Arizona 356 Outlaws Club Chooses Porsche Rally Racer as Keynote Speaker
Renee Brinkerhoff was honored for her tireless efforts to raise awareness for charity by rallying in her 1956 Porsche 356 A.
Philanthropist and racer, Renee Brinkerhoff of Valkyrie Racing/Valkyrie Gives is a Porsche-loving woman driven by a mission to help others. Recently, the Arizona Outlaws 356 Club chose the endurance and rally racer as keynote speaker for their recent 2019 “High Desert Holiday” gathering. During the organization’s awards banquet, Brinkerhoff talked about the highlights of her global undertaking of “Project 356 World Rally Tour.” The event was inspired by Brinkerhoff’s dedicated quest rallying in her 1956 Porsche A to end child trafficking.
Brinkerhoff wasn’t content to sit behind a desk and start a letter writing campaign in her charity endeavors. This is a woman of action. So, she embarked on a near 20,000 mile rally through six races and seven continents behind the wheel of her classic Porsche 356. The result was the 36-day Peking to Paris Rally. She hit the road in her Porsche 356 and successfully raised funds, recognition, and support worldwide.
According to David Gill, HDH Co-Chair for the 2019 356 Club event, her determination and commitment to her own vintage 356 and the capabilities her beloved car continues to endure through climate and topographical challenges; and offers a unique commonality to share with the more than 350 attending members and 356 owners for their annual meet.
“Renee sparks a desire within all of us to make a mark and stand behind our own beliefs,” said Gill. “She has shown the world not only how to succeed as a racer, and a woman, but more so, she has created a platform to voice the devastation of children at risk of exploitation and opened our eyes and hearts to help her make a difference.”
On behalf of the Arizona Outlaws 356 Club, Gill presented Renee with an check for $1,000 to go towards her Foundation’s goal to defeat child trafficking.
Brinkerhoff started her rally career in 2012 at the age of 57 in 2012. She came out the gate with enthusiasm and drive, determined to take on her own challenge of completing six endurance races in seven countries–and use the world stage of endurance racing as a channel to support charitable efforts. Her efforts to fight child trafficking, has taken her racing global. She has rallied in a number of countries including Mexico, Australia, and Peru. When she isn’t kicking ass in her Porsche racer, she speaks at orphanages, engaged hundreds of children, and provided education to keep children safe.
The charitable effort grew by balancing her rally car competition, Valkyrie Racing, with her own non-profit “Valkyrie Gives.” She sought donations and direct financial support to counter child exploitation and human trafficking in poorer parts of the world–and her rallying became a visual means to grow the awareness.
Her efforts have been successful, raining more that $100,000 in 2019 alone. Brinkerhoff will distribute those funds, gifts, and educational sessions along stops during her upcoming East African Safari Rally in November 2019. Located in Kenya, the East African charities she’ll be supporting are ones that rescue and house at-risk young girls (6-18 years of age), to restore, educate and teach them job skills. She did the same during her recent Peking to Paris Rally route earlier this summer, stopping in China and Russia, providing support and funds.
Her decorated rally career has ranged from earning class victories in the dangerous and highly acclaimed La Carrera Panamericana race–which she has participated in for four years in a row; to making history as the ‘only woman-driven team to finish the race’ each year she has partaken. Additionally, her team has podiumed each of the four participating years–winning two first place and two second place victories.
Her racing stats are nothing short of impressive, daring, and even history-making. But her commitment to using her platform and classic Porsche to help others truly makes Brinkerhoff an inspiration.
Photos: Valkyrie Racing
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