By Tom Scott
United Spinal Participates in SCCA National Convention
United Spinal Association Motorsports representatives Bill Hannigan and Jeff Bressler were given a warm welcome at the Sports Car Club of America’s 2007 National Convention, which took place at the Crown Plaza Riverwalk in San Antonio Texas, from February 1-3. Hannigan, director of Sports Marketing at United Spinal, and Bressler, news director and anchor for Motor Trend Magazine’s Motor Trend Radio, spoke to over 400 attendees on the positive benefits that participation in motorsports competition can have on the quality of life of people with disabilities and how United Spinal’s unique partnership with the SCCA has built the foundation for this to occur.
Bressler and Hannigan also gave an overview of United Spinal’s Motorsafe campaign, which is geared toward promoting safe motoring and spinal cord injury prevention. The program strives to educate new drivers, especially teens on how driving aggressively and without the proper safety precautions can have devastating repercussions, such as a spinal cord injury or death.
“Having the opportunity to speak to SCCA’s regional representatives and club officials about United Spinal’s mission and the accomplishments of our motor campaigns and adaptive sports programs is very exciting. The fact that so many attendees, including many who work diligently behind the scenes to make SCCA the premier motorsports club in the country, were receptive to our vision and long-term initiatives only helps solidify the value of our partnership and enhances its potential for the future,” said Hannigan.
Devil Rays Host Tourney at Disney
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays wheelchair softball team will be hosting the 3rd Annual “Spring Training in Florida” Tournament at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida from May 19 to 20. The Nebraska Barons and The Confluence Center Coast, St. Louis wheelchair softball teams will also be participating in the tournament, which is being played at Disney for the first time.
The Rays, who are sponsored by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays Major League Baseball Team, placed 2nd in Division II and 9th in the Nation at the National Wheelchair Softball Tournament in Chicago, Illinois in 2006. For more information, please visit www.devilrayswheelchairsoftball.com/id2, or call Doyle Mann at (813) 323-2569.
Keep Us Informed!
Do you have any adaptive sports and/or recreation photos or stories you’d like to share with Action? If so, we’d love to include them in Sports Round-Up. We’d also enjoy hearing about the sporting events you have participated in or upcoming ones you’d like to promote. Please send your photos and info to:
United Spinal Association
Action Sports Desk
Attn: Tom Scott
75-20 Astoria Blvd.
Jackson Heights, NY 11370-1177
If you have digital photos, please email them to: tscott@unitedspinal.org.
Tom Scott is staff editor.
