Visiting Oregon!

Hi everyone!

I’m in Oregon with Bev’s friend, Ben.  

He and Bev met when they were 2nd Lt’s stationed at Edwards AFB, CA.  They were both assigned to work at the USAF Test Pilot School.

And even though the instructors kept them quite busy, they managed to have a lot of fun too.

Bev and Ben standing on the flight line to get a closer look at the USAF Thungerbirds.

Now that Ben has completed his active duty commitment, he spends his time as a race car driver at the Portland International Raceway!

And guess what?!?  He let me ride along in his race this past weekend!!!  



Ben racing his car.





Here’s Ben:
“Every time I go to the race track, people ask why I have the Lupus decals and why Lisa Lupie rides along when I race. I tell them that a dear friend of mine, Beverly Knaup, is fighting a tough battle against Lupus, and that not many people are aware of the hardships that people with Lupus face every day. By using my race car as a billboard for the fight against Lupus, I hope to help raise the world’s awareness of this awful disease.


Front of car.





Back of car.

When Bev asked me if Lisa Lupie could ride along in the race car, I thought it would be a great idea to draw attention to the cause. Now, safety is a big concern on the race track, since we’re pushing the limits and reaching speeds of well over 100 MPH. So, since Lisa Lupie is small, the extra seat wouldn’t be a good fit and the belts wouldn’t do a go job of keeping her safe, and of course she wouldn’t be able to see out of the car! So we decided to tape her to the window for the best possible security and vantage point. This also ensured that she would be seen by everyone who was watching!



My viewpoint during the race!



Like Lupus, we have ups and downs in racing. You have to take the small victories when you can get them, and deal with the hard times. This past weekend at the track was no exception. We got off to a bad start, going off the track several times on the first day, damaging parts of the car. We were able to get our times down, however, to be competitive with several other cars. But, with the car not handling well, we had to come up with a plan to move forward and finish the race. On the final race day, I had no idea what to do to get the car to handle properly – I was completely lost. Luckily, there are so many people around the paddock who are ready and willing to help out. You just have to ask sometimes! So with the help of some great people, we adjusted a few things on the car and away we went in our first real race. We had a very bad start to the race, putting us in last place. At that point, we decided to relax and stop worrying about the position we had gotten ourselves into. We simply had to deal with these circumstances and move on. We began to work our way up through the field throughout the race and eventually passed another car that we had been battling for several laps. That was a great feeling – one of those rare successes that you have to be happy about! After passing that car, we focused on what we had to do to finish the race. We didn’t win, but then again sometimes it’s not about winning. It’s about improving yourself and enjoying every moment, even when the odds are against you. 

Some days, it's just not your day.

Lisa Lupie had a great time in the race car, and will have a permanent seat from now on! Whenever we race, I will be reminded that my ups and downs on the track can never compare to what someone with Lupus deals with every day. Lisa Lupie will serve to remind others who see her in the race car that there are great people in the world who are dedicating their lives to finding a cure for Lupus. With everyone’s help, we will find a cure someday, and that great victory will bring the world closer together and save precious lives!

To Bev, and everyone who is fighting this battle,

Race on!”

Thank you Ben, for letting me take a few laps around the track and to visit the beautiful Northwest!  Stay tuned to see where my travels take me next.