Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

he hasn't posted on message boards in a while. he was smarter than I. but he's been around since the invention of them so I thought I would share.

I lost my friend last evening after a tough battle with that F***ing thing called cancer. I'm angry, bitter, and hurt. But I am happy that he is in a better place and all I could think of to say last night is no matter what the outcome was going to be it was going to turn out good either way.

He would have advised me to write something down and then sleep on it to make sure I got it right. But I need to get it off my chest and this is the best that I can do.

Enjoy,

Bluteam

I reflect back on my first encounter with Marshall Schlenz. He was standing on the berm in turns 3 & 4 at the old Grays Harbor Raceway watching hot laps. Coming from my left I heard a conversation that included the team I was there to help on that night. I turned to see an imposing figure dressed in street clothes studying the session without even a casual glance to make eye contact with me. The words spoken were not flattering, and they were not meant to be. They were meant to raise awareness and provoke thought. It was…………who he was.

Not too long ago we spoke for the first time of this (our first) encounter. We had long since developed our friendship into something more than special for me, and I wanted him to know what my thoughts were that day. While I have always valued the influence from all of the friendships I have made, only three have been allowed to guide me, and Marshall quickly became number three. As I described that day, he was not surprised by what he heard me say. I told him I was intrigued by what I heard, as some of it was news to me, and other parts had me wondering how this person could know what he did. Our friendship didn’t develop overnight, but that encounter on the berm in Elma was the catalyst for our relationship. While not pleasant, his words were eerily accurate. There would be many more times after that day that his thoughts would change a course…….or encourage the path. “Sometimes it is irritating” I would tell him. “Just give me the answer.” He was a teacher.

He had an intelligent and photographic mind. His ability to recall even that which didn’t stand out to you and I often had me in awe. We routinely spoke on the phone until the early morning hours. We laughed every time his phone would die like clockwork after 55 minutes, and I simply called him back on his other phone to continue the conversation. When he called and someone else answered the phone, it was never to ask if I was there. He engaged whomever he spoke with. He wanted to teach others that language and communication defines who you are. I struggled to meet his expectations for that – this I know. Yet he allowed me to communicate via my fingers even when he knew it was harmful. We did not agree on everything, but the ability to keep our thoughts open and in plain view is what we shared, and what kept our relationship strong. We never had to apologize for not being a friend to each other.

He was loathed by more than one message board owner and some posters, but loved by those who were not intimidated by oppression and thought. Truth be told, he actually shared the same goals as those who would try to quiet him. The difference being, Marshall saw banter and differences being shared through dialect as working towards a solution and betterment for all. I had to remind him of this on more than one occasion when his daughter would spar with him. She may have been the only person to ever truly frustrate him, and as I told him, you taught her too well. He would simply say “I know it.” He was sometimes frustrating for us. He created his match in her, and I suspect it was by design. He loved her enough to give himself for her.

He brought his family into quarter midget racing in full force. Not like most however. He recognized the avenues that quarter midget racing provided to which the family could bond, social skills could develop, and one could lend them self to ensuring the future of a sport they love. I tried to resign my post as President of the club one time, and that led to the only time I ever saw fear in Fred Brownfield’s eyes. Marshall would be the replacement, and Fred knew he was a worthy adversary in the form of an advocate. Fred was also the recipient (from Marshall) of the greatest compliment one can receive. Marshall was skeptical and borderline critical when Fred first took over operations of the Grays Harbor Raceway. Anyone can kiss your ass and tell you that you were right without ever questioning what you do. When one approaches you directly and admits they were wrong, it generates respect on both sides. I wasn’t there that day, but I suspect Fred simply winked and welcomed him aboard. That takes thought and an open mind on both sides. But it also took passion – something they both shared and what made them great. Is it so hard to fathom why the two of them were two of the three I allowed to guide me. Fred was better at giving me the answers though. Marshall knew I need the challenge.

Leading a group of volunteers will challenge you. One time I was questioned to the point of interrogation by some members regarding a minor safety regulation within QMA. Those who would not accept an answer I simply relayed, yet they disagreed with, found their advocate in Marshall – or so they misinterpreted. Standing at the door to my trailer, he wanted me to further define what was clearly written on the paper in his hand. I sternly told him that I had been doing this QMA thing for quite some time now, and did not need to be quizzed by a group of people who were simply looking to skirt the rules. He announced, rather intimidating I will say, his tenure of being involved in racing and he reminded me of how if time on the job was the issue, his experience trumped mine. After things calmed down I realized he was only trying to lead me to a better avenue of showing the people what they needed to find out for themselves but were too lazy to do so. He should have just given me the answer, but then it would have looked odd………..and it certainly would not have been Marshall’s way.

He stuck up for me more than one time, and looked out for my son as if he was his own. He would always ask me how I was, but especially lately, not before he asked how TJ and Nicki were. It went beyond a simple desire to help and be a part of TJ’s racing or interest in what they do. He wanted to teach. That’s who he was, and he admired his pupils that would listen and think. I suspect he was trying to emulate “Old Man Freedman”, his High School English teacher whom he routinely made fun of his teaching methods. Marshall called him 25 years after he last saw him to see if he would remember the kid who had disrupted his class. When Harold Freedman asked Marshall if ever got to race all those cars he wrote about, it erased all the doubts Marshall had expressed about his methods of teaching. I am glad it didn’t take me 25 years to discover Marshalls methods. Had I reacted differently on that fateful day in Elma, I may have never discovered my Mr Freedman. Marshall always felt a driver needs to earn it, and I suspect he got that from Harold Freedman. I hope they can now get completely caught up.

In a selfish world Marshall demonstrated how to give. Excess was not to be wasted and I was humbled when he suggested that extra items or food that surfaced be given to homeless and other shelters. When most people are driving to work they are thinking about their day and what is ahead. Many of our mid-day conversations involved Marshall telling me of the homeless guy he regularly observed and engaged near his work. I think he felt guilty that he had stopped smoking for the simple reason he couldn’t offer one of his cigarettes to the man. I reminded him that it was actually helping both of them. He agreed, but knew his reasons for quitting were not to be enjoyed by the homeless man. It is widely known that he has helped TJ in racing. It’s not so widely known how many others he has helped. In short – any and everyone in some sort of way, even if they didn’t realize it. I’ll never forget the day someone asked him for advice on how to get his 5 year old sons racing career started. “How do you know he wants to be a race car driver” Marshall responded. I won’t say what he said next.

One of his great gifts as a person was his ability to talk and hold conversation. When he wanted to show you how dumb you were really being, his voice changed to a Dr Phil impersonation that would have whomever was in listening range rolling on the ground in laughter. His wit was quick and often missed by those who were slow to get it. As he was being transferred to a different room the other night, the pair of interns assigned to transfer his bed and IV’s from the room kept bumping the door and tugging on the lines. Marshall simply looked at the badges on their chest and asked “so how do you like working at Boeing?” If they got it, they never figured it out at that moment. He did his best to embarrass the people he cared about the most and for the sole purpose of making sure they would forever hold a memory of their relationship. Although, it would seem only fair that both parties would be present to get the full affect, eh Shelby?

He wasn’t afraid to make himself the butt of the joke either. When Vern walked into the hospital room in the hours before Marshall was to pass, I struggled to hold back the laughter thinking about a story he once told. He liked to park next to Vern when they raced together so he could get out of the car and yell out in his best Rainman voice – “V E R N, V E R N, of course I’m a good driver aren’t I Vern?” He said they both laughed about the looks people would give wondering who this “challenged” person was driving a sprint car. Marshall was not ashamed to say his abilities in a dirt sprint car were average at best either. He had his moments, and explained them to me during the night of TJ’s first ever sprint car race. As my anxiety raged over making sure everything was perfect on the car, Marshall simply said – “do you really think he’s not going to win here tonight?” Huh? – I asked. “Listen”, he responded, “if I was in the car and we won here it would be a big deal. This is TJ we’re talking about and this is just to get his feet wet.” Some people have acted as though TJ should have won many races by now. If Marshall had actually drawn a chart, it would show he is right where his teacher expected him to be. “Anybody can put a monkey in the seat and tell them to stand on the gas” he would say. His baby step process and TJ’s “only going to do what I know I’m capable of” attitude was a perfect blend.

And yet he loved confidence. In his final days he and the nursing staff were able to experience one of the people Marshall loved the most. Even in his self-imposed toned down voice (which really wasn’t), the staff and patients on the 9^th and 3^rd floors knew good times were being shared. Marshall knew John was one of the people in his life that he could count on for anything, and to be able to share a laugh in his presence meant a lot to him and to me as well. We all laughed about someone that was not present, and yet this person knows the role he played in making others happy and better for it. I’m going to need someone like that to replace the person I lost. At the very least, someone as my phone date/sounding board. However, I’m going to break him in slow because 2AM phone calls laughing, bitching, and fighting while the wives are trying to sleep is not for the faint of heart. It’s going to take awhile though. Losing hurts. The hardest thing I have ever done is phoning TJ and telling him the news about our friend, and yet I know TJ was right where Marshall wanted him to be – in Australia, at a race track. Marshall passed at 10:30 PM our time. A few hours later, the race in Brisbane rained out.

One of John’s favorite questions to ask is “did you see me out there!” Well now Marshall has no excuse John………….for he has a premium seat and can see everything. I hope he is as forgiving to us as we were to him when unwritten agreements get broken – hungry and a rainout or not. I hope he and Fred and LeRoy are proud of what they see, and that they find a way to send me a message reminding me when I’m off track. Marshall once tried to help someone understand something that she did obviously not understand. In the exchange and after several attempts to explain, Marshall bowed and said she may be misunderstanding what he was trying to say. She retorted with “I didn’t misunderstand, you’re saying it wrong.” And that’s usually what happens isn’t it.

I’m not exceptionally spiritual, but I believe in God and faith. I believe Native rituals are stronger than most for the simple fact they are not contaminated with greed, policy, or agenda. When Ed waved the Eagle feather around Marshalls body, he was brought to peace for the first time in days without the aid of drugs or encouragement or love from his family and friends. I saw it, and I am grateful to have been there for it. As expected, this is hard for Diana & Kailey and all of Marshall’s family and friends and time will be our ally – this I am sure. I am envious that I did not get the time and experience that so many others were able to get by being around him for so long. We were late on the racing scene, but I loved listening to his stories and his knowledge of the racing community and history. Selfishly, I am deeply saddened at the loss of my friend, teacher, confidant, supporter, and surrogate family member. But I am happy that he is in a great place where you never say it wrong and they understand you just fine. When the light that’s lost within us reaches the sky, you know you have found peace.

And if they don’t like the way we spell Sprintcarz, or Bluteam, well that’s OK - they’re just afraid to change.

May you Rest in Peace Marshall Schlenz. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhQM41vBKvs


Bluteam

http://www.tjhartmanracing.com/pleasantlyblue/index.php

The greatest knowledge is to know that you know nothing
at all.

Very nice Blueteam.

It was a long time ago, 7th grade to be exact when I met Marshall. He was in 8th grade and we were in the same shop class in Junior High School. In my years of going to the races, I had never met anyone at school who was a racing fan like I was.

We both spent our Saturday Nights at San Jose Speedway. I have to tell you, our work in shop class came after we talked about the races. One small problem, I was a Howard Kaeding fan, Marshall like Nick Rescino. In those days, it was one or the other, never both.

I remember 1978 when Marshall went with my dad and I to the season opener at West Capital Raceway. Man did we have fun. Both of us with our cameras, taking as many pictures as we could.

I remember 1980, his family was go to move from Campbell to Washington and they were heading up to look at houses. I was invited to go along. Oh, by the way, house hunting was planned around the Super Dirt Cup at Skagit. Not the Dirt Cup. Not the Jim Raper Memorial. Jim still watered they track by hand back then. Nope, to us, this race was, and will always be, the Super Dirt Cup.

Marshall, his father and I had a great time that week. My first Super Dirt Cup. What a blast.

I remember 1982, Marshall and his buddy Jeff came down from Washington and I met up with them at the Gold Cup in Chico. Plenty of rain that year but again, fun times.

I remember so many phone calls that would last an hour or two. It didn't matter how often we talked, or how infrequent, we'd catch up fast, and keep right on talking.

My health has taken a sh*t over the last several months. I'm saddened I was not able to travel to Washington to see Marshall one more time. Tears are flowing as I say, I will remember Marshall forever.

CarWash Mike

I'm very glad you posted this. I never really got to know Marshall except through the e-mails we exchanged and it didn't click until Carwash posted which caused me to take a closer look. Marshall primarily contacted me regarding needing calendars but I remembered the e-mails we exchanged and I knew the whole time that Marshall was a special kind of person. I always wondered how it is that we lost touch but I think I know why now. He specifically mentioned you Carwash in an e-mail he sent to me and I would be more than happy to forward that to you if you want to see it. One of his relatives was responsible for a lot of who I am and while it seems that I will forever be on his permanent shit list nothing can take away his contribution to my life. To Marshall: I wish I could have met you in person. It almost seemed it might happen when we taked (by e-mail) about you guys staying here if you ever came down. In the flurry of activity that is life I forgot about it but I genuinely hoped you would take us up on it at the time. Rest in Peace Marshall and I wish those you left behind the very best in the wake of your departure.

Chris Lovett

Mike - I have never met you but have heard (in detail) every one of those stories(and more) that you mentioned, and because of that, feel as if I've known you all along. We laughed so hard the night he discovered someone else posting a picture that he knew you guys took through the fence. He knew it in detail so much so, that he knew which one of you took the picture because of where the push truck was positioned. His memory was incredible. Jeff was with him at the end, and one of the things they talked about in the final days was that trip to Chico and the Suburban. Marshall told me the story a while back and said they were dropping mud out of the fenderwells all the way back to Washington.

Chris - my son and I were one of the recipients of Marshall's purchase of the calendars every year for Christmas. And then when racing season started he would show up at the trailer with a handful of them and tell TJ to hand them out to his favorite fans. We didn't get one this past year because it was around the time he was discovering the cause of his illness, and that's OK. He had more important things on his mind. However - two things stand out. First - to hear you say you never met him is a surprise to me because the way Marshall talked about you in detail. Part of that is my fault because every year I had to try and figure out the ladder in which the calendars would make their way here and a couple of times he got frustrated with repeating the same story over and over to get it through my head - and then I would ask him again just to aggravate him. And second - just this past week I walked in my shop and looked at the calendar on the wall still on December. I said out loud that the calendar page will never change and never come down. It was a gift from my friend and stuck on a month showing pictures from Australia where my son was at that very moment by Marshall's hopes, dreams, and wishes.

Thanks to both of you for sharing.

Ted Hartman

The greatest knowledge is to know that you know nothing
at all.

Ted,

Thank you for the kind words and taking the time for describing my best friend to a tee. For what any consolation it may be worth, you weren't the only one that Marshall liked to play "Devils Advocate" with. You hit the nail the on the head when you eluded to the fact that he had an unconventional, frustrating way of teaching. Not only about racing, but about life in general. He didn't mice words, and called a spade a spade. He sometimes hurt the feelings of those with thin skin or didn't understand his personality. That was their loss. As another, equal opportunity offender, we have had many, "we'll just agree to disagree', moments over the past 30+ years. That is part of what made Marshall Marshall.

I know he valued you as a very special friend. You and I have rarely met over the years, but I feel like I personally know about you and your family from listening to Marshall extol your praises, along with your son T.J..

Thank you for being with him at the end. I know it was hard to watch, and I'm sure we all will have those last hours haunt us for the rest of our life's.

Again, thank you.

Jeff

Mike,

Just so you know. Up until the end, he was still cussing us out regarding the showers at the Chico track back in 82, and the subsequent hypothermia that he suffered from for the three day's following said shower.

Those are times you need to live to fully appreciate. I for one am glad to have had the opportunity to have lived so many memories with my friend.

I'm sure he'll be looking down at this weekends race. Offering some other heavenly spectators his critique on stagger, offset, gear ratio, tire pressure, and grove/lane choice.

Jeff

As an original around this place, I feel I am witnessing the greatest thread ever posted, thanks to all invoved. Take It Easy....