His sports car might run on alcohol, but he certainly doesn't.
Prairieland motorsports race-car driver Kevin Therres, from Humboldt, had three messages for Westmount School students at the Eagles Hall Friday - don't drink and drive, wear a seatbelt and say no to drugs.
Therres stressed the importance of a good support system to the children.
"You want to make sure you're having fun and developing with your team," he said during his inspirational talk, adding "team" for him might mean his pit crew, but for students, it's family and teachers.
"Usually there are five or six people in your life who help you be the best that you can be."
The racecar driver told students it's important they don't do drugs if they hope for greatness. He said if he got caught with drugs he would lose his racing licence. Also, he said one must always drive sober.
"Did you know if I got caught drinking and driving . . . I (would) lose the privilege of driving those vehicles out there on the race track?"
Following his "Race Against Drugs" talk about healthy responsible living, Therres showed the Grade 3-6 students two of his racing company's cars - a 3,000 horsepower alcohol-fuelled car, which runs on wood ethanol, as well as his biodiesel jet car.
Therres, who drives the 7,500-hp jet car, has been visiting students with his responsible living message since 1993. The Saskatchewan mechanic/racer said it's important children see he is just a regular prairie resident, like them, and dreams are not impossible for anyone to achieve.
"Maybe you'll be the next person to go into space," he told the children.
Seatbelt safety is another topic of extreme interest for this extreme race car driver. Five year's ago, Therres' son, Jamie, died in a vehicle accident, while driving home from work. He wasn't wearing a seatbelt.
"You never forget that as a parent," Therres told the students. "Just click it."
Aside from learning one could run a race car on alcohol or canola-based biodiesel, Brandon Seida, 12, said he definitely heard Therres' message about not doing drugs.
Fellow Grade 6 student Paige Diebert, 11, said she also learned the importance of sobriety and safety during Therres' talk, as well as the appeal of professional car racing.
"I think it's pretty cool. It would be fun to drive them," she said.
Therres said elementary students are at the perfect age to hear his safety-inspirational lecture, which is why he enjoys speaking with them.
"They're like sponges."
Carter Haydu can be reached
at 691-1265.
Racecar driver tells kids its OK to say no
Racecar driver tells kids its OK to say no
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- Published on April 28th, 2008
- Published on July 10th, 2009
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Carter Haydu
Times-Herald
His sports car might run on alcohol, but he certainly doesn't.
Prairieland motorsports race-car driver Kevin Therres, from Humboldt, had three messages for Westmount School students at the Eagles Hall Friday - don't drink and drive, wear a seatbelt and say no to drugs.
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Comments
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- Chad
- - September 18th, 2009 at 18:02:14
lol...yes, I am a street racer...with my WINDSTAR minivan. And, yes, THAT's what this article was about....street racing.
Cory, do yourself a favour and learn how to type first of all and second of all quit trying to make yourself feel big by putting others down. Yes, you are a good role model for those children at Westmount. I'll be sure to send them your way. -
- karsie
- - September 18th, 2009 at 17:55:49
yahhh you should of tooken pics of both classes and posted them both
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- Gary
- - September 18th, 2009 at 17:49:20
Hats off to the people and organizations who put on this event for our City's youth.
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- Ross
- - September 18th, 2009 at 17:23:24
Thankyou all for the feedback.Its not often one gets a chance to reach out to our youth and get positive responses from them and adults alike.In my previous terms as Pres.F.O.E. I focused on our hospital as my charity.You have no idea how fullfilng it was to see the exitment in those children and to see how intently the listened to every word Kevin spoke. Its the best thing I've ever done.I do want to thank South Hill Fine Foods for providing the lunch,very good!!
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- Dianne
- - September 18th, 2009 at 17:14:54
It is very dissappointing to read the comments by Cory it is sad to think he used this as a bashing against a individual. Possibly a program on growing up should be introduced to Cory. The program Kevin gave was to give our youth information on postive lifestyes.
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- Chad
- - September 18th, 2009 at 17:12:59
Now THIS is what I call an awesome story!! And great to see it make front page news, as it is a very important message to send to our young people. Not only the importance of not drinking and driving, but also what you can do with your life when given the proper resources and influences. One thing that could have been added to the story is to demonstrate the added bonus of drag racing in Saskatchewan at local tracks located in Saskatoon, Swift Current, Yorkton, Estevan, and a couple others that skip my mind at this time. This is an excellent way for kids to get their fast cars off the street and onto the strip where they can have all the fun they want, in a constructive manner.
Saskatoon has run a very successful Street Legal racing campaign over the years and I hope one day Moose Jaw gets the same opportunity to give to our young people with a race track of similar proportions. You want to give young people in Moose Jaw an alternative to drugs and alcohol, well folks, here is a perfect example of a very successful option! -
- cory
- - September 18th, 2009 at 16:57:59
yes way togo chad encouarage the young to act stupid but then again look who said it mister i think i speak for Moose Jaw. Hey chad just because u couldn't do thay with your life doesn't mean anyone else wants to grow up up you r sendind a bad message.
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- Shelley
- - September 18th, 2009 at 16:56:29
As the Mom of one of the drivers of the car (Jordan Pawlick) and the adoptive Mom of Shane, I am extremely proud of Prairieland Motorsports. Kevin Therres is a wonderful man who is giving his time to try and steer our youth down the right path. I think that our youth needs heros that they can look up to. If people like Kevin, Shane, Jordan and the rest of the Prairieland Motorsports team are willing to step up and talk to children, then more power to them.
Chad, you sound like someone who wants our youth to make informed choices about things that may affect them for the rest of their lives.
Again, way to go PRAIRIELAND MOTORSPORTS, Alberta is proud of you as well! -
- connie
- - September 18th, 2009 at 16:55:19
Thanks Carter Haydu for this splendid message you brought forth; i.e., to have a good support team (e.g., family, teachers), wear a seat belt and not to drink and drive or do drugs.
Having a good support team is essential for kids early in life to give them a sense of belonging and that they are genuinely cared about by the community.
However, A support team for kids/youth needs to be more than family and teachers; it also needs to include their doctor and their minister (i.e., family, educators, health care providers, and spiritual care.)
To use Chad's words, the PROPER RESOURCES AND INFLUENCES are very important for kids/youth to have a healthly and wholesome life.
Unfortunately resources and services for kids/youth are severely lacking in some areas. Fortunately someone thought this was a positive influence and invited Kevin; and another postive is that he IS from Saskatchewan!!!!!
As always, IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD .
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- Maxine
- - September 18th, 2009 at 16:16:49
Ross Crampton, President of Fraternal Order of Eagles invited Kevin and his Racing Team to speak to the Children.
Racing Against Drugs is President Ross's chosen charity for the year. -
- connie
- - September 18th, 2009 at 16:15:37
Thanks Maxine for letting us know who invited Kevin and the reason behind the invitation.
A huge Thank You to Mr. Crampton. -
- Had it with Chad
- - September 18th, 2009 at 16:07:07
Once again here is Chad promoting ONLY what interests him. Talk about soccer in the city and he's all for it because his kids play. Go ahead and spend money because my kids will use it.
Talk about racing and he's all for spending money to use the air strip for racing.....CRAZY!!!!!! But when it comes to spending money for anything else. Chad won't write the cheque. Interesting........... -
- Chad
- - September 18th, 2009 at 15:52:20
Cory, just goes to show how much you actually know about drag racing, or even racing in general. I will not address your comment any further because honestly, it makes no sense.
Thank you Mr. Crampton for inviting them out. Good on ya. FYI, this would be a great thing to bring to Sidewalk Days to bring the message out even more to a wider array of the general public. Plus it'll give us racers the much needed exposure in this city, which has typically been anti-racing in the past couple decades. One would be amazed to see how many racers we actually have in this city.
