The SCCA Foundation has announced that Frank Schwartz, a Detroit Region member, has been hired as the SCCA Foundation’s Director of Donor Relations and Fundraising. Johnny Zuccarelli, SCCA Foundation’s Chairman, said Schwartz will be implementing a new donor management system and assisting the Foundation Board of Directors with several upcoming fundraising initiatives.
“Making sure that we are acknowledging our donors and following up with them in an effective manner is critical to the Foundation’s ongoing success,” Zuccarelli noted. “We are thrilled to have Frank on board for this important role.”
Schwartz is a futurist, trend researcher, business strategist and the founding partner of AACS, Advanced Automotive Consulting Services. Prior to his 35-plus-year career in the automotive industry, he also worked as an architect in the nuclear industry and was the original designer of the electric adjustable beds you see advertised on TV. A native of Germany, he currently resides outside of Detroit in the countryside where he spends his evenings tending to his classic car stable and his weekends road racing with the SCCA, where he currently campaigns a Mini Cooper in B-Spec and H Production. His garage is as varied as a 1970 Opel GT, 1972 Dodge Coronet Wagon, a 1980 Scirocco, and numerous Minis and Miatas.
“I am excited about the new opportunity with the SCCA Foundation, as I have a huge respect for the Club’s efforts that have created the programs like the Tire Rack Street Survival program, Formula SAE, VETMotorsports, Women on Track, and especially the SCCA Archives,” Schwartz remarked. “I cannot wait to meet the SCCA volunteers who support the programs and the SCCA members, corporations, and general public who contribute.”
Schwartz is currently on a mission to race at as many SCCA tracks around the country as possible and is looking forward to running in two classes at this year’s Runoffs at VIR.
“If you see me at the track and would like to support the Foundation or learn more about what we are doing, please make sure to stop by and say hello,” Schwartz concludes. “I can usually be found with the B-Spec community as we often paddock together. If you are already supporting the Foundation, I will search you out so I can thank you personally.”
The SCCA Foundation supports hands-on education and safety programs, recognizes excellence in automotive engineering education and promotes the SCCA’s heritage and club history. The goal of the SCCA Foundation is to give back to communities across the country. The charitable arm of the Sports Car Club of America, the Foundation’s initiatives are as follows:
– Saving the Lives of Teen Drivers: Through the Tire Rack Street Survival program, the SCCA Foundation and local SCCA Regions host day-long skills training programs to help teen drivers learn how to avoid accidents and deal with emergency car handling situations on the street. This program reaches hundreds of teen drivers each year and continues to grow thanks your financial support.
– Preserving the History of American Motorsport: The Foundation funds the preservation work taking place with the SCCA Archives at the International Motor Racing Research Center in Watkins Glen, NY. The SCCA Archives contains the history of the SCCA, all the types of events it has sanctioned, and member and car histories since the inception of the SCCA.
– Encouraging Future Automotive Passion: The Foundation provides support and prizes for the national Formula SAE competitions held in Michigan and Nebraska each year, to encourage the automotive and race engineers of tomorrow.
– Veterans In Motorsports: The Foundation provides support for our men and women in uniform through the non-profit VETMotorsports.org organization. The program works to help reduce the suicide rate among injured veterans by engaging them in transformative motorsports experiences. As part of the program, post-9/11 veterans with service-connected injuries are placed inside the ropes and behind the wheel at select SCCA events, and mentored by SCCA members and staff.
– Women On Track: The Foundation helps to fund and manage the Wendi Allen Scholarship program that recognizes and encourages increased participation in autocross and Region leadership positions by women across the country.
With the 2019 Tire Rack SCCA® Solo® Nationalsfast approaching, many are making their travel plans for the annual trip to Lincoln, Nebraska. And while we are all converging on the Cornhusker State capital for the very specific reason of Solo Nationals competition and comradery, it is always kind of fun to break off in groups, or as a family, and head into town to grab a bite to eat or do something slightly different. For those reasons, we have compiled a list to help you find those spots you might have missed or didn’t know existed to compliment your trip to the greatest show on concrete.
Bites:
Toast — A favorite amongst the locals, Toast is a slightly upscale take on the classic American Pub and Grill. The menu is as diverse as it is delicious. And the beer on tap, while not prolific in offerings, is diverse enough to have something for just about everyone. It is also just minutes from Lincoln AirPark, making it a perfect place for a nice bite for those staying on site.
Misty’s– What trip to Nebraska would be complete without a great steak? And no one does steak like Misty’s! Consider this theplace to go to have a true Nebraska steak experience. But steak isn’t all they do! From steak to seafood to the strawberry spinach salad, they are sure to have something for everyone! Located downtown, it is also close to many hotels, and within walking distance to the very popular Haymarket area.
Blue Sushi Saki Grill— While it might be odd to come to Lincoln, Nebraska to eat sushi, Blue does not disappoint. Combining creative ingredients, great vibes and premium cold sake, Blue gives you a fresh and fun new way to experience sushi. The South Pacific and Hawaiian are two of this writer’s personal favorites.
Brews:
Boiler — If you are a beer connoisseur and haven’t stepped foot in Boiler Brewery, you are missing out. One of Nebraska’s best breweries, Boiler specializes in “big, flavorful beers that are over center, leaving little to the imagination.” From Hazy IPA to Imperial Stouts to solid Gose’s, they should have a beer to agree with any palate.
White Elm– Another solid choice, offering a “modern take on rustic ales.” This is the spot for modern American and classic Belgian ales that focus on organic ingredients for an “unfiltered, unpasteurized, and uncompromised” beer. Their Key Lime IPA is amazing!
Zipline Brewing Co.— A mainstay for many years now, Zipline offers solid beers with an approach that “is clean, simple, and direct to help you focus your energy on enjoying Brave New Brews.” Overall, a solid choice with a plethora of beers for every palate.
Things to Do:
The Lincoln Children’s Zoo— For those with kids, or possibly just a kid at heart, the Children’s Zoo in Lincoln offers a nice break from the car craziness that is Solo Nationals. Located 8 minutes from downtown, the Zoo effectively blurs the lines between petting zoo and a normal zoo, and is designed specifically for children to have interactive and up-close encounters with the animals. From a train that goes around the exterior, to the Dino Dig, to the over 400 animals (including snow leopards, red pandas, Humboldt penguins, ring-tailed lemurs, camels and Galapagos tortoises), it is sure to be a great adventure for the whole family.
Sunken Gardens — Looking for that Zen moment? Or maybe just a nice stroll through nature? The Sunken Gardens just might be the place for you. Located 6 minutes from downtown, the Sunken Gardens are a Depression-Era project that contains sculptures, lawn space and lily ponds amid lush landscaping of over 30,000 annual plants, and is the only garden in Nebraska listed in the National Geographic Guide to Public Gardens 300 Best Gardens to Visit in the United States and Canada. Best news? It’s absolutely free, although donations are accepted.
SAC Museum — If you have a need, a need for speed, maybe a stop by the SAC Museum, located just off I-80 halfway between Lincoln and Omaha, should be on your list. From the B-17G Flying Fortress to the SR-71 Blackbird, the museum holds a large assortment of airplanes and helicopters. If you are the type that likes things that are a little more out of this world, there is also the Apollo Command Space Module, Atlantis Shuttle trainer and X-38 Crew Return Vehicle, amongst others on display. And if you are more the interactive type, the FS-VC “Dual System” flight simulators should keep you busy for a while!
