Rocky Mountain Race Week Participants Rally Around Fellow Competitor After Crash on First Drive Day
We can commonly read about drag-and-drive competitors at the side of the road battling issues; that's par for the course. Unfortunately, we occasionally hear about crashes on the road as well, and one impacted this week's Rocky Mountain Race Week event.
Bob Koetting and Matt Koetting, competing in the Naturally Aspirated Small Block class, were second in their '68 Camaro with a 9.81 pass after day one. But the morning of June 24th, the father and son were involved in a bad wreck while making the drive from Oklahoma to Texas.
Thanks to RMRW announcer Adam Dorey, we got updates throughout the day, including his first one last night:
“I did talk to Matt K. He also reached out to Matt Frost. He said his dad and him were at different hospitals, but now are together (not in the same room but at the same hospital), and he was able to visit him. They’re both beat up and hurting, but both should survive. Matt made a couple of jokes, and said he was joking a little with his dad too.
They’re checking both for head injuries, and Bob’s leg/ankle are all messed up, and he got a large gash on his head, and both are pumped full of pain meds, so they’re a little loopy. He told me to tell everyone that it’s my job to make sure everyone wears seat belts the rest of the trip. They had just gotten gas and neither were wearing theirs.
Still waiting to hear if they need anything, and he promised he’d reach out if/when that request needs answered, no matter how big or small. He did joke with Matt Frost about not being able to make the rest of the checkpoints, and he told me to tell Sean Stanford he’s rooting for him to win the N/A Small Block class now since he can’t.
Hopefully he/they can give us all an update later when possible.”
Adam provided a second update this morning:
“Got off the horn with Matt Koetting, and it’s all good news! He’s about to be discharged! Concussion and bumps and bruises but no broken bones! Bob Koetting is a little worse for wearer, with a severe concussion and a broken ankle, and also battered and bruised, but he may be able to be discharged in a couple of days.
They’ve got family with them, and they have 301 Street Cars folks taking care of their truck and trailer and all those things. They’re going to stay in the OKC area for a few days while Bob hopefully continues to improve. Keep on with those good thoughts and prayers for them because it’s working!”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com