Motorsports Program Appears at SCCA Racing Events
Jackson Heights, NY— United Spinal Association teamed up with the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) at two premier racing events at Heartland Park in Topeka, Kansas which drew thousands of drivers, spectators, and sponsors from across the country: The 2006 Tire Rack Solo National Championships and the 2006 SCCA National Championship Runoffs. These two events provided United Spinal an opportunity to showcase its newly developed Motorsports program.
Representatives of United Spinal Motorsports and the SCCA at the 2006 SCCA National Championship Runoffs. From left to right, United Spinal’s Sports and Recreation Director Billy Hannigan, SCCA Driver Bill Tucker (in golf cart), SCCA V.P. of Program Development and Operations Howard Duncan, SCCA CEO Jim Julow, United Spinal Association President Clair Russell Hesselton, SCCA Region Development Manager Mike Dickerson.
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The mission of United Spinal Motorsports is to encourage people with disabilities, including individuals who use adaptive automotive equipment, to participate in competitive motorsports. The program also helps cultivate partnerships within the motorsports industry to raise awareness about spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D). One such partnership that developed was with the SCCA in July of 2006. Both organizations have combined their resources in establishing a strong presence within the motorsports industry, one that focuses not only on SCI/D education and awareness, but each individual’s abilities rather than their disabilities.
During the Runoffs, Motorsports Team Member Bill Tucker from Blue Springs, Missouri, who sustained a spinal cord injury and subsequent paraplegia after falling from a ladder in 1995, raised SCI/D awareness by competing with United Spinal’s Motorsports logo displayed on his race car.
“Racing is great mental therapy. It’s been a Godsend to me to be involved in this sport and getting the word out there to other people with disabilities, who might not otherwise even consider racing as a sport they can get involved in, is important,” Tucker said. “The first time I was strapped into a harness and drove around the raceway I felt free. I didn’t have to hold myself up. For the first time since I was injured, I felt like I had the use of my abdominal muscles. It was by far one of the most fun experiences I have had since well before I got hurt, and I never expected to ever have that much fun again.”
United Spinal recently attended the 2007 SCCA National Convention at the famed Crown Plaza Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas, where United Spinal Motorsports team members Billy Hannigan, director of sports and recreation and Jeff Bressler, news director for Motor Trend Radio will be addressing attendees on ways that motorsports and other adaptive sports can greatly improve an individual’s quality of life.
United Spinal Association is a national not-for-profit organization enhancing the lives of people with spinal cord injuries and disorders. The Association sponsors a wide variety of wheelchair recreational and adaptive sports programs guided by the belief that the benefits of participating in sports are no different for athletes with disabilities than for those without disabilities. Membership is free and open to all individuals with disabilities of the spinal cord. For more information please call 800-404-2898.