This is RACERS WHO CARE’s newsletter. Here you can find the most recent updates.
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Racers Who Care, Inc.
RACERS WHO CARE, INC., IS A CALIFORNIA-BASED 501C3 CHARITABLE CORPORATION THAT HAS WORKED WITH AUTO,
Tiffani Marie Lewis will be a speaker for Racers Who Care, Inc.'s Quick Tips on Winning in Life Field Trip Program for Teens this Thursday, November 10. ![]()
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Hosting the Field Trip Program at the National Hot Rod Association's S.T.E.M./Career Fair will be Steve Johnson Racing. RWC's Field Trip Program for Teens is made possible by a grant from The Norris Foundation and by the support of the National Hot Rod Association and Steve Johnson Racing.![]()
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Tiffani Lewis is a National Porsche Club of America Driving Instructor, who primarily races Autocross circuits and track events. She is the first female to be awarded Instructor of the Year for PCA-OCR (Orange Coast Region). ![]()
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She has achieved consecutive first place wins in her class for several years in the PCA-OCR Autocross Series. She gives credit to her son, Alden, for his role as the best AX assistant! ![]()
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Additionally, Tiffani has participated as an instructor in the first women's track day of its kind, Accelerating Change, in honor of International Women's Day. She has also been a guest judge for the annual Steve McQueen Car Show, an instructor at California Festival of Speed, and has appeared in various publications and commercial spots promoting PCA, POC, Michelin Tires, Hunziker Design LLC, Rennsport Reunion, Vision Motorsports, and Cars & Canvas. ![]()
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Born in Bellflower, California, Tiffani didn’t dream of racing while growing up, but always loved cars and driving. Her first car memories are of helping her dad rebuild the engine of her grandfather's 1967 Mustang Fastback. But, while her dad taught her about mechanics, it was her mom who taught Tiffani how to drive a 5-speed Honda Civic. Learning how to drive a clutch was an important milestone for Tiffani's future racing career. ![]()
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Her first personal car was a 1993 Suzuki Swift, which was also her home for a few weeks during a challenging time in college. She loved that car! Selling it was hard, but necessary when she moved to Seoul, South Korea for two years to work as a missionary, serving as a teacher and director of an international school. In addition to raising her son, racing, and volunteering, Tiffani has owned and operated a tutoring/mentoring business she established following her return from Seoul. Her goal is to share her passion of cars, racing, education, art, and culture with today's youth.![]()
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Tiffani joined the Porsche Club of America in 2014, then attended a Car Control Clinic, and participated in the first autocross of the 2014 season. “Autocross is cheaper and more fun than therapy!” she joked. She has also stated: “Life takes us all on twists and turns, but the ride is much more fun in a fast car!” (The attached photos of Tiffani participating in previous RWC Field Trip Programs were taken by Allen Aguirre.)
Hosting RWC’s Quick Tips on Winning in Life Field Trip Program for Teens at the National Hot Rod Association’s S.T.E.M./Career Fair on November 10 for the 7th time, is Steve Johnson Racing.![]()
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Racers Who Care, Inc.’s Quick Tips on Winning in Life Field Trip Program for Teens is made possible by a grant from The Norris Foundation and by the support of the National Hot Rod Association, as well as by the support of the Steve Johnson Racing Team.![]()
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Steve Johnson, whose current top speed is 6.729 (seconds for a quarter mile), rides a Suzuki drag bike for the Steve Johnson Racing Team on the National Hot Rod Association's national circuit and is presently 3rd in the NHRA's Pro Stock Motorcycle national competition standings.![]()
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On the NHRA Pro Stock circuit, there are few riders who work harder at competing or promoting the sport than Steve Johnson. Along with a reputation for being a tireless worker, Johnson is also known for his outgoing personality. The combination of his sunny disposition and work ethic makes Johnson one of the most popular competitors on the circuit.![]()
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An NHRA superstar racer, Johnson, currently hails from Irondale, Alabama, near Birmingham. In 1993, Johnson was one of the first to make a Quick Tips on Winning in Life racer presentation, and is Racers Who Care's most experienced presenter. He has worked with Racer Who Care, Inc. for nearly 30 years.![]()
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Steve has competed on other Series and types of motorcycle racing. In 1987 and 1989, he was Drag Bike USA’s Pro Stock Motorcycle Champion. In 1987, he won the PSM drag race at Fuji International in Japan. In 1991, he won the American Motorcyclist Association’s Rebel Nationals. In 1997, he won the AMA Rebel Nationals. In 1998, he received from the AMA the Hazel Cobb Award. And, in 2014, he won CompetitionPlus.com's Mike Aiello "Spirit of Drag Racing" award.![]()
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One of Johnson’s career highlights occurred when, in 2008 NHRA Super Stock Drag Bike competition, Johnson posted back to back wins in Indianapolis and Charlotte, earning him a brief second in point standings position. ![]()
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In addition to working with Racers Who Care, Inc., Johnson also works with B.R.A.K.E,S., which promotes safe driving for teens, and serves on its Board of Directors, and has been President of the 2-Wheel Professional Racers Organization (Pro 2).![]()
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Steve also has a nationally recognized national program for high school and tech school students called "Marketing your Brand after the Diploma". It's a 45-minute high energy, interactive presentation that covers:![]()
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Soft skills needed to launch a career;![]()
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College, tech school, military or straight to work;![]()
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Developing a personal brand to get the job;![]()
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Short racing video, STEM info and very good prizes;![]()
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On stage mock interviews with students; and![]()
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Students competing with a portable NHRA reaction timer.![]()
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"I'm really proud of the program and the input I get back from the students. Everyone isn't wired for college and we point out that you (the students) can be successful in life without five years in college and all the debt," Steve declares.![]()
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On Labor Day weekend, 2022, Steve Johnson and his team were all in at the NHRA’s U.S. Nationals event in Indianapolis, and won the race in exciting fashion. The real excitement for Johnson, though, was celebrating in the winner's circle.![]()
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On the NHRA Pro Stock circuit, there are few riders who work harder at competing or promoting the sport than Steve Johnson. Along with a reputation for being a tireless worker, Johnson is also known for his outgoing personality. The combination of his sunny disposition and work ethic makes Johnson one of the most popular competitors on the circuit.![]()
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Johnson likes hanging out and dirt bike riding, Scuba diving, golf, NASCAR and eating…but just in the off season. “Eating good and having some strength are important,” says Johnson. “But riding a Pro Stock bike that goes 0-60 m.p.h. in a second and travels a ¼ mile at just under 200 m.p.h. in 6.8 seconds is all about finesse and being in shape,” Johnson says.
Also participating in Racers Who Care, Inc.'s upcoming Quick Tips on Winning in Life Field Trip Program for Teens to the National Hot Rod Association's S.T.E.M./Career Fair on November 10, is Andrew Armes, a Detective with the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department, and member of LASD Motorsports. Andrew will be speaking to the teens and leading them on a Pit Tour.![]()
Mr. Armes drag races a car painted to look like an LASD unit.![]()
RWC's Field Trip Program is made possible by a grant from The Norris Foundation and by the support of the National Hot Rod Association and the Steve Johnson Racing Team.![]()
LASD Motorsports is the largest law enforcement endorsed racing and public outreach team in the United States, but is not an official function of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. No tax dollars are used to fund the program.![]()
(Photos of Andrew Armes participating in RWC's 2022 Field Trip for Kids at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach are by Allen Aguirre.)
Speaking to the teens, along with her colleagues Doug Shupe of AAA, and Lori Argumento, as part of Racers Who Care, Inc.'s Quick Tips on Winning in Life Field Trip Program for Teens to the National Hot Rod Association's S.T.E.M./Career Fair on Thursday, November 10, will be Lilli Trujillo, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Street Racing Kills.![]()
RWC's upcoming Field Trip Program for Teens is made possible by a grant from The Norris Foundation and by the support of the National Hot Rod Association and the Steve Johnson Racing Team.![]()
Street Racing Kills is a non-profit organization devoted to the mission of raising awareness and mentoring youth about the dangers of street racing and other reckless driving practices that take the lives of far too many of our children every year. ![]()
By trade, Ms. Puckett is a certified Interpreter and marketer, interpreting in both Spanish and Italian.![]()
From it humble beginnings as a series of talks at local high schools, SRK has grown to a nationwide (and beyond) outreach, education, and advocacy campaign, partnering with multiple groups – including law enforcement and the Auto Club of Southern California (AAA). SRK offers traffic education safety courses and reckless driving intervention programs to high school students and other youth who disproportionately fall victim to this fast and fatal trend.![]()
She also created Val’s Respect the Road Scholarship, which provides online and “at-the-wheel” driving instruction to disadvantaged teens.![]()
Throughout her journey, Lili has met far too many others who have lost their loved ones to reckless driving. Some of these parents and relatives have become street safety advocates themselves. Many have become volunteers. And some have even joined Lili on the Street Racing Kills Board of Directors. ![]()
In addition to her tireless work with SRK (to date, she’s been interviewed by hundreds of media outlets in the USA, Europe, and Asia), Lili is very active in her community: she’s currently the Vice President, Key Club Advisor and Speaker chair to the Torrance Kiwanis Club (where she met her current husband) and also volunteers her time to traffic safety groups such as Streets are for Everyone, Los Angeles Walks, MADD and many more. ![]()
Lili’s motto – “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass; it’s about learning how to dance in the rain” – continues to inspire her as she strives to raise awareness for a cause she wishes she’d never discovered, to spare other parents from losing a child. And while she may be the Executive Director of the organization she founded, there’s no mistaking who’s really in charge:![]()
“Valentina’s the boss,” she says speaking of her 16 year old daughter who was killed during an illegal street race, prompting Lili to begin Street Racing Kills. (Photos of Lili participating in RWC's 2022 Field Trip Program for Kids at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach are by Allen Aguirre.)
Headlining for RWC's last Field Trip on Sunday for students from Long Beach's King Park and Edison WRAP Elementary School at the 2022 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, were Tiffani Lewis, presenting her favorite Quick Tips on Winning in Life and Felix Giles leading an interactive Question and Answer Session about his motorsports career. Both racers later led the students on an Expo Tour to see elements of motorsports and a key RWC Quick Tip, like Learn the Art of Teamwork playing out in real life. RWC's 2022 Field Trip Program at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach was supported by a grant from the Norris Foundation and donations from the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach. From Irvine, California, Tiffani Marie Lewis is a National Porsche Club of America Driving Instructor, and primarily races at Autocross circuits and track events. She is the first female to be awarded Instructor of the Year for PCA-OCR (Orange Coast Region 2017-18). She has achieved consecutive First place wins in the PCA-OCR Autocross Series in her class for 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018, and credits Alden, herson, for his role as AX assistant! Additionally, Tiffani has recently participated as an instructor in the first women's track day of its kind, Accelerating Change, in honor of International Women's Day. She has been a guest judge for the annual Steve McQueen Car Show, an instructor at California Festival of Speed, and has appeared in various publications and commercial spots promoting PCA, POC, Michelin Tires, Hunziker Design LLC, Rennsport Reunion, Vision Motorsports, and Cars & Canvas. Her goal is to share her passion of cars, racing, education, art, and culture with today's youth to encourage and inspire more enthusiasm and diversity among the car community. When asked what she has learned through all the joys and trials she has encountered during her motorsports career, she quickly states with a grin, “Life takes us all on twists and turns, but the ride is much more fun in a fast car!” According to The Friday Flyer's Ariana Shah, Felix Giles is famous in many circles, including NASCAR and Off Road racing, as well as appearing in motion pictures opposite some of the world’s best-known actors. After his participation in the 1990 Baja 1000 Off Road Desert Race, speeches were made in the U.S. Congress about him. He participated and finished the famous race, becoming the first African-American to do so. Congressman Louis Stokes spoke before Congress and the Los Angeles Times wrote a feature-length article on the feat. The Baja 1000 is a grueling race equally rough on both the driver and the vehicle. It involves enduring 1,000 miles of some of the most treacherous terrain in the world. The race normally takes around 30 hours to complete and the only rest the driver receives is during his five-minute fuel stops about every 120 miles. Only about half of the drivers complete the race. During Felix’s first Baja 1000 attempt, he survived a rollover but completed the race. And Felix isn’t just known for his NASCAR and Off Road racing. Many around the country know him as their college Computer Science professor. Others may have known him from serving side-by-side with him in the United States Navy. Or even others may recognize him for his work with many charitable organizations and participating in celebrity tennis and golf tournaments. And those with a keen eye will know him from parts in several movies and TV shows. For his work, Felix was invited to the White House by President George H. W. Bush and later received honors from President Bill Clinton. He has been recognized by governors, mayors, churches and special interest groups including school systems and colleges across the country. Felix, though, is probably most well-known for his exploits as a driver behind the wheel of race cars and Off Road vehicles. His legacy is of one who helped break through the barrier of African-Americans participating in a largely white man’s sport during his early years as a race driver. He helped pave the way for the black drivers who now participate in racing without issues. (Photos by Allen Aguirre)
Saturday afternoon's RWC Field Trip at the 2022 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach was hosted/presented by drag racer, Lucky Hudson, who races a Pro Stock car. He also led the students from the Boys & Girls Club of Long Beach on their Expo Tour. Hudson is the retired host of the online program, SpeedScene Live, and a retired live announcer for National Hot Rod Association national events. Just prior to leading the studnets on their Expo Tour, where he not only led the students around but explained to them what they were looking at, he reviewed for them RWC's Quick Tips on Winning in Life. Lucky was involved with RWC for some years but has now retired from RWC work. He was the first racer to lead students on an Expo Tour in RWC's first, 2010, Field Trip Program at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. He has also been interviewed on Radio Disney and KSPN and recorded a :60 second PSA for ESPN on behalf of RWC. RWC's 2022 Field Trip Program at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach was supported by a grant from the Norris Foundation and donations from the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach. (Photos by Allen Aguirre)
Racers Who Care, Inc. has once again been invited by the Long Beach Grand Prix Association to host its 10th SoCal Quick Tips on Winning in Life Field Trip Program for Kids at the 2022 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, April 8 - 10. Much of the event organization is finished, but if you will be competing at Long Beach and would like to participate in a brief Q&A about your career with our children; or if you are a racer based in the greater L.A. area and would like to make an 8-minute Quick Tips on Winning in Life presentation to the children, please contact Judy Strawn at racerswhocare@gmail.com.
Racers Who Care, Inc. will not be hosting its Quick Tips on Winning in Life Field Trip Program for Kids at the upcoming Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, September 24-26, because the children who participate in RWC's Field Trip Program at the Grand Prix of Long Beach are between the ages of 4 and 12. RWC does not wish to bring numbers of youngsters out among crowds of people with the new Delta variant of CoVid 19 abroad until children may be vaccinated against the Virus [Photos by Judy Strawn].
Racers Who Care, Inc. is very honored to once again receive a grant from the Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation to be utilized for RWC's Southern California Quick Tips on Winning in Life Field Trip Program for Kids and Teens to the 2022 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach and the 2022 National Hot Rod Association S.T.E.M./Career Fair Program at its championship Finals in November. The Norris Foundation has been supporting RWC's outreach to children and teens in connection with these two motorsports events since 2015. [Photos by Edmond Jenks and Judy Strawn]
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