Wide grins were the order of the day, Saturday, November 1, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida, as more than 55 patients of Baptist Children’s Hospital and their families took part in the first “Rides and Smiles” Track Day event.
The brainchild of Canadian racing legend and broadcaster Bill Adam and supported by the Southern Automotive Media Association (SAMA), it offered pediatric patients who suffer from chronic childhood illness such as cancer, diabetes, Crohn’s and Colitis, and brain injuries, a chance to get an up-close and personal look at the 2.3-mile road course at Homestead.
As most of the patients were under legal driving age, SAMA members drove them around the track, which includes a pair of variable degree high-banked turns and will be the scene of the season-ending Ford Championship Weekend, where the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion will be crowned. HMS contributed the use of the track and lunches for the event.
With the emphasis not on speed, but on the experience of driving exotic and high-performance street cars around the track, guests were able to experience the day in the seats of a Lexus IS-F, Chevrolet Corvette, Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder and Superleggera, an Audi RS4 race car, Porsche Cayman S, Audi R8, Mazda RX-8, Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG, Dodge Challenger and Viper, and a Ford Bullitt-edition Mustang. That’s not to say that SAMA drivers exercised any great restraint with their right feet.
A few of Adam’s historic race cars were poised for demonstration drives including the Jaguar Group 44 prototype he campaigned with Bob Tullius and the Champion Motorsports Audi R8 that he campaigns in the HSR series.
Words and photos by Mark Elias.
11/03, 4:14 PM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
Cool….
11/03, 4:59 PM
posted by:
F3INT))AP3X
OoOoOo RS4 race car………… *drools*
11/03, 11:17 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
My company does a similar thing every year in the weeks before Christmas. The only difference is we have a considerable speed advantage as we do our rides in a Citation X business jet. Same result though, the kids love it.
11/04, 12:08 AM
posted by:
melias
Johnny,
It really is a great program. The amazing thing was the little girl patients seemed to want to go faster than the boys did!
The excitement shown by Bill Adam and all the other SAMA members was really amazing but the kids faces said more.
Plans are already underway for next year (I think we are looking for tire and brake sponsors!)
Mark
11/04, 12:22 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
… you know anyone willing to ante up for a little jet fuel?
11/04, 12:50 PM
posted by:
Andre Neves
wow, notice how few comments are posted for such a great article about a good cause. Then you go to any other article and read all the childish, immature postings by the members here. Just shows how many idiots there really are at LLN.
Anyway, great thing to do for the kids!
11/04, 6:17 PM
posted by:
bradleygt
very cool, good to see them giving back to those who can truelly appreciate it. Hope they keep it up for the kids!
11/04, 10:44 PM
posted by:
melias
Hopefully we’ll have examples of all three pony (race) cars out there next year. The new Camaro GS factory race car in Penske trans am tribute colors that was introduced at SEMA today would look great pacing around Homestead next to a Mustang FR500c and a Challenger T/A!
We are already underway in our planning for next year!
Mark