Racing 4 A Reason Driver Competes to Raise Money for United Spinal Association at Longest Endurance Racing Series in North America

On December 1, 2007, race car driver Karen Salvaggio will compete at "25 Hours of Thunderhill"--the longest endurance race in North America--to benefit United Spinal Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for all Americans with spinal cord injuries or disorders.

Since 2002, the 25 Hours of Thunderhill race has been held annually at Thunderhill Raceway Park in Willows, California. The event, which was developed by the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) and sponsored by the U.S. Air Force, attracts amateur, factory sponsored, and professional race teams from all over the world. This year, over 45 teams will be competing. Each team will be running closed wheel and sports racers of all types and classifications. The race not only gives manufacturers and race car builders a platform to showcase their vehicles and products, but enables some teams to help support and raise money for their favorite charities--such as team Racing 4 A Reason, which Salvaggio is a member.

Created through a grassroots movement, Racing 4 A Reason helps raise funds for selected charities by soliciting pledges at any monetary amount per lap their cars complete at Thunderhill. The Racing 4 A Reason team has four cars competing at this year's event (one the biggest teams at Thunderhill), supported by 16 experienced race car drivers (four drivers per car) and a 60-person pit crew. Each car will be racing for two charities, including Salvaggio's 1965 Factory Five Racing Cobra that will be sporting United Spinal's logo. The team's other cars include Factory Five Racing's mid-engine super car GTM with a corvette suspension and drive train and its race proven MKII that boasts the Ford 302 CI/T5 trans power train.

Salvaggio, who is also Editor in Chief for Thunder Valley Racing, an automobile racing promotions, marketing, and management company created to develop women race car drivers, has an illustrious 20-year career in motorsports with over 150 first place finishes in driving competitions. She has also served nine years in the U.S. Air Force as an aircraft mechanic and currently serves as director of Student Support Services for a school district in Riverside, California.

"As I was thinking about charities, I decided that, as an Air Force veteran, I really wanted to do something to help our disabled vets. As an educator, I also have the honor of working with families in developing programs that serve the needs of all our students, including students with spinal cord injuries and disorders," Salvaggio said. "I believe United Spinal is a wonderful organization that makes a difference in the lives of so many people. I am proud to run this race in their name and help raise awareness of spinal cord injuries and disorders."

Paul J. Tobin, president and CEO of United Spinal Association said the organization is honored to have gained the support of the Racing 4 A Reason and one of its talented drivers. "25 Hours of Thunderhill is a tremendous racing event and we are thankful to Karen Salvaggio as well as the whole Racing 4 A Reason team for all their hard work and dedication in helping us increase awareness of spinal cord injuries and disorders. Our organization was built upon the grassroots efforts of our disabled veterans to fight for the rights of all people with disabilities. We very much admire how Racing 4 A Reason has taken on a similar grassroots approach to making a difference and are excited that they have joined us in our very important mission."

For more information on supporting Karen Salvaggio and Racing 4 A Reason, or if you'd like to make a lap pledge to benefit United Spinal Association, please click here.

United Spinal Association
United Spinal Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for all Americans with spinal cord injuries or disorders. For over 60 years, we have fought for veteran's rights and for the rights of all individuals with disabilities. We played a significant role in writing the Americans with Disabilities Act, and made important contributions to the Fair Housing Amendments Act and the Air Carrier Access Act. Our initiatives in research and education, government policy and legislation, civil rights and advocacy, accessibility and architectural design, and competitive athletics ensure that veterans and all Americans with spinal cord injury and disease live healthier, more independent and productive lives as active members of their communities. For more information, please visit www.unitedspinal.org or call 800-404-2898.

Racing 4 A Reason
After four years of chasing the pros in the race, its time the under dog took the podium. Professionally built Porsches have dominated and took home the crown reaching deep into the spirit of racing. We have searched for an elite group of volunteers to design and build four winning race cars, not the million dollar shop with national sponsors, rather in a backyard garage and a lot of imagination. Community partners are all we need. Our attitude of building, instead of buying, is our mainstay in the Grassroots Racing world. Since there is no purse, we thought about raising the level of our accomplishment by offering our hard work and satisfaction to local charities, probably an old concept, but it works. Up to 8 charities now can have a chance to enrich their passion through us in this annual race. 2007, has become a milestone for team Racing 4 A Reason. We have this opportunity to enter 4 cars in this race for charity and raising money by the lap pledges for laps completed. 100% of pledges received go to Charities. With generous sponsorship of products, parts, and money, we can field these cars with the ability to earn thousands of dollars for organizations that occasionally don't get the funds they need. For more information, please visit www.racing4areason.com.

Salvaggio, who is also Editor in Chief for Thunder Valley Racing, an automobile racing promotions, marketing, and management company created to develop women race car drivers, has an illustrious 20-year career in motorsports with over 150 first place finishes in driving competitions. She has also served nine years in the U.S. Air Force as an aircraft mechanic and currently serves as director of Student Support Services for a school district in Riverside, California.

"As I was thinking about charities, I decided that, as an Air Force veteran, I really wanted to do something to help our disabled vets. As an educator, I also have the honor of working with families in developing programs that serve the needs of all our students, including students with spinal cord injuries and disorders," Salvaggio said. "I believe United Spinal is a wonderful organization that makes a difference in the lives of so many people. I am proud to run this race in their name and help raise awareness of spinal cord injuries and disorders."

Paul J. Tobin, president and CEO of United Spinal Association said the organization is honored to have gained the support of the Racing 4 A Reason and one of its talented drivers. "25 Hours of Thunderhill is a tremendous racing event and we are thankful to Karen Salvaggio as well as the whole Racing 4 A Reason team for all their hard work and dedication in helping us increase awareness of spinal cord injuries and disorders. Our organization was built upon the grassroots efforts of our disabled veterans to fight for the rights of all people with disabilities. We very much admire how Racing 4 A Reason has taken on a similar grassroots approach to making a difference and are excited that they have joined us in our very important mission."

For more information on supporting Karen Salvaggio and Racing 4 A Reason, or if you'd like to make a lap pledge to benefit United Spinal Association, please click here.

United Spinal Association
United Spinal Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for all Americans with spinal cord injuries or disorders. For over 60 years, we have fought for veteran's rights and for the rights of all individuals with disabilities. We played a significant role in writing the Americans with Disabilities Act, and made important contributions to the Fair Housing Amendments Act and the Air Carrier Access Act. Our initiatives in research and education, government policy and legislation, civil rights and advocacy, accessibility and architectural design, and competitive athletics ensure that veterans and all Americans with spinal cord injury and disease live healthier, more independent and productive lives as active members of their communities. For more information, please visit www.unitedspinal.org or call 800-404-2898.

Racing 4 A Reason
After four years of chasing the pros in the race, its time the under dog took the podium. Professionally built Porsches have dominated and took home the crown reaching deep into the spirit of racing. We have searched for an elite group of volunteers to design and build four winning race cars, not the million dollar shop with national sponsors, rather in a backyard garage and a lot of imagination. Community partners are all we need. Our attitude of building, instead of buying, is our mainstay in the Grassroots Racing world. Since there is no purse, we thought about raising the level of our accomplishment by offering our hard work and satisfaction to local charities, probably an old concept, but it works. Up to 8 charities now can have a chance to enrich their passion through us in this annual race. 2007, has become a milestone for team Racing 4 A Reason. We have this opportunity to enter 4 cars in this race for charity and raising money by the lap pledges for laps completed. 100% of pledges received go to Charities. With generous sponsorship of products, parts, and money, we can field these cars with the ability to earn thousands of dollars for organizations that occasionally don't get the funds they need. For more information, please visit www.racing4areason.com.