Introducing the Zac Hartwell/Ryan Dunn Tribute/Memorial Project: Project Top Secret

[navyflyer72]

I apologize for not posting on Lateral-G.net earlier, I have posted about this project on Pro-touring.com and Camaro5.com for the last 2 months.

Let me first say that this project is a direct result of 2 major incidents in my life from the last month. First and most devastating was the loss of my brother Zac Hartwell. Many of you may recognize his name vaguely and are wondering where you have heard it before. Well he was the passenger in Ryan Dunn's (of the movie "Jackass" fame) Porsche GT3 that crashed and killed them both on June 20th.

I was deployed to Afghanistan when I received the news and the Navy got me home in time for Zac's funeral. The Marine Corps got my brother Ted home from Helmand in time also, my other two brothers who are Navy Chiefs with the Navy Special Boat Units made it as did my sister who is a USMC Radio Operator. All of Zac's 7 brothers and sisters made it in time for his funeral in West Chester, PA. Zac too was a veteran with 6 years of honorable service in the Navy as a Gunner's Mate who deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom twice.

While home on emergency leave after the funeral I took several brothers and sisters and nieces to Washington DC to see the museums and monuments. We chose July 3rd to avoid the craziness in DC on the 4th. On our way home from DC we were slammed into by a drunk driver who ran a red light. Thankfully none of the injuries we sustained were life threatening. But both vehicles were totaled.

As a result of these two incidents I have started a project (well redirected one project that has been in works for a decade) in conjunction with my Navy Command, and soon potentially the entire US Military, and I am soliciting sponsors from a number of areas, to assist me in completing 2 Camaro builds. My 1967 RS Pro-touring Camaro and my 2010 SS. To take on a country-wide tour the purpose of which is below.

The mission is to create two mirror image Camaros that will tour the country and visit every major military installation, car show, automotive event, SEMA, Power Tour, etc... In addition I am soliciting a number of high profile celebrities to attend these events. The purpose is threefold:
1. To highlight the dangers of drinking and driving.
2. To pay a fitting tribute to Zac Hartwell and Ryan Dunn, two serious auto enthusiasts, and
3. To raise money for the two charities that their families have asked donations be made in their names:
-Wounded Warrior Project for Zac Hartwell, and
-Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids for Ryan Dunn

I wanted to post this here first as this has been a forum that I have frequently read to see what great ideas there are out there for our Camaro's and I have also found solid support of the military here. Since heading back out here to Afghanistan I've been relying on the internet to make my projects a reality. I'm working through the US Navy to get the "traveling responsible drinking roadshow" established, and I have been working through a number of personal contacts to get the celebrities onboard for their part of this project. I welcome any other assistance that Lateral-G members can provide in the way of sponsorship, or sponsorship development, or media interest to help publicize this endeavor. I do not however request any money. If you wish to donate money, please go to the Wounded Warrior Project website and donate in Zac Hartwell's name.

I look forward to logging in as often as possible downrange and posting as many pictures of these projects as they begin to take form.

Standby for other exciting updates that I already have, but I wanted to keep the introduction as short as possible, so more posts will follow rapidly.

Regards,
LCDR George Hartwell, USN
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The Zac Hartwell & Ryan Dunn Tribute/Memorial Camaro Project and Tour
Benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project & Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids