Welcome to the very first Drill Team Blog interview. Today’s guest is 22-year old Josh Kasin. Josh is a member of the East Islip Fire Department and the Guzzlers Drill Team. Josh began racing in 2007 and this season marks his 5th year racing on the motorized team. Dan Laverty caught up with Josh at the Lindenhurst Drill and asked him a few questions.
Dan Laverty: Tell me a little bit about yourself?
Josh Kasin: I currently work in a machine shop making parts for the military, we have five dogs at home and I am currently single. I like to play softball, basketball and a game where you try to get a ping pong ball into a cup. (Editor’s note: It’s called beer pong. People who call it “Beirut” make me want to punch them in the face…hard.)
DL: What positions do you run with the Guzzlers?
JK: I run third in 3-Man, Climber in B & C Ladder, Slacker(Dragger) in B & C Hose, Efficiency Nozzle, Stick Man (Turn on Man) in Motor Pump and I am the Dumper in Buckets.
DL: What was it like for you to have grown up in and around the Fire Service?
JK: It was a great experience; my dad brought me into it when I was six years old. It really is a great group of people to be around.
DL: Did you feel you HAD to join or WANTED to join, seeing that your grandfather and father were both in the Fire Service and raced?
JK: I thought it was a great opportunity and wanted to join. I joined East Islip to be with my brother. He used to race and is now a Chief.
DL: What is your first memory of Drill Team Racing?
JK: Honestly, my first memory was when my dad handed me a nozzle and took me down to run with the Juniors. He said: “You are running Nozzle” and that is how it began.
DL: What comes first for you? Firematics or Racing?
JK: Firematics comes first of course. Racing is second..a very close second.
DL: What is your personal greatest racing moment?
JK: It had to have been when I broke the Junior Ladder state record.
DL: Does this record still stand?
JK: No. Brian Kessler from Central Islip currently holds the record.
DL: In 2008 at the Hagerman Invite the Guzzlers ran a 12.52 in C-Hose, the Hoboes ran next with a 12.53 and the Wolves ran and achieved a time of 12.54. Do you remember that day? What can you tell me about C-Hose that day?
JK: I do remember that day; I unfortunately was injured and did not participate. I had broken my wrist a couple of weeks prior. The guy who took my spot and I still bust each other’s chops about it. The team went out and put up one heck of a shot. It was exciting to hear the times being said, the pauses the announcer took were killing us. We also broke our team record in B-Hose that day too.
DL: On a personal note, I was there that day and your father had the biggest smile on his face.
JK: My dad was always there at every practice, tournament, every everything.
DL: What is your greatest team moment?
JK: At the Lindenhurst drill in 2008. We were in line for Motor Pump with only one team in front of us. Our Nozzle-man, Tommy Drywa pulled a calf muscle while stretching and took himself out of the event. The only possible person we could put in that position was Eric Flynn who was already in the cab of the truck ready to put it into pump. Eric quickly padded up and took the nozzle. We ran our first ever 5 in Pump by running a 5.77. We took first place in Pump over West Sayville who ran a 5.83. We also placed 4th in the tournament that day.
DL: Do you feel that winning the State Drill is the pinnacle of our sport or is winning the Islip Town Drill a more momentous accomplishment?
JK: It would definitely be the State. Winning the Islip Town Drill would be a great accomplishment but the State is like the end all, be all for me. The State is like the Super Bowl of our sport. I would do anything to win that…anything for that.
DL: In your own words describe the longest ride in racing: C-Hose run.
JK: The longest ride? Right off the start it is a jolt into your body. The ride seems a lot longer than it actually is. It feels like you are on for a lifetime but you are only on the truck for seconds. Then you get let go. it is a great feeling.
DL: Out of the Big 8 that is run in most Drills what event would you eliminate?
JK: Buckets…definitely Buckets. I actually love Motor Hose 2/Motor Hose Replacement. I would love to get that incorporated into more drills. It gives more people an opportunity to get involved in a motorized event since it uses more members of the team. That would be great.
DL: Who is your racing legend? A person you look up to and try to emulate?
JK: I would have to say Michael Marra. I have watched him ever since I was a kid. Him and my brother, he used to climb too. I was always watching them, but yeah…Michael Marra.
DL: How do you prepare for a tournament? Any rituals or superstitions?
JK: Rituals or superstitions? I listen to my music; I have few things on my phone I listen to.
DL: Give me that name of just one song.
JK: “Freebird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd.
DL: What is your favorite part of our sport? Just one thing.
JK: The friendship. You can be enemies, so to speak, with someone on the course while competing, but after the drill you are friends with everybody.
DL: Ladder events or hose events?
JK: Ladder events definitely.
DL: What is your favorite course to race on?
JK: Ridge.
DL: I think we covered this earlier but, were you ever on any State Record runs?
JK: Only on the Juniors. We came close in C-Hose.
DL: What is the closest you have come to a State Record running with the motorized team?
JK: We ran a 12.21 in C-Hose at Ridge during the Suffolk County Drill in 2009.
DL: You mentioned earlier about running with the juniors. Do you feel that gave you an advantage over someone coming into this sport having never done it or seen it before?
JK: Oh definitely. I have been around this sport and know what is going on. Having run with the Juniors taught me how to run on the ladder. I give a lot of respect to the guys that come in and run the ladder having never done it before and they are now competitive. Like, Duckie from North Lindenhurst.
DL: He came into our sport fresh having never seen it before?
JK: Yes, exactly. And he is running sick times in 3 Man Ladder and he is getting into B & C Ladder.
DL: Do you feel our sport helps recruit new members into the Fire Service?
JK: Oh Definitely, I mean, someone comes and watches this and says: “I want to get into that”. People are always asking what they have to do. “Do I have to join a fire department?” This definitely attracts them a lot more.
DL: What question did I not ask you that you thought I was going to ask?
JK: What question? Let’s see. You definitely covered a lot of stuff. I was not expecting you to have asked some questions.
DL: In conclusion is there anything you want to add or talk about?
JK: I have to throw in my ladder holders for the side by side event. They will definitely get pissed if I don’t mention them. Can we talk more about the side by side event?
DL: Tell me what their names are and I will put them in.
JK: Chris Otten and Brian Scharfshwerdt.
DL: Their holding of the ladder helped you win the side by side event?
JK: Oh yeah definitely. You need the same ladder holders to make it a stiffer ladder or a looser ladder.
DL: Who did you compete against in the final?
JK: David Miller from Central Islip. He is sort of new and is up and coming. He is running second man for the Hoboes right now.
DL: You mentioned Brian Kessler earlier and I know he ran in the side by side event. What place did Brian come in?
JK: He came in third place. The competition between Dave (Miller) and Brian (Kessler) was unbelievable. The first two runs ended in ties. The third run between them looked like a tie also. Instant replay was used to make the call.
DL: You will compete again in the side by side event?
JK: Oh yeah definitely! Without a doubt.
DL: Thank you for taking the time to be interviewed and good luck on your season.
JK: Alright thank you.
We'd like to thank Josh for participating in the interview. It's great to sit down and get to know some of the racers a little bit better than we did before.
Check back later in the week for some Old Fashioned updates and a recap of the Juniors Drill in Central Islip. Thanks for stopping by!
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