Racing 2 Save Lives, commonly known as R2SL, is a charitable event being held in Tooele (two-ill-A) Utah, home of the new Miller Motorsports Park. RS2L raises money for children in need primarily through corporate donations and rider pledges. The event consists of a 4 day long endurance race in which riders can team up or ride solo Trading laps for pledge money. Do not be confused by the term race though, one of the most important aspects of R2SL is to have fun, and the event is structured more like a weekend of recreational track days. R2SL donors can sponsor their rider with one of two ways: a flat out pledge or a dollar amount times the number of laps their rider has ridden. The inaugural R2SL event, held in June of 2004, raised over $67,000 to be given to various children’s charities and attracted 200 riders who rode a grand total of 32,517 miles. In its second year the funds raised for charity increased to $130,000 and was divided amongst 5 children’s charities. This year’s event, being held April 13th-16th looks set to raise even more for charity.
For those who’ve never ridden on the track, there will be free instruction provided by Apex Motorsports, Utah’s only commercial track-day provider. Clay Stucki of Apex track days, along with friend and fellow Utah Sportbike Association member (a local riding/racing club) Scott Christensen are heading up the new rider program for those new to and unfamiliar with riding on track. Clay’s says he’s volunteering because “The mission of Apex is to get every sportbike enthusiast out to the racetrack so they can see how much fun it is. R2SL does this while raising needed funds for charity.”
Clay continues to say,” Apex is pitching in to help because we want every rider to see how much fun it is to ride without the constraints of speed limits, traffic, and dangerous road conditions. Track orientation school is one of the ways that R2SL makes sure that riders without previous track experience have an incredibly fun, low stress day, and Apex is well suited to help in this regard because we all came from the street and remember how nervous we were before our first trackday.”
This year’s event has a number of new things to help it be the most successful RS2L event yet. The first of them is allowing street riders and racers to experience the new $80 million facility in Tooele, which is hosting the AMA Thunder Run June 16-18th. The new facility has the ability to feature 1 of 4 different track configurations, to include a 4.5 mile course, the longest in the US. Also Eric Bostrom has teamed up with R2SL for this year’s event, and will ride in the event alongside the rest of the riders. Red Bull has designed four custom helmets, one of which Eric will be wearing during the event, and will be auctioned off at the end.
Joining Eric Bostrom on the track is the AMA’s sole female competitor, Jessica Zalusky of Kawasaki’s Team Green. Jessica says she is looking foreword to R2SL as her first time on two wheels in nearly 8 months, in a press release from Racing 2 Save Lives. Jessica injured her shoulder in a crash at the AMA Nationals in August of 2005. Off the track, this year's master of ceremonies is Vincent Haskovec, 2005 AMA Superstock race winner at Daytona International Speedway, who was paralyzed when he crashed at over 100 mph while racing in the AMA Formula Xtreme class at Sonoma, California's Infineon Raceway on Saturday, May 14, 2005 will be joining the R2SL crew as this year’s Master of Ceremonies.
The charities that Racing 2 Save Lives contributes to include: Make A Wish® Foundation of Colorado, The Children's Hospital, Missing Children Task Force, Family Pathways of Colorado, and Here's Life Inner-City Denver. This year half of the charitable proceeds will be going to the Larry H Miller Charities, with the new partnership of Miller Motorsports Park. In addition, TaylorMade Racing has built a special 2004 GSXR 750 which is for auction at the TaylorMade website and the proceeds go towards the Wegman Fund.
Local racer and Vice President of UtahSBA, Daniel Short says about the event, “Being able to do something you are very passionate about, and help others, doesn't come along very often. When it does happen, there is no doubt I want to be a part of it. Having the chance to ride with some great riders and friends, and do it on the best race track in North America, is something that does not come along very often. But I hope it continues for many years to come. The great people who make R2SL happen have given up a lot of time, and made personal sacrifices. The least I can do to be a part of the team is to show up and ride.”
Chris Coonshead of Parker CO, had a friend and fellow rider donate to Make-A-Wish in his name. His friend, Christine, when donating was quoted as saying by Chris, “It's for all those kids who have one last dream. It’s for one child to go somewhere for one week, to get away from the hospital and forget about the pain for just a little while. It's for the one child who for just one week can feel like a normal child who doesn't get the looks from other people, the whispers or giggles when they pass by. It's for my brother....Joe Ostrowski” According to Chris his friend’s brother died 20 years ago of Brain Cancer and the reason he participates is in support of his friend and her brother.
Stories like these are everywhere around the R2SL community and riders. Almost every rider talked to participates because of an experience they or someone they knew has endured. The thought of easing the burden off of someone else in the same situation is what inspires these people to donate their time and money. If you are going to do track time this spring, why not do it in support of a worthy cause.
Information such as registration fees, volunteer forms, as well as specifics and schedules about the events can be found at the Racing 2 Save Lives Foundation Website.
Resources:
Racing 2 Save Lives
www.racing2savelives.org
Miller Motorsports Park
www.millermotorsportspark.com
Utah Sportbike Association
www.UtahSBA.com
Apex Trackdays
www.apextrackdays.com
TaylorMade Racing Inc.
http://www.racetaylormade.com/
Racing 2 Save Lives Charity Event
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