No Longer Speechless, Hanauer Feeling Like a Champion Again

Chip Hanauer didn’t win the unlimited hydroplane Gold Cup two weeks ago on the Detroit River. He didn’t even make the finals because of an accident during one of the heats, yet he considers the weekend one of the most satisfying of his long career.

Hanauer, 41, suffers from a rare neurological disorder of the voice box--adductor spasmodic dysphonia--which causes the vocal cords to tighten and spasm, making speech almost impossible. The affliction is so poorly understood that it usually takes three years or more to diagnose and it has no known cure.

“Worse even than not being able to communicate is not knowing what’s wrong with you,” Hanauer said. “I was in a state of deep depression before I learned what it was and that it could be treated with injections of botulism toxin. It can’t be cured, but it can be treated so that I can speak and be understood.”

Hanauer, winner of 10 Gold Cups and seven American Power Boat Assn. unlimited hydroplane championships, spoke of his ailment on a Detroit TV station two days before the Gold Cup. Carolyn Stillson, a viewer afflicted with similar symptoms, contacted Hanauer the next day. She was introduced to him in the Miss Budweiser pits.

“When I heard her story about how depressed she was because no one could tell her what was wrong, and I could, it was a bigger thrill to me than winning another Gold Cup,” Hanauer said. “I knew what it was like to be driven almost crazy wondering what was wrong. I know why she had tears in her eyes.”

Curiously, it was another TV show--one in Seattle, where Hanauer lives--that led to his learning of his problem. He was speaking, almost inaudible, when he was seen by Bruce Beirman, president of Hanauer’s high school class in Bellevue, Wash., who also has the condition.

“Most doctors will only see one case in a lifetime, so the odds of running into someone who has spasmodic dysphonia is almost astronomical. Yet it’s happened twice to me, once with a guy I hadn’t heard from since high school and then that young woman in Detroit.”

Since learning about his condition, Hanauer has become a national spokesman for the National Spasmodic Dysphonia Assn.

“National whisper-person might be more appropriate,” Hanauer said in discussing his role.

“It was wonderful, truly wonderful, to be able to help Carolyn. I felt like I was really doing something special.

“Then the rest of the weekend went to hell.”

After qualifying the defending champion Miss Budweiser boat at 162.005 mph on the 2.5-mile river course, Hanauer crashed in the first heat, suffering a concussion. He was unable to race in the final the next day, and several days later announced that he was leaving the boat, at least for a while.

“My neck’s still a little stiff,” he said this week. “Outside of that, I could probably go racing right now, but there are some technical details that need to be worked out first.

“Before I drove Miss Budweiser [in 1992] I only had two accidents in my entire career and no injuries. Since then, I’ve had four major accidents and too many injuries. I can’t foresee not going back with [boat owner] Bernie Little when the time comes, but we need to change something. The writing’s on the wall.”

The day after the Gold Cup, Hanauer flew to New York for the first treatment on his vocal cords.

A minuscule injection of botulism toxin was made into his Adam’s apple. Botulism is one of the deadliest forms of food poisoning, but the tiny amount used in the treatment served to stop the vocal cord spasms for two to six months.

“The doctors tell me it should be three or four months before I need another injection, but I feel the difference already,” Hanauer said. “I still sound sort of scratchy, but for the first time in a couple of years it doesn’t take a labored effort to speak.

“I have a lot more energy now because it’s easy to speak. Before, when I spoke, I had to force the words out. It was getting harder and harder.

“It’s sort of funny, getting such a lift from helping someone in Detroit, because when I was here a year ago it was the lowest point in my life. When I won the Gold Cup for the 10th time, I felt like sitting out in the water for the rest of my life.

“I couldn’t face meeting Bernie, my crew, the reporters, my friends and my public because I couldn’t communicate with them--and worse, I didn’t know why. They all wanted to know what was wrong and I couldn’t tell them.

“Now I know, and I want to help as many people as possible who have the same problem. I want them all to know they can get help.”

The National Spasmodic Dysphonia Assn. can be reached at P.O. Box 203, Atwood, Calif., 92601-0203.

Motor Racing Notes

SPRINT CARS--Winged cars of the Northern Auto Racing Club will race Friday and Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway in Oildale. The Saturday race will be part of the Golden State Challenge series. . . . The Sprint Car Racing Assn. will be at Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix on Saturday night.

MIDGETS--United States Auto Club western regional cars and drivers are scheduled for Santa Maria Speedway on Saturday night along with hobby stocks.

STOCK CARS--Kern County Raceway will feature sportsman, street and mini stocks Saturday night. . . . Winston Racing Series sportsman, street stocks and Grand American modifieds will be at Cajon Speedway along with a destruction derby Saturday night. . . . Legends, street stocks and IMCA modifieds will race Saturday night at Perris Auto Speedway.

MOTORCYCLES--Vintage short track cycles will race Saturday night at Ventura Speedway, followed by an antique and classic motorcycle show Sunday at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. . . . Speedway bikes and sidecars share the billing Friday night at Costa Mesa Speedway. . . . Street legal Harley Davidsons will race Saturday night at Speedway USA in Victorville along with the speedway regulars.

MISCELLANY--When Jimmy Sills of Placerville drove the Mopar Special to victory in the USAC Silver Crown race last Sunday in Richmond, Va., it was the first open-wheel race win for Chrysler since 1969 when the late Art Pollard won at Dover, Del., in a Plymouth-powered Indy car.