For Scott Thomson, driver of the No. 66 MINI JCW Team MINI JCW TC Pro, racing is more than what can be accomplished on-track, it’s about making a difference in the community. For each stop on the calendar, he takes the time to highlight a local non-profit or charity, in addition to providing them with a $5,000 donation.
“After the first race weekend in Sonoma, I came back home and I thought that it would be really fun to go out and meet people in the communities that we visit,” explained Scott Thomson. “We arrive at the track, stay in the area for a few days, have a great time while we’re there, and then we just go home. I figured I would use this as an opportunity to turn this into more of an adventure by meeting people, celebrating what they do, and give a little appreciation back for the towns that host our races.”
At the most recent event at VIRginia International Raceway, he selected the Danville Life Saving and First Aid Crew, a public-private partnership that acts as the Danville area's first responders. It includes a combination of highly skilled volunteers and staff providing around-the-clock emergency prehospital care and rescue operations. The shared values are what stood out to Thomson, stating that “the support and sense of community, where neighbors come together to take care of each other, harkens back to a time when we were all a little more connected to each other.”
Thomson’s selection process is straightforward yet effective as he takes the time to research non-profits in the corresponding areas. When looking ahead to the remaining events, he is in the process of lining up an organization in each destination.
“We have a food bank selected for Road America, a job training program for Birmingham, and a hunger relief and culinary job training program for Indianapolis,” he stated. “It's actually one of the most intriguing and fun parts of these adventures, arriving in a new place and then meeting people that live in these towns. I also try to pick a group that I think a $5,000 amount will move the needle for them a little bit.”
When asked about how he’s enjoying his experience in the TC America powered by Skip Barber Racing School Championship, Thomson expressed that “I'm having the time of my life. I've been waiting a long time to get to do something like this, and I'm just so grateful to be doing it. I love every minute! This whole process has helped me find new parts of myself and it has challenged me in many ways. I’m always trying to learn in every opportunity I can.”
Road America is the next stop on the calendar as the field takes on the National Park of Speed from August 16th to 18th. Tickets and packages are available for purchase now. More excitement will follow as competitors pay a visit to Barber Motorsports Park for the first time from September 6th to 8th before heading to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the season finale from October 3rd to 6th.