Hunter-Reay takes fundraiser to Laguna Seca

Hunter-Reay takes fundraiser to Laguna Seca

Ryan Hunter-Reay and former Andretti Autosport teammate James Hinchcliffe will headline a Racing for Cancer charity event this weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. It marks the first time in RHR's Racing for Cancer fundraising efforts will be held at an outside venue, and participants will receive two days of driving instruction at MRLS, in addition to other perks.

Friday, December 04, 2015 (8:50 pm)
"We're stepping out of our usual charity routine and taking it to the racetrack," the 2014 Indy 500 winner told RACER. "We've been thinking about this for about three years, and we're finally in a position to do it. Our Racing for Cancer Yellow Parties have been a big hit, and this is something a little different – actually, it's a lot different – and we've been fortunate to sell all of the seats for the driving school. We're full for the weekend, which is pretty great for a first-time project."

RHR and Hinchcliffe will serve as driving instructors and rely on the Skip Barber team to facilitate the trackside event.

"It will be a proper two-day Skip Barber Racing driving school. And if Hinch and myself can get beyond the jokes, it could be a rewarding experience," he said with a laugh. "We'll be doing dinner both nights in Carmel, and with all the funds people are putting forward for it, I expect we'll raise a lot of money for cancer research.

"It's a custom school, James and I are two of the six instructors, and we'll be running point on it with the regular Skip Barber instructors doing their expertise. These are real racecars, and you don't want to throw people out there without working up to it in the classroom and some ride-alongs. We'll have an autocross competition, and in the afternoon it will be wide open on Laguna Seca."

The event will reunite RHR and the Skip Barber School.

"There's a lot of old relationships there that brought this together," he said. "Skip Barber has been a big part of my career and my life through the years, and two or three major steps in my career were made there. That's where I learned how to race, and to understand vehicle dynamics. Working with their instructors was huge for me. I won a lot of scholarships there and it was because I had great instructors and advice along the way. It's pretty amazing to come together for this weekend."

The two IndyCar drivers will trade 5000 pounds of downforce and 700 hp for the far more basic Skip Barber formula cars their students will use. Minus the major aero grip and high horsepower, RHR predicts he and his Schmidt Peterson Motorsports pal could add some excitement of their own to the proceedings.

"I was thinking about that last night...the last time I was in one of those cars was 2000...take all the downforce and grip off, and it should be a lot of fun," he said. "I'm sure James and I will get out there and go at it a little bit, maybe put on a show for our guests... So that will be memorable...or a total disaster (laughs). Either way, we're looking forward to everyone having some fun and helping a worthy cause."

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