| Sheriff Johnson to Drive School Bus in Children's Charity Race | by Gary Davidson  Don't look now: School's back in session, and that's Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson behind the wheel of that big yellow bus.
School children, however, won't be on board for the ride. Instead, Sheriff Johnson along with as many as a dozen celebrity drivers will pilot the large, lumbering school buses around the track at New Smyrna Speedway on Saturday, August 17 in a charity race that promises loads of fan and family fun for a good cause - Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches.
Other celebrity drivers scheduled to take part in the race include three other Florida sheriffs, an FHP Major, the Volusia County School Superintendent, the Chief Deputy of the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, a T.V. sportscaster and one ringer - NASCAR driver Loy Allen, Jr. The charity event will be part of a full slate of stock car racing action that will get under way Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at New Smyrna Speedway on S.R. 44 and S.R. 415 in Samsula. Dubbed "Law Enforce- ment Night," the evening will include a variety of other police demonstrations and a flyover by a Sheriff's Office helicopter. "The charity race will be great fun for a great cause," said Sheriff Johnson. "The Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches does a lot of good for our young people all around the state, including right here in Volusia County. This will be a good way for the public to show its support for the Youth Ranches and all the wonderful youth programs they bring to our community."
The New Smyrna Speedway has pledged to donate 20 percent of the gate receipts from the event to the Florida Sheriff Youth Ranches. In addition, the Speedway also is donating $100 per-driver to the Youth Ranches, and advertising sponsorships are being sold to also raise additional funds. A charitable, non-profit corporation, Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches provides a wide assort- ment of community-based residential care, family counseling, camping programs and foster care to neglected, abused and at-risk children throughout Flroida. The statewide program includes a network of four residental child-care campuses and two youth camps for underprivileged children, including the youth camp in Volusia County near Barberville. "FASCAR (the Speedway's sanctioning body) and New Smyrna Speedway proudly supports the Volusia County Sheriff's Office and its work with the Florida Sheriff's Youth Ranches," said FASCAR owner Robert Hart. "We have a long history of supporting the young people of the state with educational programs and fundraising events to help with special needs. Sheriff Ben Johnson and his staff have worked with us to develop a long-term project that will benefit our young people for many years. FASCAR and New Smyrna Speedway are very happy to have a great relation- ship with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office and its exceptional youth programs."
In addition to the charity race, six stock car divisions also will take to the track for a full slate of racing events. The charity bus race is expected to be approximately 15 laps around the l/2-mile asphalt oval. In addition to Sheriff Johnson and Allen, other celebrity drivers scheduled to participate in the charity race include Seminole County Sheriff Don Eslinger, Brevard County Sheriff Phil Williams, Brad- ford County Sheriff Bob Milner, Major Rick Gregory with the Florida Highway Patrol, Volusia County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Bill Lee, Volusia County Schhol Superintendent Bill Hall and WESH-TV sports- caster Buddy Pittman. The charity race is expected to begin at about 9 p.m. The evening's festivities also are scheduled to include a flyover by a Sheriff's Office helicopter, a K0=-9 demonstration, and a special performance by 911 Racing, Inc. The non-profit group comprises public safety personnel who race the short track circuit across the state while raising money for children's charitable causes. The group is headed up by Sergeant Bob Hart with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office also is sending a special pace car to the event - a refurbished 1958 marked patrol vehicle.
Roger O. Bounchard, Jr., president of the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, Inc., said he is elated with the novel fundraising idea and the community's support for the Youth Ranches and its programs. "Since l957, the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches has served thousands of boys and girls in Volusia County," said Bouchard. "We're thrilled that the New Smyrna Speedway and the Volusia County Sheriff's Office have decided to support our children through this exciting race event."
Admission for Saturday's event is $15 per-person. Children under the age of 12 will be admitted free.
Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board!
<news@karnac.org>or send a letter to the editor!
|
