1987 Miller High Life APBA Gold Cup
Reynolds' Return Gives Hydro Drivers A Lift
By John Peoples
His recovery is far from over, but unlimited hydroplane driver Steve Reynolds is back where he wants to be this weekend — in San Diego to watch the Gold Cup race.
"It feels great to be here," said Reynolds, who was released from a Seattle convalescent center earlier this week. "I just love being back by the water and smelling the boats."
Reynolds, who suffered a fractured skull July 5 when his Cellular One hydroplane flipped during the Indiana Governor's Cup, is in San Diego with the Cellular One team.
"It's going to be tough watching the race, but I'm prepared to live with it — for right now," said Reynolds, who intends to return to driving.
What was his family's reaction to his plans to return to the cockpit?
"They said, 'Are you sure? Well, if you are, then we'll support you 100 percent.' But I'll only return to driving if Steve Woomer and Jim Lucero approve it," Reynolds said. "If they say OK, then I'm ready."
Reynolds, whose work as a television commentator has drawn praise, said he does not plan to resume his work behind the microphone for a while.
"I won't work with the media at all for this race," he said.
"In fact, the only way I'll talk to the press now is if Steve Woomer is handy. They have to talk to Steve first."
While Reynolds is nearly 100 percent physically, he has not regained his short-term memory. Woomer, the Cellular One owner, said Reynolds does not remember the accident and recalls little of events that occurred earlier this year.
Reynolds said the best thing about his visit to San Diego, so far, has been seeing old friends and rivals.
"Last night (Wednesday) I got together with the Budweiser crew and Jim Kropfeld," Reynolds said. "Jim and I talked for over an hour.
It was wonderful to see him and rekindle some other old friendships."
Besides boosting his own morale, Reynolds' presence buoyed Kropfeld, the Miss Budweiser driver, and Chip Hanauer, who pilots the Miller American.
Kropfeld said seeing Reynolds "was fantastic. It gave me a real lift to see him doing so well. I saw him a week after the accident, in Indianapolis, and his improvement has been unreal."
Yesterday morning, Reynolds impressed Hanauer with his recovery during a breakfast visit.
"It's unbelievable the condition he's in," said Hanauer. "If you didn't know what happened to Steve, you'd think he just lost some weight. It's really inspiring to see him doing so well."
Reynolds' boat, which has been rebuilt by Cellular One crew chief Jim Lucero, will arrive in San Diego today after several days' testing on the Columbia River near Pasco. Larry Lauterbach has been signed to drive the boat in the Gold Cup and the Sept. 27 Silver Cup in Las Vegas.
"Hopefully, things will go well for us here," said Woomer, "but we've got a new driver and a virtually-new boat. We can't really expect to win this race, but maybe by Las Vegas we'll be contending."
(Reprinted from The Seattle Times, September 18, 1987)