LAS VEGAS – You could almost smell the fumes and feel the rumblings of the top fuel dragsters and Funny Cars in the unlikely location of the Las Vegas Country Club, where, on the eve of AAPEX/SEMA, Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) and the Aftermarket Foundation teamed up to raise awareness of the Foundation, and also raise money for its continued charity work.
 
Fresh off the heels of the Big ‘O’ Tires NHRA Nationals on The Strip at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway the day prior, Don Schumacher and a number of celebrity notables, including drivers Johnny Gray and “Fast” Jack Beckman, hit the links at the Las Vegas Country Club to raise money for the Aftermarket Foundation.
 
The morning started off with a breakfast gathering and a clinic by PGA Golf Pro Bruce Fleisher, who gave some valuable tips to the more than 144 golfers in attendance.
 
Bob Schoeberl, emcee for the event, noted, “This is the Foundation’s largest single event of the year, and it’s a time when industry leaders can get together and take a short break from competing in business, and compete on the golf course instead, and all for a really good cause.”  
 
Andy Dudash of TBC, chair of the organizing committee for the charity golf event, paid special tribute to his committee teammates, who put the event together.  
 
“This has been our most successful tournament ever.  It is a truly amazing achievement by a small team, which includes Bob Schoeberl, John Nicholson of Auto-Gard Triple P, Lynn Parker of TBC, Rich Scovner of Tenneco and Marita Powell, our executive assistant. And, we had the special involvement this year of Don Schumacher Racing (DSR), the Aftermarket Foundation’s newest partner and co-sponsor.”
 
NHRA racing legend and owner of DSR and president of Schumacher Electric Corp., Don Schumacher, was not only present but also an active player on the course.
 
“Schumacher Electric Corporation is a long-standing member of the automotive aftermarket, and the success of the Don Schumacher Racing team depends on the spirit of innovation for which our industry is renowned,” Schumacher said. “The good work of the Aftermarket Foundation, in supporting and helping those within our industry who have fallen on hard times and find themselves with no place to go for help, is an exceptionally noble cause, and one with which we are very proud to be associated.  It is unique, and to my knowledge, is the only industry-run and industry-driven benevolent organization of its kind.”
 
Foundation Board and Golf Committee member Lynn Parker of TBC Retail, who coordinated the Schumacher participation in the tournament, added, “Don and his team already know how much we have appreciated this support, and with their help, we blew the top off our previous record, raising over $350,000 this year for the Foundation and its good works, which is one fantastic achievement.
 
“But, at the end of this very special day, the real heroes are all those aftermarket people and companies who contribute to this event with sponsorships, cash and prizes. They know who they are,” he added, “but we want them to know that our hats are truly off to them, for recognizing the cause, and stepping up to meet the need. Our golf tournament supporters are a veritable ‘who’s who’ of this great industry and they have our genuine admiration for supporting this event.”
 
Among the additional activities at the golf course, there was also an ESPN film crew and media team following the drivers and the golfers, taking footage for an upcoming video profiling the Aftermarket Foundation.  
 
Foundation board member, and member of the Executive Committee, Terry O’Reilly, commented, “The Aftermarket Foundation is embarking on a new Awareness Campaign, focused on ensuring that people from across all segments of the Aftermarket are aware of the Foundation, and know to reach out to us, when they, or someone they know, is in dire circumstances with nowhere else to turn. People in our industry can expect to hear more from the Foundation in the weeks to come, as we put together materials to help our supporters and partner companies spread the word about the Foundation to their employees and families. We would like every company in the aftermarket to partner with us in our no-cost ‘Awareness Program.’  Some people are embarrassed or afraid to come forward themselves when they need help or simply don’t know about us. By partnering with us on ‘awareness,’ aftermarket companies can ensure that their employees know, and take comfort in the fact, that this is a very special industry with a special safety net to help those in financial trouble due to a death, serious accident, illness or other causes when all else fails.
 
“After all,” O’Reilly added, “if we don’t take care of our own, who will?”
 
The Aftermarket Foundation Celebrity Golf Tournament, now in its 20th year, saw a full-to-capacity field of aftermarket industry leaders join in to support the event.  The net contribution of $350,000 exceeded this year’s target and set a new fundraising record for the tournament.
 
For more information, visit www.aftermarketfoundation.org.