Pat Hawley
Nickname:
Rider Number: 174
Hometown:
Place of Birth:
Date of Birth:
Occupation:
Wife:
Children:
Relatives in Speedway: Brother Shane Hawley
E-mail:
Web/Facebook/YouTube Page:
Date Started Speedway: 2022
Reason to Race Speedway:
Goals or Ambitions for Speedway:
Photo by: Paul Flanders, Kenny Lonngren, Jim Wolf
Bike: Jawa
Tracks Ridden:
USA: Costa Mesa
Professional Achievements:
2023 - Second Division Consolation - Costa Mesa 04/22/2023
2022 - Second Division Consolation - Costa Mesa 10/08/2022
2022 - Support - Costa Mesa 06/04/2022
2022 - 2 Points Support - Costa Mesa 05/21/2022
Can’t talk right now cause their just getting ready to roll me into the operating room a hurting Pat Hawley told me around noon today. Pain beyond believe Hawley had broken his femur bone in two different places. Drugs helped but it was painful beyond belief and I screamed bloody murder when they first strained my leg out he continued.
What happened? Well much like a recurring bad dream last Saturday, May 13 at Costa Mesa Speedway the turn 4 demons once again took control of his machine and repeated the crash and burn that has plagued Hawley there since his return at the beginning of the season. The nasty affair happened on the third restart of his first heat race when the machine lifted, spun and hit the wall hard.
No clue what’s what cause I don’t remember any of it the man we lovingly call Hollywood relayed. I never have any issues when I go out and practice at Lake Elsinore or John Aden’s track in Victorville but somehow, someway when I race in The Costa Mesa “Bullring” I loose it in turn 4 and crash a frustrated Hawley confided.
A strange set of circumstances indeed as #174 is a seasoned veteran who successfully raced Division 1 & 2 on the Speedway circuit 20 plus years ago before retiring. Now like so many addictions the force compelled him back and Pat decided to start racing again.
He went all in with two bikes, one new from Cody. He painted both blue and white along with a new helmet and Kevlar race suit. One of the cleanest setups in the pits Pat Hawley was rightfully proud and enjoyed his return to the sport he dearly loves.
I am one of the few racing an upright motor Hawley told me on a previous interview. The JAWA I bought from Cody is actually a laydown Ice motor he/we modified and installed in an upright frame. It had plenty of power and handled well so it probably had more to do with me than any failure on the machines part Pat stated.
Pat called again a few hours after his successful surgery. Obviously dozy from being anesthetized he sounded terrible but wanted to talk. They put in a rod from my knee to my ass and it’s really painful. Also they put this tube down my throat and that’s why I can’t talk properly. When asked about recovery time and if he would be able to walk normally when healed Pat says it’s too soon know. He will know more after they will do a full examination on his first rehab visit early this next week.
Be sure you tell my Speedway friends how grateful I am that they got my bikes and gear home and of course how much their well wishes mean to me. And tell the Oxley guy I want to race and to put me on the program next week. Obviously his sense of humor or the drugs talking as Pat’s recovery will take months.
Would like to set up a Fund Me for Pat Hawley but not sure how it works cause I have never done one. So if any of Pat’s friends could set it up I’m sure he would be grateful cause medical bills and the fact that his one man body shop is closed for the immediate future will certainly impact his financial, mental and physical future.
Howie Zechner May 14, 2023
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