As today is a day to reflect and give thanks, GNCC Racing would like to share with you a story of thanks from fellow racer, Scott McManus.

“As long as you have been around racing you have always heard the term ‘Your Racing Family.’ Together we are one big family and when someone needs help it does not matter what team you are on, what brand of bike you ride, it just may mean that they need help and people are willing to do whatever it takes in a given situation. Sometimes it is a part for a bike, maybe a zip tie, gas or just an opinion. Whatever the call, there is always someone that is willing to help.

On November 1 at the season finale Ironman GNCC, the term ‘Racing Family’ took on an entirely new meaning to me and my family. 

The afternoon session started as normal as any other day. My wife, Melonie, videotaped the Open B start like she has many times before. We had our pit set up in the cornfield about 1000 yards from the start. After the start Melonie always posts the video on Facebook for all of our family and friends to see back home as they follow us each week. While walking back to our pits, I saw in the corner of my eye ‘someone’ get hit by a motorcycle. I’ve been a firefighter for almost 25 years so for me to run back to help the person that was hit was just normal. What I found was life changing. It was my wife. She wasn't breathing, her eyes were rolled back into her head and she was not responsive to anything for what seemed like an hour but in reality was about 45 seconds. I truly thought I was watching my wife die, our entire life together flashed before my eyes in 45 seconds. 

As I was about to start CPR she took a great big grasp of air and started breathing on her own, a few seconds later she started blinking and was in severe pain. It was very obvious that she had a concussion and a broken nose. She complained that her leg hurt but the main concern was her head. Keep in mind that we are laying in the middle of a very busy race track but with the help of our ‘Racing Family’ the bikes were routed around us. 

To make a long story short, the medics got her to the Trauma Center in Lafayette, Indiana where the care was second to none, you could even say first class. Melonie suffered from a very severe concussion, a broken nose, a broken tibia and fibula that would require emergency surgery, but with her concussion they had to wait till Monday for the surgery. 

Surgery went great, concussion symptoms started getting better and we were on our way home on the next Tuesday to start the long road to recovery.

To my ‘Racing Family’ - as soon as Melonie was hit Fred Beckert ran out and was right beside me the entire time with my wife, Tom Collins was right beside us as well.... Missy Beckert started praying. After that, the emergency crews as well as the GNCC track crew were there in seconds. 

I want to personally thank: 

• Fred Beckert
• Missy Beckert
• Tom Collins
• The EMS Crew
• The GNCC Crew
• Megan Sears
• Janessa McVickers
• Kyle Surface
• Jay Downhour
• Brandi Downhour
• Sommer McKenna
• Kyle Stalder
• Kevin Stalder
• Nick Tobin
• Megan Smith 

I also want to thank my God! I truly believe that all of the prayers and positive thoughts are what helped this situation. In Mark 11:24 it says, ‘I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.’

Without everyone doing what they did, I believe the outcome would have been different. The outreach from race teams and people that we didn't know, we received calls from many of the GNCC crew, from Racer TV, flowers from Racer Productions, cards, flowers and prayers from all around the United States. If I had a dollar for every text message, for every Facebook message or post, and for all of the phone calls I received, then I would be a rich man. With that said, having Melonie still here on earth with me makes me the wealthiest man alive.

I am a blessed man to be a part of ‘THE GNCC RACING FAMILY!’” 

Thank You
Scott McManus
McManus Racing #519