by john manzi for NAADA
Four
members of the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) will wing
their way to New Zealand to compete against their counterparts from Down Under
in early December in a series of races in a Friendship Competition.
Leading
the USA team will be Peter Kleinhans who earned that honor after winning a
lottery drawing upon the completion the NAADA Summer Trotting Series by being
among the top three point earners in the series, and then winning a lottery
drawing.
Recently
the international amateur drivers organization has released that Dave Offenberg
will join Kleinhans on the overseas journey to represent the USA in the
competition. Others, they say, will be named in the upcoming days.
Offenberg,
a true sportsman, an avid amateur driver, and a longtime prominent horse owner
is excited to be representing America in the upcoming Friendship
Competition.
“I'm absolutely thrilled to
be going to New Zealand to represent the U.S. in an amateur driving competition
with three other drivers. I have never been there although I drove against the
New Zealand amateurs last year at Yonkers,” Offenberg said.
“I have been overseas
several times to drive in amateur races in Italy, Spain, Finland and Sweden,
but this trip will probably top them all. I have as much fun driving in the
amateurs as I have racing my own horses.”
According to Offenberg, he
has been lucky to have had several good horses including Continental Victory
(Hambo Winner), Mr Vic, Angus Hall, Yes Its True and many other hard-hitting
raceway horses.
“In what other sport can you
be totally hands-on and get enjoyment doing it?” he asks.
Queried about his biggest
thrill as an amateur driver it didn’t take Offenberg much time to respond.
“Obviously the first win was
a big kick and all amateur wins are special. One of my greatest thrills was
driving and winning an overnight race at Freehold against the pros (including
Hall of Famer Cat Manzi) with my own horse that paid almost $100 to win. I’ve
won several NAADA regional finals but winning the Billings Silver Cup last year
was special.”
However, when it comes to
driving Standardbreds as an amateur reinsman realism sets in.
“I do race against the pros
on rare occasions and am quickly brought back to reality just watching the
driving skills they exhibit during a race. I guess that's why they’re the pros
and we are the amateurs.”
Offenberg, by his own
admission, has been one of the fortunate few being able to participate in the
sport as an owner, breeder and driver and has been blessed to have met many
special people at all levels in the sport.
“It is my hope that I can
continue in the sport for many years to come,” he added.
