Accessible Racing for Vets & Civilians attracts Global interest

• SHARE YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE  AND THE RESULTING REDIRECTION IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE

A car accident was a life changing experience for Accessible Racing President & co-founder Brian Hanaford. A Traumatic Brain Injury forced to adjust to life with physical disabilities, challenging beliefs and behaviors to over come barriers and discover fresh opportunities.

• EXPLAIN HOW FULFILLING IT WAS TO DESIGN AND DEVELOP THE HANDICAP RACE CAR

Hanaford contacted Peter Ruprecht, President of Drive Master, oldest family owned mobility dealership in the country, and a founding father of National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association. A NASCAR was modified and the national attention from media and disabled persons was overwhelming. The first event drew persons from Alabama, Colorado, Montana, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and New Jersey. 

 

• TALK ABOUT HOW THAT EXPERIENCE LED YOU TO THE GAMING WORLD AND THE CHALLENGES THAT HANDICAPPED FACE WHEN TRYING TO ENJOY RACING/DRIVING GAMES THAT REQUIRE PEDALS

Dr. Sally Shoop, said "one key to improving safety is allowing drivers to exercise maneuvering in bad situations so they build up a muscle memory that can react automatically". Researchers said the simulator could pay off in added safety for all road vehicles. The target market, disabled community, is largely unemployed or under employed so AR  needed a qualifier to create equal opportunity. This led to the development of a gaming wheel with the same push/pull gas and break controls disabled persons employ in more then 1.3 million passengers vehicles that travel on the highway every day. VXP powered by iRacing.com software is a qualifier for hand control drivers to qualify based on performance and safety records. The Next Generation modifies off the shelf gaming wheel for persons who where unable to use standard games because they were unable to use the peddles. 

 

• EXPLAIN THAT YOUR VXP CONSOLE BRINGS THE EXCITEMENT OF DRIVING TO ANYONE WITHOUT THE USE OF THEIR LEGS.

Newly injured who are attuned to video games enjoy learning in virtual environments. VXP develops virtual world driving skills that transition seamlessly to real world applications, and have fun at the same time. VXP is a perfect adjunct to any Drivers Education or Rehabilitation program for persons with disabilities

 

• EXPLAIN THAT VXP DRIVING SIMULATOR CONSOLES WERE MET WITH SUCH POSITIVE SUPPORT THAT YOU REALIZED THAT THE NEXT STEP WAS TO MASS PRODUCE THEM FOR HOSPITALS, REHAB CENTERS AND EVENTUALLY CONSUMERS.

VXP gaming wheel has been well received at Walter Read Hospital and Shriners Hospital for Children. Occupational Therapist & Disability Equipment Dealers and Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist generally agree that this is a worthwhile product, the market is far more demanding then 'build-one-sell-one' capabilities satisfy. Mass production for therapeutic use is the first step to making them available to global consumers. The cost to engineer, manufacture and market is in the neighborhood of $100,000 in order to meet consumer demands. Accessible Racing non profit in currently looking into a plan similar to the Girl Scout Cookie program because we all know the cookies are not FREE to the Girl Scouts and some one making the cookies has an exclusive market once a year. VXP for profit would ideally be the cookie maker, and Accessible Racing would be Girl Scout non profit organization with exclusive market & benefits.

 

• THE ABSENCE OF AVAILABLE CAPITAL (ESPECIALLY IN THESE ECONOMIC TIMES) HAS SLOWED YOUR DREAM BUT NOT EXTINGUISHED IT.

 

Accessible Racing (AR) continues to build individual interest. However, at this stage of the game we realize that the disabled community needs to show their support more so then a corporation or foundation. AR has forged a partnership with the The ERA Card that offers consumer discounts on products used every day. Cause related shopping is becoming more popular in todays economy because consumers no longer have the luxury to donate money, but like the idea of point of purchase and product that is tied into a GREAT cause.     

 

• YOU ARE STILL ACTIVELY SEEKING VENTURE CAPITAL TO MAKE THIS PROJECT A REALITY.

 

We we will continue to develop one-on-one incentives. Accessible Racing discount cards are one way for cause related shoppers to donate to Accessible Racing and save money on every day consumer needs. Retail outlets and product vendors are needed for mass production of prototypes and pilot programs. AR has an "A" team assembled and results have been promising. Accessible Racing and VXP driving simulator are seeking additional funding to expand into every hospital in the country, and lower the cost for active disabled persons to purchase.

 

• UNTIL THEN, YOU WILL CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO THOSE WHO COULD USE SUCH A DEVICE BECAUSE OF THE POSITIVE RESULTS.

NJ Vintage Grand Prix was aired on FOX National News and featured  2 1/2 - 3 min video clips at 20 past the hour between 12 and 8 PM. We delivered to our sponsors on a national level, most importantly Texas Road House and NJ Department of Veteran And Military Affairs were impressed with Accessible Racing program that made a dream come true for veterans. Plans are underway to continue the momentum and expand regional events to national and global programs...

This should tie in nicely with the previous email message i sent you that talks more about fund raising

In this industry very few businesses let alone non-profits use PR agencies. AKA Media is a video production company, NOT a PR firm. .When they found out about Accessible Racing (AR) and the work that we are doing they decided to support us pro bono. AR is definitely doing what others said couldn't, shouldn't or wouldn't be possible. From the product conception to marketing and funding plan, we are trend setters that believe in achieving together what couldn't, shouldn't or wouldn't be accomplished individually.  

It has injected our disabled veteran’s and civilians with hope and self confidence that had been missing for years, the caregivers in the veterans communities as well as shriners hospital see this as a solution.

Accessible Racing (AR) non profit organization help disabled persons  regain mobility and provide the education and rehabilitation for broken bodies to skillfully adapt to changing environments.

 

 

With ALL this being said, Accessible Racing strives to enhance independent living skills, mobility freedom and network a growing community of disabled shoppers with a voice that demands attention and justifies brand loyalty from products, services, and retail outlets that acknowledge wheel chair users as a portion of the market. 

With prototypes complete for both Accessible Racing non-profit racecar and VXP driving simulator (for profit company) our work has just begun. AR strives for support from disabled community, care givers, family, friends and business contacts to show a need and demand for driver education.

AKA Media, Texas Road House, Borgata Casino and Sunoco have donated sponsorship & services needed to help lower the cost for individuals. We need to unify the disabled community to help us achieve together what we can not accomplish individually.  

Individuals and corporations can support AR membership that offers discounts to cause related shoppers. A newly formed partnership with The ERA Card donates $15 dollars of every $20 dollar card purchased through Accessible Racing to benefit AR mission. The dual purpose is: 

a.) Track membership and market support of social change with a systematic and unique program designed to network individuals and corporations to expand services 

b.) Design and implement a financial marketing program that will establish cause related shopping to ALL individuals on every day products in order to further develop real world opportunities for quadriplegics and paraplegics.

Most are familiar with 3 day bike ride for AIDS and 3 day walk for Breast Cancer. AR ask Why not  a 3 day motorsports marathon that includes 3 different venues such as: Indy 500, World 600, and 24 hrs at Lemans  ? Global gaming event that operates in the same foot print Dan Pallotta established to benefit AIDS and Breast Cancer awareness & research, to benefit the growing disabled community. 

This program would be available to gamers globally, in addition to a growing number of quadriplegics and paraplegics. One doesn't have to have AIDS or Breast Cancer to participate in multi day bike rides or walks to benefit the cause, Accessible Racing doesnt propose participants would need to be a para or quad to compete either, preliminary plans to incorporate the same individual web page to inspire participants to be part of a global effort to create on-line gaming access for disabled persons with VXP Gaming wheel. 

Dan Pallotta's multi day events challenge people to make a difference and commit to fund raising of minimal amounts of $2,000 dollars. AR $1,000 entry suggest the same process with individual web pages and form letters to help persons raise the same amounts of money without concern of funding mobile city's of bedding, showers, first aide stations etc. This program will be easily activated from a home computer and gaming wheel to position VXP driving simulators in the disabled community, designed with a goal to reduce cost to participants and establish sustainability. So we propose a global network of competition, but first are disabled persons ready, willing and able to sign up for a $20 membership card? or take the challenge of a multi day motorsports event to earn a VXP driving simulator to measure up against global hand control drivers?