The (5) 9/11 Angel Tribute Cars travel across the country to provide awareness and education. Kevyn Major Howard, "Rafterman" from Stanley Kubrick's blockbuster film Full Metal Jacket, challenged himself in 2007 to name just one Hero that had died for his freedom. "I was watching the nightly news as they announced that 12 died this day and 7 that day", Kevyn said. "I woke up one morning and challe
nged myself to name just one person who has died for my freedom", he continued. He started the Fueled By The Fallen, a 501(c)3 non-profit. Kevyn enlisted the expertise of Chuck Spiker, a lifelong drag racer and former National Go Kart Champion, to create a memorial that would get the attention of all Americans. "The reason we chose race cars is because you can get the attention of a two year and a ninety-two year old with one", Kevyn said. Chuck took a 1963 Nova and created a 10 second quarter mile door slammer drag car representing fallen Marines from Iraq and Afghanistan. "Maybe I can get people who look upon the race car to remember just one name. If I can do that, I have accomplished my mission", Kevyn continued. The determination was made that more cars are needed. The '63 Marines Nova was already filled with 867 fallen Marines. Fueled By The Fallen acquired a Bickel chassis custom drag car with a fiberglass 1966 Nova shell to become the second Marines car. A second 1966 Chevy Nova was acquired to become the Navy car in 2008. As more people viewed the Memorial Race Cars, the need for the other branches became immediately apparent. A 1992 Ford Mustang LX "Fox Body" was acquired to represent the fallen Army soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, there is a second Army Mustang ('93 GT 5.0) that is a parade car to increase the visibility of those Army Heroes whom have given the ultimate sacrifice. In April of 2010, the Air Force car was acquired. It is a 1970 Chrysler Challenger R/T featuring 99 fallen Air Force Heroes. In August of 2010, a Ford Anglia was acquired from Niagara Falls, NY. It is currently being built into the first in a series of "Allies" cars to represent those brave fallen Heroes from our friends across the globe. In 2009, Kevyn recognized the sacrifices of our brave public safety personnel by creating the National Law Enforcement Memorial Cruiser featuring over one thousand fallen peace officers from around the United States since September 11th, 2001. In August of 2010, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca and the Association of Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, in conjunction with Fueled By The Fallen, created the Los Angeles County Memorial Cruiser featuring 477 fallen peace officers from Los Angeles County since 1850. Fueled By The Fallen and J & B Motorsports, Pittsburgh, PA, collaborated on two nitro funny cars. One is a "Marines Dress Blues" Memorial car and the other is a "USS Enterprise Tribute" car. Today, those cars can be seen racing at drag tracks across the United States. August 2011 the five 9/11 Angel Cars were unveiled on the lawn of the United States Capitol and were present at Ground Zero for the 10th Anniversary of 9/11. They have been on the road since providing closure to those affected by 9/11 (we haven't met too many people, if any, that have not been affected) and teaching our children seven forgotten words: Yes Sir, No Sir, Please and Thank You. We at Fueled By The Fallen made a promise to Never Forget and we will continue to keep that promise.
