Dream Racers - Former Penske builder works to help keep kids calm during treatments: Mark Smith does magic with metal. For years, he has repaired wrecked cars, built cars from scratch and restored relics. But he sold his shop in Mooresville's Lakeside Business Park because he found something he wanted to do more. Now, he's a dreamer. He's making Dream Racers, miniature race car reproductions built from the ground up, the same way Smith helped build race vehicles at Penske Racing. They're 78 inches long, 38 inches tall and 27 inches wide, and weigh less than 100 pounds, and they sit on locking casters so they can be rolled into place. Where Dream Racers are designed to go makes them most special. They're built for children's hospitals or facilities where young patients sometimes have to remain relatively still – for chemotherapy, respiratory treatments or other procedures. A computer monitor is mounted to the hood and connected to a video game and DVD system – a diversion from the treatment a child might endure. There is a spot for an oxygen bottle and a slot on the roll cage for a pole to hold intravenous fluids. David Reutimann, driver of the #00 Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing, saw a need for the therapeutic cars – and made the first dream come true. “When you see sick kids, it just gnaws on you,” Reutimann said. He hosts a golf tournament each year to benefit charities such as All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, Fla., near his hometown of Zephyrhills. Kelly Sutton, who knows Smith from having competed in the NASCAR Truck Series, told Reutimann about the Dream Racer. Reutimann dedicated the proceeds from his 2008 golf tournament to pay $9,500 to get the first Dream Racer – with paint and decals like his Sprint Cup car sponsored by Aaron's – in All Children's. “It is a fabulous device,” said Sara Barnett, a child life specialist at the hospital. “It certainly makes life a lot easier.” Children scheduled for treatments cinch up the safety belts in the Dream Racer, watch a movie or play a video game – and maybe the procedure seems to pass more quickly. The car, Barnett said, also can be used a reward for patients who cooperate through difficult treatments. “It's a little escape from what's going on in their lives,” Reutimann said. “Anything that can be done to take their minds off what's going on or distract them a little bit will help make the time go by quicker.” It takes 80 to 100 hours to build each Dream Racer. Sage Hendricks and Bill Snyder, both recently laid off at Dale Earnhardt Inc., are helping Smith build – and refine – the cars. Much of the work on the Dream Racers is done in the garage of Hendricks' house. The work is meticulous. Each piece of the car is handmade. Each weld is done by hand. The wiring is housed inside conduits, and all electronics are carefully grounded. Engineers at All Children's checked the racer Reutimann donated, and it received more than 50 points above the hospital's passing score. It has been delivered and is going through final safety checks.(
Charlotte Observer) more info at
childrensdreamracer.com.(2-5-2009)
