As a new season of drag racing is about to kickoff it brings me to the people at the head of the line, the last person to oversee everything before a run from a safety standpoint first of all, and the hand that trips the switch that will activate the tree to send you down the track.
One starter is now retired; the others are in three different levels of racing, NHRA Chief Starter, NHRA Division Starter and Pacific Raceways Local Track Starter. All have in common Pacific Raceways/ SIR as their starting point.
Ray Rice is a legend here in the Northwest Division. He got his start by pure chance, as the starter at the time had a beef with management and walked away. Then tech inspector at the track Frank Nelson Sr. approached Ray and asked, Would you like to be starter for the day? Ray stated that he had never done it but he had been around the starting line and starter enough that he had an idea of what was needed and he would give it a go. Thus started his run at a position that earned him a spot in the Northwest Division Hall of Fame.
To call him a legend could be an understatement as Ray led the way with the innovations that have to this day proved he was on the right track. Safety is the first order of the day. Treat all the racers as you would like to be treated yourself, weekend bracket racer or touring pro it made no difference. You have to understand that this was in the late 60’s, no electronics to help with dial-ins, they were done on the spot by hand. Track prep was really in its infancy as most tracks did not have any concrete, just asphalt. As the years went on the equipment, products and especially the track owners stepped up to provide a much safer surface for the racers.
It was as a NHRA Division starter going to all the different tracks with their different surfaces that the need for all to be prepped to as close to the same just to make it fair to the competitors as they have a good idea what their performance should be. Nothing drives a racer nuttier than up and down performance. With now more than two decades behind him Ray was in the search for a re-placement.
Having seen Mark Lyle work at Pacific, Ray told his wife “I think I found our guy”. Mark Lyle working as the starter at Pacific Raceways was approached by then Div-6 director Mike Rice and asked if he would be entrusted in working under his father’s tutelage as the next division starter, that was in 2002. In 2005 Ray retired and Mark was on his way. “Ray’s teaching set the foundation and approach that I take for every race” Mark says. With a background that is somewhat diverse Mark rolled that into a tight divisional crew. Choose people who understand their rolls and have a common goal and things will work out. One of these crew members is Mike Gittings who by chance applied for the starter’s job at Pacific the same time as Mark did and now getting the same tutelage that Mark got from Ray being passed on to him. Knowing Ray and having been around him while he was working the switch Mike has great respect and admiration for what he taught Mark and what was now being taught to him.
With Mike now working the divisional events with Mark this created an opening for a starter at Pacific, enter Rick Straley. Having been around the racetrack in a different capacity Rick was drawn to the position. A little of trial by fire and a lot of listening and watching Mike or Mark when they were on the switch. “I feel it a great honor to be taught by such knowlegeable starters” says Rick. “I have a lot to learn in the years ahead but with these men in front of me you can’t go wrong” says Rick. With Mark now chosen to work the “big show” as “NHRA Chief Starter” it opened up the opportunity for Mike to step up to the NHRA Northwest Division Six starter position. “With many qualified people applying for the position I knew it was a shot I had to take” says Mike. The one thing that all these men all have in common is the passion for the position. They all care about the track prep and the safety for the racers.
Having listened to all these men on the radio (except Ray) you gain an understanding of what they do besides stand at the front of the line and flip a switch. And after listening to them it becomes more apparent what a great starter Ray was doing this at first for a long while without the help of radio communications during the heyday events at Pacific Raceways/SIR. Ask any of these current starters how they would run a race without a radio and they just shake their head. Again it’s a great testament to what Ray accomplished during his tenure. Retirement from a job is where Ray is at but you will see him at events in Arizona with his son and here at Pacific lending a hand or should I say a very experienced eye to what is going down the track.
Enjoy your retirement Ray, you earned it.
P.S. – Over the years there have many people who have served as starter for Pacific Raceways with great success though none are as connected as these four. The nearest person I could come up with the closest ties to these men is Mike Rice, current Division 7 director, though you see the connection right away.
The Players:
Ray Rice–Retired Division 6 starter
Mark Lyle–Chief Starter NHRA
Mike Gittings–Division 6 starter
Rick Straley–Pacific Raceways starter
10 May 2014 Kent, WA – Chicago Style, no not pizza, BB Funny Cars. These Funny Cars and their drivers put on a show for those watching the Swift Tool ET Series at Pacific Raceways. This added feature along with some fine NHRA legal Stock/Super Stock and their wheel hiking launches made for a fine day of racing.
