MotoAmerica Supersport Champion JD Beach and Hayden Gillim, winner of the 2014 AMA Pro SuperSport title, have started a charity foundation to support young flat-trackers as well to fund general rider safety initiatives. The Ethan Gillam Chasin' A Dream Foundation is in the name of Hayden's brother Ethan who lost his life racing flat track at age 10. JD continues to run Ethan's number 95 in his honor. The following is the announcement from Team Beach:
Champion road racers JD Beach and Hayden Gillim have teamed up to help fund the “Ethan Gillim Chasin’ A Dream Foundation” in support of future professional motorcycle racers.
Competitors on the racetrack and fast friends and live-in training partners off the tarmac, Beach and Gillim will initially target amateur dirt-trackers ages 4-16 with product- and training-related scholarships.
Multi-time AMA Amateur National Champion Ethan Gillim suffered fatal injuries in a racing accident in May, 2007. Gillim, 10, was the second cousin of champion motorcycle racing brothers Tommy, Nicky, and Roger Hayden.
Beach, 24, is the 2015 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion. Gillim, 20, won the 2014 AMA Pro SuperSport title. Both Beach and Gillim grew up racing flat track and continue to compete in that discipline on a professional level.
“First and foremost,” Beach said, “we want to improve rider safety. To that end, 10 percent of all funds raised each year will go to the Roadracing World Action Fund for the purchase of airfence.
“Second, we want to grow interest in and support for amateur and professional motorcycle racing. Racing has given Hayden and me a lot in life, so we want to help grow the sport we love.”
Current scholarship items include: Johnny Lewis 10 Training Camps, American Supercamps Motorcycle Technique Schools, and Arai VX-Pro3 and Bell Moto9 helmets.
Beach and Gillim request applicants email résumés to team95racing95@gmail.com. “As we grow each year,” Beach said, “we will be able to select more riders. If you aren’t picked for 2016, don’t get discouraged. Try again the next year.”
For additional information, contact Beach at 270/925-3835 or jiggydog95@gmail.com.