Neurofibromatosis is a genetic disorder that affects nearly 100,000 Americans.
Every day with the disease is an endurance trial, which is why Dr. Ron Yarab, of Boardman, and several others don't mind spending an entire day racing on behalf of those with the disorder.
The Rolex 24 at Daytona kicks off today at 3:30 p.m. and will continue for a full 24 hours to raise money through the Childrens Tumor Foundation. Each completed lap will raise money pledged by donors through the foundation at www.racing4research.com with the money going towards potential NF drug treatments.
Yarab is the CEO of All Points Physical medicine and Rehab with offices in Niles, Boardman and Columbiana. For him, the event combines his passion for medicine and auto racing. Yarab will race for the Farnbacher Loles No. 85 Children's Tumor Foundation Porsche GT3.
"No one was really putting any money up for this cause and Greg Loles got involved in this charity," Yarab said. "And it is something that needs attention, I mean, we're talking about one in every 2,500 live births or so. That's what lured me to this team. I was kind of shopping around for teams and I did a test run for them so he approached me about this deal with the 'Tumor Car.' This week and this race is about more than just racing. It's worked out really well."
Dr. Yarab first got involved in auto racing in 1993 and has since spent considerable time racing in the Skip Barber Series. Due to the expensive nature of the sport, he's only been able to race sporadically as of late, spending his summers at the Sharon Speedway. Yarab raced in last year's 24 at Daytona, but wasn't able to finish the race.
"Last year didn't go too well," Yarab said. "The engine blew up about an hour and a half into the race. I'm really hoping that doesn't happen again."
Yarab won't be alone in his efforts, in fact, it would be crazy to ask someone to drive 24 consecutive hours. Drivers are allowed to drive up to three hours at a time before a shift change. The Farnbacher Loles' team is an eclectic bunch, with team members from six different countries and eight different countries.
"The Porsche is German so we have a lot of German guys," Yarab said. "We've got a guy from the Dominican Republic that's 19 years old and speaks seven different languages. I'm sitting there with my iPhone using the translator trying to keep up with everything. It's a great group of very different guys. Steve Johnson who races with us used to play professional football for the New England Patriots and he's about as country as it gets. Watching him and those guys talk is an absolute treat."
A common misconception is that driving isn't exhausting. The 24 at Daytona is the world's second largest road race, which means drivers will be twisting and turning in all directions for the duration of their shift. It's so exhausting, Dr. Yarab has witnessed passengers who couldn't handle all the turning.
"It's funny because I've heard so many people say 'Oh, that's easy,' and you put them in the car and they can't even handle riding along," he said.
When Yarab isn't driving, he'll be doing his best to stay hydrated and rested. The pit stops in this type of event are much slower and more deliberate than in Nascar, making sure the team can maintain consistent time shifts.
"Usually what teams try to do is try to run about two and a half hours at a time before you come in," Yarab said. "If all goes well you do a full driver and tire change with each stop, but it's all according to what happens out on the track."
Considering last year's engine failure and the amount of work that goes into preparing for today's event, Dr. Yarab has done his best to keep things in perspective, taking time to let the purpose of the event sink in.
"It really is a neat deal down here," Yarab said. "The foundation has dinners and there's a bunch of activities where the kids get to play in the cars. It keeps you busy and not totally focused on the race. You'll drive yourself nuts doing that."