RRDC SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES INAUGURAL RRDC/FIA YOUNG DRIVERS SYMPOSIUM
ORLANDO, Fla. (Dec. 13, 2009) - The Road Racing Drivers Club (RRDC)
successfully completed its inaugural RRDC/FIA Young Drivers Symposium
held at the Performance Racing Industry Show in Orlando, Fla., on Dec.
11, in front of an audience of over 150 young drivers, parents, media and
RRDC members.
Drivers from a wide variety of motorsports disciplines, including
karting, Skip Barber, Jim Russell, Star Mazda, drag racing, SCCA club
racing, Legends racing, Late Models and professional sports-car racing,
participated in the four-hour workshop, featuring industry experts
Townsend Bell (sponsorship/branding), Jacques Dallaire, Ph.D. (mental
preparation), Jim Leo, C.S.C.S. (physical fitness), Stephen Olvey, M.D.
(safety), and Michael Zimicki (integrated driving).
Indy 500 champion and RRDC president Bobby Rahal was the moderator of the
workshop, made possible through a grant from the FIA Motor Sport Safety
Development Fund, lending his professional racing expertise to the group.
Between speakers, Rahal introduced "Rev" video features (courtesy of
Mazda and OnCars.com), covering pertinent subjects of performance, safety
and training. Each participant took home a comprehensive workbook, which
expanded upon the points made by each speaker.
"I'm extremely pleased with the RRDC's first effort in organizing this
symposium," said Rahal. "The lecturers were absolutely the best and are
true leaders in this industry. The information was concise, and having
the workbook to take home just cements what the young drivers heard here.
The fact that everybody was very attentive for four hours, didn't move
and didn't fall asleep speaks a lot to the quality of the symposium and
I'm very proud of the efforts of (event organizers) Tamy Valkosky and
Jeremy Shaw and numerous RRDC members who helped make this first
symposium a success."
"I thought it was very beneficial," said 18-year-old Brett Smrz, of Coeur
d'Alene, Idaho, a Jim Russell and Skip Barber series racer who also
received an RRDC-supported Team USA Scholarship this year. "What I
learned about safety and mental preparation in the four hours I was here
will help me step up in my career."
His mom Shirley Smrz added, "I thought the symposium was very informative
and the information invaluable. I know my son is going to take a lot of
this with him to help him further his career."
Said Nathaniel Steele, 21, of Syracuse, N.Y., an FRCCA (Formula Race Car
Club of America) racer and a marketing/communications college major, "I
learned a lot from Dr. Dallaire. He had a lot of good mental tips, which
are very important. It was great to learn so much about safety as well as
getting advice from the experts."
Fourteen-year-old Natalie Fenaroli, of Kansas City, Mo., a Mazda Miata
racer at Hallett (Okla.) Motor Racing Circuit, impressed the crowd when
she performed over 30 push-ups at the request of Jim Leo. "I learned so
much," she said. "The PitFit presentation (Leo) was really interesting.
I'll have to keep up with that. And I learned a couple of new exercises
that are going to help me. I thought Mr. Zimicki's presentation was
really important, as well as Townsend Bell's. We do mainly cold calls
(seeking sponsorship). It will be interesting to try his techniques. I
think it could yield much better results."
Two additional RRDC/FIA symposiums are planned: in April, in conjunction
with the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, and in May, around the
Indianapolis 500.
The Road Racing Drivers Club was formed in 1952 as a way to give champion
drivers a say in their sport, particularly in the areas of safety, and
has evolved to serve the future of road racing by mentoring new drivers
on both amateur and professional levels. The Club now has more than 150
active members, including leading industry professionals, race officials
and motorsports journalists, in addition to prominent racing names.
President Bobby Rahal is the 1986 Indy 500 winner and is co-owner, with
David Letterman, of the 2004 Indianapolis 500 winning Rahal Letterman
Racing team. Six-time SCCA National Champion John Fergus is the Club's
Vice President/Treasurer, and five-time Formula Super Vee champion Tom
Davey is the Secretary. In addition to RRDC members lending their
expertise to up-and-coming drivers, the Club presents three annual
awards: the Phil Hill Award for rendering outstanding service to road
racing; the Mark Donohue Award for personal spirit and performance at the
SCCA National Championship Runoffs; and the Bob Akin Award for speed with
style, passion, sportsmanship and contribution to motorsports.
The RRDC also supports the Team USA Scholarship, which has been assisting
young Americans in the early stages of their careers since 1990.
Membership in the RRDC is by invitation only.
-credit: rrdc
