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
Upcoming Events
VETMotorsports Seek Mechanics for Land Speed Effort
On behalf of a North Carolina motorsports team, VETMotorsports is seeking a mechanic for their land speed racing program based in El Mirage, California. El Mirage dry lake bed has been home to Land Speed Racing (LSR) for more than half a century. It is located just 30 miles east of a growing high desert community known as the Antelope Valley.
2024 Event Dates
May 18 & 19; June 9; July 14; September 15; October 20; November 9 & 10
If you are interested, please email VETMotorsports with the subject line “Land Speed Team” at vetmotorsports@gmail.com.
VETMotorsports Seeks Drivers Using Hand Controls
VETMotorsports is seeking veterans looking to pursue their passion for on track driving who require the use of hand controls. Our collaborative efforts with other organizations will allow qualified personnel to earn their provisional road race license via a 3 day program in Houston.
2024 Event Dates
May 21-23; August 12-14; November 11-13
If you are interested, please email VETMotorsports with the subject line “Hand Control Car” at vetmotorsports@gmail.com.
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