Phil Herreen	Number 17	Speedcar	Sprintcar
Robertson's

1971	Phil Herreen

Phil's speedway career began as a mechanic for stock car drivers Crowder and Furnell. In 1961 he started driving a Valiant Sportsman and entered in Speedcars taking many state and Australian titles over his 25 years of racing.

AWARD FOR SPEEDWAY IDOL Life at full throttle an inspiration Advertiser 22/11/00

Phil Herreen was one of Australia's most popular speedway drivers until a horrific race crash in 1993 broke his back and left him confined to a wheelchair. Seven years later, the former Australian speedcar champion is still inspiring people with his deeds. For helping spine-injured people deal with their situation, Mr Herreen received the Paraplegic & Quadriplegic Association of SA President's Award yesterday. It was presented by Premier John Olsen during a ceremony at Government House which was hosted by the Governor, Sir Eric Neal. "I have always been a people's person, Mr Herreen, 58, of Pasadena, said. "I worked in the building industry and now I help people build their lives back together, brick by brick."

In April, 1993 - in what he had declared would be his last race - Mr Herreen was defending his state title at Speedway Park when tragedy struck. A collision with another speedcar caused his car to overturn, smashing his upper body and severing his spinal cord. It took three months before Mr Herreen accepted that he would be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. "I raced speedway for nearly 25 years," he said. "Perhaps I could have died in that crash. But I think sometimes you are given a second chance of life." Mr Herreen has grabbed that second chance with both hands and says working with and helping spine-injured people had been "a breath of fresh air".

He said he had been lucky to have the enduring support of wife Coleen, his family and the speedway fraternity since the accident. But Mr Herreen said some people did not have a team to support them, "and that's the gap I try to fill". Mr Herreen has conducted fund-raising for wheelchair sports competitors and also counsels young driving offenders. Also presented with President's Awards yesterday were George Dunstan, who is head of physical education at the Royal Adelaide Hospital's Hampstead spinal injury rehabilitation unit, and Michael Wooley, former Paraplegic & Quadriplegic Association of SA president, who has worked to enhance the lives of people with disabilities.

by Stuart Innes