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Truck Drivers Trade the Road for the Dirt Track

Courtesy Photo | Capt. Phillip Anderson of Plainfield, Ind., 1538th Transportation Company commander,...... read more read more

TAJI, IRAQ

06.08.2009

Courtesy Story

10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office

CAMP TAJI, Iraq — There are many ways for a Soldier to unwind and fill up the free time between missions, but several Indiana National Guard Soldiers deployed with the 1538th Transportation Company from Elkhart, Ind., 419th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, have taken the long-held Hoosier tradition of racing overseas with them.

Several 1538th Soldiers either brought radio-controlled cars or have purchased them after arriving in order to help them pass some off-duty hours and to give them a much needed stress release.

There is some challenging driving to be found in the company's area, from jumping over sandbags to turning "doughnuts" in the sand, but to really let these tiny terrors of the track reach their full potential, they needed a track.

"It's amazing how fast these things are," said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brian Kabay, a North Liberty, Ind., native, who serves as the unit's maintenance technician. The Soldiers had planned to race on the existing race track, just a short walk down the street from the company's barracks; however before they could get a single car on the track, the area was cleared and made into a fenced holding area for vehicles impounded by the Camp Taji Military Police.

With so many Soldiers joining in the excitement, the unit constructed a track of their own. Capt. Phillip C. Anderson, 1538th Transportation Company commander and a resident of Plainfield, Ind., set aside an unused and difficult-to-access corner of the company motor pool for a track.

"I got into RC cars during my last deployment, and it was a great way to let off some steam and have some fun," said Anderson, who laid out the track. He then got help from his Soldiers who had RC cars as well as a few volunteers.

"It seemed like a good way to spend a Sunday," said Sgt. Christopher Monjeau, a resident of South Bend, Ind., and a 1538th Soldier working in the battalion's operations section, "especially so we can bring our cars out here and have a good time."

The Soldiers built the track over a drainage ditch, covering over it with old aircraft pallets and lining the track with sandbags. A few Soldiers constructed a wooden reviewing stand from which they could control the cars and some ramps to add challenge and variety.

Before the track was built, Soldiers drove wherever they could find space — the volleyball court, the basketball court, an open lot next to the company motor pool. Having the track gives the Soldiers a controlled area and a chance to engage in some friendly competition.

"It's an expensive hobby," said Spc. Todd Wiles, a resident of Plymouth, Ind., and a wheeled-vehicle mechanic, "but I really enjoy it. It's fun to see what your car can do compared to everyone else's."

Some Soldiers have multiple cars or have bought additional parts they can mix and match, turning what was a speedy racecar into a high-riding truck with a set of tires and wheels and a body shell. When a car breaks and a Soldier is waiting for parts to come in the mail, it can become something of an obsession. "I've been checking the mailroom every day for the last week for this package," said Sgt. Alan Lerch of Ligonier, Ind., a wheeled-vehicle maintenance supervisor with the 1538th, upon getting some much-anticipated upgrades for his RC car. The parts and upgrades do not necessarily make for a level playing field but do make for some exciting racing.

Cpl. Marion Starr, a native of Staunton, Ind., during a day of racing said, "I may not have the fastest car out here, but I sure do have fun doing it," with a huge grin on his face and his car yards behind the nearest car in the three-car pack. During off-duty time, several Soldiers may get together and race or may just happen to find themselves at the track together. Some Soldiers even use their off-duty time to keep improving the track. One of the Soldiers used his time to paint a black and white sign complete with checkered flags and "1538th Trans. Co. Taji 500" for the reviewing stand.

Word of the track has gotten out to Soldiers outside the unit as well. Soldiers from Camp Taji have joined in the RC car racing, bringing their cars to the track for some hot laps and some friendly competition. These Soldiers all share their knowledge and information about RC cars with each other around the workbench where they fuel and prepare their cars for the track. "Opening the track to Soldiers from other units is a great morale booster, gives us all someone new to race against, and builds camaraderie among units," said Sgt. Michael Babin, a resident of New Paris, Ind., and a vehicle maintenance supervisor with the 1538th.

The 1538th Transportation Company, an Indiana National Guard unit based in Elkhart, Ind., is nearing the end of their tour in Iraq, scheduled to return to Camp Atterbury, Ind., in summer 2009. The unit has hauled fuel and flatbed cargo on the roads of the Baghdad area since arriving in Iraq in September 2008, performing without accident, injury, or loss of personnel or cargo. Their driving skill on the RC track however is not as outstanding, but it is far less stressful.