Retired Army Colonel Drives Corvette Cross-Country Raising Awareness Of Veteran Suicide: Video
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Robert Hess, a retired U.S. Army Colonel, is driving across the country in his Arctic White C6 Chevy Corvette Coupe to help raise awareness of veteran suicide. Hess will travel from coast to coast along U.S. Highway 20, also known as the Medal of Honor Highway, visiting American Legion posts along the way. In addition, Hess will race his Corvette at Summit Point Raceway in West Virginia, where he will compete in the Top Dog Motorsports competition, a motorsport race between various branches of the military.
Robert Hess
“The whole goal behind this is suicide prevention,” Hess said, per a report from Central Oregon Daily News. “All we can hope is that someone will see the message and at some point in time they will speak with a veteran who’s on the verge and they will take the step and save that life.”
Hess’ C6 Corvette is equipped with racing suspension and safety gear to bring it up to spec for on-track competition. Under the hood, the C6 is running the factory naturally aspirated 6.0L V8 LS2 gasoline engine, rated at 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. Output is routed to the rear wheels through the GM six-speed manual transmission.
During his journey across the country, Hess met with Dick Tobiason, who helped lead the effort to create the National Medal of Honor Highway.
“I’ve known several [veterans] who have attempted suicide, and they’ve always found that if they could be with other veterans who are like-minded and who care for each other, then it’s no longer focus on myself; it’s a focus on the group,” Tobiason said.
Looking ahead, Hess will compete in the annual Top Dog Championships at Summit Point Raceway in West Virginia, set to take place October 12th, 2024. The Top Dog Championships is open to military veterans, active-duty personnel, and military supporters, who can compete for individual class awards as well as the Top Dog Trophy. Last year, the Marine Corps took the top trophy home, while the Army took the trophy home in 2022 and 2021.
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Awesome. Vet in Vette for a good cause.
Wow – I wish I had my old Corvette, I would follow him if he was in my area. I hope some Corvette clubs in the northern U.S. see this and join him allong his route! Good luck and safe travels!!!