Empowering injured warfighters
The SCCA Foundation is proud to support the men and women who have served in our armed forces by providing financial support for the VETMotorsports program to facilitate participation in SCCA autocross events around the country.
More than 2.8 million American men and women have served in our armed forces since 9/11. For many of them, the most challenging battle they’ve fought is the one that began when they returned from active duty – the battle against depression and PTSD. Frighteningly often those battles end in suicide. In fact, 22 U.S. veterans take their own lives every day. But we can change that, and programs that promote interaction, engagement and teamwork are helping. VETMotorsports is one of those programs.
Finding a
new direction
VETMotorsports is an award-winning, non-clinical outreach program that honors and empowers injured warfighters through active participation in motorsports. They work with top-flight professional racing teams to embed qualifying veterans as crew members and facilitate events that put them behind the wheel to race. These unique experiences provide them with direction, empowerment and challenges. They provide what wounded combat veterans desire most – a mission, a purpose.
FAQs
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VETMotorsports pays or provides for your food, gas, lodging. We do not charge a membership fee.
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Active military. Guard. Reserve.
A veteran with a service connected injury DD214, suffering with a service related injury and provide the necessary documentation to validate your service history. Some mechanical aptitude or a 'gear-head' mentality is good, but not a must-have.
Gold Star Family - the immediate family member(s) of a fallen service member who died while serving in a time of conflict
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Any. Service related. PTSD, TBI, up to paraplegic, amputee. Those are just some examples but they all fall into our operational box.
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A spouse/caregiver and if you have kids, they can attend as well. They all attend as spectators and are subject to the same restrictions as our other 'civilian' participants. Please note that we do not provide a babysitter or daycare. All minors must be monitored by an adult at all times.
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Advocate for others to be involved. It's simple and it works. Come back and join us for another event, but try and bring someone along that would not have attended without some support.
“We continue to do everything we can to try and reduce the veteran suicide rate, which stands at an unconscionable 22 veterans a day. Having the SCCA Foundation and the SCCA work hand in hand with us … to honor and empower these brave service men and women, is incredibly validating and gratifying. We can’t thank everyone at the SCCA enough for taking up this important cause. They understand and embrace what we’re doing, and they’re going to make a tremendous difference in these veterans’ lives.”
— Peter Cline, VETMotorsports Founder and Executive Director
Photo: Jason Sider at Summit Point Motorsports Park
VETMotorsport at SCCA Track Night in America
The SCCA Foundation is a long-time supporter of VETMotorsports. VETMotorsports, founded by Peter A. Cline in 2013, has an organizational mission to use motorsports as an inspiration to propel veterans forward, to encourage veterans to find their strengths, motivations, and personal inspiration.
VETMotorsports “Helmet Therapy” builds on relationships and collaborations within the veteran and motorsports communities … to share our passion and strengths with those who have given so much but have asked for so little.
Through SCCA Foundation sponsorship, US military veterans have been invited to participate in Track Night in America (TNIA), Time Trials, and autocross events held throughout the country.
A recent survey of military veterans who participated through VETMotorsports in TNIA events held at seven tracks across the country showcased a consistently positive experience for both VETMotorsports and SCCA TNIA organizers. These laudatory results were from drivers and crew alike. Starting with great pre-event communication to clear and concise explanation of event expectations participants felt like they belonged.
As one crew member put it: there was a “feeling of being part of a unified team, focusing on a single mission … an unforgettable, positive experience. I felt part of the team, not a guest.” Numerous participants expressed “a great feeling of accomplishment. I was able to … work together with fellow vets to better our driving and car setups.” Running with civilians, VETMotorsports participants felt both comfortable and fully integrated into TNIA events.
Comments consistently recommend this program to any and all vets: “absolutely great … loved everything. Great time, especially since I got to link up with a couple other veterans.” More than a one-time diversion, VETMotorsports TNIA events contributed to participants feeling more confident driving and their own abilities. We heard from more than one vet that “driving is a new passion.”
SCCA Foundation’s support of VetMotorsports and other worthy programs are only possible through the generous giving of members and friends of SCCA.
Praise for VETMotorsports
“Across the rich history of the SCCA, we have been fortunate to have many veteran enthusiasts among our ranks, and today we have them in every SCCA community across the country. The opportunity for us to give something back to the men and women who have given so much in service to our country is both humbling and a honor.”
– Michael Cobb, SCCA president and CEO
“We are very grateful to the men and women who have served our country in defense of our freedom. Military service builds leadership skills, teamwork, and dedication to task – all of which are applicable to motorsports. The SCCA Foundation is pleased to give back to our veterans through this program and welcome them to be part of the SCCA family in every community across the country.”
— Howard Duncan, SCCA Director of Rally/Solo