Racing4Vets

Racing4Vets helps combat-injured U.S. military veterans get directly involved in motorsports by leveraging the power of the motorsports community. Our programs promote fun, a winning attitude, and develop transferable skills and career opportunities to take into civilian life.

GOAL #1: Help injured U.S. military veterans go racing This is really fun! Motorsports engage vets in healthy and safe competition with other like-minded enthusiasts. Racing provides something fun and competitive to do on the weekends, allow vets to travel away from home, gives a sense of purpose and camaraderie, and develops transferable mechanical and business skills. Racing is a fun and stimulating outlet where injured vets can forget their worries and their physical disabilities do not interfere with their ability to go fast, experience dynamic motion and g-forces, and maneuver a vehicle on a track.

GOAL #2: Prove that injured veterans can compete and win against any competitors in an equal arena. This is about building pride and self-belief which leads to long term success in life, both personally and professionally. With the right controls, the ability to go fast and race a vehicle competitively is not limited by the loss of a limb, burns, or many other combat injuries. Many injured racers have achieved top level success in motor racing. For example Alex Zanardi, a two-time CART Indy Car champion who lost both his legs, raced professionally in Europe for BMW after his injury and is now a Paralympics bicycle athlete (see more success storieshere). Racing4Vets helps U.S. military veterans with physical combat injuries prove to themselves and others that they can compete successfully and gives vets an arena where they can participate to the best of their ability.

GOAL #3: Do it safely and correctly. This is fundamental to the entire program. Racing on a track, whether in a car, truck, go-kart, motorcycle, ATV, boat or any other vehicle, can be done very safely with the right equipment and proper training. Doing it safely is a prerequisite to having fun!

GOAL #4: Inspire people to support our combat-injured U.S. military veterans. Our vets need help! Many have come home with grave injuries and little support. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) budget is strained and the U.S. economy isn’t producing the jobs that veterans need. Wounded vets have few outlets for healthy fun and competition to enrich their lives. With Racing4Vets we hope to raise the challenges and capabilities of our combat-injured veterans to the forefront of people’s consciousness and inspire them to help with offers of jobs, medical support, and financial assistance.

We intend to use 100% of the Racing4Vets organization’s profits to directly benefit combat-wounded U.S. military veterans and to create programs that directly assist veterans in need. We are very passionate about what we’re trying to achieve and we hope you are too!