A fast, hot fire Tuesday afternoon destroyed Kaeding Performance Center in Campbell, the sprint-car business run by the well-known South Bay racing family.
Fire investigators are unsure what caused the three-alarm blaze, which also damaged a neighboring shed on Cristich Lane and gummed up Highway 17 as people stopped to stare at the grass and structure fires. There were no major injuries, but the cost of the total damages was unknown.
''We're out of business,'' said Howard Kaeding, 73. ''It's like the boss came by and tore your paycheck.''
Kaeding, who began racing in 1954, is a Northern California dirt-track legend. His son, Brent Kaeding, is a major competitor. Brent's sons, Bud and Tim, also race.
Employees say a grass fire along the freeway jumped over to the business. As Joel Kaeding -- Brent's brother -- grabbed a hose to keep it from spreading, employees repeatedly ran inside the auto shop to grab whatever engines, equipment and sprint cars they could. Although the heavy machinery was destroyed, they were able to save a glossy red sprint car which Brent Kaeding is expected to race this weekend in Watsonville.
Bill Foland said in the rush he almost forgot to save his own car, a silver Ford Mustang. To him, the business was more important.
''It's my life, my life!'' said Foland, a shipping and receiving manager. ''We were trying to save our livelihoods.''
Within two hours of the fire, members of the racing community began calling from as far away as Indiana, said Bruce Homer, who manages Brent Kaeding's racing team. People offered their sympathy, along with offers to help store equipment and take on other burdens.
Capt. Steve Prziborowski with the Santa Clara County Fire Department said they received several 911 calls around 4:30 p.m., some reporting a grass fire and others reporting a structure fire. It was unclear Tuesday evening if there were two separate fires or if one caused the other. However, he noted that there had been at least two grass fires in the neighborhood this summer, prompting Caltrans to mow the brush.
It's unclear what the damage estimate will be. A racing engine alone costs about $50,000.
Howard Kaeding, whose family came to Cristich Lane in 1939 when his father opened a physical therapy practice, said it'll be tough, but he'll rebuild.
''We'll survive,'' he said.
Distributed by the Associated Press
