RRDC successfully completes inaugural RRDC/FIA Young Drivers Symposium

(EDITORS: Attached is a digital image of Jacques Dallaire, Ph.D., during a
mental preparation test at the RRDC/FIA Young Drivers Symposium. Photo
credit: Dan Boyd. Additional images are available upon request by emailing
jstropus@earthlink.net.)

ROAD RACING DRIVERS CLUB

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438;
jstropus@earthlink.net

RRDC SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES INAUGURAL RRDC/FIA YOUNG DRIVERS SYMPOSIUM

ORLANDO, Fla. (Dec. 13, 2009) - The Road Racing Drivers Club (RRDC)
successfully completed its inaugural RRDC/FIA Young Drivers Symposium held
at the Performance Racing Industry Show in Orlando, Fla., on Dec. 11, in
front of an audience of over 150 young drivers, parents, media and RRDC
members.

Drivers from a wide variety of motorsports disciplines, including karting,
Skip Barber, Jim Russell, Star Mazda, drag racing, SCCA club racing, Legends
racing, Late Models and professional sports-car racing, participated in the
four-hour workshop, featuring industry experts Townsend Bell
(sponsorship/branding), Jacques Dallaire, Ph.D. (mental preparation), Jim
Leo, C.S.C.S. (physical fitness), Stephen Olvey, M.D. (safety), and Michael
Zimicki (integrated driving).

Indy 500 champion and RRDC president Bobby Rahal was the moderator of the
workshop, made possible through a grant from the FIA Motor Sport Safety
Development Fund, lending his professional racing expertise to the group.
Between speakers, Rahal introduced "Rev" video features (courtesy of Mazda
and OnCars.com), covering pertinent subjects of performance, safety and
training. Each participant took home a comprehensive workbook, which
expanded upon the points made by each speaker.

"I'm extremely pleased with the RRDC's first effort in organizing this
symposium," said Rahal. "The lecturers were absolutely the best and are true
leaders in this industry. The information was concise, and having the
workbook to take home just cements what the young drivers heard here. The
fact that everybody was very attentive for four hours, didn't move and
didn't fall asleep speaks a lot to the quality of the symposium and I'm very
proud of the efforts of (event organizers) Tamy Valkosky and Jeremy Shaw and
numerous RRDC members who helped make this first symposium a success."

"I thought it was very beneficial," said 18-year-old Brett Smrz, of Coeur
d'Alene, Idaho, a Jim Russell and Skip Barber series racer who also received
an RRDC-supported Team USA Scholarship this year. "What I learned about
safety and mental preparation in the four hours I was here will help me step
up in my career."

His mom Shirley Smrz added, "I thought the symposium was very informative
and the information invaluable. I know my son is going to take a lot of this
with him to help him further his career."

Said Nathaniel Steele, 21, of Syracuse, N.Y., an FRCCA (Formula Race Car
Club of America) racer and a marketing/communications college major, "I
learned a lot from Dr. Dallaire. He had a lot of good mental tips, which are
very important. It was great to learn so much about safety as well as
getting advice from the experts."

Fourteen-year-old Natalie Fenaroli, of Kansas City, Mo., a Mazda Miata racer
at Hallett (Okla.) Motor Racing Circuit, impressed the crowd when she
performed over 30 push-ups at the request of Jim Leo. "I learned so much,"
she said. "The PitFit presentation (Leo) was really interesting. I'll have
to keep up with that. And I learned a couple of new exercises that are going
to help me. I thought Mr. Zimicki's presentation was really important, as
well as Townsend Bell's. We do mainly cold calls (seeking sponsorship). It
will be interesting to try his techniques. I think it could yield much
better results."

Two additional RRDC/FIA symposiums are planned: in April, in conjunction
with the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, and in May, around the
Indianapolis 500.

The Road Racing Drivers Club was formed in 1952 as a way to give champion
drivers a say in their sport, particularly in the areas of safety, and has
evolved to serve the future of road racing by mentoring new drivers on both
amateur and professional levels. The Club now has more than 150 active
members, including leading industry professionals, race officials and
motorsports journalists, in addition to prominent racing names.

President Bobby Rahal is the 1986 Indy 500 winner and is co-owner, with
David Letterman, of the 2004 Indianapolis 500 winning Rahal Letterman Racing
team. Six-time SCCA National Champion John Fergus is the Club's Vice
President/Treasurer, and five-time Formula Super Vee champion Tom Davey is
the Secretary. In addition to RRDC members lending their expertise to
up-and-coming drivers, the Club presents three annual awards: the Phil Hill
Award for rendering outstanding service to road racing; the Mark Donohue
Award for personal spirit and performance at the SCCA National Championship
Runoffs; and the Bob Akin Award for speed with style, passion, sportsmanship
and contribution to motorsports.

The RRDC also supports the Team USA Scholarship, which has been assisting
young Americans in the early stages of their careers since 1990.

Membership in the RRDC is by invitation only.

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