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The Tire Rack Street Survival program is now an annual

July 29, 2017 by Lena Webb

The Tire Rack Street Survival program is now an annual fundraiser for the school's students. But it's important to remember that even though the school hasn't had any major funding since it opened six years ago, it has hosted an annual event in the past that has raised more than $10 million for the school. And just because you can't afford to, or are not a parent, doesn't mean it shouldn't be a fun, fun, fun cause. In fact, the School of Transportation's "Volunteer Safety" program has raised some $35 million across the country. And just because you can't afford a little over $100,000, doesn't mean you shouldn't care about the safety of yourself and others.

But, of course, all of this could change on a daily basis, so consider this the latest in a long line of events that have already taken place. In 2015, Tire Rack hosted a local event called "Waltzing on Wheels," in which they held a series of 10-mile tracks for students to race. Those tracks cost between $1,500 and $3,000 so you can bet there will be more to come for those who want to race your car, as well as for those who can afford it.

"You just have to be prepared," says Dr. Michael J. Hynes, a senior fellow at the Center for Civic Engagement at Northeastern University. "It's not a new idea. It's just a different way to spend time."

One of the first things the school did for me was to provide some of their resources, as well as a few of their own. In addition to the tire tracks themselves, the school also partnered with a local road safety group, the Southern Maryland Volunteer Safety Coalition, to provide equipment for the track day, as well as training for those who want to participate.

The first thing I did was to make sure they had their own training courses. I'd been told that there were two courses that would be available at the event—one for beginners and one for intermediate drivers. So I went home to make sure my new favorite was not there. I asked for an extra course from the school, so that I could teach myself how to race my bike and what to do when I get a little tired. While I did my best to get the training, I felt a little embarrassed. I'll never forget that time I was driving for the first time, and I remember feeling like I'd never done something like that before.