Two Coins

By Holly Remington

I imagine you'll find a great deal of mention about Robert Dratwa in this issue. He is paramount in my mind right now. I need to share these thoughts with you. I loved this friend. I'll miss him and I want those of you who didn't know him to understand what a slice of life you missed out on.

Robert Dratwa was a son, a brother, a father, a friend, a corner worker, a mentor. Robert was a leader, often behind the scenes. Robert took the time to say the things that needed to be said. Robert embodied the spirit of this noble sport - competition, safety, loyalty, teamwork and family.

For me personally, I fight back tears every time I think about never working a turn station with him again. Never hearing "Hi Doll" from him again. Never showing up at a different racetrack and knowing Robert would be there too.

I have so many great Robert stories, too many to share here. But, here's the first one that really showed me what he was about:

Robert was very kind to me when I first started working turns. I had a terrible fear of fast cars. When I say terrible, I mean I had a very hard time even walking across pre-grid with no cars there, to get to Registration. I was T/S Chief at the time, and I had a REAL need to speak to the Registrars in person. I slowly got over the Pre-Grid fear, and the cold side of the hot-pit wall fear.

I wanted to try corner working. My friends were bugging me about how much fun it was.But, I still had such a huge fear of fast cars. I worked the old turn 5-6 station with the promise that "nothing scary ever happens there" Well that was wrong. We had a very ugly accident with a 240z. I didn't observe from the turns again for close to year. I was spooked. While, Robert really didn't have much to do with my very first corner working experience. He did with my next.

Robert coaxed me, and spent a lot of time talking to me about safety, and feeling confident in my fellow corner workers, he trained me and mentored me with kindness. I shared my closet affinity for coins. I've always believed that coins memorialize your life travels. Anyway, he came to me one day I believe the second morning meeting of my "first" corner-working weekend and gave me two older foreign coins. He said to me "stick these in your bucket, they'll be your lucky charms, to keep you safe". He didn't really know me very well then, and I remember being surprised that someone I wasn't that close to would give me such a thoughtful gift. I'm not surprised now, that was the kind of man Robert was. I haven't been able to pull those coins out yet, to take a look at them, to clean the sunscreen spillage off them..I will - someday - and I'll remember Robert without tears, but, with only smiles.

I rejoice in knowing Robert is no longer in pain. I revel in what he left inside of all of us. We are strong and stable because of Robert. The next generation of racers and workers are just that much stronger because of the wisdom he shared with those of us that loved him. Good-bye my Dover brother.

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