Courtesy Photo | Nancy Matter's Guardian for Heroes car is 3200-horsepower National Hot Rod Association...... read more read more
SAN ANTONIO - A recording artist who shifted gears a decade ago to follow her lifelong passion for drag racing now blends that passion with a unique foundation to honor fallen service members and veterans.
With the dawning of the new millennium, Nancy Matter, an audio mastering engineer and founder of a recording studio, was doing well for herself. Living in Los Angeles, she was involved with more than 35 gold and platinum records and working on movies, such as "The Little Mermaid II- Return to the Sea" and "Toy Story II." Ten years ago, however, she decided to return full-time to her passion for racing and began driving competitively.
“I’ve been racing since I was 13 years old,” said Matter. “I began working on this car in particular in 2006.”
“This car in particular” is her 3,200-horsepower National Hot Rod Association top alcohol funny car dragster capable of blazing down a quarter-mile track in 5.3 seconds with a top speed of more than 270 miles per hour.
For nine years, Matter and her team raced for a variety of corporate sponsors. Then, through a series of personal encounters, her career turned a corner and she began using her vehicle to spread awareness for a unique foundation.
“A customer walked into our shop and it came up in conversation about using my car as a means to spread awareness about the Guardian for Heroes Foundation,” stated Matter. “From there, we’ve been blessed to be put in contact with the Kyle family: Deby, Jeff, and Amy, which allows us to carry the foundation’s message.”
The Guardian for Heroes Foundation was established by former Chief Petty Officer Chris Kyle, the legendary Navy Seal immortalized in the “American Sniper” book and movie. Kyle left the Navy in 2009 after four combat tours in Iraq but wanted to continue to serve his country by helping those returning from war to acclimate to life after the military. After his tragic death in 2013, the Kyle family carried on his legacy and continues to raise awareness for those service members.
Matter says that there is a deeper symbolism for her when she races the car down the strip. “Chris is a guardian of his men, and when I’m driving he’s like a guardian of me and my car, and I’m beyond honored that I was chosen to represent his foundation.”
Matter traveled to San Antonio in mid-February to put her funny car through its paces at the San Antonio Raceway in preparation for the 2016 racing season. She also visited the Warrior & Family Support Center and Army North Headquarters on Fort Sam Houston to talk with service members and veterans and collect their signatures on her car.
Matter said her interactions with service members past and present inspire her even though she will never fully know what it’s like to put on a uniform and do the things that Soldiers do.
“I’m as civilian as you can get, but every time I win, it’s not me winning, it’s the foundation winning. It’s Chris winning. It’s our vets winning,” Matter explained. “Winning for this foundation and winning for you guys ... nothing compares to that. Absolutely nothing.”
Matter’s team is just as patriotic as her, creating a lasting legacy for anyone who sees them.
“We hope to inspire people to show their support,” said Jeremy Mitchell, a crew chief with the team. “We want to help people by spreading awareness so they know that there’s someone back home who cares about them and their sacrifices.”
In addition to Guardian for Heroes, Matter’s car is also sponsored by the Apache Warrior Foundation, an organization dedicated to honoring fallen AH-64 helicopter pilots, and #22KILL, an organization that raises awareness for veterans’ mental health issues and seeks to prevent veteran suicides.
| Date Taken: | 02.21.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 02.26.2016 10:26 |
| Story ID: | 190205 |
| Location: | SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 223 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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