pit crew coordinator tor Riley &
Scott Racing.
Matthews is currently work
ing on Eliseo Salazar’s No. 15
Reebok-sponsored car. He be-
licvcs that African Americans
are missing opportunities to be
a part of this growing industry.
“This is not a hobby, sport
or game," says Matthews. “This
is a marketing and advertising
business. Period. The minority'
business owners don’t know
what they are missing out on
because they dont understand
how this business works, how
people make money in the busi
ness. They are not going to the
tracks to network."
In th e b ro ad cast arena,
Merrie Dudley is producing tele-
Quartermaster members involved w ith the Race Against Drugs program (from left) Ron Waters,
M ike Ricks a n d D onald Ricks pose w ith kids a n d volunteers in fr o n t o f the display in Forestville,
t’s no secret that youths are more likely to develop an interest in an activity if exposed to
it at an early age. Tiger Woods has proven that with golf and Dominique Dawes has
demonstrated diat in gymnastics - both sporting activities largely unknown to African
I
Americans. The racing industry is no different.
, .
.
David Rosenblum recognized that and, moreover, decided to do something about it.
Rosenblum, a race car driver and recovering drug addict, used racing as a means to
stay straight. In 1984, Rosenblum started Inner City Youth (ICY) racing to give strug
gling youths a chance to do something positive with their lives.
Rosenblum annually recruits about a dozen drug-tree, male high school students
with passing grades, good attendance and some auto shop experience. The program uses
The r,g o - of - t o racing to provide a positive experience in a team-onented environ-
""T m odified Saturn SC2 is used for racing in the Sports Car Club of America’s Profes
sional World Challenge Division. Last year, the ICY team won the divisions champion
ship. Each summer, the team takes four or five males, age 15 and up, around the cou -
tryPwith an adult crew member, allowing them to work around the garage and in the
We Make Our Parts To Fit Cars Made In All These Parts.
Pi Teams are sponsored across the country by GMii S a t u r n F o r more information,
vision shows on the CAR 1 cir
cuit and racer Chris Miles re
cently landed a contract to host
“Inside CART,” a weekly racing
news magazine show, which
starts airing May 5 on Fox Sports
Network.
Miles believes this highly vis
ible position will open new
doors for African Americans in
the sport. “This show will cre
ate a whole new perspective for
African Americans and motor
ists. It starts to change the face
of motorsports,” he said.
26
AFRICAN AMERICANS O N WHEELS
contact Keith Chartreau at Saturn in Michigan at (248) 528-5321.
Another program, headquartered on the east coast, tries to educate and enlighten
groups acrosPs the country on the opportunities in racing. Stan Proctor of theiQuar
masters, a fraternal association of African-American drag strip drivers and owners re
cently held a special banquet for about nine black youths who demonstrate a dedication
^ " T h e ^ ln e r m X e ^ ,'h e a d q u a rte r e d in Forestville, Md often travel to scJ ° ° ls “
give talks and make presentations to high school kids. Bringing their cars with them he
Quartermasters allow students to sit in a real dragster and get a sense for the level of
commitment and dedication that goes into racing.
Students get to see the value of using planning and hard work to achieve their go s.
The Quartermasters also pass out anti-drug paraphernalia and participate in educa
tional parades for children.
o r a A »S8
To contact the Quartermasters, call Stan Proctor at (301) 868-488 .
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