You Gotta Share Them

While reading the latest issue of the WOODIE TIMES, I took special interest in the article written by our President Wayne Yada titled “Woodies for Rent”. We all know how popular and special woodies are. I too have used my woodie for a number of events.

Of course, weddings are always in the running as the number one request. How about this one, I drove the daughter of Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, from the wedding on Treasure Island in San Francisco to the reception in North Beach, complete with a police escort.

When San Francisco Giants pitcher Kirk Rueter retired from playing, I escorted him and his family onto the field for a pre-game ceremony. Why in a woodie?  The nickname the other players gave him was Woody, because he looked like the Toy Story character and just like Wayne my woodie was used for a Pottery Barn winter catalog.

The most recent use was the National Hot Rod Associations tour stop at Sonoma Raceway in Northern California. Jeff Diehl is the driver of an 11,000 horse powered drag racing Funny Car. These machines are capable of traveling the 1,000 foot race track in less than 4 seconds and speeds up to 330 miles per hour.  Jeff, and wife Leeza, asked if I would be willing to use the woodie as their tow vehicle.

Being a hard-core motor sports fan, it took no time to say YES. What’s the connection you may ask? Jeff is also a big wave surfer. He is known as the Nitro Surfer to all that know him. The use of a surf wagon towing Jeff’s race car was a natural. Each time we towed the car to the starting line, the fans went wild.

Jeff is in the process of building his own woodie, a Merc Shoe Box. Jeff and Leeza are also members of the National Woodie Club. If you happen to see him at a race, make sure to say hello in the pits, they are great people.