Memorial Day Spectacular

New Jersey Vintage Grand Prix & Accessible Racing celebrate Memorial Day weekend with Wounded Warriors and disabled Vets at  NJ Motorsports Park

 

Millville NJ - Accessible Racing, in conjunction with NJ Vintage Grand Prix, Sunoco, Texas Road House  and Borgata Casino hold a virtual world qualifying round & stock car driving experience at NJ Motorsports Park in Millville NJ. Former NY Giants and Philadelphia Eagle players demonstrate the process that allows newly injured veterans and active disabled athletes to learn defensive driving skills in the virtual world that seamlessly transition to real world applications. VXP driving simulator powered by iRacing.com software develops muscle memory, in addition to the motor skills necessary to qualify for the world's only "Arrive & Drive" stock car driving experience for persons with physical disabilities.

Accessible Racing board member and driving instructor Ian James Brown is a Wounded Warrior & experienced piloting jets at speeds of over 600 MPH and now has a license to drive Accessible Racecar's  competitively. Ian will share his experiences with other Wounded Warriors that helped him adjust to life after being paralyzed in the line of duty, including gaining a Masters degree from Harvard and attending pre med school last year to begin med school this year.

Ian will lead Wounded Warriors of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars through a HUGE day Excitement and Special Activities of festivities. 

 

•  All Wounded Warriors that pre-register will receive Thank You kits and FREE entree at Texas Road House in Milliville NJ.House.

• Every Wounded Warrior is invited to compete on the VXP Video Driving Simulator for 2 Exciting Prizes.

• Winner will ride with Wounded Warrior Ian James Brown as he races hot laps in ACCESSIBLE RACING's Specially modified NASCAR style racecar.

• Two Wounded Warriors will be chosen as honorary, active crew members of the TRG race team throughout the Rolex Grand-Am race weekend July 22-24 at NJMotorsports Park.

• SPECIAL Private Luncheon with exciting guest speakers. "Best Seats in the House" for the Blue Angels Air Show following the luncheon at the adjacent Millville Airport. 
   

 Accessible Racing will be demonstrating their all new  VXP driving simulator powered by iRacing.com software. iRacing features real-time, Internet based simulated racing competition for newly injured and active disabled athletes, giving them the opportunity to hone driving skills, compete against other hand controlled drivers and emphasize multiple ladders of advancement. "The benefit of the simulator is that it shows how to use adaptive equipment in real-time, giving the user the experience of what they are going to need in real life to drive a car," said Nancy Ruscio, a physical therapy assistant at Shriners hospital.

 

ACCESSIBLE RACING, The original stock car driving experience with NASCAR style race cars modified with hand-controls for brakes and gas, with variable resistance steering and brakes.  The bodies are modified including the roll-cage along with a special transfer seat base to allow people with disabilities to easily enter and exit the race car. There are two (2) ways that people with disabilities will be able to experience the thrill and excitement of the driving experience:

 

First:  As a Driver - Persons will have the opportunity to actually drive the car with a professional driver along side in the car giving encouragement and tips on negotiating the road course.  There is also a secondary braking system for the passenger just in case things get out of hand.

 

Second:  As a Passenger -  For those who are not capable of driving or just are not ready to jump into driving a more then 400 hp plus race car, will be able to go for a ride in the car with a professional driver.

 

Hanaford will never forget September 11, 2001. We were at the New Hampshire International Speedway doing a stock car driving experience to raise funds for the U.S. Army Family Redlines Group.

Peter Ruprecht co-founded Accessible (AR) Racing, 501 (C)(3) non profit organization in Fairfield, N.J., dedicated to bringing adaptive racing to people with disabilities.

As a nonprofit organization, AR provides  the only NASCAR-style race car modified for wheelchair users, and features an accessible driver's door that opens to 90 degrees. The car also includes specialty features such as dual seats, low resistant steering, hand control brakes and gas pedals, and an instructor's side brake and steering for safety.

VXP driving simulator is engineered b Lee Perry and powered by iRacing.com software. iRacing features real-time, Internet based simulated racing competition for newly injured and active disabled athletes, giving them the opportunity to hone driving skills, compete against other hand controlled drivers and emphasize multiple ladders of advancement. "The benefit of the simulator is that it shows how to use adaptive equipment in real-time, giving the user the experience of what they are going to need in real life to drive a car," said Nancy Ruscio, a physical therapy assistant at Shriners hospital.

 

Dave Baskin, Founder of the National Rifle Association Disabled Shooting Services, learned about us and had been thinking about all the soldiers coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan who are paralyzed, missing limbs and desperate for an uplifting experience. 

Mobility freedom may be driving the racecar for some, for others it may be regaining the freedom to drive to the corner store for a loaf of bread or pick the kids up from soccer practice after work, but for ALL mobility is something purposeful that we would like to give back.  Please contact us to be part of this Memorial Day celebration and feel PROUD to support a GREAT cause, www.accessibleracing.com 

 

 

Regional TV exposure from CBS Philly of VXP driving simulator competition between former NY Giants and Philadelphia Eagles demonstrated the same process Wounded Warriors are invited to participate in on NJVGP Wings and Wheels show. NJ Wounded Warrior, Ian James Brown, will chauffeur former Eagles, Giants and media attendees for some hot laps made possible by gracious marketing support from Texas Road House, Sunoco and Borgata Casino that help us achieve together what we could not accomplish individually.

 

So if we can’t make it to New Jersey for Memorial Day weekend, is there something we all can do to help?

TEXAS ROADHOUSE will link our web sites to cross promote both organizations and conduct a fund raiser Memorial Day weekend and throughout the month of June. Wounded Warrior Thank You kits & FREE Entree's will be distributed to ALL pre registered Wounded Warrior drivers that attempt to qualify on the VXP driving simulator powered by iRacing to drive the Accessible Racecar. Andy Armadillo will hand at kid FREE meals and toys throughout the weekend. Partnerships with managing partners and corporate office throughout the year are being considered at 'print deadline, in addition to 'Bounce Back' from home office to use throughout the USA   

 

SUNOCO has the utmost respect for these brave men and women and the worst thing we can do as a society is forget about them when they come home, especially the ones who are injured. We need to help provide the skills so they can get back as much normality as possible. These kids are special. They’re a benefit to our society so providing them with the basic skills, like driving, is important so they can live a healthy and happy life.

 

GARECEWORKS PRODUCTION AND AKA MEDIA are capturing the video shots to be seen around the world and distributed to local media outlets and national affiliates.