NEWS
Kick off Father's Day weekend and join us for a Family Fun Day and 2.25 mile Walk 'N Wheel to raise money for paralysis research and awareness!
The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation, Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, and the Milwaukee 225 are “
June 7, 2011
CALLING ALL INDY RACE FANS! Run, Walk 'N Wheelathon in Edmonton
"Lap the Track" Edmonton Run, Walk 'N Wheelathon for Spinal Cord Injury Research
Calling all Indy race fans! Here’s your chance-of-a-lifetime to see the Edmonton Indy track from an incredible perspective, while you “
June 3, 2011
START YOUR ENGINES! 3rd Annual Honda Indy Toronto 5K Run, Walk 'N Wheelathon
Your chance to experience the Honda Indy Toronto race course
Join us at the Official Honda Indy Track (Exhibition Place) for the 3rd Annual Honda Indy Toronto 5K Run, Walk '
NEWS
¦ April 25, 2011
2011 LONG BEACH GRAND PRIX DAY AT THE RACES
Good Friends, Great Fun and Chance to Meet Indycar Driver Alex Tagliani!
Article by Cindy Norton, Special Events Coordinator
Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation held its third Day at the Races this season with a fantastic event at the Long Beach Grand Prix in Long Beach, California Friday, April 15….a great way to forget about the drudgery of tax day!
It was warm at the track as the cars heated up the road course. Over 60 guests join us for the day, from Long Beach Memorial Rehab, Long Beach VA, Know Barriers Association of Rancho Los Amigos National Rehab, Alan Fernandez of the World Stem Cell Summit, John Miksa (Miracle Man) and several others.
Our first stop was the Patron Racing Tent, an always enjoyed hospitality area, for a wonderful lunch. Here guests were able to sit in Turn 10, out on a shaded deck, to watch some action on the track. Sam Schmidt Motorsports driver Alex Tagliani (“Tag”) made a surprise visit to the tent, spent time conversing, posed for pictures, handed out hero cards and signed autographs for all the guests. After lunch, several of the guests were invited into the Indycar garage and had a chance to observe the crew fine tuning Alex’s car for Saturday’s qualifying round. They also were able to meet and greet with Sam Schmidt himself…always a highlight of the day!
Our Day at the Races event in Long Beach would not have been possible without the graciousness of our sponsors: Patron Racing, United Medical Providers, Firestone, Lucas Oil, Honda, Long Beach Grand Prix, New Mobility Magazine, World Stem Cell Summit and the Villardi Family.
Also, a big thank you to those who helped to organize the groups: Ann Kinnischtzke, Jennifer Coronado, Antonio Vicco and Juan Garribay. We couldn’t have done it without all your help!
A sad note for the day: as hard as this is to share, later in the evening one of our dedicated volunteers, Dale Kappus, who, along with his wife Karen had been assisting in our Day at the Races program, suffered a massive heart attack at his hotel that evening. Dale passed away leaving his wife, daughter Angela, the SSPF family and all those he had touched with his love and caring ways. Dale will be missed greatly, and we will celebrate the remaining season remembering his contagious smile.
Thank you for all your support and for making our Long Beach Grand Prix Day at the Races such a memorable event for everyone!
To view photos of this event, click here.