The Tire Rack Street Survival teen safe-driving program had a successful 2015 with its third straight year of hosting at least 100 schools nationwide. Street Survival was created in 2002 by the BMW Car Club of America Foundation, which expressed its appreciation to all the hosting organizations that have made Street Survival the preeminent teen-driving program. These organizations include the BMW Car Club of America, the Sports Car Club of America, the Porsche Club of America, the BMW Car Club of Canada, the National Council of Corvette Clubs, the Audi Club of North America, and the Tire Rack, which holds a Street Survival school every year in addition to being the program’s title sponsor.
The Tire Rack Street Survival program is possible only through the cooperative effort of event organizers at the chapter and region level, and the hundreds of volunteer coaches, classroom instructors, and event staff. Each year, thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, the BMW CCA Foundation and its partner organizations are able to recognize representatives of those volunteers—as a way to thank all volunteers—through the Street Survival Circle of Excellence Volunteer Recognition Program.
The “Class of 2015” group of volunteers are recognized for their work during the 2015 Street Survival school year, and includes individuals, chapters, and regions from the organizations that conduct Street Survival schools.
2015 Circle of Excellence Honorees
The entire Tire Rack Street Survival team is proud to announce the “Class of 2015” honorees to the Street Survival Circle of Excellence. The following were named chapter/region Volunteers and Instructors of the Year:
BMW Car Club of America
Brett Baker – Sandlapper Chapter
Jack Joyner – Heart of Dixie
Rick Largen – Illini Chapter
Erik Maassen – Motor City Chapter
Jaynee Beechuk – Buckeye Chapter
Sports Car Club of America
Ted Theodore – South Carolina Region
Sandi Kryder – Mahoning Valley Region
Dean Benz – Reno Region
Porsche Club of America
Gary Chapman – Oregon Region
Mario Marrello – Upper Canada Region
National Council of Corvette Clubs
Dave DuBois – Northern Virginia Chapter
Tire Rack
John Rastetter
The Chapter/Region School Host of the Year for 2015 is the South Bend Region of the Sports Car Club of America.
The 2015 Street Survival Hero of the Year is Rich Dunbar, who is a member of the Philly Region of the Sports Car Club of America.
The Street Survival Circle of Excellence has five levels of awards:
Level 1: “A Day of School Thank You.” Working with Michelin, a key corporate sponsor of Street Survival, volunteers receive a small branded Street Survival gift for donating their time that day.
Level II: “End-of-Year Recognition.” Throughout the year, names will be collected from the in-car coaches and volunteers and will be included in drawings for certificates for tools, tires, car-care products, and more.
Level III: “Chapter/Region Volunteers and Instructors of the Year.” Volunteers who went above and beyond the call to make Street Survival the best program possible may be nominated by their chapter or region members and selected by an independent process. This will be done after the conclusion of the calendar year.
Level IV: “Chapter/Region School Host of the Year.” The BMW CCA Foundation will select a chapter or region with input from all stakeholders.
Level V: “Hero of the Year.” One Street Survival school organizer, instructor, or volunteer will be recognized each year for significant achievements. The BMW CCA Foundation will select this individual with input from all stakeholders.
The 2015 Circle of Excellence honorees will be added to the Circle of Excellence plaque at the BMW CCA Foundation headquarters. Volunteers and Instructors of the Year will receive embroidered Street Survival Circle of Excellence team jackets, while the 2015 Hero of the Year will receive the jacket plus a special garage makeover prize valued at up to $3,500 from a top custom garage equipment supplier. The prizes are made possible through the anonymous donor mentioned above.
The BMW CCA Foundation and its partners also expressed its thanks to the program’s national sponsors, without whose generous support the Street Survival program would not be as successful as it has become. The major national sponsors of Street Survival are the Tire Rack, Michelin, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, and BMW of North America.
Individuals who wish to become involved in Street Survival should contact their local chapters or regions to find out how they can become instructors or to volunteer at local Tire Rack Street Survival schools. Individuals interested in helping to organize a Street Survival school in their local area should contact the Street Survival office at (864) 438-2060 or e-mail National Program Director Bill Wade at bill.wade@streetsurvival.org.
The Tire Rack Street Survival program teaches teen drivers the skills they might need to avoid accidents, handle emergencies, and survive the hazards of driving during a particularly vulnerable period in their driving lives. With the continuing support of its national sponsors and especially volunteers like those recognized in the Circle of Excellence and the hundreds of others they represent, Street Survival will continue to grow and continue to save lives.—Scott Blazey
