for the drivers to have a good time, spectators to have a good time, and to earn money for Hope for the Holidays. The idea of having a law enforcement event has been talked about for awhile, but Gregor said they were finally able to work out the details this year. The Sports Car Club also wanted to thank the school system for allowing them use of the parking lot.
The use of the lot lets the group hold monthly events alternating them between Dade County and Chattanooga State, so organizers approached the board about where the money might be used. Margaret Barton, art teacher at Dade County High School, said that board member Carolyn Bradford suggested the art department.
Donations from spectators totaled $250 for the Hope for the Holidays program. Ten dollars of every entry fee for racers went to the art department giving Barton’s classes $450. Barton said the money will be used to buy clay for the new pottery wheels that had been purchased with SPLOST money. Barton also got to ride along with one of the drivers.
(RIGHT) - Dade Sheriff's Deputy Chip Geddie gave the other racers a run for thier money in his Ford Crown Victoria. Contributed photo/Ray Soldano
“I was tickled to death (about the donations),” Barton said. “I had a ball. It was a real good idea because it gave the kids, it would give anybody, a chance to learn how to drive safely.”
“Rumble at the School” is part of the Chattanooga Sports Car Club autocross events. Traffic cones are set up as a course in a parking lot and the participant’s race for time. The events are open to anyone and any car with an entry fee except for SUV’s and minivans. The vehicles must pass inspection to be sure they are safe.
Gregor said that the group hopes to make “Rumble at the School” an annual event. This year’s participants included Todd Gann with the Trenton Police Department and Chip Geddie with the Dade Sheriff’s Department, Jason Geddie with the Georgia State Patrol, and Joe Warren of Chattanooga. Dade County Sheriff Patrick Cannon said that while he did not race, he did attend the event.
“It was for a great cause,” Cannon said. “We appreciate their support in our community. Not only did they support Hope for the Holidays, but they also supported the school.”
“I want to thank the board and Carolyn Bradford and the Chattanooga Region Sports Car Club of America for giving us the money,” Barton said.Comments (0)
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