A Testimonial About Eric Medlen
We (my son Jeff, my best friend Bob Wingfield and I) met Eric at a local slot car track in Modesto, CA back in 1992. This was the year after he graduated from our local high school (Oakdale High School) in Oakdale, CA. Eric was working on a slot car replica of Don "the Snake" Prudhomme's 'Skoal Bandit' TF car. His dad, John Medlen, was the crew chief for the Snake's TF dragster at that time. We talked about drag racing and slot cars for several hours, as we all worked on getting our scale dragsters to perform on the track. Though we had just met him, it was as though we had known each other for years. Eric was always very 'down earth', as would be seen by everyone (other racers and fans) throughout his career. He always dreamed of one day driving one of the fuel cars (he confided this to us). After several hours, Eric invited us over to his parent's house in Oakdale to meet his family. Remember, we had only known him for a few hours, yet he treated us like long–time friends. Later that year, Eric was off to school (Indy, I think). We saw him several times at the NHRA events with his dad. By this time, his dad (John Medlen) was the crew chief for Chuck Etchells' funny car. It must also be mentioned that John Medlen showed those same qualities to us. Friends of Eric were friends of his.
We've always been John Force fans, long before he ever won a championship. As a one year old, my son (Jeff) became interested in drag racing through the coverage of NHRA events on TV. The primary reason was John Force. You just never knew what John was going to say, but it was always funny and off–the wall. When John spoke, Jeff listened and absorbed it all, including how to drive the car down the 'old right lane at Sears Point (Jeff would later explain it back to John in person. He was only 2 years of age when he did that).
We've always been John Force fans, long before he ever won a championship. As a one year old, my son (Jeff) became interested in drag racing through the coverage of NHRA events on TV. The primary reason was John Force. You just never knew what John was going to say, but it was always funny and off–the wall. When John spoke, Jeff listened and absorbed it all, including how to drive the car down the 'old right lane at Sears Point (Jeff would later explain it back to John in person. He was only 2 years of age when he did that).
In 1990 (when Jeff was just 2 years of age), we took a family vacation to Disneyland in LA. Part of the vacation included attending the NHRA Winter Nationals in Pomona. I had quit attending the drag races due to shortage of cars, lack of accessibility to the drivers (the pits were barricaded off and the drivers were inaccessible) and the extra cost for pit passes. The fun had left, as far as I was concerned. We had no track in the Northern California area that featured any large events. To go to a drag race worth seeing required driving at least 6 hours one way. But Jeff wanted to see his hero, John Force, so we headed south for Disneyland and the Winter Nationals. Jeff met John Force and the rest is history. We've all grown up 'idolizing our heroes', but few of us ever get to meet our heroes. Even fewer get autographs and photos with their heroes. Even fewer find out that their heroes truly are heroes, meaning that they have character and personalities worth emulating. Often our heroes end up being 'not so nice folks'. Not the case with John Force. But to further put things in perspective, few of us ever have the opportunity to become 'friends with their heroes'. That has happened to my son, Jeff. John has always greeted Jeff and looked out for him, often going out of his way to say hello to us and taking extra time to talk to us (he called Jeff on his birthday). Things that John Force has done for Jeff and I could fill a list. Because of John Force, we've been attending the NHRA drag races every year since 1990, often 2–4 times. John Force Racing has made us feel like part of the team.
I mention the above to point out the following background points of interest to us. In 1990, Jeff met (for the first time) the crew chief for Ed 'the Ace' McCullough's (Larry Minor owned) 'Miller Lite' funny car. He nervously asked the man with the goatee for an autograph. The crew chief happily obliged and took the time to talk to Jeff. The crew Chief was none other than Bernie Fedderly. Unfortunately, he was the crew chief for the 'opposing contender's race car, which made it difficult to root for his team. To root for his team would be to root against John. That would not be a problem for long. After helping to lead Cruz Pedregon to the funny car title in 1992 and an elapse time national record (5.102 seconds at Houston Raceway park in Houston, TX) — Bernie signed the 'handout photo for me at the track in Houston, writing the record ET on the photo. Bernie was let go by Larry Minor racing (about a year or so later). Bad move, BIG mistake by Larry Minor...but, GREAT news for Team Force and my son and I. Team Force gained another crew chief (one of the best in the business) to work hand and hand with the great one (Austin Coil) and we could now cheer on one of the nicest folks you could ever meet at the track (Bernie Fedderly). The rest is history. Next up was John Medlen. He now was to become a crew chief for the 'test car' (the #2 team car of Tony Pedregon). Eric was to follow in a couple years. First he helped his dad on Tony's car, then he was working on John Force's car. It never went to his head. He would always say hello to us, though he had little time in his very busy crewman schedule to talk to us. He always acknowledged us.
Then, in 2004, Eric achieved his goals, to drive a nitro funny car. And it wasn't just any nitro funny car, but the one of the best for the best team in drag racing (the car was the same car departing driver Tony Pedregon won the funny car championship in 2003 with). When we finally got to see him in Sonoma, he was so excited. As he told us "he was living a dream". What people saw on TV, during the interviews, was the real Eric Medlen. He was living a dream and it showed in his interviews. It showed in how he dealt with the fans. He didn't have to act. It was real and from the heart. Eric was going to try to get John Force to come over to his trailer after the race so we could photograph the two of them roping the practice roping dummy device he had in the pits (he joked he would rope John), but John's schedule and commitments took up his time. We told Eric that a win was coming and Jeff joked with Eric that if he won an event that Eric should give him a Castrol Syntec hat. Eric said "you've got a deal buddy, if I win one before the year is out, you get a hat".
About 2 weeks later, at the Brainerd race, Eric won his first event title. When we caught up to him in Pomona for the Finals that year, and while we were congratulating Eric on his Brainerd win, Eric pops up with "Hey, I promised you a hat when I won", and gave Jeff his Castrol Syntec hat. Eric never forgot his friends, no matter how fast his 'star was rising'. He always made time to talk to his friends and to make new ones. He never forgot the interests of each friend. He talked roping with his 'roping buddies', motorcycles with his motorcycle buddies, slot cars and racing with us. He always had time for the fans, especially the kids. We would see him go out of his way for the kids at the track, to ensure they got an autograph picture and their picture taken with him, if they wanted. He always tried to get the kids to smile. As he always told us, "he was like a big kid in a candy store'. Eric allowed us to live his on track experiences with him, filling us in on all the details of what it was like to drive one of those 8000 horsepower monsters. We've always wanted to just sit in the car with the body down, just to see what it was like (but we've always been too afraid to ask to do so). Eric filled us in on the details to give us the feeling as best he could. He always gave Jeff's mom (my wife) a hug at the track (Sonoma) when he saw her and always looked for us. He even borrowed the 2–way walkie–talkie radio my wife carried so she could contact us. He then 'hollered at us' over the radio to "hurry up and get back to Force's pit area". He would wait for us and time us, as a prank, to see how long it took us to get there carrying the bags of souvenirs he knew we had collected. Then when we got there, he'd joke with us and 'high five us'.
We brought some friends with us (Ralph and Abbey Damante), in 2006, to the Sonoma event. They had not been to the drag races in 20+ years and never to an event of this stature. They met John Force, Bernie Fedderly and Robert Hight. The team made their experience unbelievable. Then they met Eric. Like I've always told people, "if you met Eric, you knew him". Eric treated them like "old friends" and made their day at the races a memory that they would never forget. Now they want to go every year. Because of Team Force and Eric Medlen, they have become new NHRA drag racing fans and of course...BIG TIME JOHN FORCE and FORCE team fans. Jeff and I always wanted to be at an event where Eric would win the funny car title. He had won several events prior to the 2006 Fram/Autolite Nationals in Sonoma, but they were at races we were unable to attend. After watching him on the "Driving Force" show earlier in the week (roping the boss and getting a massage in a whirl pool...what funny deal that was), the magic was about to happen. Eric won the 2006 Fram/Autolite Nationals at his 'home track' in front of his 'hometown friends and family'. We were there and will never forget the moment or the feeling. Eric was Eric in all the photo shoots and interviews, full of excitement and energy. He really loved what he was doing. He loved working with his dad. He told us so many times. His attempting to play the guitar in the winner's circle was a classic. He was really "living a dream". On his way back from the winner's circle, he told Jeff to keep pursuing his dreams and not to let anyone or anything get in his way (driving or playing baseball). If Jeff wanted to drive, then work hard and do so. If he (Jeff) got there, as a driver, he would be looking to celebrate with him in the winner's circle, when he won.
Eric never forgot about the slot cars and always talked to us about getting the slot car track back together, so we could race. Like us, he wanted the cars to look realistic, not like toys. At the last event we saw Eric at, the 2006 AAA of Southern California NHRA Finals in Pomona, Eric once again asked us about the track. He wanted to race with us prior to the 2007 Sonoma event. That was Eric. He knew we could never afford to race the real cars against him, so he would race these cars with us to give us the feeling and help us share his dream with him. He was one of us and he never forgot where he came from. Jeff would always have Eric sign 3–4 hand out photos at each event (I think every day that he saw Eric). Jeff has several from each year Eric drove. In addition, Jeff has given away several of the extra signed handouts he's collected to friends and fellow employees at his job, who are unable to attend the events. Jeff also had Eric sign one for his high school (where Eric graduated from in 1991). At the 2006 finals, Eric joked to Jeff, "you must have hundreds of my autographs by now". Jeff replied, "yup, and it's always fun getting you to sign another. You can never have too many from a friend". Eric also signed the Diecast car from his rookie year and the one he won the 2006 Sonoma event for Jeff, along with some personal photos we took with him in Sonoma. We had taken a picture of Eric, his dad (John) and his uncle (Steve Medlen) together in the pits with Steve holding the trophy. We tried to get an article done, with the photos, in the local papers (Oakdale and Modesto), but (unfortunately) we could not get them to do much. We've given a copy to Steve and John Medlen and gave one to Eric. After Eric was eliminated at the 2006 finals, he was still happy and excited. He kept telling us that he was "Living a Dream".
The last time we saw Eric was at the 2006 John Force Holiday Car Show in Yorba Linda, CA. As usual, Eric was totally upbeat and energetic. He was everywhere and "loving' it". He talked to us some more about the slot cars and tried to get us in touch with a guy in LA that had a track to race on. He signed several Eric Medlen race shirts that Jeff and I purchased at the 'Race Station' that day (all from events that he won at). We talked about how his driving skills and reaction times had improved so dramatically over the past couple of years. He always down played his abilities with the race car, maintaining the humble exterior, never bragging. We talked about the upcoming season (2007) and how great things looked and how great the cars were running. John Force had just regained the championship (his 14th), Robert had finished 2nd, Eric 4th and Ashley was moving up in 2007. We talked about previous incidents, like the fire in Pomona. We joked with Eric about how fast he could get out of the car. The car had not even stopped and he was out helping to put the fire our, after a horrific explosion. Then his interview, right out of the John Force adlib books, "Guess we lit some of that Castrol Syntec Oil on fire, but we got some more to burn in the trailer" or "good thing we've got triple A insurance, so we can get the car fixed and back on the track for the final (2005 finals) ". Explosions, wins, losses, fires, burnouts and 4–second passes at 330 mph were all part of the job and he loved it and loved talking to us about it. As always, we were one of the last "fans" to leave the Force Holiday Show complex, saying goodbye and thanks to John Force and (for the unknowingly the last time) to our dear friend Eric Medlen.
Eric had a car that was running great, but had unexpected performance lapses (tire smokers) during the first 3 events of 2007, that kept him from the winner's circle, but he was 5th in the points. His reaction times were getting better with each run down the track. The wins were going to come and the new 'chase system' looked like it could be dominated by team Force. Robert was flying, Eric's car was showing great potential. John was struggling, but we all knew he'd get on a roll. Then the horrific news from Gainesville on March 19th, 2007 (Monday testing incident), followed about 4 days later with worse news....Eric was gone.
Everything about the memorial sticker is true (True Hero, True Friend and True Champion). That was Eric. When we had to break the news to our friends (Ralph and Abbey Damante) that we took with us to the 2006 Sonoma event, they took the news very hard. They only met Eric once, for one day, yet he had made such an impression on them that Abbey collapsed and cried at the news.
We smile at the memories today, yet we still shed tears over the loss of our friend. For us (my son Jeff, my wife Marji and I) the races will never again be the same. Eric was one of us. He was special. Eric knew and greatly appreciated the fact that he got the opportunity to do what most us would like to do just once. And he openly and humbly shared it all, his dreams with us, letting us ride with him on every pass down the ΒΌ mile. He always made us feel important and never forgot us.
Eric never forgot us and we will NEVER FORGET HIM!
We smile at the memories today, yet we still shed tears over the loss of our friend. For us (my son Jeff, my wife Marji and I) the races will never again be the same. Eric was one of us. He was special. Eric knew and greatly appreciated the fact that he got the opportunity to do what most us would like to do just once. And he openly and humbly shared it all, his dreams with us, letting us ride with him on every pass down the ΒΌ mile. He always made us feel important and never forgot us.
Eric never forgot us and we will NEVER FORGET HIM!
As an after thought, I must say that I didn't realize that Eric was 33 years old at the time of his death. I bring this up because when we first met Eric my son (Jeff) was about 5. Jeff and Eric got along like long time close friends, always talking. During Eric's driving career, Jeff was betweeen16–20 years old, yet the two of them 'clicked' like classmates/best friends. Eric meant more than anyone can imagine to my son (Jeff) and his loss really hurt. The word of Eric's passing came to Jeff while he was at work. Other employees had heard the news (I was unable to contact Jeff as his phone was off during work hours). His boss knew how important this friendship was and how devastated Jeff would be with the news. His boss and the assistant manager brought him into the office to confide in him the horrible news, in private. Afterwards, they had to escort him from the building and drive him home. Jeff was totally devastated. Jeff and Eric's birthdays were only one week apart (Eric's on the 13th of August and Jeff's on the 20th of August) separated by about 14 years. They graduated 15 years apart from the same high school. That win in Sonoma 2006 by Eric was special. It was like a special birthday present, as that was what Jeff wanted most. To see, in person, Eric win an event.
In closing, I must say thank you on behalf of our family to John Force and his entire team (Bernie Fedderly, Austin Coil, Robert Hight, Adria (Force) Hight, Joan Rice, John Medlen) for allowing us to feel like part of the team. John allows us to visit the shop in Yorba Linda, every year after the finals. Thank you for allowing our friend to reach his dreams, as he told us over and over how privileged and thankful he was to get that chance and the opportunity to work as a team with his dad (John Medlen) on the best funny car for the best team in drag racing. He told us at the 2006 Finals that he would never leave the team as the team was his dream. Though he is not physically here, he is still with the team and always will be. You folks are the ONLY reason we go to the races. Jeff has grown up from that 2–year old kid that first met John Force in 1990 and become a very responsible young man. He is one of the most respected and reliable employees at his job. They know that they can always count on him A lot of that has to do with his influences and those influences are from within drag racing (most of it from John Force Racing).
Jeff has made a memorial display which drew crowds at his place of employment, where he had it set up (Save Mart in Oakdale, Ca). We now have the display set up at home. It is planned that it will go on display at his store, again, prior to the Sonoma event. We will also display it at our model train club's 'Diecast Car and Model Train Show' in April 2008. Even after his death, Eric has helped Jeff meet new friends. Those are some of Eric's friends, the Camirillos of Oakdale, CA (Eric's roping buddies and friends).
Eric Medlen #4
Thank you for the memories and sharing your dreams with us!
Mike, Jeff and Marji Burghardt of Oakdale, CA
Jeff has made a memorial display which drew crowds at his place of employment, where he had it set up (Save Mart in Oakdale, Ca). We now have the display set up at home. It is planned that it will go on display at his store, again, prior to the Sonoma event. We will also display it at our model train club's 'Diecast Car and Model Train Show' in April 2008. Even after his death, Eric has helped Jeff meet new friends. Those are some of Eric's friends, the Camirillos of Oakdale, CA (Eric's roping buddies and friends).
Eric Medlen #4
Thank you for the memories and sharing your dreams with us!
Mike, Jeff and Marji Burghardt of Oakdale, CA
In this section
A Testimonial About Eric Medlen
back to top
