6
T he C oast News - I nland E dition
JUNE 30, 2017
Former Camp Pendleton kid takes fair’s demolition derby By Joe Naiman
DEL MAR — Matt McDonald, who in his Camp Pendleton military dependent days attended San Onofre Elementary School, returned to San Diego County in part to visit his father and in part to participate in the demolition derby June 24 at the San Diego County Fair. McDonald added a win in the demolition derby to his San Diego area activities. “It was a fun time out there,” McDonald said. “I was lucky to pull it off. There’s a lot of talent.” McDonald won when second-place finisher Antonio DeLara III no longer had a movable car. Antonio DeLara was given third place. Antonio DeLara III and Antonio DeLara both live in Coachella, and DeLara Towing is in Indio. McDonald drove a 1968 Dodge Polara he obtained from DeLara Towing. “Drove good for what the track conditions were,” McDonald said. Escondido driver John Northcutt settled for fourth place. Northcutt was able to continue to move his car despite a flat left front tire and smoke from underneath his hood, but he also lost his left rear axle. The drivers had two heats in the early after-
noon. The first heat had four cars and the second heat had five drivers including McDonald and Northcutt. “Heat races were pretty average, not too bad on the cars,” McDonald said. Four drivers from each heat advanced to the late afternoon final, so after the first car was eliminated the rest of the heat was more for testing than for eliminating other drivers. “It made for an easier heat,” McDonald said. The break between the early afternoon heats and the late afternoon final allowed the drivers and their crews to make necessary repairs or other adjustments to the cars. One of the cars that had qualified for the feature was not operable, so seven drivers began the final. The cars — especially the final four — demonstrated their resilience after numerous hits. That allowed the spectators additional time to enjoy the demolition derby while requiring the remaining drivers to continue their attempts to take out the other cars. “They all feel long when you’re in the car, but I don’t think it was too terribly long,” McDonald said of the derby. Track announcer Rat Sult issued one final count-
down to determine whether any cars could move before the checkered flag was thrown and McDonald was declared the winner. “Just got lucky my car didn’t get hit,” McDonald said. “Didn’t lose tires, kept the steering somewhat good, didn’t run out of fuel.” McDonald, who is now 23, has competed in demolition derbies since he was 16. He had competed in previous demolition derbies at the San Diego County Fair but had not won an event at the Del Mar Arena until this year. “Finally got the monkey off my back,” he said. McDonald’s previous demolition derby victory was in a February competition in Indio. Stan McDonald spent 22 years in the Marine Corps before retiring in 2009. He now lives in Hemet. The elder McDonald has been driving demolition derby cars for 36 years. Matt McDonald now lives in Monroe, Georgia, and is studying welding at Lanier Technical College in Monroe.
‘PAWS-ON’ HEALING Gina Gill, 12, of Murrieta, above, celebrates her paddle-out as part of Sunday’s “StandUP With a Warrior” event at Carlsbad Lagoon. The event, presented by Surf Dog Ricochet, is a new facet of Ricochet’s Waves of Empowerment program, bringing together combat veterans with PTSD and special-needs children for a day of healing through canine-assisted surfing, paddling, playing and therapy. Ricochet helps reduce social anxiety as the veterans and children engage in activities that foster positive, interactive relationships. Photos by Pat Cubel
Visit us coastnewsgroup.com
COMMUNITY MEMBER OPENING(S) ON TRI-CITY HEALTHCARE DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMMITTEE The Tri-City Healthcare District Board of Directors currently has two (2) community membership opening on the following working Committee: Finance, Operations & Planning Committee – two (2) open community seats. This Committee meets monthly to review Hospital finances, operational issues and strategic planning issues, including but not limited to budgets, operating performance and proposals for new capital. Applicants should have a background in finance. If members of the public have an interest in serving as a community member on the above listed Committee, please send a resume or biography delineating your experience relevant to this Committee to: Teri Donnellan. Executive Assistant Tri-City Medical Center - Administration 4002 Vista Way Oceanside, CA 92056 Your information will be forwarded to the Chairperson of the Committee and Board Chairperson for review and consideration. After consideration by the full Committee, a recommendation will be forwarded to the full Board of Directors for final approval/ appointment. All appointments are voluntary and do not include compensation. Community members shall serve a term of two years, with an option to renew the appointment for one additional two year term. At the conclusion of the second term, the community member shall not be eligible to serve on the same Board Committee for at least two years. It is preferable that a community member shall be a member of no more than one Board Committee at a time. The Board of Directors of Tri-City Healthcare District desires to ensure that its Committee community members are knowledgeable as to the issues that face the District. Therefore, only applications submitted by persons residing within the boundaries of the Tri-City Healthcare District will be considered.
www.tricitymed.org
‘Million Letter Campaign’ coming to San Diego By Aaron Burgin
SAN DIEGO — The “Million Letter Campaign” — an effort to secure and protect at least a million pieces of war-related correspondence from every U.S. conflict in U.S. History — is coming to San Diego on July 5. Campaign founder and author Andrew Carroll will be in town to speak about the importance of preserving
war correspondence and collecting it for the Center for American Water Letters at Chapman University. While the event will be held at the Joe Rindone Regional Technology Center in San Diego, the San Diego County Office of Education, which is hosting the event, said it will resonate with North County, which has a significant military and vet-
North County Accident Law Center
eran presence due to its proximity to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Carroll founded the Center for American War Letters, where donated letters are preserved and remain on permanent exhibit at Chapman University. He is also an author and playwright with a lifelong passion for preserving the firsthand accounts of war veterans. The event is scheduled to run from 1 to 2:30 p.m. July 5 at 6401 Linda Vista Road. Carroll will share some of the letters he has collected and receive donations of war-related correspondence. Members of the public are invited to bring letters or emails from any American war to donate to the Center for American War Letters for preservation. Photocopies and scans are fine, but originals are preferred.