Veterans & 1st Responders (V1Rs) served occupationally in high stress environments for extended periods of time. Existing in this environment can actively change the way they perceive the world around them which can persist even after they separate. V1Rs have a higher potential for anxiety issues, escalated mood, awareness, responsiveness, a primed fight or flight, enhanced sensory input, and enhanced visual recognition. Many self-medicate through substance abuse to block anger, ... Read More
Veterans & 1st Responders (V1Rs) served occupationally in high stress environments for extended periods of time. Existing in this environment can actively change the way they perceive the world around them which can persist even after they separate. V1Rs have a higher potential for anxiety issues, escalated mood, awareness, responsiveness, a primed fight or flight, enhanced sensory input, and enhanced visual recognition. Many self-medicate through substance abuse to block anger, anxiety, and fear associations. However, some have found significant, lasting relief through the rush and excitement of motorsports.
Track Heroes is a non-profit (501c3) that combines High Performance Driving and cutting edge neuroscience to improve the mental health of V1Rs without the use of drugs or medication. Through our research, we verified that High Performance Driving improves mental health, validated how and why it does so, then designed the Adaptive Control Program (ACP) to maximize those benefits while promoting camaraderie and long term mental health.
ACP relies heavily on neuroscience research of the Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC) and its role in how we as Veterans and 1st Responders view, process and react to any given situation. Are we calm and relaxed, or are we anxious and angry? Our program focuses on the ACC, engaging it with specific stimuli, in a specific sequence, to trigger specific neurological responses, providing our Heroes with quantifiable improvements to their mental health. By targeting the ACC, we provide “top-down” regulation of the systems it controls and influences, providing both immediate relief and a track for long term healing that doesn’t rely on medication.
In "Crawl", Heroes are 1st introduced to the Science behind the ACP and are provided with a full day of High Performance Driving at a BMW Performance Center. They get to hammer brand new "M" vehicles, on a closed course, with professional instructors.
During "Walk", Heroes take the driving skills learned in Crawl and put them on real race tracks, with an in-car instructor. Heroes who demonstrate the skills and desire to "Race", are nominated for multiple racing opportunities to further their High Performance Driving skills and expand the quantifiable mental health benefits.
This is our Crawl, Walk, Race methodology for the ACP. The final stage is "Maintain" where V1Rs are provided with free access to various car clubs and social events to maintain the socialization progress and SIM-Racing events to maintain High Performance Driving Skills.
Our program has verifiably and quantifiably helped the Heroes we've served. Additional support will ensure more access to more of our community's Heroes.
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