Photo Credit: Spira Racing
Guelph, Ontario – December 13, 2014 – Since joining the Spira Race Team in 2011 at 17 years old, Billy Schwartzenburg has raced the teams #86 Mini-Stock Ford Mustang and has donated his annual winnings to charity. At the beginning of the 2014 season, Billy and car owner, Ken Spira made a commitment to support the Guelph Wish Fund For Children and Victim Services Wellington with their winnings at various race tracks that they competed at throughout the province. Billy ran 33 races and along with winning the 2014 Points Championship at Sauble Speedway had 10 wins and multiple top three finishes, accumulating $7,300.00 that was equally distributed between the two charities.
Spira Racing is a development program that provides young adults, the opportunity to drive and work on race cars if they do not have the means to do so on their own. Formed in 2008, it is a structured team complete with shop, tools, equipment, cars and haulers that are provided to those that have the desire to become a driver or crew member. Team members are introduced to a real time experience on how to drive, build, repair and set-up race cars in a team environment so they can eventually enjoy success at a higher level in motorsports. Spira Racing operated four cars and drivers in the Mini-Stock division in 2014 ranging in age from 11 to 21 that competed throughout the province of Ontario.
Guelph Wish Fund for Children was founded in 1984 and grants a favorite “wish” to children who are 19 years of age and under, who have serious and/or life- threatening illnesses, severe handicaps, or have been critically injured. The child must reside in Guelph and South Wellington County and it is the hope of the charity to provide the child and family with a special moment or memory that will help, if only for a short time, to relieve the pain and anxiety caused by their illness or injury.
Victim Services Wellington (VSW) provides education, support and referral service to victims of crime, fire, trauma, and tragic circumstances. VSW has been in operation since 1997 and in 1998 a special fund was created with Spira Fire Protection in order to provide immediate monetary relief for those who have a major loss of possessions due to a residential fire in the County of Wellington and have no insurance coverage. Working in cooperation with the police, fire, and other emergency services within Guelph and Wellington County, VSW ensures that our community’s needs are met 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
“The hood space on Billy’s race car was used to provide awareness to the Guelph Wish Fund for Children and Victim Services Wellington during the 2014 season and since our race program is geared towards providing help to young adults, getting our drivers involved in giving back to those in need in the community is a perfect fit” said President of Spira Racing – Ken Spira.
For information on the Spira Racing program, visit www.spiraracing.ca
