Sheer Determination Racing

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Winning Edge Magazine: The Spirit of Racing | Vintage Pride (large files - slow to load)
Albert Lea Tribune: Snowmovile Show Draws Many
Dave Roisen sets record at Conesville

Photo Galleries: Rock Falls Raceway Motorcycle Drags | Vintage Pride

John 15:13: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation

People have often offered to donate to our race team. We do not accept donations, but if you would like to donate to a good cause, please consider www.woundedeodwarrior.org. This foundation was established to help the soldiers and families of wounded bomb technicians, both military and police. They are a great organization, please help them out if you can.

Eagle River 2012

Sunday, January 15, 2012
I am at home pondering the effort of Sheer Determination Racing. Not the effort put forth by myself, but rather the effort put forth by several families and friends. Allen Williamson and I did not make the 5 hour trek from Minneapolis to Eagle River this year. It will be the first time I have missed the races since we started racing 6 years ago. Our hearts are heavy with the loss of Officer Shawn Schnider, Lake City, MN. Shot in the head by a criminal, he fought to hold on to life, but passed away after 11 days in the hospital. He leaves a family of four. All his children are under the age of 10 yrs.

Photo Courtesy of American Snowmobile Magazine

In an hour, I will be visiting another officer, Frank Mackall, injured in the line of duty. He sustained a TBI. What do you say to his family? What do you do? The answer comes by the actions of people that I have not met. The race team has given me the answer.

You see, this year I just did not have the time or abilities to make the SDR sleds competitive. My life long friend, Kevin, is focused on family and was in the same boat as myself. Thus enters the Fenhaus family from Wausau, Wisconsin. I knew of the family name, as did all who are involved with snowmobile racing. I had met Dan Fenhaus in the spring of 2011, at a gas station half way in between Minneapolis and Wausau. Dan is an unassuming man, very soft spoken, yet very determined. He and his family have been racing Champ (modern) oval sleds for several years now. They however had heard we needed help and also needed a rider for the team's Army sled. They stepped up to offer assistance. And when I use the word, "assistance" I mean 100% dedication, with not even the slightest bit of faltering. Dan, his father Jim, and mechanic Mike worked long tireless hours ensuring the Army sled was competitive. They did not want to let the Army down, the team down, or any service member, cop, etc...

I have to also clearify that I have never met Jim Fenhaus in person. We had some phone conversations, but that was the extent of our interaction. So what possesses a family to give it all for a team and cause that they have only read about? I wondered this and pondered it out loud with my wife and friend Allen. FYI, Allen is a former Swat sniper from Idaho and a very dear friend. I am so humbled by the effort of the Fenhaus' and another dear friend Kevin. The Fenhaus family put on parts that they had bought. They used parts from their own sleds. The hours of tuning and effort exemplify the whole concept of "sheer determination!"

Kevin spoke with me on the phone about his lengthy conversations in the Fenhaus race trailer. As Kevin spoke praise of the effort put forth, my eyes welled with tears. I know…not manly, but truly humbled. Words cannot express how deeply appreciative I am of the teams effort. I asked Kevin, "What makes them so motivated?" Kevin said, "respect and the honor of racing for a cause". The honor is ours. I am so honored by the selfless dedication they have displayed. The Fenhaus' exemplify the spirit of Americans. The quiet, humble, hard working American family that represents all that is great within this country. For this, I say "Thank You." I do not and have never possessed the ability to achieve a truly exceptional race snowmobile. I can only do what I did. Mr. Jim Fenhaus and his son Dan, Mike their mechanic and Kevin have shown this broken bomb tech that people really do care. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Photo Courtesy of American Snowmobile Magazine

Later:
We were honored to visit with Officer Frank Mackall, wife Lisa, fellow officer Terry and family friend Harvey. It is humbling to visit with an injured officer's family, friends, and peers. They welcome you in like a family member. They have never spoken to you prior to the visit, yet speak to you like a friend they have known their entire life. This family is like military veterans.

As my wife Wendy, friend Allen, and I spoke to the family, I received a call from Kevin. He told me that Dan Fenhaus had finished 3rd in the 340cc Super Mod class at the World Championship races at Eagle River! I did not speak long, but I was aware of the effort put forth by everyone at the track. The effort to represent the Army with honor and dignity. The Fenhaus's literally "willed" the sled to a 3rd place finish. I would like to claim some sort of credit for building a sled that could compete, but that would be diminishing the effort put forth by the team! The team. That is what brought me to visit Frank at North Memorial Hospital. Team, family, the brotherhood of soldiers and cops, and the appreciation for our country, are what we as a team want to represent. To be able to talk with the family and friends of Officer Mackall was a tremendous honor. Officers gathered in support of a fellow officer to let them know that they are not alone.

Thank you to all who serve and protect us, and our way of life. Freedom is not free. The price for freedom is often overlooked. God bless Officer Shawn Schnider and his family. God bless Officer Frank Mackall and his family. God bless all of you that stand in harms way for us.

Who We Honor

We honor all who serve and also have placed the names of some very special heroes on the sides of our sleds.

Sgt. Brian Gust - Sgt. Gust passed away the summer of 2009 after a long battle with cancer. He not only served in Vietnam as a Special Forces, HALO, Demolitions soldier, but was a wrestler for the U.S Olympic team.

SSG Terry Bridges - I served with SSG Bridges in Germany while assigned to the 3 ID. Terry was one of the finest soldiers I ever had the honor to work with. He would razz me about snowmobile racing and could never grasp why I would do such a "silly sport". Terry passed away several years ago after a long battle with cancer.

Sgt Terry Snover - I served with Sgt. Snover as a Minneapolis Police Officer. He had served in the Air Force prior to joining the police department. He was a fellow Bomb Tech and was a gentleman in the truest sense of the word. Terry passed away just weeks before the 2010 races.

Capt. Otto Wagenpfeil - a truly remarkable man. It is with great honor that I was able to work for him as a Bomb Tech. But, he was more than a boss, he was a friend. Capt. Wagenpfeil lost his battle with cancer, but he will never be forgotten!

It is with great honor and dignity that we display the names of these men. All of them represent what a true American hero is. Our thoughts and prayers are always with these gentlemen and their families. God Bless them.