Craven's ride most successful yet
Copyright © 2003 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
GREENVILLE - Ricky Craven hasn't taken a single lap in a NASCAR Winston Cup race this year, but he came home a winner Saturday. The 6th annual Ricky Craven Snowmobile Ride for Charity raised a stunning $185,122 for the Children's Miracle Network, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the National Marrow Donor Program, the Travis Roy Foundation and Give Kids the World.
After checks totaling nearly $35,000 each were passed out to the charities, Craven also donated $1,000 to the Moosehead Riders Snowmobile Club and $10,000 to the Greenville school system.
"If I could find a way to race in the Winston Cup Series and live in Greenville all year long, I would. I'd send (children) Riley and Everett to school here. I'd probably set a new record for frequent-flyer miles," joked Craven. "But the school system has been great to us and this is our way of saying thanks."
Last year, Craven donated $10,000 to the C.A. Dean Hospital Capital Campaign. Greenville Town Manager John Simko, also an avid snowmobiler, praised Craven's efforts and noted the impact that the six-year-old charity ride has had on the town of 1,800 full-time residents.
"Ricky is not only successful at what he does, but he also shares his success with others. That's why we're so proud to have him in our community," said Simko.
The charity ride committee considered capping the number of riders at 475 this year, but they changed their minds when people continued to call for tickets right until the day before the event, said Craven's mother, Nancy.
"When Ricky says Maine people are the most generous people in the world, this is what he means," said Mrs. Craven. Last year, the ride raised $114,000.
Individual riders pay $125 each to take the 60-mile ride through the hills east of Moosehead Lake and join Craven for breakfast, lunch and an autograph session. Corporations and businesses also contribute thousands toward the ride; and this year, one of Craven's new sponsors, VIP Discount Auto Parts,donated $27,475 raised from the sale of raffle tickets for an Arctic Cat snowmobile. Hundreds of door prizes are also donated by the Maine drivers' sponsors, especially Tide detergent.
Once again, the ride went off without a hitch, although at least one rider almost wound up on the wrong trail: Craven.
"I went ahead of the pack a little bit and came to an intersection and didn't know which way to turn," said Craven.
The volunteer guide gave him a puzzled look and pointed to the right trail, not realizing that it was the Winston Cup driver.
"But the guy stopped Wayne Shaw (a Moosehead Riders member) and was going to ask him for his autograph," said Craven with a laugh.
The ceremonies also had a few somber moments, as Craven recalled meeting many youngsters with serious ailments who have since passed away. He recalled the time he took a boy for a ride in a specially-built Unity Raceway Wildcat car with two seats and wondered if the ride would scare him.
"I really cranked it up on one lap and thought I was going to lose it in the corner," recalled Craven, "and when I glanced at him, he was smiling and giving me the thumbs up."
With his most successful season in NASCAR Winston Cup racing behind him — 15th in points — and two more years on his contract with PPI Racing and Tide, Craven said he feels more than fortunate.
"There is no greater perspective than seeing someone's children in life-threatening situations. It reminds me of how lucky I am," said Craven.