Community Involvement

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In addition to all of our regular motorsports activities, Des Moines Valley Region also takes part, and contributes to, a variety of other area events. Most of these are related to cars and driving in some way, but not always. We've even spent some time helping Hollywood out!

As avid drivers ourselves DMVR's members are quite concerned about the risks encountered by our communities' teen drivers as they develop their skills as drivers. That's why we are so proud to be involved locally with the nationwide Street Survival® teen driver education program. Sponsored by The Tire Rack, and sanctioned by the SCCA and BMW CCA Foundations, Street Survival® allows young drivers the opportunity to learn car control and accident avoidance skills from a group of expert SCCA and BMW Club drivers. Combining both classroom and at the wheel instruction, Street Survival® goes well beyond the lessons of conventional drivers education as students get hands on experience controlling their own car in low traction and emergency avoidance scenarios in a safe, controlled environment. If you'd like to learn how to make your teens safer, smarter drivers click here for more information on this year's third annual Street Survival School, coming on October 11 at Southeast Polk High School.

Perhaps Des Moines Valley Region's highest profile community activity was our core role in the six year run of the Ruan Greater Des Moines Grand Prix. This event, which ran from 1989 to 1994, was repeatedly referred to as "the best street race in America" and downtown Des Moines resounded to the rumble of the SCCA Trans Am series and assorted support races. Hundreds of Des Moines Valley Region members teamed with other SCCA members from across the country and SCCA National Staff to bring top notch professional road racing to the streets of Des Moines. Wherever you looked, you'd find enthusiastic DMVR members making the event happen; on the corners, on the grid, in the paddock, in Tech, in Timing and Scoring, as well as on the track both behind the wheel of the pace cars and emergency services vehicles, not to mention the DMVR members actually competing in many of the races.

While it was on a somewhat smaller scale, we're also proud of our multi-year involvement in the race management of the Arthritis Foundation Mini Grand Prix, an annual charity go kart race. Once again, DMVR members expertly and professionally handled all aspects of conducting the competition events, even the course design.

Des Moines Valley Region also regularly participates in and assists with other motoring and non-motoring events. We are often asked to display our vehicles at local events and festivals like the Johnston Green Days and the Wings, Wheels and Water Festival. DMVR has also been happy to have members speak to students of automotive engineering at both Iowa State University in Ames, and Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny.

DMVR Display at Johnston, Iowa's "Green Days"

In addition, the expertise and experience gained by DMVR's members through involvement in the conduct of our local Solo and Rally events, officiating at regional and national road races, and the six years of being the host Region for our Greater Des Moines Grand Prix, has been utilized to support other events both in and out of motorsports. Events like the inaugural running of the Motor Ioway 1000 where DMVR helped with organization of the start and finish, the Knoxville Main Street Autocross, a non-SCCA event held in conjunction with the legendary Knoxville Sprint Car Nationals, and even assisting at Boy Scout and Soap Box Derby events.

We were also pleased to be asked to assist with the inaugural years of the annual Salisbury Automobile Classic, a historic car display hosted at and benefitting the Salisbury House, a magnificent mansion owned by a non-profit foundation in Des Moines.

The first annual Salisbury Automobile Classic, Salisbury House, Des Moines
Click Here to see more images from this event

DMVR was involved in planning for these events from the outset, and we were there on site throughout the day, assisting in the unloading of the cars, directing their placement on the grounds, assisting the owners with event registration, and coordinating the parade of vehicles through downtown Des Moines. Some really wonderful days with great weather, beautiful cars, a historic venue, and a worthy cause!

Finally, you may be wondering about that reference to Hollywood. It's true, DMVR was called upon to assist when a major motion picture company came to Des Moines to film scenes for the film adaptation of Robert Heinlein's science fiction novel "The Puppet Masters". We were happy to provide workers for crowd control duties, preventing people from walking into a shot as the producers filmed a deserted downtown Des Moines early on a Sunday morning.