For Scotts Valley Police Officer John Hohmann the chance to race police cars on a speedway to raise money for Special Olympics was an idea long in the making.
“I take a great deal of pride on putting it on,” said Hohmann.
“Police in Pursuit” is a fundraising event, benefitting Special Olympics of Northern California. It’s a car race by law enforcement officers from Santa Cruz County and Northern California at the Ocean Speedway in Watsonville.
The idea to start the now annual event came to Hohmann over two decades ago. In 1995, all the local D.A.R.E. instructors at the time, including Hohmann, participated in a car racing event at Ocean Speedway. Each D.A.R.E. officer was paired up a family who had a race car and the event was aimed at raising money for the educational program.
Fast forward about nine years, Hohmann was just getting involved with his work with the Special Olympics and the Law Enforcement Torch Run program. The Law Enforcement Torch Run program started in 1981 and continues to raise money and awareness for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
When Hohmann first started the “Police in Pursuit” event in 2010, law enforcement officers raced four-banger race cars owned by Ocean Speedway. Over $7K was raised by nine Santa Cruz County law enforcement officers. Prior to the 2012 season, the 4-bangers were sold and no longer available for the event. Law enforcement officers had to find cars to race in continued seasons. Some retired patrol cars were purchased from city auctions, but most cars were donated by some very generous tow companies in Santa Cruz County.
Law enforcement officers represent their department’s patrol car by painting and designing it using whatever decal scheme they feel is representative. Emergency lights are added to the fanfare. A minimum of $750 must be raised by an officer to enter and race. The starting position for the race is based on who raises the most money and therefore most drivers try to raise more money than the other drivers.
Hohmann still remembers listening to a speech by one of the athletes participating in the Special Olympics at the events hosted in Dallas. Hohmann was in the audience that day and he said it empowered him to keep working towards raising awareness and money for the organization.
“I have met the best human beings associated with Special Olympics, from the athletes, and Special Olympic Volunteers, to the members of Law Enforcement who are involved with the Law Enforcement Torch Run,” Hohmann said.
In 2017, there were eighteen drivers representing nine law enforcement agencies and the event raised more than 36K dollars for Special Olympics of Northern California. Each year, the driver looks for sponsors to help with maintenance, safety measures (roll cage, seat and harness) and keeping the car race ready.The car Hohmann races is stored at Canepa in Scotts Valley. The 2018 “Police in Pursuit” event will be held on Friday, April 27 at 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at market.myracepass.com. As of printing, 17 law enforcement officers are registered to race and approximately $18K has been raised.
