FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: Young gun Peter Lenz survives… After reading about the June 4th wreck at Portland Internatioanl Raceway involving 12 year old Peter Lenz we are SOOOO glad that Impact Safe-T Armor (Michael Braxton) and the Ethan Gillim’s “Chasin a Dream” Program teamed up to help young racers race in better safety gear. And hats off to Stewart Aiken-Cade with USGPRU for encouraging AND requiring racers to start wearing chest protectors at the USGPRU racing events. The “Chasin A Dream” Program was set up in memory of 10 year old Ethan Gillim, #95, the youngest Gillim brother out of Owensboro, Ky. And, yes he was a cousin to the Hayden brothers, Tommy, Nicky, and Roger Lee, and started racing at 4 years old and was racing as a member of the Earl’s Racing Team, along with his older brothers, at the time of his death. The whole Hayden family have used Impact Safety Armor … and the Gillim family, including Frankie Lee (#22), and Hayden (#69) are still wearing and promoting the Armor. Helmets, leathers, boots, gloves, armor, all are necessary for each and every racer to insure their safety during their racing careers. What Ethan did not have was a safe track, thus we support the mission of the Roadracing World Action Fund and their mission to provide air fencing at the tracks. It was with great satisfaction to learn the USGPRU organization was recognizing the need to add to the list of required safety gear such things as helmet removers, and chest protectors. So the “Chasin A Dream” Program helped out by teaming up with Michael Braxton and Impact Safe-T Armor to help young racers receive their chest protectors basically either free (if they were among the first 30 to request them) or at a greatly reduced rate. Peter Lenz has been using the Safe-T Armor since starting his racing career and the family has helped in promoting the need for that added protection for others. The crash clearly was uncomfortable for Michael Lenz, Peter’s father, to talk about. But he felt there was an important message to the road racing community to come from talking about it — buy good safety gear, and use it. “After it happened, we actually saw some people pulling out chest protectors and putting them on,” Lenz says. “If we can leverage this into something about kid safety, or chest protectors…” This is the message Ethan Gillim’s “Chasin A Dream” Program is all about… safer racing through safety gear, safer tracks ( there is a HUGE need for more air fencing), and continued rider education and training as provided for by the other participant with the “Chasin A Dream” Program, American Super Camp (Danny Walker). So when the crash happened we know that another young racer “Chasin a Dream” will be back and will continue in the sport of road racing. Good luck Peter, and we wish you a speedy recovery. Ethan Gillim’s “Chasin A Dream” Program says “Thanks USGPRU, Impact Safe-T Armor, Arai Helmets and RS Taichi.” To help spread the word about the Ethan Gillim’s “Chasin A Dream” Program contact: Suzy Hayden Ethan Gillim’s “Chasin A Dream” Program Owensboro, Kentucky 270-748-1520