1987 Budweiser Indiana Governor's Cup
Hydroplane Crew, Family Keep Vigil At Reynolds' Bedside
While maintaining a vigil in the hospital where hydroplane driver Steve Reynolds lies in a coma, boat owner Steve Woomer has put plans for his racing team's future on hold.
"Our only concern at this time is Steve's well-being," Woomer said during a telephone interview from Indianapolis' Methodist Hospital. "The entire crew is here with him. We're going to stay here and help pull him through.
"A decision about our future will not be made for a while."
Reynolds' wife, Linda, and 8-year-old daughter, Krista, also were at the hospital.
The condition of the 40-year-old Kirkland driver has remained unchanged since he was airlifted to Indianapolis Sunday from Madison, Ind. Reynolds was leading a preliminary heat of Madison's unlimited-hydroplane regatta when his boat, Cellular One, flipped.
Although doctors said his condition has improved slightly, Reynolds, who is attached to machines to assist his breathing and monitor his brain activity, has not regained consciousness since the accident.
In addition to a fractured skull, he suffered a dislocated elbow and a broken toe in Sunday's 170-mph blowover.
Reynolds, who began driving unlimiteds in 1975, has won three races in his career. His most recent victory came in the 1985 Governor's Cup, the site of Sunday's crash.
Woomer expressed gratitude to fans who have sent messages of support to the hospital. "We know there are a lot of people out there who love him just as much as we do," Woomer said.
Woomer also talked about the Cellular One's enclosed cockpit.
Members of the Seattle-based Mr. Pringle's crew are among those who chose not to install a canopy this season. Driver Scott Pierce and Mr. Pringle's owner Bill Wurster want the Unlimited Racing Commission to standardize the enclosed cockpits before they become mandatory.
But Pierce got a first-hand look at what happened to Reynolds' boat.
"The boat (Cellular One) is a total wreck, but the cockpit is intact," Pierce said. "There's orange paint on the top of the canopy from Steve's helmet. His crew did a great job of installing the cockpit. The rest of boat is a complete wreck."
"We are not reckless daredevils," Pierce said. "All the drivers are married men, except Chip (Hanauer). For our families' sakes, we want to be as safe as possible. I believe in the canopy. In the future, I'm sure we'll have one.
"But first we want the URC to standardize the systems. We depend on volunteer rescue teams at most of our races. If there are a half-dozen designs, they will need a notebook to know how to get a driver out of a boat."
Pierce believes a rule change that would benefit the most would be to require turbine-powered boats to weigh at least 6,000 pounds.
"The boats are so light and powerful that we have no margin for error," Pierce said.
Ron Jones, the man who installed the first canopy cockpit on the Miss Budweiser before the 1985 season, strongly defends the enclosed cockpit.
"All the drivers who have used them have told me they will never drive another boat without one," said Jones, a second-generation hydro builder.
Woomer was equally adamant about the effectiveness of plastic safety shields.
"It (the canopy) helped tremendously in Steve's accident," said Woomer. "That was the most violent roll I've ever seen. People who don't want to use canopies don't know what they are talking about."
(Reprinted from The Seattle Times, July 8, 1987)