RRAACCEERRSS WWHHOO CCAARREE,, IINNCC.. QUICK TIPS ON WINNING IN LIFE FIELD TRIP PROGRAM - RACERS INSPIRING KIDS TO BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES AND REACH FOR THEIR DREAMS!
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STUDENTS HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE RACE CARS UP CLOSE AND ASK RACE TEAM MEMBERS QUESTIONS DURING PADDOCK TOURS. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE]
1 For the eighth year, dedicated racers made life skills presentations called Quick Tips on Winning in Life, based on their own experiences with negotiating barricades and potholes on their individual roads to career success, to Long Beach, San Pedro and Los THE 2018 FIELD TRIP PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY SAN PEDRO CALIFORNIA'S 15TH STREET ELEMENTARY Angeles elementary and DONATIONS FROM THE GRAND PRIX ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL STUDENTS ARRIVE FOR THEIR FIELD TRIP. LONG BEACH AND BY THE KENNETH T. AND EILEEN L. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE] middle school students, under NORRIS FOUNDATION. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE] the auspices of Racers Who Care, Inc., at the 2018 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
In past years, the students participating in this field Trip Program numbered as many as 960. However, this year there were approximately 140.
MIKE LEWIS. For the fourth year, The [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE] Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris ONE OF THE STUDENTS ESPECIALLY LIKED THE ASTON Foundation generously MARTIN RACE CAR. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE] provided a grant, which made the Quick Tips on Winning in Life Field Trip Program possible for area children in 2018. Additionally, the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, through Mike McElroy and Chris Esslinger, again for the eighth year, donated exhibitor 15TH STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS POSE STUDENTS ENJOYING THEIR PADDOCK TOUR. [PHOTO passes and a very large WITH EVENT MANAGER, JD DAVIS. [PHOTO BY ALLEN BY ALLEN AGUIRRE] conference room in the Long AGUIRRE] Beach Convention Center.
The reason there were fewer students participating this year is because early in 2018, Racers Who Care, Inc. relocated from Southern California to Hohenwald, Tennessee, though it is maintaining its California MIKE LEWIS AND ROGER EAGLETON FIELD STUDENTS' QUESTIONS, ALONG WITH JD DAVIS. [PHOTO BY corporate status and will be ALLEN AGUIRRE] ROGER EAGLETON. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE]
2 continuing its activities in California, including its Field Trip Programs.
So, this year, instead of RWC President, Judy Strawn, managing the Long Beach Field Trip Program on site, as she has since the Program's JUAN PABLO MONTOYA FIELDED QUESTIONS, ALONG 2010 inception, the Program WITH JD DAVIS, FROM BURBANK WRAP AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM STUDENTS. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE] was very successfully and JUAN PABLO MONTOYO EXPANDS A POINT FOR THE efficiently managed during the STUDENTS. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE] race weekend by Co- Managers, JD Davis and Josephine Villasenor.
The student numbers were kept lower this year so that the weekend activities could be more easily managed by JD and Josephine in their first outing as Co-Managers. In JUAN PABLO MONTOYA, W ITH JD DAVIS, EXPLAINS TO STUDENTS HIS FAVORITE QUICK TIPS ON WINNING. future years, the numbers of [PHOTO BY ALLEND AGUIRRE] students will definitely be increased.
JD Davis was key to developing JUAN PABLO MONTOYA ANSWERS A STUDENT QUESTION WHILE JD DAVIS PONDERS. [PHOTO BY the Racer Presentation and ALLEND AGUIRRE] Paddock Tour portions of the Field Trip Program, which were his management areas during the 2018 race weekend.
JD DAVIS ANSWERS QUESTIONS DURING PADDOCK JD has worked closely with TOUR. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE] RWC's Judy Strawn on managing these areas of the Program since 2011. Davis began racing when he was 14 years of age and has competed in several different JD DAVIS EXPLAINS THE PADDOCK TOUR AND ANSWERS types of motorsports. QUESTIONS ABOUT IT. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE]
3 Presently, he owns and operates JD Motorsports, through which he supports racers and teams at races.
Josephine Villasenor had previously worked on RWC Field Trips in Southern California and had become very familiar with the Conference Room setup, managing the volunteers, and DR. GOEFF BILLOWS, OFFICIAL PHYSICIAN FOR THE coordinating the arrival and INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, AND AMR INDYCAR SAFETY TEAM MEMBER, EXPLAINS THE departure of the student IMPORTANCE OF CAR SAFETY TO THE YMCA GROUP. groups, which were her [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE] management areas for the DR. BILLOWS EXPLAINS MOTORSPORTS SAFETY weekend. She lives in Long FEATURES. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE] Beach, where she is a professional event manager who owns and operates Long Beach Balloons & More.
The Paddock Tours of areas where race teams were working on their racing machines, led by JD Davis, allowed students immediate,
AMR INDYCAR SAFETY TEAM MBMBER, FORMER exciting realtime examples of RALLY RACER AND RETIRED PPG PACE CAR DRIVER FOR the racers' Quick Tips THE INDYCAR SERIES, GAIL TRUESS, ANSWERS presented earlier in the STUDENTS' QUESTIONS ABOUT HER CAREER. [PHOTO GAIL TRUESS INTRODUCES THE NEXT SPEAKER. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE] Program. BY ALLEN AGUIRRE]
This was RWC's eighth Quick Tips on Winning in Life Field Trip and Presentation Program at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Each year, the Program has been conducted with a number of groups of elementary school students AMR INDYCAR SAFFETY TEAM MEMBERS BILL and racers participating CONDERMANN & GAIL TRUESS GET A POINTER FROM JD DAVIS WHILE SPEAKING TO THE YMCA GROUP. throughout race weekend. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE] RWC's Field Trip Program at MICHAEL CARY, AN AMR INDYCAR SAFETY TEAM the Toyota Grand Prix of Long MEMBER, SHARES HIS TAKE ON HOW TO WIN IN LIFE WITH STUDENTS. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE]
4 Beach is entirely planned and organized by volunteers, including JD and Josephine, and photographer Allen Aguirre, who donated their time and efforts. Additionally, the participating racers AMR INDYCAR SAFETY TEAM MEMBERS FIELD YMCA donated their time and did not STUDENT QUESTIONS. LEFT TO RIGHT ARE EVENT charge appearance fees. MANAGER, JD DAVIS, AND SAFETY TEAM MEMBERS MICHAEL CAREY, BILL CONDERMANN, DR. GOEFF BILLOWS AND GAIL TRUESS. [PHOTO BY ALLEN Students participated from: THE YMCA GROUP POSES WITH THE AMR INDYCAR AGUIRRE] SAFETY TEAM MEMBERS. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE] Long Beach, California: The Long Beach Boys & Girls Club, Stephens Elementary School through the Long Beach YMCA, Burbank WRAP Elementary School's Afterschool Program, King Elementary School's Afterschool Program, Garfield Elementary School's Afterschool Program, King Elementary School, and from Orizaba Park. GAIL TRUESS, WHO HAS TAKEN A NUMBER OF STUDENT GROUPS ON PADDOCK TOURS FOR RWC, ASSISTED WITH THE YMCA GROUP'S PADDOCK TOUR, San Pedro, California: The INTRODUCING THE STUDENTS TO HILLARY ASHCROFT, 15th Street Elementary CHEVY PRODUCTS SPECIALIST. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE] JD DAVIS LEADS THE STUDENTS ON THEIR PADDOCK School. TOUR, WITH ASSISTANCE FROM VOLUNTEER, TINA MELENDEZ. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE] Los Angeles, California: Alliance Marine Innovation and Technology School, Mount Gleason Middle School, Porter Middle School, and Valor Academy.
Once more, as with every year since the Field Trip Program's inception, the City of Long Beach's Department of Parks, THE YMCA GROUP FILLS OUT COMMENT CARDS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE. [PHOTO BY ALLEN Recreation and Marine, AGUIRRE] through the efforts of Joy VOLUNTEER, AUDREY PAMA, SETS UP THE LETTERBOARD FOR SUBSEQUENT RACER PRESEENTATIONS AND Q&A Warren, partnered with SESSIONS. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE]
5 Racers Who Care and arranged many of the groups' participation.
Other event partners included the Long Beach Boys and Girls Club headed by Claudia Torres, the Long Beach YMCA headed by Alvaro Rodriguez, and the Los Angeles after school program, LA-All Stars, headed by Leo Gallardo, who
MEMBERS OF THE TWO TOOLS PORSCHE RACING arrived early in the morning TEAM, STEVE, DAVID AND VANIS BUCKHOLZ, SPOKE and volunteered his assistance TO STUDENTS FROM THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB, until his combined groups SHOWED AN EXCITING MULTI-MEDIA PRESENTATION ABOUT RACING, AND CONDUCTED A Q&A SESSION. arrived at noon. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE]
Racers involved in inspiring STEVE AND VANIS BUCKHOLZ SHARE TEAM SOUVENIRS. the students to believe in [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE] themselves and reach for their dreams included: JD Davis, who has competed in different types of racing and now supports teams at races; endurance racer, Roger Eagleton; Pirelli World Challenge Series TCR class competitor, Michael Lewis, who races the Curb/Agajanian
VANIS ASSISTS DAVID WITH THE MULTI-MEDIA Hyundai i30 N car for Bryan ALONG WITH JD DAVIS, THE TWO TOOLS TEAM FIELDED PRESENTATION. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE] Herta Autosport; IndyCar THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB GROUP'S QUESTIONS. [PHOTO Series Champion, two-time BY ALLEN AGUIRRE] Indianapolis 500 winner, Grand Prix of Monaco winner, and holder of many additional championships and wins, Juan Pablo Montoya, who is considered one of the top drivers of this era. He is driver of the # 2 Team Penske IndyCar; members of the AMR IndyCar Safety Team (Dr. THE GROUP LEARNED THE IMPORTANCE OF LRANING THE ART OF TEAMWORK WHILE WATCHING TEAMS Goeff Billows, official Physician WORKING ON THEIR RACE CARS. [PHOTO BY ALLEN for the Indianapolis Motor AGUIRRE] Speedway, Gail Truess, former Pace Car Driver for the IndyCar THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB GROUP FILL OUT THEIR Series, Michael Carey and Bill COMMENT CARDS. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE]
6 Condermann) inspired the YMCA's group of students, sharing both their individual Quick Tips on Winning in Life and auto safety tips; Super Stadium Truck competitor, Arie Luyendyk, Jr.; the Two- Tools Team of Dave, Steve and Vanis Buckholz, who compete in Porsche Owners Club races; National Hot Rod Association EVENT MANAGER, JOSEPHINE VILLASENOR, competitor, Jason Wieck, who EVENT MANAGER, JD DAVIS, SHARED WITH STUDENTS, INTRODUCES JD DAVIS, WHO SPOKE TO STUDENTS HIS VIEW ON THE IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING HOW FROM THE KING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND GARFIELD hopes to field his own Top TEAMWORK ACTUALLY WORKS. [PHOTO BY ALLEN WRAP ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AFTERSCHOOL Alcohol Dragster soon; Off AGUIRRE] PROGRAMS. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE] Road racer, Felix Giles; and young Kart competitor, Spencer Russell.
Racers Who Care's Quick Tips on Winning in Life life skills presentations center on key universal truths applicable to all children and teens regardless of age, cultural background, or life experience: find something to do in life that you really love, AFTER SHARING HIS QUICK TIPS ON WINNING IN LIFE, JD study, learn the art of LED THE STUDENTS ON A PADDOCK TOUR WHERE THEY JD ALSO DEMONSTRATED WITH HIS HELMET THE teamwork, find a mentor, take COULD SEE TEAMWORK IN ACTION. [PHOTO BY ALLEN IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY WHEN RIDING IN CARS, OR AGUIRRE] RIDING MOTORCYCLES AND BICYCLES. [PHOTO BY the long view, be flexible with ALLEN AGUIRRE] your dreams and goals, avoid the path of least resistance, and more.
RWC's presentations are free of charge to the kids' groups, schools, hospitals, and shelters KING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THE who host them. Our racers ORIZABA PARK GROUP POSE WITH JASON WIECK AND HIS DAUGHTER, JD DAVIS AND SPENCER RUSSELL. donate their time to make [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE] these presentations. They generally do this on their own time, as their own, personal project, not always through their teams, race associations or sponsors. JASON'S DAUGHTER HELPED! [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE]
7 SPENCER RUSSEL LEADS KING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THE ORIZABA PARK GROUP DURING THEIR PADDOCK TOUR. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE]
KING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THE ORIZABA PARK GROUP ON THEIR PADDOCK TOUR. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE]
Because of knowledge gained through learning the ropes of racing, attaining skills and becoming leaders in their field, racers are uniquely positioned to fill a void in youngsters’ general education between what they learn in school and what they need to know as they approach the realm of adulthood and entering the workplace; how to: establish effective working relationships, develop coping skills, locate mentors, and other key life practicalities.
ONE OF OUR KEY QUICK TIPS ON WINNING IN LIFE:
JASON FIELDS QUESTIONS FROM STUDENTS. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE] ARIE LUYENDYK, JR. POSES WITH EVENT MANAGER JOSEPHINE VILLASENOR. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE]
8 OFF ROAD RACER, FELIX GILES, EXPLAINS THE GREAT KART RACER, SPENCER RUSSELL, JOINS FELIX IN SHARING DIFFICULTY INVOLVED IN THAT TYPE OF RACING AND QUICK TIPS ON WINNING IN LIFE. [PHOTO BY ALLEN RELATES THAT FINDING SOMETHING TO DO IN LIFE AGUIRRE] THAT YOU LOVE HELPS DEAL WITH THE CHALLENGES THAT MAY BE ENCOUNTERED ALONG THE WAY. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE]
SUPER STADIUM TRUCK COMPETITOR, ARIE LUYENDYK, JR., JOINED FELIX AND SPENCER, FIELDING QUESTIONS FROM LA-ALLSTAR AFTER SCHOOL STUDENTS ABOUT HIS CAREER. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE] ARIE LUYENDYK, JR. DISCUSSES THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY ON THE ROAD AND ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO WEAR HELMETS WHEN RIDING BICYCLES AND MOTORCYCLES. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE]
JD DAVIS MODERATES A Q&A SESSION WITH RACERS ARIE LUYENDYK, JR., SPENCER RUSSELL, AND FELIX GILES. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE]
9 SPENCER RUSSELL ASSISTS WITH THE LA-ALLSTARS' PADDOCK TOUR. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE]
JD DAVIS ANDARIE LUYENDYK, JR. FINALIZE THE Q&A SESSION WITH THE LA-ALLSTARS GROUP. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE]
SPENCER RUSSELL AND JD DAVIS WITH THEIR RACING SAFETY GEAR. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE] JD DAVIS LEADS THE LA-ALLSTARS GROUP OUT FOR THEIR PADDOCK TOUR. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE]
THE LA-ALLSTARS AFTER SCHOOL GROUP POSE WITH SPENCER RUSSELL, FELIX GILES AND ARIE LUYENDYK, JR. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE] 10 THE LA-ALLSTARS GROUP ALSO FILLED OUT COMMENT FELIX GILES SIGNED AUTOGRAPHS. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE] CARDS. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE]
VOLUNTEERS "MADE" THE WEEKEND
KART RACER, SPENCER RUSSELL, NOT ONLY MADE PRESENTATIONS AND ANSWERED STUDENT QUESTIONS, BUT ALSO GENERALLY ASSISTED AND HELPED WITH THE PADDOCK TOURS. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE]
ARIE LUYENDYK, JR. POSED WITH THE SUNDAY VOLUNTEERS, LEFT TO RIGHT, LINDA RUSSELL, SPENCER RUSSELL, LEO GALLARDO, MIROS, JD DAVIS (EVENT MANAGER), TINA MELENDEZ, AUDREY PAMA, AND JOSEPHINE VILLASENOR (EVENT MANAGER). [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE]
11 MIROS AND EVENT MANAGERS, JD DAVIS, AND JOSEPHINE VILLASENOR, EXPLAIN THE COMMENT CARDS TO A STUDENT GROUP. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE]
TINA MELENDEZ LEADS THE YMCA GROUP OUT FOR THEIR PADDOCK TOUR. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE] LEO GALLARDO LEADS THE LA-ALLSTARS GROUP OUT FOR THEIR PADDOCK TOUR. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE] Volunteers for the weekend included: Audrey Pama, Allen Aguirre, Beverly Namnoun, Tina Melendez, Mike Johnson, Amy Lamson, Leo Gallardo, Linda Russell and Spencer Russell. Their very valuable assistance created a phenomenally successful VOLUNTEERS PREPARE TO TAKE A STUDENT GROUP ON VOLUNTEERS PREPARE FOR THE ARRIVAL OF A THEIR PADDOCK TOUR. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE] STUDENT GROUP. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE] weekend!
THE BALLOON CREATIONS WERE DONATED BY LONG BEACH BALLOONS & MORE. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE]
12 DAVE AND VANIS BUCKHOLZ WITH EVENT MANAGER, JOSEPHINE VILLASENOR. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE]
VOLUNTEERS WERE INVALUABLE DURING THE PADDOCK TOURS, KEEPING THE STUDENTS TOGETHER, INTERACTING WITH THEM, AND WATCHING OUT FOR THEIR SAFETY. [PHOTO BY ALLEN AGUIRRE]
MISCELLANEOUS PHOTOS [BY ALLEN AGUIRRE]
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