AC/DC front man and Sarasota Café Racer will race at the Daytona Rolex 24 to raise one million dollars to support families affected by pediatric cancer.
The Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer has partnered with AC/CD lead singer Brian Johnson, above in his Lola T70 Spyder, Michael Alan Ross photo, Chattanooga-based Fifty Plus Racing, Predator Performance and Allegra Motorsports to help support families affected by pediatric cancer. The goal of the new program, Highway to Help, is to raise one million dollars.
They will be competing on Daytona’s 3.56-mile, 12-turn Speedway road course in the premier DP Category, Grand-Am Rolex Series. Daytona Prototypes typically have 500 horsepower engines and a top speed of 195 mph.
Designed to coincide with the 50th anniversary running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona on January 28-29, the team will be fielding a Dinan-prepared 2006 BMW-Riley Daytona Prototype, above. The team owns the car, but Dinan leases the BMW engine and supplies trackside support. Johnson will be racing as part of the Fifty Plus Racing team. Other members include Chattanooga businessman Byron DeFoor, below, right, with Johnson, former Rolex 24 overall winners Elliott Forbes-Robinson and Jim Pace, and former Rolex 24 class winner Carlos DeQuesada.
“This is real, this is going to happen, and we're all happy to have the opportunity to do this," said Johnson. “AC/DC fans all over the world are now rooting for the Austin Hatcher Foundation.”
UPDATE 11/11/11:
Brian Johnson and Byron DeFoor took advantage of an Historic Sportscar Racing event today to turn their first laps in a Daytona Prototype at Daytona International Speedway.
"In a nutshell, ahyeehaw!" said Johnson, who will join DeFoor, Elliott Forbes-Robinson, Jim Pace and Carlos de Queseda in the 50+ Racing/Predator Performance No. 50 BMW/Riley in the Rolex 24.
"It's terrifying ... it's wonderful ... it's all fantastic stuff for an enthusiast like me," Johnson continued.
"It's so quick, with the closing speeds and the braking. I'm used to driving vintage cars with technology from the Sixties and early-Seventies - this is rocket ship science." Johnson said he already exceeded his target lap time for the weekend in only his second session, with two more days remaining in the HSR event.
"I know the pros out there will be laughing at my times, but I think I can get another five seconds before the end of this weekend," Johnson said. "It's up to me now to concentrate and to listen to the experts like Jim Pace and Elliott Forbes-Robinson and help us realize our dream. Once I do this, I'll be the happiest man in the world."
Fans can begin participating in the one-million-dollar Highway to Help campaign today by texting “ACDC” to 501501or by making a donation of any amount at, http://www.hatcherfoundation.org/highwaytohelp/
Check out the official Grand-Am website at, http://www.grand-am.com/
For more information about the donation-supported Foundation’s mission and services (at no cost to the families), please visit, http://www.hatcherfoundation.org/
