Thru Noggles Goggles .::. August 31st

Thru Noggles Goggles — 31 August 2012

TNG first wishes to announce that the Race Chaser luncheon planned for September 29th is full. There are 63, (I say sixty-three!!) now registered for this event and the semi-private room in the restaurant holds 54. So co-chair Barry Hindman is in discussion with restaurnt owner Harold Cottongim. Any details will be shared tomorrow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Other than the news above, this writer wishes that today’s entire report be dedicated to one of the nicest couples in racing, sprint car driver Jeff Bloom and his constant helper, wife, and side-kick, Linda Bloom. Jeff had been struggling this season and not having the success he normally has. And then, the worst happened. Racing a winged sprinter with the “Must See Xtreme Sprint Series”, he suffered critical burns over 15% of his body in a crash. Rescued from certain death, he now must go through the horrendous burn-recovery process, an extremely painful procedure. As requested last week, please continue to remember him in prayer.

Thanks to information received from Don Kay, here are reports from Jeff’s wife Linda Bloom, and their daughter, Jen Streit:

Linda:

“Just thought I would explain what happened to Jeff, for those of you who were not at Berlin Raceway Saturday night. In the heat race, his oil cooler bracket broke and the cooler was dragging on the track for 2-3 laps. Going into turn 3, it must have rubbed through, and the hot oil dumped onto his right side header, exploding into a huge ball of flames. The cockpit was also doused with oil, his right rear tire too which caused him to spin around backwards and into the turn 3 wall at the fastest point on the racetrack. Jeff said the heat was already painful before he ever hit the wall, which was probably only 2 or 3 seconds from when the fire started. I believe he was conscious the whole time, but they couldn’t keep the fire contained. The right side of the the car was engulfed in flames. On impact, the fuel cell was sliced open, and about 20 gallons if alcohol was now running down and feeding the oil fire. Some of his fellow racers (whom we consider our family through thick and thin) tried to get him out of the car, but track fire crew members pulled them away. I’m sure they were worried about the safety of those drivers, but they don’t realize that the drivers are much better equipped (with their firesuits, etc. and knowledge of the situation) to be a help to Jeff. The track workers were worried about broken bones, but a racer’s biggest fear is fire, and broken bones can heal. Anyway, Jeff was trying to wave the flames away from his face with his right hand and get the steering wheel off with his left. It takes 2 hands to remove the locked on wheel. Then, not realizing that his glove was melting to his hand, he tried to unlatch his 5-point belts, but he couldn’t. When they finally got him out of the car, his suit was also on fire. They cut everything off as he laid on the track, but they couldn’t cut the glove, which by then had melted to his hand. He pulled it off himself. He has 3rd degree burns from his arm pit to his fingertips and 2nd degree burns on his stomach, back, thigh, calf and bottom end. These wounds have to be undressed and debrided every morning, meaning all blisters have to be opened and removed, and all dead skin has to be removed. Sunday they had to cut his arm from just above the elbow to his wrist on the inside to allow for swelling, so that the blood could flow and allow it to heal. Grafting may start as early as tomorrow. He has a broken rib and excruciating pain in his left hip. No breaks found so far, but starting physical therapy this morning, and more pictures to see if there was too much swelling to detect a break originally. Monday morning started for us around 4 a.m, with adverse reactions to a 3a.m. breathing treatment. Elevated heart rate and blood sugars made for a really bad day. For a 5 hour stretch, there was not a 5 minute break from one or more people poking, prodding, running tests and cleaning wounds. No wonder he felt like dog poo all day. They adjusted meds all day, and by supper time he was a new man! Praise God! He ate a good supper and slept like a rock. Happy dance! Soooo much better this morning. The new day of assessments started around 6, and so far, great improvement over yesterday. We both want to thank everyone for their prayers, calls, texts, gifts and visits. Please call my phone to arrange for visits, as we are trying to get him rested up. We have, without a doubt, the greatest family and friends on the planet! We are very humbled (my spell check just changed that to jumbled!) by all of the support from near and far. Thank you so much to everyone who tried and did help both of us get to this point. Great staff at Spectrum Burn Center. We are so blessed! Love you all.”

And this from daughter Jen Streit:

“Asking for continued prayers on behalf of my Dad. He’s been transferred to the burn unit at Spectrum in Grand Rapids. He has 3rd degree burns on his right arm & hand, as well as 2nd degree burns on his torso & leg. There’s also possibly a broken rib, but we’re not certain on that at this point, as the burns are of higher priority. His blood sugars were high & he was running a fever, so please, specifically pray for protection against infection.If anyone would like to share this status, please feel free to do so. Also, if you’d like to send get well wishes, or a note of encouragement to him (or my Mom), please send them to:Jeff and/or Linda Bloom
4065 Baseline Rd.
Bloomingdale, MI 49026This is my address & I will see that any & all cards, etc. get to them! Thank you all again, so much for your thoughts, prayers, and support.

Note: Berlin Raceway would not release any info on driver’s injuries. I called hospital for info and they informed me they have no patient by that name That is what the hospitals say when a patient dies and is no longer on the daily census. Sent mail to my friend Matt in Evansville, IN get info from Eddie Sachs, Jr. who has contacts. If and when I find out new info will notify the family As of now do not say he is deceased.”

********************************************************************************

TNG information on Jeff Bloom, a veteran sprint car racer: Jeff was born August 1, 1949 in Bangor, Michigan. His full-time occupation is being a race car driver. He is a three-time Little 500 winner at Anderson [IN] Speedway, and has won in the USAC Sprint, Silver Crown, and Stock Car divisions. This independent driver has won hundreds of feature wins in his 45-year career.

Jeff and Linda have been married since 1973 and have three daughters: Patty (Matt) Bucken, Amie (Jeremy) Bewley, and Jen (Jason) Streit. The couple has 10 grandchildren and counting.

Jeff’s hobbies are spending time with the grandkids, hunting (mostly deer), fishing, and golfing.

At the time of his accident, he was currently racing with Must See Racing Extreme Sprint Seriess, Auto Value Bumper to Bumper Super Sprints, Hoosier Outlaw Sprint Series, and the USAC Sprints.

Jeff Bloom has been inducted into the Little 500 Hall of Fame (1996), Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame (2000), and the Michigan Vintage Racers Hall of Fame (2008).