Program keeps racers helping veterans

Sue Roberson of SMP Motorsports in Mooresville spent time over Christmas filling trucks with gifts and Christmas trees and bringing them to military families.

That effort was just one event her organization - Manpower to Horsepower - was involved in during the past year to help and honor wounded soldiers.

"That was probably the most fun I've ever had at Christmas. Ed Salut, the gentleman who is the head of the Wounded Warrior Battalion East, matched us with two families from Camp Lejeune that really needed our help," said Roberson.

Roberson, originally from Columbus, Ohio, started Manpower to Horsepower about a year-and-a-half ago to combine her love of racing with her desire to help those who've served our country.

Roberson said Manpower has been working during the off-season with the Veterans Administration, and she and the other members of the organization are excited about a new program they will be starting.

"We have gotten our accreditation go run a disabled veteran's vocational rehabilitation center here at the shop," said Roberson, who operates SMP Motorsports at 610 Performance Road in the Mooresville Motorsports Park.

The program, through Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, starts March 16. As many as 15 military personnel will work at the shop about 35 hours a week.

Associate sponsor Turner Motorsports donated a Nationwide car.

"The disabled veterans will put in the motor and transmission, and we'll make that a show car for the guys," said Roberson, who lives in Statesville with her husband, Matt Young. Young's grandfather, Adolf Hansen, is a decorated World War II veteran and Purple Heart recipient, Roberson said.

In May 2009, Manpower to Horsepower debuted a two-seater car at the dirt track at Charlotte and Charlotte Motor Speedway. The car is designed to give ride-alongs to injured veterans.

"We did a lot of campaigning last year with the USO and had the car out for the Bank of America 500 with the USO mobile unit," said Roberson, 52, who also has worked closely with John Falkenbury, president of the USO of North Carolina.

Wounded warriors from Camp Lejeune got their first ride-along experience at a dirt race when the NDRA Road Show hit Carolina Speedway over the July 4 weekend. The USO Mobile unit was there, along with former NASCAR driver Ted Musgrave, who drove the two-seater dirt pace car before the race.

After Carolina, the car traveled to Friendship Speedway in Elkin.

"We have about 15 tracks we're trying to work dates out with for the ride-along cars and show cars and all," said Roberson.