Instead of making tweaks to the National Guard car or gearing up for the annual Baltimore Grand Prix, the Panther Racing team made a pit stop at Fort Meade to meet with service members and their families on Aug. 28.
Driver Oriol Servia and his team from Panther Racing, including owner John Barnes, spent several hours at the USO-Metro Fort Meade Center signing autographs, showing off the National Guard IndyCar and giving away tickets to Sunday's Grand Prix.
The visit was the third consecutive year the Indiana-based racing team stopped at the installation prior to the Baltimore Grand Prix. Leidos, a national security, health and engineering company, sponsored the event.
"This is wonderful, this is like church for me," Barnes said. "Getting to come and be with the brothers, it is just amazing. ... We love it here. We love the community. What a great opportunity to come meet Soldiers."
Elaine Rodgers, president of the USO of Metropolitan Washington, opened the event with brief remarks, thanking Panther Racing for continuing to support service members in various ways and for returning to the installation for another year.
"You guys just do an incredible job," she said.
Garrison Commander Col. Brian P. Foley thanked Panther Racing for spending time with service members. He also talked about the importance of the USO and the services they provide for members of the military.
"After you have been in an austere location for several months and you have not had much physical contact with our home, when you walk into a USO facility or you see performers that come to perform for us when we are deployed, it gives you the most wonderful feeling on the inside to know that our home is still there for us," Foley said. "It enables you to continue on serving the difficult missions that we do."
Servia, who has been driving the National Guard car for about a year, also spoke to the crowd that gathered outside the USO-Metro center.
"I have to start with thanking you for everything that you guys do when you're out there, when you're here," he said.
While a driver is happy and proud with any sponsor because sponsors pay the bills and allow racers to compete, Servia said the experience of being sponsored by the National Guard is "special."
"I get to hear a lot of the stories of what you guys go through," he said. "I feel like what I do is very cool, I feel like it's awesome. I'm very lucky. But you guys are awesome, and for us to at least have the name of National Guard around and keep some exposure to what you do is great.
"For me to be the driver of this special car, it's very special. I hope every weekend I make you guys proud."
Servia then signed autographs and met with service members and their families, while Barnes explained the mechanisms of the IndyCar on display to those who hopped into the driver's seat.
The car was not exactly as Crytoplogic Technician 2nd Class Thomas Forthsye imagined. The pedals were further back than he expected, but Forthsye said he would be eager to get behind the wheel of the car on the track.
"I think I could. I've always wanted to try," said the Sailor from Navy Information Operations Command Maryland.
Forthsye said he was thankful the team stopped at Fort Meade before Sunday's race.
"I think it shows a lot for the sport, a lot for the team," he said. "It shows that they care; it is not just the sponsorship."
Editor's note: Oriol Servia finished the Baltimore Grand Prix in 12th place.
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