JoeyD23
#utvunderground
The Rick Huseman Fundraiser - Legends Are Not Born, They Are Forged
By: Joseph “Joey D.†DiGiovanni
By: Joseph “Joey D.†DiGiovanni
Thursday October 27th, 2011 marked yet another bittersweet moment for the off-road community. Bitter in that we were once again mourning the death of another member of our community. Sweet that we could all come together to show support to his family and make known that we were here for them through the good and bad times. Like the family we are, we once again organized to show support, and take care of our own all in the name of Rick Huseman.
Family and friends of the Huseman family quickly mobilized in light of an extremely sudden and heartbreaking moment in life, where 2 brothers and their friend would lose their lives in a tragic plane crash just outside of Barstow, CA. Despite the heavy situation, family and friends found a way to honor one of the fallen, Rick Huseman, by organizing a fundraiser event that would benefit his wife Michelle and young son Ricky.
Unfortunately, this mobilization of the off-road community has come together more than we would have liked too over the past couple of years. Like a prizefighter, this body of off-roader’s has absorbed blow after blow, filled with tragedy and pain. Yet again, just like a prizefighter, we refuse to back down or give up. Instead we choose to stand together in the face of sorrow and show the world exactly who we are, and what we are made of.
The Rick Huseman Fundraiser was scheduled to take place the day after the Huseman brother’s heart wrenching, yet uplifting memorial service. What better way to honor this famed and decorated off-road racer then to put his wife and child at the forefront of our thoughts. The place for the event was the Pole Position go-kart racing facility located in Corona, CA. Rick’s family, friends, crew, sponsors, competition, fans, admirers, and supporters came out in full force and packed the facility! Hundreds, if not thousands of people funneled into the Pole Position facility to come pay their respects and honor their fallen off-road family member. A silent and verbal auction was put together with monies raised going into the Huseman Memorial Fund. Companies and individuals alike poured in both cash and product donations that by the end of the night would total over $100,000.00! So many donations of products were given that a second fundraiser is being planned.
The stars of off-road racing, many of whom were Rick’s friends in life and competition on the track came out to not only show their support for the Huseman family but also to put up gifts and money to support the family. Johnny Greaves kicked in personal mementos such as 2 of his own Oakley Bomb Awards that he autographed, one of which sold for $500.00 to another of Rick’s friends. Greaves didn’t stop there; he stepped up big in the verbal auction by purchasing one of Huseman’s race helmets for a whopping $10,000.00! Another friend and competitor Jeremy McGrath would also donate numerous autographed items for auction that included MX memorabilia and body panels from his truck. Metal Mulisha founder Brian Deegan donated numerous Metal Mulisha packages for the silent auction, while individuals and companies donated prized off-road mementos such as a collection of Mint 400 Decanters that raised well over $1000.00. Oakley donated Watches, Bags, and Sunglasses and many other companies put up gift certificates and other amazing products. One of Rick’s sponsors Toyota TRD put up a supercharger for a Toyota Tundra and NASCAR champion Jimmy Johnson via his brother and off-road racer Jessie Johnson donated a set of autographed gloves that raised a nice chunk of money.
In between the auction’s and fundraising was a celebrity go-kart race. Racers both young and old would take the Pole Position track and battle it out for Rick in a fun to watch race. Names like Greave’s, Ampudia, McGrath, Johnson, and many more took place in this fun race event. The evening also included a memorial video produced by Rick’s close friends at Mad Media. The Martelli Brother’s of Mad Media directed the memorial piece for Rick, this one much harder to produce than the race winning and Driver Of The Year piece’s they were most accustomed to creating for Huseman and his sponsors. In true Mad Media fashion the video hushed the crowd while everyone gathered around the TV’s in the facility. The video highlighted Rick both as a loving family man, and as the aggressive and talented off-road race champion he was. The phrase “Legends are Not Born, They are Forged†defined the video and honored Huseman as a hard working man who was entirely committed to becoming the legend he is and always will be. One part of the video showed an interview where Rick described his love for his son, saddening yes, but uplifting in knowing that “Little Ricky†will be able to see great highlights of his father as he grows up, always knowing just how much his father loved him.
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jJCxb9j3x_c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
While raising funds for Michelle and “Little Ricky†Huseman was the main objective for the night, it was also a time for Rick Huseman’s friends, fans, and Family to congregate and mourn the loss of this celebrated off-road racer and family man. The mood remained upbeat and positive, more of a celebration of life than anything. Most who knew Rick personally said that this is what he would want for his friends and family, to not sit in sorrow but rather to get together and celebrate his life knowing he was now in a better place. While Rick and Jeff Huseman looked down from above, and in true off-road fashion, this family of enthusiasts gathered to show nothing but respect to him, his memory and his family. Once again we smiled in the face of adversity and despair. Once again we pooled our resources to ensure that a man who gave so much to all of us on the track and in life would know that we are willing to give it all back via support and love to him and his family.
Godspeed Rick and Jeff Huseman, you may now be gone, but you will never be forgotten.
Photos by Vincent Knakal of Mad Media
More pics here: The Rick Huseman Fundraiser ? Legends Are Not Born, They Are Forged » race-deZert.com
