Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Ground Zero Racing’s effort to raise money for the Uniformed Firefighters Association/Fire Department of New York Memorial Scholarship Fund is off to a flying start, reports team coordinator Kathy Manett.

Since an article about the four-rider AMA road racing team appeared on roadracingworld.com, the team has picked up several sponsors to aid its fund-raising efforts, according to Manett.

Manett is also trying to work with representatives of Daytona International Speedway to coordinate fund-raising efforts with local fire departments.

On February 22, team riders Rick Manett, Jim Doerfler and Mike Johnston tested at Virginia International Raceway; fourth team member Andrew “Woody” Deatherage was unable to make the test session.

The track time on VIR’s North/AMA course was donated by the owners of VIR to help Ground Zero Racing prepare for their AMA season opener at Daytona in March. According to Doerfler, Ground Zero used the opportunity to “break-in new equipment and dust the cobwebs off our brains” as well as get some baseline settings for the AMA race at VIR later in the season.

Ground Zero Racing is trying to raise money for the UFA/FDNY Scholarship Fund through exposure brought by their racing. The team hopes to coordinate with local fire departments at each AMA National event to collect funds and support for the scholarship fund. Despite all of the support raised for disaster relief following the September 11 attacks on New York, only $15,000 was in the account of the UFA/FDNY Scholarship Fund this past December, according to Ground Zero Racing. The team has the full support of the UFA/FDNY in writing.

For additional information on Ground Zero Racing, call Rick or Kathy Manett at (440) 285-3937 or e-mail Rick Manett at Rmanett@mmsa.