SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/519117
Hounds, and mimics a program employed in many high school sports. "We're setting up with a company called King Devick. They've created a test that can easily be administered in the field to tests for a concussion," says Cody. "The idea is to go out and collect baselines from as many of the youth racers that volunteer to do it." The results from the baseline testing will be written on a special sticker affixed to the rider's helmet, which will also have other vital information like the rider's name, emergency contact and so on. If the rider falls and is suspected of possibly suffering a concussion, the King Devick test is administered. The scores are compared and appropriate action is immediately taken. "If we can get it fully implemented, and it seems to work with the youth series here in the Hare & Hounds, then we want to get it back East to the GNCCs and build on that," says Cody. "Maybe even some of the adult racers would want to do it." Of course, all of this requires money and the Kurt Caselli Foundation relies entirely on donations in order to put its plans into action. The KCF crew realizes that it must appeal to as wide a range of potential donors as possible. This means avoiding the appearance of being too brand- specific. After all, among the Foundation's Board of Directors are Jon-Erik Burleson (President of KTM North America), Antti Kallonen (Team Manager for the FMF KTM Factory Off-road Racing Team) and Donny "Lil D" Emler (Marketing/Business Development Director for FMF). "We're very conscious of that because this is not a KTM or FMF foundation," says Sarah White, President of the Kurt Caselli Foundation and Kurt Caselli's fiance. "That's a really good conversation because Jon-Erik and Antti will suggest removing their company name from certain things. We don't want people to feel like they can't support this because the foundation is not KTM, or that it is not FMF." Granted, Kurt Caselli apparel is now produced and sold by FMF and thus bears small logos, but as White points out, they really don't really mind the logos being there because Kurt rode for KTM for a long time in his racing career and was also with FMF for an even longer time. "I understand how the branding goes," says White. "It's a very interesting subject. It definitely can be sensitive, but those were Kurt's big sponsors for years, especially a lot of his successful years. Kurt was proud of that. It's hard. KTM and FMF, they're so very, always aware of that one. We want a Kawi guy to be able to wear this. But at the same time, you see orange and you think of Kurt. So if we did a green shirt that said Kurt Caselli, people would think it weird. It is what it is. It's hard, and I'm Kurt's biggest fan. I want to keep him alive more than anybody. It's orange for me and that's just what I feel is right, too. We're aware of it and we don't want anybody to feel confused. So that's why we have taken KTM and FMF off a lot of stuff. If it wasn't for FMF and KTM, we wouldn't be anywhere close to where we are now. They're such huge supporters and help us. If it was just Nancy (Kurt's mom, Carolyn (Kurt's sister) and I, we would be absolutely nowhere." But the Kurt Caselli Foundation is far from being nowhere. Like the man himself, the foundation is on the gas and going places.SJ 088 SCORE JOURNAL