Racing cars helps vets forget about injuries for a little while

GREER, S.C. (AP) — It’s been two years since Marine Lance Cpl. Jeremy Stengel sat behind the wheel, and life is much different now.

The 22-year-old Marine suffered massive internal injuries and wounds to both legs when he was hit by a roadside bomb in Iraq. Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington has been his home ever since.

But this week, the 22-year-old Stengel and about 30 other seriously injured and recuperating Marines hooted, hollered and high-fived as they chased normalcy in an American pastime: racing fast cars. The Marines took turns zipping around BMW’s driving school in South Carolina, using the experience to forget about their devastating injuries for a while.

The Marines took to the road course in a variety of the latest 2008 models ranging from the sporty 335i to opulent M5 sedans. Five 650i coupes were retrofitted with knob-and-lever hand controls for drivers with leg injuries.

The Marines’ travel was paid for by the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, a private group formed to help injured military veterans and their families. The goal of the trip was to pump up their spirits while improving driving skills.

“It’s kind of hard to keep these guys in their beds at times, just because they are ready to rock and roll,” said Sgt. Stanley Mayer, a liaison between the Marines and the hospital. “Their legs are not, their arms are not, but they are ready to go. It’s the unbreakable spirit of the Marine. It’s pretty amazing.”

Mayer, who was injured in Iraq in 2005, has helped Marines with their recovery. The 26-year-old from Cleveland said his injuries — mostly burns — paled in comparison to those in the group.