The Doran Racing/McDonald’s team, in conjunction with officials from the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, will host members of "The Bronx Flash Track Club" during this weekend’s Verizon Wireless 250 at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Included in the race day activities for club members will be a Grand-Am organized garage tour and a special ‘insiders tour’ of the Doran Racing paddock conducted by Memo Gidley, co-driver (with Brad Jaeger) of the #77 Doran Racing/McDonald’s/Doran-Dallara Ford.
The Doran Racing/McDonald’s team, in conjunction with officials from the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, will host members of "The Bronx Flash Track Club" during this weekend’s Verizon Wireless 250 at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Included in the race day activities for club members will be a Grand-Am organized garage tour and a special ‘insiders tour’ of the Doran Racing paddock conducted by Memo Gidley, co-driver (with Brad Jaeger) of the #77 Doran Racing/McDonald’s/Doran-Dallara Ford.
Carrying the momentum of a top-5 finish in last weekend’s Bosch Engineering 250 at VIR, the Doran Racing team has qualified 10th for the start of tomorrow’s 250-mile Verizon Wireless 250, scheduled to take the green flag at 1:00 pm, Sunday, May 3. The race will be broadcast live on SPEED TV.
The Bronx Flash Track Club in The Bronx, New York is a 501(c)3, non-profit community organization that serves children ages 9-18 years old who are interested in running as a means to achieving a healthy and successful lifestyle. The primary goal of the Bronx Flash Track Club is to improve physical activity participation, health awareness, and academic achievement among youth in the community through the sport of running.
With the tremendous support of the New York Road Runners Foundation (NYRRF), the Bronx Flash was created in 2003 by Dan Bellino, a Public School 87 teacher who was amazed at the lack of youth sport and fitness opportunities not only in the school, but in the surrounding community. As a fourth grade classroom teacher, Mr. Bellino believed in the transitive power of running and good health to impact his students’ academic performance and overall outlook on life.
Even though limited in adequate "running space", P.S. 87 has served as the home for practices through the creative and efficient use of staircases, hallways, blacktop courts, gyms, and the concrete sidewalks. Despite the perceived shortcoming of limited practice facilities, the Bronx Flash has experienced tremendous success. Bronx Flash athletes have achieved great success in improving their fitness levels, reaching personal goals, pushing through mental challenges, and understanding the importance of healthy nutrition habits, in addition to competing at high levels within NYRRF, USA Track and Field (USATF), Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), and other local, national, and international events. In addition the Bronx Flash has had three team members selected to participate in the NYRRF Norway Travel Exchange Program, offering the student-athletes the opportunity to visit Norway for 10 days, experience a different culture, and race in various Norwegian track meets and festivals.
"It will definitely be a trip to Wonderland for a bunch of kids from the heart of the city to get to see this fantastic race," says Bellino. "I’m very grateful to Grand-Am, the Doran Racing team and Memo Gidley for making this opportunity possible. You never know what one thing will change a young person’s life, but this is just that sort of experience."
Gidley, who co-drives the #77 Doran Racing/McDonald’s/Doran-Dallara Ford, is a talented and widely respected American driver who was born in La Paz, Mexico and now makes his home in Novato, California. He has made a name for himself as one of the most committed drivers in the paddock, driving and winning in everything from karts to Indy Cars and stock cars to prototypes. 2009 will mark Gidley’s fifth season in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series DP class, and his third season with Doran Racing.
“There are many benefits of being a race car driver that I never counted on when I started,” says Gidley. “One of the most satisfying perks is getting opportunities to be able to do things like this. When I was a kid, I was doing kids stuff like riding my bike, playing with frogs, having mud fights with my friends. Even though I was just a kid, I was still fortunate to be surrounded by my parents and other role models that had a pronounced affect on shaping who I was and what I was able to become. I am fortunate and privileged to be a race car driver and to be in a position to inspire kids like the members of the Bronx Flash Track Club to go after their dreams and be their best.”