Green Flag!

The rain's subsided, the green flag is out and the Children's Tumor Foundation #14 GT3 is  flying around the track in front of us.  We're steps away from the track and the noise is astounding.  Think of the last time you heard a Harley motor down an otherwise quite neighborhood street, now imagine standing an arms length away while 100 more pass by directly behind and you'll get the sense of what it's like.  Some people wear ear plugs but for me it's part of this unique experience, it's part of the race.  Of course tomorrow my head'll be pounding and my ears'll be ringing but just like the drivers and the NF Heroes, I'll endure.

Pictures to come.

It's Raining on Our Parade

But nobody seems to mind.  We're warm and dry in the Pit Road Patio but it's coming down hard out there.  We just got some good news that NBCsports.com is interested in publishing an article on the R4R story.  We'll keep you up on further developments.

We're only a couple minutes away from the start of the Rolex 24, hope you can watch at home on SPEED, if not we'll have all the latest news as it comes in.

One for Princess

In one of the posts below passionfruitprincess commented and signed her name Brenda McCool.  Brenda's an NF Hero and it just so happened I took a picture of Brenda's name on the car!  Enjoy Brenda, hope you like.

Please feel free to share your story or ask questions in the comments.  I'll do my best to respond and fulfill any requests.  Happy race day!

Thoughts from the Drivers before the Rolex 24

Last night we had a chance to get a couple thoughts from Glen Gatlin, Ron Yarab, and Daniel Graeff ahead of the Rolex 24.  We didn't get a chance to catch up with Cory Friedman, our qualifying driver because, well, his wife and he are mere hours away from bringing their second child into the world in South Carolina (good luck to the Friedman's on this joyous occasion).  He's going to try to race down tomorrow and catch the end of the Rolex 24

Due to Cory's absence the Children's Tumor Foundation #14 GT3 will start at the back of the pack, as the rules dictate that the qualifying driver must be the starting driver or the team is penalized by starting in the back of the field.  Oh well, the Rolex 24 is a marathon, not a sprint, and this race will not be won in the 1st, 100th, 200th or even 500th lap.  The drivers were certainly cognizant of that fact when we spoke with them last night:

Ron Yarab, MD
"The 24 Hours is the pinnacle of motorsports and our goal is to survive and drive our race.  We're not racing against other cars, we're racing against the clock.  We need to keep it together and endure, like the children and families who live with NF, because like them, we're in it for the long-haul."

Glen Gatlin
"We're all so excited to be able to race for something other than ourselves.  Our goal is to race to win as we see the children race to win against NF."

Daniel Graeff
"There's something amazing about racing the Rolex 24 with the support of the kids and their families.  Something magical happens that makes the drivers better, the crew better and the car better.  There's no greater honor than racing for these kids."

On a personal note, that's what each drivers said when I asked them for their thoughts on the race.  I didn't ask them for their thoughts on Racing4Research or racing for the Children's Tumor Foundation, that's the kind of people we're fortunate enough to have behind the wheel for us today.

Godspeed, indeed.

Cars, Kids and Fun

Much more to come...

NF Heroes Race to Rolex 24

Tonight we had a milestone event in our quest to end neurofibromatosis through research.  Our NF Heroes' families shared their experiences fundraising throughout the year, our sponsors shared their appreciation for the work of our families, and our drivers shared their emotions at seeing the good and important work of the Foundation, made possible by the incredible efforts of the Children's Tumor Foundation family (and, though they're too modest to admit it, the drivers themselves).  The evening culminated when Trane --  one of the Children's Tumor Foundation #14 car's longtime sponsors --- inspired by the evening's events, pledged to donate an additional $25,000 to Racing4Research for vital NF research.

It was a really magical event, one that will not soon be forgetten.  We all have opportunities in our lives to do something good, something true.  Our families seize that opportunity, share it with their children and show what can be done when hope meets resolve.  It's truly inspirational to see a collection of individuals who recognize the challenges they face, the challenges of NF, as an opportunity rather than a burden.  These are the people that constitute Racing4Research, and your faithful blogger can speak confidently for the Foundation's staff, that we couldn't be more honored to to work on their behalf.

And now, we shall race, and as Glen Gatlin, one of the R4R drivers said, GODSPEED...