IARG/Project6 Racing Charity Fundraiser Program

Greetings to all of you sports car fans in cyberland...

The focus of my post today will be something very exciting that has recently come together for the 2010 season.  IARG/Project6 Racing has initiated a fund-raising campaign for the Indiana chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), an international organization supporting advocacy, public outreach programs and research grants to find a cure for diabetes.  The goal of the our campaign is to generate donations to the JDRF through our racing program.  I am particularly excited about the opportunity to work with the JDRF this season as I believe that the race program will raise significant revenue for the foundation.

So now you might ask: how does the program work?  There are two methods by which an individual may donate to the JDRF.

1. Join the "Laps To Cure Diabetes" program.  The "Laps" sponsorship provides a 100% donation to the JDRF.  A per race lap donation is pledged by the sponsor.  The donation can be for a single race, race weekend, or the entire season.  Race formats are either 30 min (complete approximately 18-20 laps depending on the track) or 50 min (complete approximately 28-30 laps depending on the track), with no pit stops.  If you need to pit during a sprint race you are finished.  For the 2010 season IARG/Project6 Racing has one race weekend per month from April-Oct (total of 7 weekends).  Each weekend generally consists of 2-3 races, typically two 30 min and one 50 min sprint race.  Race results (including overall and class finishes, fastest lap, and number of laps completed) are published on Mylaps.com throughout the season.  I am personally participating in the "Laps" program and I hope that you consider sponsoring this program as well. 
2. The second method of sponsorship is to purchase a signature decal(s) on the race car (red and white squares on the hood below) and 20% of the proceeds will be donated to the JDRF.  Decals are $200 (US)/decal.  Your signature will be on a block on the car (if you can get to Indianapolis then you sign directly on the car, if not then a decal signature will be put on the car).  The support from your donation by purchasing a signature decal is that the sponsorship dollars will help the JDRF, and will help keep me racing.  The more race laps completed the more money will be generated by the "Laps To Cure Diabetes" program (more races = more laps = more $$$ for the JDRF!).  

 

If you would like to support the JDRF program please contact me and i will send you the forms for the sponsorship application.  Together we can really make a difference in the lives of children living with diabetes.

Until the next post.  

All the best...

Kickoff of IARG/Project6 Racing Official Blog

Greetings and Salutations!

Welcome to the International Autosport Racing Group/Project6 Racing Team blog. Let me introduce myself. During the work week I am Mike Statnick, Ph.D. a research scientist working to discover new medications for the treatment of metabolic diseases including diabetes. Outside of the laboratory, I am Mike Statnick a club racer in pursuit of a motorsports dream - to compete in the 2014 Rolex 24 at Daytona. This blog will chronicle my journey, and take you along for the ride. I intend to focus posts on everything from driver and car development, to race weekend reviews, to events hosted by IARG/Project6 Racing, and of course to the sponsors supporting our program.

So put on your helmet and tighten your safety belts, it may get a little rough at times...

The journey begins at the start of the 2010 NASA Racing Season where I race in the Great Lakes/Midwest Chapter competing in the German Touring Series. However, the quest to compete in the Rolex 24 at Daytona began to reveal itself to me toward the end of my rookie season in 2009.

I have been a long-time fan of German sports cars, and as such had a bone stock 2000 BMW Z3 MCoupe converted over the years into a fully prepared race car. The race car design and build is the creation of Doug Livingston, owner of International Autosport Racing Group, who represents the other half of the IARG/Project6 Racing Program. Along with development, maintenance, and setup of the car, Doug is my crew-chief who makes the calls on race weekends. Doug has an extensive background in professional sports car racing that started in 1994 when he was a member on Ferrari's American LeMans Series racing crew, and continues today with teams in the Grand Am Racing Series. He has been a valuable friend and guide on my development in racing. Yes indeed, we are a bare bones, small budget, two man team, but we have big goals and play hard when the flag drops.

The first race weekend of the 2010 season is April 9-11 at the famous Mid-Ohio Sports Car Park. We have exactly 26 days, 5 hours, and 58 minutes to finish the off-season rebuild of the car, load up and head out to Lexington, OH. Its going to be an action packed month!

This winter our efforts were focused on four goals: forming the race team, securing sponsorships (which of course is ongoing), continuing car development, and improving driver fitness. We made some pretty good progress on all of these goals. First, we incorporated the team and called the program Project 6, since the effort will require the support of everyone we know, and as you know there are only "six degrees of separation" between anyone on earth. So we would like to start off by "buying the world a coke" (or should I say beer?) and connecting with everyone. The past several months we met some great people and businesses that were interested in sponsoring our program. A number of great people have purchased and signed 3" x 5" decals that are on the car (we have these available to anyone). Current businesses supporting IARG/Project6 Racing include Zionsville Autosport, Sun King Brewery, CARi RAY, MCoupe.com and Clear Skies Consulting. In conjunction with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (Indiana Chapter) we have developed a campaign to raise money and awareness for the treatment of childhood diabetes (more on the JDRF program in the next post). Thanks to this support we have been able to continue car development. I am very happy to announce that as a result of sponsorships we will kick off the season with a rebuilt engine, improved engine cooling system, new suspension components, and data acquisition system.

The last achievement was improving driver fitness and sensitivity to heat stress. My personal trainer Abby Fox, owner of Abby Fox Fitness, has pushed me to my physical limits. Our training started in September '09 with a focus on improving body strength, aerobic conditioning and resistance to heat stress. Training with Abby twice per week then additional days on my own has transformed me, and made me as fit as I can be at the age of 44. Now just 26 days, 4 hours, and 38 min until we find out where we stand against the competition.

So that is where we start the adventure of IARG/Project6 Racing. Many thanks to all of you out there that have helped us make this possible!

Cheers... M