Drive to Live™ is a loosely knit, emotionally bound group of friends, parents, victims and professionals, who have contributed to making the world a safer place to drive through improved education. Each member of the Drive to Live™ team has a personal story to tell, and a deep commitment in the quest to help reduce the number of crashes and the subsequent pain felt by many others, such as the families and not just the actual victim. I would like to identify a few of my friends, members who have helped me in ways that are far too numerous to list here. In no particular order, they are:

Ron Nelson. Ron has been my “boss” in many different ways, dating back to 1986. An ex race-car driver, Ron was the chief instructor at the “Bob Bondurant school of High Performance Driving,” which was my first job in the professional driving world. He has since become President and owner of one of the leading automobile manufacturer training companies in the USA, The Driving Connection. I have worked with Ron for just about every Auto company in the country, including Hyundai, Porsche, Mercedes Benz, BMW, Lexus and of course the Big Three domestic manufacturers.
Ron has been more than just a boss, however. He has taught me many things regarding not just our industry, but life itself.
Ron has been there a few times to help me back onto my feet after discouragement, to help motivate me to continue my commitment to this training program, which is my passion. And that makes Ron family.

Calvin O Frye. Cal has also been more than just a boss to me throughout the years. Like Ron, he is also a mentor. Cal was the President of the “Security Services Division” at the Bondurant Driving School, as I was the lead instructor. His background in International Security is unbelievable, it’s like a movie. We used to do some crazy stuff, that’s for sure!!! We trained drivers the art of the “takeout,” in its many different forms, (the P.I.T maneuver is the one most recognized by the public, when you tap the rear bumper of the fleeing suspects car to spin it out and end the chase) Let me assure you- there is nothing more primal and intense (and FUN!) than when you intentionally (and legally) crash a car! It is a release of years of pent-up aggression, stress and fear, and it will light up ALL of your receptors!!!! It is truly an adrenaline release of monstrous intensity. I understand the allure of “demolition derby!” Cal was also there during tough times in my own life, and for that I consider him family also.

Chris Marvick. This is the first story of tragedy I experienced when I began building the foundation for Drive to Live. (Her story is also in the “Bio” section of the website.) Her story, as unimaginable as it may seem, is actually worse than most. She and her husband Tom lost their only two children in one incident. The pain they have endured, and of other parents who have also undergone a similar experience, is impossible to describe. This is why we are here. This story is about the END OF A YOUNG LIFE! And it’s not just the children, the parents and friends of her boys (and all crash victims) also died in some way on that day.

Dixie Thorp is another great influence in the Drive to Live story. (Her story and video is also found in the Bio section.) Another tragic story, but just like Chris Marvick, Dixie did something brave despite her tragedy, she made an effort to “make a difference.” She created posters, PSA commercials for local TV, and helped me start a nonprofit foundation in the state of Washington to educate young drivers. Together we went to dozens of high schools for presentations and Drivers Education classes. Our presentations were a huge hit, as stacks of letters from students, teachers and principals would attest.
Dixie and I started a great program that would have trained thousands of young drivers absolutely free, but unfortunately politics and unethical people, as well as organizations that were designed to try to help, actually destroyed this wonderful program way before it’s time.
She is also family, and has been there as a great friend for many years. If heart alone made the difference in the corporate world we live in, Dixie would be sure to help me train every teenage driver in this country!!

And there are many, many more. There are so many other people that have helped me, and have become my friend that it is impossible to list them all. But over time, I hope to recognize every one of their contributions to this cause, the cause of saving lives and preventing many of these life-changing crashes.