European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 12, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Amp yuck As the vehicles charge through mud flings and splatters everywhere covering any spectators who happen to be close to the action. Page 14 a a a Clayton Bovey finish line official gets his share of the dirt. Some of those on the sidelines manage to have fun yet stay clean while watching the craziness. The stars and stripes his a a amp % a a try or continued from Page 13 Randy Thatcher a civilian who works for a German firm making pistons has his Carburettor facing backwards. It pulls in air not water. Thatcher has a 1979 Dodge ram Charger that has been through mud races in the states. Nothing big Thatcher said just Small town carnival stuff Quot you have a pig show and a mud race.�?�. So he was Happy to take part and even help administer this event. Quot in Germany this is the first one i be heard of he said. Me and some germans we go out into a Farmers mud racing is not without its hazards. Radiator fans were broken. Tailpipes were torn off. One pickup truck had its bed broken bouncing through the course. And this was just in the warmups. Sgt. Warren Sharp of g co 1st aviation rat in Ansbach West Germany was the first to take the course under the clock finishing in 9.4 seconds with his 1987 Ford Ranger which he Only recently converted to off Road driving. Quot i had it Stock Quot he said of the truck Quot but i got too Many speeding tickets. So he lifted the truck with 4-Inch suspension a 2-Inch body lift and 31-Inch tires a whatever All that Means and started to Quot play in the mud. It keeps me out of the Only part i hate Quot he said is cleaning the truck it is not a sport simply for men. A couple women Drivers slowed through the muck. One of them was set. Justine Brown of the 50th Supply so at Hahn a who was driving her husband s jeep. A live been four Wheeling but i be never entered a contest Quot she said a bit spotted by mud that flew in the open vehicle. Quot it was easy. Langley was a Happy Man at Day s end. He deemed the contest a Success and said he ii Start holding the races every sunday afternoon. He also Learned a few things. He s going to add a bit of dirt to the pit to make it thicker. Sunday s track was a bit too much like weak Cocoa. A next sunday May 13 Quot he said we ii probably have a Little More mud More fun. Six year old Amber Brown above left gets splattered. Event organizer Stan Langley top photo plans to have More mud at future races. This May mean More work to ensure to if the track is extra gooey. The workers above use a pick and shovel of loosen clumps of hard dirt. The stars and stripes a a a Page 15
