Beat the Heat is a program organized by SSgt. Warren Hill of the Air Force Reserve Security Police Force with the primary goal of drawing community youth and police together. We accomplish this through an interest we share with most young people, vehicles and racing. We join over 150 other Beat the Heat programs across the United States and Canada in our efforts.
About the Program Carolina Beat the Heat is a corporation dedicated to "promoting traffic safety, drug and alcohol awareness, and building relationships between police officers and kids of all ages; to make the public aware of the human, caring side of police officers".
Program Idea Air Force Reserve Security Police Officer SSgt. Warren Hill wanted to find a unique new way to reach our local youth. The method he found to achieve this is to getting involved in one of the favorite interest among teens and young adults, vehicles and motor sports. Through organized events on the race track, young people are invited to race against each other or race against the police officers and try to "Beat the Heat" ("the Heat" referring to the old slang term for police officers). This is done through the involvement of Police (as participants) at organized 'off street racing' events run by the SSgt. Warren Hill at dragstrips throughout the Carolinas. The program is aimed at reducing and controlling the growing incidence of illegal street racing and anti social driving behavior by providing incentives and support of sanctioned and legal outlets for drivers to explore their cars in a controlled environment with proper safety precautions rather than engaging in dangerous activities on public streets. To help young people learn the ins and outs of drag racing, race car preparation, and related safety precautions, SSgt Warren Hill brings the experience of his involvement with professional drag racing. SSgt Hill has been involved with professional drag racing for many years and is also president and co-founder of the East Coast Pro Racers Association, a national pro stock drag race sanctioning body. As part of his duties, SSgt Hill often personally inspects the safety equipment and a list of other items on every Pro Stock car racing at an ECPRA sanctioned event. Correctly building a race car takes a great deal of effort and time. While sharing their knowledge of racing, SSgt Hill and other volunteers spend time with the young people, building positive relationships, and allowing young people to get to the police as friends, not the opposition. Also during this time, there is a great opportunity to provide education about the ill effects of alcohol and other drugs on a person's ability to function and especially the effects it has on their ability to drive a motor vehicle. Our goal is to build a positive relationship with these young people that will last for many years to come. Regardless of what means we use to teach young people about alcohol, drugs, and crime, we believe the best way to reach them is to first build that relationship. With a positive relationship established up front, we will be more successful in achieving our goals.
Program Goals . Educate the general public that drag racing is not street racing, and anyone who desires to race can do so at the track, but not on the streets. . Educate the public on the horrors of alcohol or drug impaired driving. . Promote safe driving habits. . Build relationships between the police department and the young people of our community. . Educate our young people about the real problems associated with alcohol and other drug use.
These goals are forever ongoing. As long as there are teenagers, there will be the need for help and guidance. We have reached many, and there will always be more. We want to give them all the help and guidance we can so their tough and sometimes unpopular decisions may be a little easier.
Motivation Several programs exist at the grade school level, such as DARE, CounterAct and GREAT to name a few. After grade school, however, fewer proactive programs exist to guide these young people through their toughest years, "the teens." Peer pressure, negative influences, and vulnerability are at their peak through the high school years. As we all know as well, gang activity is a concern in North and South Carolina and along with it, the imminent threat of gang related violence. Our program focuses on this and other teen related challenges. Drunk driving is another serious problem our teens face. Are you aware that drunk driving accidents are the number two killer of our high school aged youth? We focus on this as well as other drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and the recent comeback of LSD. As police officers we can tell you first hand that these are all very real and present threats in North and South Carolina. These join the main focus of the program, our anti-street racing strategy. The program is designed to encourage young drivers to race their cars at organized 'off street racing' events run by SSgt. Warren Hill instead of engaging in the dangerous practice of illegal racing on public streets. This provides a legally sanctioned positive outlet for young drivers to explore their cars and gain the recognition they are seeking. The strategy is also designed to break down barriers between authority figures (police) and young drivers through shared involvement in what many young drivers like to do. The program also exists to build community alliances through the common interest of motor sports. Cars are a favorite topic of interest among Teenagers most of whom admit they do not like Police because they see them as adversaries or authority figures who prevent teens from them enjoying themselves. The thought of legally racing against a "cop" is a draw card that is very hard for them to resist. It also enables young drivers to see and understand the other side; the proactive side of police work. Regardless of how a young person might perceive a Police Officer on duty, they most certainly see them in a different light in a racecar. Although a police car represents authority, a police race car, whether a streetcar, drag racer or other, will definitely generate interest from all corners of the community and help break down these barriers. This concept has proven to be very successful in many localities around the globe. The Carolina Beat the Heat program is on track to do the same with the theme "Racing for Road Safety." Beat the Heat Inc. is a registered incorporated non profit organization. The program is run entirely by volunteers and relying solely on sponsorship and support from the community, local businesses and service organizations for funding. It receives no funding from any police or government budget. Beat the Heat is run by police officers in their own time so as not to impact operational duties. Road safety is a community problem that requires community solutions. Carolina Beat the Heat is a long term project aimed at finding those solutions.
More about the Program The program gives young drivers the opportunity to race against each other but also a race car driven by off duty police officers with markings to represent an operational police car. The friendly rivalry this fosters helps build alliances between young drivers and the Police through the common interest of motor sport. These alliances help to provide opportunities to educate young drivers and bring about changes in attitudes that will encourage responsible behavior and acceptance of the road rules in the community. The program encourages drivers to participate in properly organized, legal "'street meets" on the track where they can explore and test out their cars safely. They are invited to match their everyday "street registered" vehicles against each other and a police competitor in a non-threatening environment where friendly rivalry and healthy competition can be utilized to educate and promote safe, responsible driving practices on and off the track. The style of racing is often referred to as "heads up" or "grudge match" style drag racing. Cars must be registered or "street registerable" and proper racing attire must be worn by all participants (Helmet, Long Sleeve Shirt, Long Pants and closed in shoes). In addition, all events comply with NHRA / IHRA rules and regulations.
The Bug Patrol SSgt Warren Hill's new car "The Bug Patrol" will make its first appearance at a Street Meet event in the spring of 2008. The Bug Patrol is a vintage Volkswagen Beetle race prepped and proudly dressed in patrol car markings and working police lights. The Bug Patrol will also be used in a public relations capacity to promote sponsors involvement in the project, road safety, police recruiting, shopping center displays, charity events and shows.
Thank You For Your Support Through our efforts, and your generous support we can make a positive difference in the lives of our youth. The Beat the Heat program is fully sponsored by local businesses and service organizations and incurs no costs to any police force or government agency. If you would like to sponsor Beat the Heat, contact SSgt. Warren Hill at 910-476-7356. Thank you for this opportunity and for your continued support of all programs aimed at prevention. We believe we have an outstanding program that promotes awareness and prevention to a great many people of all ages.
