CREST HAVEN – Call it ecstasy after agony. Cape May County Fare Free Transportation driver Brian Fitzpatrick clutched a trophy Aug. 12 he should have been awarded in June. A miscalculation of scores at the National Community Transit Roadeo in St. Paul, Minn. June 8-13 put the Villas resident in sixth place nationally. He was happy, but would have been happier to place higher.
The error was corrected, when the event coordinator drove from Washington, D.C. to present the award.
Freeholder E. Marie Hayes, who oversees Fare Free Transportation, rehearsed for the board Fitzpatrick’s series of recent awards. In April, he took top honors in the county “roadeo,” a competition of driving skills for those who daily transport many senior citizens and others around the county.
He competed in the state competition May 3, and won honors there that allowed him to move on to the national roadeo in June.
There, among a field of 86 from around the nation and Canada, Fitzpatrick tested his skills against others.
The organization honored the top five drivers, but Fitzpatrick was ranked in sixth place.
“He could not be publically recognized,” said Hayes. “However, on returning to New Jersey acting Fare Free Director Daniel Mulraney received a call from the association. They said an audit was conducted and that Brian took third place, not sixth place.”
Hayes noted the association “apologized for the error and offered to come to New Jersey to recognize him and present his trophy.”
“When we have 86 drivers and more than 100 judges, we try to be perfect. When we are not perfect, we own up to the mistake and make sure people get their proper due,” said Rich Sampson, roadeo coordinator. He noted Fitzpatrick’s six years of participation in the national event.
“It is an honor to award him third place,” said Sampson.
“When I got to talk to Rich (Sampson) I was very thankful that he was honest and upfront. I wanted to make sure the five people who were out there would not lose anything. This is great. I’m very thankful they lived up to a mistake. They could have left it alone,” said Fitzpatrick.
“I want to thank Brian for representing us,” said Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton as the board and Fitzpatrick’s mother gathered for a group photograph.
In 2013, Fitzpatrick won third place in the national roadeo event.
The National Community Transit Roadeo is the only national venue to honor and celebrate the value of rural and community transit operators, the backbone of the Community Transportation industry. This exciting event draws drivers from around the country to compete for top scores on course that tests skills on every level of the drivers’ abilities.
Every year the organization hosts the National Community Transportation Roadeo, an event that features the best community and public transportation drivers in the nation, followed by a banquet in their honor and awards to the top competitors, according to the association website.
The driving course includes two competitions: Body-on-Chassis (BOC) vehicles, often known as cutaways and minivans.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
