Pledge now to support Dan O’Brien as he races Labor Day laps at Sebring International Raceway for the Foundation For Asia Pacific Education

Racing a car to raise money for study abroad scholarships?

You can bet – or better yet – donate on it.

That’s because Dan O’Brien, regional director for the AustraLearn/AsiaLearn/EuroLearn programs of GlobaLinks Learning Abroad, is raising money for study abroad scholarships for the Foundation for Asia Pacific Education (FAPE) by racing a Spec Racer Ford over Labor Day weekend at Sebring International Raceway in Florida.

O’Brien, in partnership with the Community Service Team at GlobaLinks Learning Abroad, created the “Laps for Global Education” campaign to encourage others to donate to the nonprofit Foundation for Asia Pacific Education, which provides scholarships on an ongoing basis to university and college students who want to gain international education experiences in the Asia Pacific region.

O’Brien and his father, John O’Brien, together form the Celtic Racing team, which participates in the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) amateur series and races at Sebring or the Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Va.

Dan O'Brien

“The type of racing we do is strictly for fun,” O’Brien says. “There’s no money for the winner, and we’re not professional paid drivers – more like weekend warriors when time and budget permit.”

During the races, O’Brien expects to hit top speeds of 110-115 MPH from behind the wheel of the Celtic Racing team’s #48 Spec Racer Ford, which will display the logos of both the Foundation for Asia Pacific Education and the GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Community Service Team as it loops the 3.7 mile circuit during the “Members Memorial” weekend event.

“I’ll participate in two timed events on Sunday,” O’Brien says. “My first race will be about 20 minutes long, and I’ll probably log about 8 laps. The second race is longer at 30 minutes, and I’ll probably log about 12-13 laps in that race.”

Donations can be pledged in any dollar amount per lap for one or both races, or simply in any amount to support the campaign, with all money raised going directly to the foundation.

After the event, Celtic Racing will send its results to those who agreed to pledge or donate. Anyone interested can donate now at the foundation’s web site or email their donation to Amy Deppe at adeppe@asia-pacificfoundation.org.

Celtic Racing’s Spec Racer Ford is “known for its cornering and handling abilities but lacks some straight-end speed compared to some other cars in its class,” O’Brien says. “It performs well in corners and the driver is able to maintain better control and speed compared to some of the other cars it races.”

At the Sebring track, O’Brien expects to average lap speeds of about 80 MPH.

“This is my dad’s car and it stays in Florida for most of the year,” O’Brien says. “He’s been racing for over seven years, and I earned my license just over two years ago. We usually split seat time over a race weekend  – I’ll race one and he’ll race the other – but this particular weekend I’ll race both events.”

While the younger O’Brien is racing this weekend, the elder O’Brien will serve as crew chief.

Last October, Celtic Racing, which at that time also included driver Mick Robinson, won 1st in class at the 13-hour endurance race at Virginia International Raceway.

“We finished 15th overall of 49 cars,” O’Brien says. “In that event each driver ran approximately one hour before coming in the pits for refueling and a driver change. That was our first 13-hour event at VIR.”

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