NHRA Rookie of the Year visits base

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Martha Whipple
  • 301st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
NAVAL AIR STATION FORT WORTH JOINT RESERVE BASE, Texas --  National Hot Rod Association Full Throttle Drag Racing Pro Stock Motorcycle Rookie of the Year in 2011 and his racing team toured here Sept. 20.

Hector Arana Jr., and his team are in the Dallas area for the AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals motorcycle drag race at Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas.

Arana and his pit crew mechanics, Charles Gordon and Dan Gonzalez, took a break from their dragstrip to visit the base runway. Arana's marketing team Lee Montgomery and Craig Wack from Geiger Media also shared the experience.

The group began at the 610th Security Forces Squadron where they learned about various tactical vehicles the squadron uses to train security forces personnel. Arana climbed inside a Humvee gunner turret while Staff Sgt. Brett Bouyer, 610th SFS, briefed the tour group on some of the vehicles capabilities and his experiences in the vehicle downrange. The Arana team had the opportunity to climb aboard the MRAP for a hands-on briefing of the vehicle. The MRAP vehicle outweighs Arana's racing motorcycle by about 37,400 pounds.

The 610th SFS also showed off its virtual firing range. Arana and his team performed a target-training exercise with a scenario similar to what a security forces member would see from a checkpoint downrange.

The group also visited the 457th Aircrew Flight Equipment Shop and learned about survival kits, flying gear and parachuting skills. Arana donned an anti-G suit and flying helmet, and learned the proper way of getting in and out of a fighter jet. He also tried out the virtual parachute and learned to use the elements to safely land on his feet with minimal impact.

Next, the group gathered at the 301st FW F-16 ramp to prepare for a sortie. Arana shadowed Tech. Sgt. Steven Joubert, 301st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, as he performed preflight checks and routines. Arana wore a headset to listen to Joubert communicate with F-16 pilot Lt. Col. John Marusa, 301st Operations Group vice commander, as he prepared for takeoff. The group then watched several takeoffs at the end of the runway, including a formation takeoff.

Arana said he was grateful for the opportunity to see what America's military does every day. He wanted to thank all of the teams who accommodated the tour. He autographed lithographs and shook hands with military heroes.

This is Arana's second year of racing professionally, but has been around racing all of his life. The 23-year-old Miami native joked about being conceived at a motorcycle drag race, currently is ranked third, leading his dad by only 12 points this season. His dad, Hector Arana Sr., the 2009 Full Throttle Drag Pro Stock Motorcycle Racing Champion, currently has a best time of 6.777, about one hundredth of a second faster than his son's time. They are both each others' biggest fan, he said.

When Arana Jr., is not racing, he is studying mechanical engineering at Purdue University. With four more races left in the 2012 season, the Arana family is focused on winning. Race time is family time for the Aranas.