Racing Helps Keep Local Man On The Right Track Of Sobriety

By David Dinsmore

Clay Nelson was not unfamiliar with the racetrack.

“My dad raced professionally whenever I was a kid, and so I kind of grew up around motorcycles,” Nelson said. “I could ride a motorcycle before I could ride my bicycle, actually.”

The hobby piqued his interest for a little while, and Nelson raced a little bit whenever he was a kid before losing interest in it. It was after leaving the track, however, that his life really took a left turn.

Nelson got caught in a cycle of addiction, and it really took a major toll on his life. He underwent treatment through programs offered by Gateway to Prevention and Recovery and drug court. While going through procedures of drug court, some friends of Nelson heard about his racing background and invited him to join them at some races in nearby places like Harrah.

“I had a really good time and enjoyed it,” Nelson said. “It was something I could do and not be around a bunch of people that are using or drinking.”

After some races, Nelson felt the long-forgotten but familiar thrill of being on the track, so he bought his own motorcycle, joined the American Motorcyclist Association and continued from there. He could not anticipate the journey the rediscovered hobby would literally take him around the country on top of figuratively helping keep him on the path of sobriety.

“Whenever you're in recovery – the first six months or nine months or whatever – you're always going to meetings and doing certain things that you are required to do,” Nelson said. “(Racing) kind of gave me an outlet … kind of gave me an avenue to be around other people than ones that I'd been hanging around previously, which was obviously not a good situation.”

From the mountains to the Midwest, Nelson’s racing has taken him to national competitions to pit his skills against other amateur racers in his class, and his dedication has started earning him awards. At the Amateur Grand National Championships this summer, he placed third in the over 40 class in a weeklong competition against riders from all over the country – which happened to be a nice gift to give himself on the fourth anniversary of his sobriety.

“It really was a double blessing,” said Nelson, who races with a Yamaha 450 and 750.

Nelson races in the flat track format which in-

Clay Nelson rediscovered a love of motorcycle racing after undergoing addiction recovery programs and being sober for a year, and he has used it as a way to help stay on the right track as well as share his story with people he encounters. He placed third in his class at the Amateur Grand National Championships this past summer. Photos submitted

volve short track competitions that are usually a quarter mile or less with a race length typically around half a mile with some stretching to 5/8 mile or a mile. Given the length of the straightaway, Nelson can reach nearly 100 mph and bank 70 mph in the turns.

He also races what is known as a Tourist Trophy, or TT, race that usually involves at least one right hand turn and a jump.

“It's a lot of fun, especially for an old guy like me,” said Nelson, who is 55 years old.

He chose to wear the number 45 in his races, which was the same number worn by his 83-year-old dad Jerry Matthews during his racing days. It was something else they can connect on now that Nelson is back on the track as he spends his days at home helping take care of Matthews along with managing rental properties that are part of a family business. Nelson also has maintained the family tradition of being at the track together as he has taken his daughter with him to races after he got back into the sport.

In addition to his daughter, racing gives Nelson a chance to spend time around young up-and-coming

racers who may have aspirations of where people in recovery can come turning pro, and he gets the opportu- help work at a concession stand to nity to share some of his story to help raise money for community service them stay focused on their goals. projects they are trying to undertake.

“It's important for me to be a Staying busy managing the rental good role model to them in my every- properties, helping care of his dad day life as much as it is at the race- and participating in local recovery eftrack,” Nelson said. forts keeps him in pretty good shape,

He has also encountered others Nelson said, and that helps when it occasionally during his experience comes time to race on the weekends who may have concerns about ad- or at a lengthier event out of state. diction, and Nelson said he has been One of the things that has made able to share with them his hope and it easier for Nelson to get back into outlook on well-being now and in the racing has been the support of his future. family. They understood how im-

That is a big focus for Nelson portant it was for him when he first when he is home and away from the started giving where he was in life, track, he said. Not wanting to grow and they have continued to back him stagnant or lax in his recovery, he as he has put his skills to the test on made sure to get involved with a the track. Knowing they are behind drug court alumni group that gives him makes it easier for him to enjoy people in recovery the chance to his time with the other support syscontinue building relationships they tem he has built through racing. formed early in their journey despite “It's almost like another family,” being out of the official process at Nelson said. “It makes you feel really this point. He also has made a point good and realize that there are still of participating in community ser- good people in the world. vice projects to help “give back some “It really gives you an opportuniof what I took.” ty to network with people and meet

He even helped get a project go- people. It's just a great environment ing at a nearby track where he races all the way around.” Dallas;rduke;Sunbelt Heating and Air Conditioning;C15930-492521;6.52” x 4.96”-4c (20Su-B1)

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Over the past year, you have given your time, energy, resources, and most importantly, your heart. In the midst of COVID and of all your other daily responsibilities, obligations, and relationships, you carved out space for Gateway and the individuals and families that we serve. You joined in on Zoom calls, donated clothes, shopped for groceries, provided gas cards, played tennis, worked the concession stand, moved furniture, took people to treatment, worked volleyball tournaments, drank coffee, recorded minutes, sent encouraging texts, and brainstormed new possibilities. Together, with your help, we will continue to break down the stigma of addiction and bridge the gap to community.

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Shawnee In 1906 Bustled Despite Half The Population Of Today

By Ann McDonald, Courtesy Pott Co Historical Society Member

Oklahoma is young compared to most of the rest of the country.

It’s fascinating to us to see buildings and especially cemeteries where markings are from the 1700s. We think we’ve found a treasure if we locate something around here dated before 1900. Still, imagine the changes to Shawnee since before statehood.

Our estimated population today is about 31,000. In 1906, it was about 17,000, but on paper it would appear it was a more thriving community than it is now with its five banks, four newspapers, 35 real estate and loan offices, 25 lawyers, 31 physicians, 29 restaurants, 18 barbers, eight blacksmiths, 11 dressmakers, 26 saloons (most on Main Street) and a bath parlor.

The railroads had arrived, and Shawnee was booming. About every fourth breadwinner was employed by the Rock Island, Santa Fe or MKT. He might be a switchman, conductor, car inspector, fireman, lamp tender, watchman, car builder, brakeman, wiper, baggageman, freight agent or any other of a dozen positions.

Cotton was a big industry in 1906. In fact, Shawnee was named the cotton capitol of the state and not just for growers but buyers, shippers and workers at the compresses.

There were plenty of jobs among other small industries in town, including shoemaker, gunsmith, paper hanger, cigar maker, teamster, butter maker, hatter, broom maker, bill poster, tinsmith or maybe a tick maker at the mattress company. He might work at the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company, the horse and mule company, the beet sugar manufacturer or be an oiler at the Shawnee Ice Co. There were the obvious professions that are still around today, such as construction work, bricklaying and curb setter – which was the crew that installed curbs while streets were being laid.

The ladies weren’t left out either. She could work at the canning factory or as a trimmer at the millinery company, be a laundress either washing or ironing or she might work at one of the three racket stores, which were the forerunner of the five and ten cent store. A favorite job may have been as a dipper at the Shawnee Candy Co. There was a Ladies’ Tailoring College for those desiring to learn that trade.

Shawnee had grown from nothing but a forest-filled area in just 15 years. To house all the folks were 16 boarding houses, 15 “furnished rooms” and nine hotels plus the individual homes. There were 46 grocery stores – literally about one on every other block – and there were 16 meat markets. The home’s cook likely made a trek to buy her fresh goods every day, had them delivered or sent her young’uns when they got home from school.

Schools were also close by with five at the time dispersed to each ward. There was not a separate high school building. The upper level classes were held on the second floor of Central, located about where the Municipal Auditorium is now, with grade schoolers on the first level. Despite the large number of school children, attending high school was not a priority. In fact, the Shawnee High School class of 1906 had six graduates. Only one was a boy since most boys were already working or learning a trade. Only those contemplating a college education to be a doctor or lawyer stayed in school. School teachers only had to pass a test and were often not much older than their pupils.

Shawnee boasted 13 churches and dozens of organizations and societies, such as the Elks, Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, Masons, Woodmen of the World, Royal Neighbors and many others still familiar today. There were also many trade and labor groups, such as the Meat Cutters, Bricklayers, Bartenders, Barbers and all the railroad employees each in their own division.

There was plenty to do for citizens in 1906 besides work. Residents could visit the parks, attend the live theaters or catch a baseball game. Mostly, however, it was about working and building their town, and none of the citizens of the time could have anticipated the large, busy community Shawnee is today.