As the sun rose over Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, anticipation filled the air. Peter Hanson and the Sanders Motorsport Team were back for our much-anticipated annual fan appreciation event. Despite the brisk temperatures, a remarkable crowd gathered, eager to witness the thrilling season’s culmination. Fans shared stories, exchanged hugs, and expressed admiration for the teams […]
There was an international flavor to Thursday’s Red Bull Global Rallycross/Racing for Kids® visit to Miller Children & Women’s Hospital. American driver Cabot Bigham, Joni Winman of Finland and Sweden’s Sebastian Eriksson entertained several dozen children during a 90 minute “Pit Stop” at the prominent Long Beach Medical facility.
Ambulatory patients paraded out of the hospital walking, in wheel chairs, in wagons and often dragging their IV poles to see the racing trio and the Honda Red Bull Global Rallycross show car in front of the Miller Hospital
The racers will perform Saturday and Sunday on a unique temporary track at The Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, CA. This is the season’s finale for the increasingly popular Red Bull series which will crown champions in both the Supercar and GRC Lites divisions this weekend.
Eriksson and Winman race for team Honda Red Bull OMSE in the Supercars Series while Bigham races for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in the GRC Lites Series.
Thursday’s program began outside with young patients hopping in and out of the show car, garnering autographs and posing for pictures. Activities then moved into the hospital for playroom stops and bed-to-bed visits to engage those youngsters confined to their rooms or unable to make it outside.
The drivers eagerly explained the techniques and technology involved with rallycross racing and fielded questions including the often inquiry: “Have you crashed?” Said Bigham with a chuckle: “Oh ya. Often.”
Smiling children were aplenty once the international trio of racers finished their Miller Hospital “Pit Stop” and headed to the San Pedro track for critical meetings with their engineers in preparation for Friday’s practice sessions.
The drivers also left behind a host of happy parents who said it was very gratifying to see their children smiling and laughing all in the midst of painful and protracted medical procedures. They also promised that their TVs would be tuned to NBC Network coverage of the Red Bull Global Rallycross races on Saturday and Sunday.
Monday will feature the series awards presentation reception and the first presentation of the Racing For Kids® Driver Of The Year Award.
