Rick has been involved with B.R.A.K.E.S. teen schools since 2009, he brings 20 years of Automotive Marketing and Management experience. Rick’s racing career started in Southern California in open wheel formula cars, he was a Jim Russell Giles Villeneuve Memorial Rookie of the Year Scholarship winner and also a Fast-Five driver in the competitive Bondurant ProSearch program. He has worked numerous manufacturer new vehicle launches and large scale sponsorship programs for the NHRA. Rick currently works at the NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, North Carolina.
"My son and I attended BRAKES at the LA County Fairgrounds on April 26th. Yesterday, he was alone driving home from a high school baseball game approaching an intersection, on a green light about 45 mph. At the very last second, a car turned left in front of him. My son hit the brakes hard, engaging the abs, and steered away from the car as he stayed hard in the brakes, narrowly avoiding a collision. He attributed his reaction and collision avoidance to everything he learned at BRAKES. He described how, during the incident, he had anticipated the other driver turning in front of him and he knew the ABS engaged because of the feel and knew to stay on them as he steered away. The scenario was virtually identical to what he experienced at the school. Your school paid for itself 1000 times over last night. Thank you so much. "
-John Lewis,Temecula, CA
"First, let me say a HUGE thank you for creating the "Put On The Brakes" program. Our youngest daughter, Tessa, went through the training held last year in Irvine, CA. Because I wasn’t working at the time, we couldn’t afford Master Drive (the program we’d put our older daughter through) and a friend recommended your program to us. We signed her up immediately and were so thankful that she had the training that made us comfortable with her driving. Last Friday, my other daughter (Aspen’s) car, a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee, broke down and we learned that it needed thousands of dollars of work. She’s attending Bible Institute with plans on becoming a worship leader in church… and, again, money was an issue. But my husband said we should look at Kia because that’s the car he’d driven in the Brakes program and it was affordable and a good car. So, we looked and we bought! She’s the proud owner of a 2015 Kia Soul - she’s making the payments herself, too! If it hadn’t been for Kia’s support of the Brakes program - we wouldn’t be owners of a Kia - please let them know that their support of programs like yours has a tremendous impact on the next generation of drivers. Thanks so much for your help in ensuring our girls are safe when they drive. We so appreciate it! We know your story - but we can’t imagine your loss. Our hearts are full when we think of the significant contribution you’re making into the lives of families across America as a result of the loss of your boys. We pray for you and your family!"
-Judi Chimits (and Bob)
