FM3 Road Trip Cars & Cones is about the people!  Each year we choose a charity that throughout the week, we raise money and "give back" to those that are so dear to our community.

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2020 Charity  - Audri Smith and her family

​Our Road Trip Cars & Cones charity donation this year will go to Audri Smith and her family.  Audri the four year old granddaughter of our good friend Ron Schwarz.  Many of you know Ron, and through him, Audri’s story.  Audri was diagnosed with an aggressive tumor in her brain early this year, and after the initial surgery, she was doing better.  Unfortunately, her cancer returned with a vengeance.  Ron and his family have spent every waking hour caring and comforting Audri during this ordeal, but sadly, Audri passed away, surrounded by her family.  Her family is devastated, and the medical bills don’t just go away.  

2019 Charity  - Markers Foundation

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The Makers Foundation supports people and organizations that make things.
 
Formed by Bret and Sharon Voelkel in 2016, the Makers Foundation recognizes that the art of MAKING things, either with your own hands or with machines, was not nearly enough encouraged.
 
The satisfaction and confidence realized from creating an object born of ones own mind is hard to replace and even harder to explain.
 
Makers Foundation grants are available to a wide range of disciplines...automotive programs, construction trades, sewing and crafting, quilting, gardening, farming, painting, manufacturing, machining, woodworking, metalworking, ...just about any activity that involves MAKING something.
 
www.makers-foundation.com


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If you would like to make a donation - please click the above link and email Carrie with how much you would like to donation and we will send you an invoice to make your donation.

2018 Charity  - Aaron oberle

THANK YOU to all the people and Companies that donated Items for our Charity Auction!
(In No particular order)
OPTIMA Batteries
Wheel Hub Magazine
K & N
Ridetech
Jimi Day
QuickTrip Alignment
Dan Ballard 
Terri Bowman
Valerie Pichette
Saroja Raman
Carrie Strange
Forgeline
Marshall Reinert
Lars Ekberg
Team Wicked Chic
Suzy Bauter
Strange Motion
Bruce Raymond
Classic Instruments
James Otto
Ed Michalak
Ultimate Street Car Association
UMI
Django Studio - Chad Hill
Holley/ MSD
Troy Higginson
Tim Kriline
Mark Golovin
Castle Works
Wilwood
G Force
​Bill & Kathy Haynie
Allen's Garage


AND to the MANY bidders and all the amazing FM3 Road Trippers!
We’re all really excited about the FM3 Road Trip – Cars & Cones event coming up at the end of April.  The cars, the people and routes have become synonymous with some of the best memories of our automotive lives.  And, the week-long anti-competition has proved to be immensely popular amongst all the participants and staff.  It’s an event we all look forward to for months.
 
The most important thing to remember is that the FM3 Road Trip is a charity event.  We have a very generous group of folks in our hobby – over the last two years, the FM3 Road Trip has generated $35,000 that has been donated directly to someone in our automotive family in need of support or assistance.
 
We are proud to announce that all funds raised from the 2018 FM3 Road Trip Cars & Cones event will go to Aaron Oberle.  Aaron has been a lifelong car enthusiast and has been a part of the pro-touring movement nearly since its inception.  Although he may be most well-known for his badass ‘65 Chevelle that he picked up from his Grandma, he has more recently been recognized as the driver of #projectrecycled, the unusual mating of a hand-me-down ’73 Plymouth Duster to a C6 Corvette chassis.  This thing made quite an impression at last year’s Holley LSFest, making Aaron one of the stars of the show.
 
Aaron has recently been diagnosed with CLL, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, a type of cancer that starts from cells that become certain white blood cells (called lymphocytes) in the bone marrow. The cancer (leukemia) cells start in the bone marrow but then go into the blood.
In CLL, the leukemia cells often build up slowly over time, and many people don't have any symptoms for at least a few years. In time, the cells can spread to other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen.
 
Aaron’s prognosis and treatment are still being determined, but he’s in great spirits and he’s a fighter with determination and a great attitude.  In speaking with him just last week, he’s hopeful and enthusiastic that he may be able to join us on the Road Trip. 
 
The FM3 Road Trip will include a charity auction on Tuesday night in Lexington, KY immediately following dinner.  We have great items from our sponsors and other generous automotive aftermarket companies in addition to some celebrity donations as well, including items from our Grand Marshall, Nashville based singer/songwriter James Otto.  Please keep in mind that 100% of the donations made to the charity cup during the week will be combined with the proceeds of the charity auction and will be donated to Aaron’s family or a charity of their choice to help fund the research for a cure for this terrible disease.
 
We thank you in advance for your generosity and we look forward to seeing all of you in April.  Have fun, be generous – this is the FM3 Road Trip way! 

2017 Charity - Daphne Reynolds
In addition to a great drive, great prizes and great friends, the FM3 Road Trip is also designed to do great things for great people in our industry. The 2017 Road Trip charity will support Daphne Reynolds, wife of Chad Reynolds, the co-conspirator responsible for Bangshift.com. Late last year, Daphne was diagnosed with a rare form of children's cancer and has been under aggressive treatment for a few months now. The good news is that the treatments are working and Daphne is starting to feel better each day. The bad news - the cost of the treatments is astronomical. All proceeds collected during the FM3 Road Trip will be donated to Daphne and Chad to help offset their mounting medical bills. In addition to the fastest autocross times donating to the charity cup, we will also have a charity auction on Wednesday night in Bowling Green, with some great items from our sponsors and special donations from James Otto. Last year, we raised $10,000 for the Be the Match Foundation in support of our friend Todd Rumpke. The folks in our industry are very generous, and we are one big family. We thank you in advance for your generosity. If we're lucky, Daphne and Chad will join us for the week of fuel, food and fun!

2016 - Be the match in honor of Todd Rumpke

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The 2016 FM3 Raod Trip will be dedicated to our good friend, Todd Rumpke.  Todd has been a long time competitor at many of the grassroots events we are all familiar with, and he's a loved and respected member of our hobby.  Todd battled and beat cancer last year - unfortunately, the insidious disease has returned.  Instead of battling on the track, Todd is now battling physically and mentally to once again kick cancers ass.  If you've read the rule of engagement for Cars & Cones, you know this is an anti-competition, meaning the fast times of each day will make a donation to the Road Trip Charity Cup.  All donations collected throughout the week will be donated in support of Todd Rumpke to the Be the Match Foundation - for the thousands of people diagnosed every year with life-threatening blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, a cure exists.  Be the Match Foundation is a global leader in bone marrow transplantation.  They conduct research to improve transplants outcomes, provide support, and resources for patients and partners with a global network
Still unsure? Read some of the quotes from past participants!

"Hey Guys and Gals, Last year was a blast. Even having to change a motor to get home. Lol I'm in for whatever you all have planned it will be great again. See you in a few weeks." Chris

"Looking forward to another great FM3 event" Steve

"Thanks for being flexible to make things better for us and also for seeking input from the loonies behind the wheel!" Randy

"Most fun I have all week in the year" Larry

"Great people, great sponsors, great cars, great fun" Kurt

"Cars & Cones to a car guy is the an adventure of a lifetime yet the best laid back vacation you could ask for with a great group Gearheads." Chris

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