Editor’s note: The sharing of any non-VA information does not constitute an endorsement of products and services on the part of VA. Veterans should verify the information with the organization offering.
Battle Scarred Motorsports (BSM) harnesses the power of motorsports and road course endurance racing to provide adrenaline therapy and create positive change in the lives of Veterans and first responders. If you’re looking to make a difference while experiencing the thrill of real racing, volunteering with BSM is your ticket to getting involved.
Racing with purpose
At BSM, we offer opportunities to learn various aspects of racing, including pit crew operations, safety procedures, car building, repairs and even driving real race cars during live competitive endurance races. Our mission goes beyond just racing; we use the challenging and fast-paced environment of auto racing to rebuild teams and reestablish the fellowship and support that Veterans shared while serving in uniform.
Transitioning from military to civilian life
Transitioning from military to civilian life is rarely seamless. Regardless of your years of service or military occupational specialty, the unique experiences and hardships encountered during service shape one’s approach to life. The camaraderie forged in the crucible of military service often becomes a stark contrast to the isolation and monotony of civilian life, leading to loneliness, boredom and depression.
Adrenaline therapy
BSM, founded by passionate Marines who are also gearheads, offers what we call “Adrenaline Therapy” through road course endurance racing. Each race event attended provides participants with an opportunity to break free from the routine of civilian life and experience excitement and action on the racetrack. The adrenaline rush experienced during intense racing situations mirrors the thrill of past military action, fostering camaraderie and new bonds among participants.
Building bonds and finding victory
After the race, participants gather to share stories, enjoy good food and bask in the camaraderie among fellow Veterans and first responders. Through these experiences, BSM helps combat loneliness, depression and, ultimately, Veteran suicide. With nearly nationwide operations and support from racing leagues and sponsors, BSM attends roughly 20 events a year, providing numerous opportunities for Veterans and first responders to engage in adrenaline therapy.
Get involved
If you’re interested in learning more about Battle Scarred Motorsports or joining our cause, visit us at BattleScarred.org or find us on Facebook. Together, let’s race for a cause and make a difference in the lives of our Veterans and first responders.
By volunteering with Battle Scarred Motorsports, you’re not just racing for victory on the track—you’re racing for victory in the lives of those who have served our country. Join us today and experience the thrill of racing with purpose.
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Statement of Endorsement
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I started motocross racing shortly after landing in 1969. 14 years of motocross racing and a badly broken leg. On to sailing on lake Superior until crew (family) mutinied. Marathoning until kneel gave out. On to motorcycle road racing (on sanctioned closed course). Retired from track at age 80.
Still riding my Ducati and driving my Corvette. These activities enabled me to cope with PTSD.
Glenn Sell Capt USAF
Not quite sure what BSM is all about. Gotta check FB site. For me, in New England, my only LOVE is being spectator at LIME ROCK Vintage Festival where there is racing of rare/vintage cars, and which you can get up close to. Can’t get any better.
RangerRoad.org is a better Organization
This program for veterans sounds great, however, the person(s) that posted this, needs to have all the facts posted. All the racing events happen in only a few states, and none of them near California (the closest state is Texas).
I ride electric unicycles. Some of my friends race them, but I just like bouncing along trails and roads on the most amazing little machines. #EUC. They cost a bit more than a bicycle but a lot less than a car or motorcycle, and can go anywhere – including on the bus or train. Repairs are seldom – there are few moving parts and the machines are very efficient, a rider can do almost all the maintenance by themselves with basic tools in a small room. EUCs are the best commute ever, I don’t miss being stuck in traffic at all. Learning to ride is an amazing experience, like learning to waterski or snowboard. It’s almost as much fun as jumping! Airborne!
You dont learn to ride those things past about age 40. Good way to break ur neck! Some of those do 60 mph;
How is the VA and American Legions supporting auto racing? Being a combat wounded veteran and a 50+ year member of the American Legion, I believe it is not necessary for this to be happening. Thru my years as a Legion volunteer and chairman of the baseball program, I have seen fees jump over 100% since I have been involved. The State and the National programs are out of control. Even yearly membership fees keep going up, because they say they don’t have enough money to run our programs. Don’t get me wrong. I love auto racing ing of any kind. I just don’t feel like I should be paying for someone else to be doing it.
You aren’t paying for it. This is info for the veterans to get that’s all the VA is doing they are just distributing info that a company is doing to help veterans. Are you a Vietnam veteran? The company is doing it to help veterans get away from the boredom of everyday civilian life. I’m one of those people that love racing and it’s what gets me away and out of my head. Some people it’s art or fishing or writing or fighting but for some it’s racing it gives us all somewhere to turn. It’s their way of preventing suicide and the numbers are still up. 22 a day. Anything that helps is supported by me. The fees you speak of are for the program you are using. The legion has to pay their bills and keep doors open so fees go up. Same with softball and baseball leagues. Everything costs more today.
What You Got In The South Florida Area, Miami To The Palm Beaches? Used To Drag Race In My Youth. You Know A Couple Of Years Ago…..Lol.
Semper Fi,
This is a great Idea. I would love to participate. I go to Road America several times a year and enjoy the racing very much. Another thing that I do is Sym racing. With the right equipment it is extremely realistic. Although it does cost to get started.
Larry, please visit our website and ask about Battle Scarred eMotorsports. We have an iRacing League, and we try to race together often.
Semper Fi mofos, 2013-2017 CAC 3rd mar reg k-bay HI YATYAS! would love to race anybody and get involved with all u vets out there RAH
These people came to Indianapolis and then never did anything, just asked for money and volunteers.
We have had an active chapter in Indy for about a year now.
I am a Disabled Veteran with PTSD and driving has and is my Forte in my life and I would love to help out with racing for a reason to help others and I with that being my Goal.
Is Mid Ohio doing any racing with veterans ? I have a 07 Magnum SRT-8..I would love to put it on the track…
Viet Nam Veteran 1968-1970 Naval Air Carrier Cat Crew
I work as a aircraft hook up on the catapult
New Orleans Area is there any venues list in that part of the world
I’m in New Orleans too. I’m army and I don’t think we have many road race tracks around but there are some nice drag racing.
They had a race at NOLA motor sports park in Avondale in March it will hopefully be back in the next season.
We will be. Reach out to our LA Chapter group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2084047335287985
We have a LA chapter based just across the lake in Mandeville, look them up https://www.facebook.com/groups/2084047335287985
Yep…that’s a cure…I did Monza (F-2) , Mugello (F-2) , Isle of Man (Triumph 670) and Nurburgring (BMW M4). But…you need to be careful and safety cautious at all times!!!!!!!!!!!,
I guess West Coast vets miss out.
Nah. We win. West is best brother. We have all the natural beauty, the best National Parks and Forests. Connecting with nature has been a tremendous asset in my quest for tranquility. I wish you well on your journey. There’s always another route to hotroddin’. It’s part of the WC culture. Peace!
Reach out to our website, asking about opportunities along the WC. We have partnered with other NPOs in that area and we can get you set up some how.
RangerRoad.org/motorsports if you want to Race in Cali
Something worth having
I’m a disabled veteran. I have metastatic cancer ♋️. It’s my fourth different cancer ♋️ so far. I’m struggling with mental health. I was taken to the E/R hospital yesterday by the sheriff. I need some help if you can spare some help for an old man like me.
Where are you located old man? I’m always available if you want to just talk or fish in quiet. You got cancer to beat so get out of your head hooah!!
I also have cancer—-lung cancer that metastasized to my brain (stage 4 small cell. In oct of 21 it was discovered and after brain surgery to remove a golf ball size tumor, I was given 6mos to 2 yrs to live (beat that), 10 rounds of radiation to brain & 10 rounds of chemo later I’m still kicking it. Now if I can hang on long enough to get both of my lawsuits…. 1- for asbestos & 1 for the previous chest x ray at a different hospital in 2020 that seen a tumor and never told me or reported it,,, but the doctor wrote it down in my files….talk about missed diagnoses. Hope to be living on a cruise ship or Bora Bora soon. Feeling great in Iowa….as of now
HI there,
Is this an event or an activity? Does one have to own the equipment or is it a program. I wish we had programs for veterans without cars to engage life’s activities from fishing to racing to hiking.
We do have fishing and hunting and all kinds of stuff similar for veterans you just have to put in some leg work to find it. Google it and you will find what you’re looking for.
How do I get compensation for hearing loss when the VA says I don’t qualify, I Imake to much encome. All I want is hearing aids. I worked on the flight deck of a aircraft carrier for 2years, plus I also worked on the flight line as a resrrvest for 15 years in the Air Force Reserves.
Submit a compensation claim for hearing loss to the VBA on VA form 21-526EZ and give information on unit assignments and dates. VHA healthcare may say you make too much money, but if the need of hearing aides is because of a service connected injury (hearing loss) causes by noise exposure, that’s a different story. So file the compensation claim first with the VBA and then connect with VHA (healthcare) regarding hearing aides afterwards.
Go speak to your local Veteran Service Officer and put in a claim for your hearing and anything else medically that you are experiencing relating them to your service time duties and responsibilities
Need to find supporting evidence in your records.
Try an legal rep like Jan Dills law group
Great idea. Sign me up.
I would absolutely love getting behind a race car wheel, but I’m 69 , recovering from a stroke (cva) of 2001, today I can barely move ??
take care all,
Lance Noyes Sr.
How about motorcycle racing?
I know a lot of vets myself included who enjoy the two wheeled competition
Too much risk putting amateur riders on a track racing.
This sounds cool.
We lived on adrenaline, the 7 months I was with the 26th marines in Vietnam there were 25 killed in company H. We were very active however we never walked into an ambush.
When I got out of the hospital, I needed to taste that adrenaline. I did crazy things to get that taste. I figured this out about 10 years ago
How about eSports racing? On console and PC. Some of us live hundreds of miles from the nearest track and don’t have that kind of money. You have your first person shooter games, but some of us use sim racing as therapy. From GT7 and shifter karts to iRacing there is a lot of variety without too much investment or you can buy some pretty realistic driving equipment and rigs. I am in a shifter kart league that runs every Wed. and Sat. nights at 10 pm Eastern U.S. We race for about 2 1/2 hrs. There is even a Google docs page showing the schedule and running scores. Shifter Kart Scored Racing on Facebook you can get the link to Google docs. I added a tinyurl link to the document.
Hi,I would love to go and race.
Were do I get started.
We have an iRacing league. Reach out to us via our website and ask about iRacing. We have a League, and we try to meet regularly. Hope to see you on the virtual track with us soon!
Want to volunteer. Not young either, 74 years old. Was a Social Work/Psych Tech during Nam. In Tampa, Fl area. Work with the Ride-On Mission where we repair cars for free for those in need. Have a garage and 2 race cars. How can I help?
Hey Marty, head over to our website so we can capture your volunteer request better!
Do I still have a chance at 80 years old to drive a race car
Of course! Head over to our website and reach out to us!
I am a veteran and I own 4 race cars personally, and I drive 2 of them on local dirt ovals in southern Oregon. It’s the only hobby I have besides fishing, and it is a blast. If you get the opportunity to do this do it and enjoy the ride!
I would like to get involved, even at 77 years old. However, I live in Tucson, AZ and I don’t see any venues listed in our part of the world. Spent five years in the Air Force working on ancient propeller-driven, reciprocating-engine aircraft (1967-1972).
Hey Luke,
Lisa here. Please e mail me. I’m in Phoenix. Would like to race too. Let’s see how we can do this.