Theoretical Approach

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Adaptive Control Program

The Science

Veterans & 1st Responders (V1Rs) served occupationally in high stress environments for extended periods of time. Existing in this environment can actively change the way they perceive the world around them which can persist even after they separate. V1Rs have a higher potential for anxiety issues, escalated mood, awareness, responsiveness, a primed fight or flight, enhanced sensory input, and enhanced visual recognition. Many self-medicate through substance abuse to block anger, anxiety, and fear associations. However, some have found significant, lasting relief through the rush and excitement of motorsports.

Track Heroes is a non-profit (501c3) that combines High Performance Driving and cutting edge neuroscience to improve the mental health of V1Rs without the use of drugs or medication. Through our research, we verified that High Performance Driving improves mental health, validated how and why it does so, then designed the Adaptive Control Program (ACP) to maximize those benefits while promoting camaraderie and long term mental health.

ACP relies heavily on neuroscience research of the Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC) and its role in how we as Veterans and 1st Responders view, process and react to any given situation. Are we calm and relaxed, or are we anxious and angry? Our program focuses on the ACC, engaging it with specific stimuli, in a specific sequence, to trigger specific neurological responses, providing our Heroes with quantifiable improvements to their mental health. By targeting the ACC, we provide “top-down” regulation of the systems it controls and influences, providing both immediate relief and a track for long term healing that doesn’t rely on medication.

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  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Loss of Sexual Desire
  • Weight Gain
  • Heart Rate Issues
  • Anger / Rage
  • Thirst
  • Urinate a lot
  • Bad Sleep
  • Increased Appetite
  • Rapid Fear Associations
  • Poor Communication Skills
  • Blood Pressure Issues
  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Tired
  • Muscle Pain / Spasms
  • Chronic Pain
  • Diabetes

If you are a V1R and you suffer from one, some or all these symptoms, you may be experiencing this dysregulation, so please Register with Track Heroes and try some HIGH SPEED MENTAL HEALTH!

Register Here

The Program

Dedicated Training Center - Crawl

In the CRAWL phase of our Program, we establish / enhance the fundamentals of High Performance Driving, in brand new vehicles (provided), on a closed course, with professional Instructors. During this evolution of the Program, Heroes participate in a series of purposely sequenced exercises and drills that both challenges and enhances their driving skills. At the end of the event, Heroes are introduced to the Science behind the Adaptive Control Program and are provided with skills to help them utilize our methodology in their day-to-day lives. Heroes only need to show up, and we take care of the rest!

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High Performance Driver Education (HPDE) - WALK

In the WALK phase, Heroes take the skills and experience from the CRAWL phase and use them to participate in HPDE events held throughout the country on some of the BEST racetracks in the world.

Every weekend, car clubs like the BMW, Porsche, Mustang, and Audi clubs, lease REAL racetracks and hold events for their members and car enthusiasts. During these events, participants bring their own cars, and the club provides “in-car instructors” to teach the “Racing Line” of that specific track. Drivers are broken into “run-groups” based on skill/experience. Each run-group gets 4-5, 25 (approx.) minute sessions per day, for two days! That’s nearly FOUR HOURS of track time per weekend.

Track Heroes works with these clubs to receive Free / Donated / Sponsored slots to these events and provides them to the Heroes in our Program. We sometimes receive as many as 6 slots and sometimes just a single slot, but we are VERY grateful for each opportunity! This allows our Heroes to continue GROWING, LEARNING and EXPANDING their High Performance Driving skills and experience, KEY elements of the Adaptive Control Program.

We are VERY excited to now be able to provide a dedicated HPDE Car for Heroes who wish to participate in the WALK phase, but do not have a vehicle suitable for Track use! This opens the door to this exciting phase of our Program to ALL Heroes, no matter their situation!

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Race

In the Race phase, events are held anywhere organized racing occurs. Heroes who have participated in the Crawl and Walk iterations of ACP and have demonstrated the skills, personality and desire to Race are identified as Race Candidates. Participating and competing in Races is a completely different experience compared to non-racing evolutions. The learning and exploration opportunities are exponentially greater as Heroes apply skills / experience from Crawl and Walk into competition on a track. These events represent the culmination of all previous HPD training.

Track Heroes works with several Partners in various race leagues to identify experienced and vetted V1R drivers / Race Candidates and support their participation in the door-to-door racing events. With their verified HPD experience, our Heroes reduce event risk, extend consumable longevity, and decrease the chances of crash, vs an unvetted candidate for the seat. Additionally, participation continues the Hero’s progress in the ACP and help them achieve their overall mental health goals / objectives.

Maintain

As much as we’d like to get every V1R on the track, every day, the reality is that funding, event schedules and day-to-day life makes that impossible. To fill the gap between true Track Day events, we offer our Heroes with opportunities to MAINTAIN their progress in the Adaptive Control Program. Track Heroes provides Heroes with FREE memberships to various clubs to facilitate meet ups with fellow car enthusiasts and V1Rs to encourage networking and socialization. Partners that support Maintain provide car club / social club memberships, free fun drives registrations, car meets, cars and coffee, etc.

Additionally, to Maintain HPD skills, Track Heroes hosts monthly and weekly sim-racing events where Heroes can both practice and compete in realistic races with fellow Heroes. Our research has found that sim-racing is nearly 85% effective, compared to real HPD. So, while not perfect, it is a great way to Maintain HPD progress, ACP benefits and contact with fellow V1Rs.

Videos COming Soon