If you've been paying attention to this year's Goodguys events, you'll have notice a special set of events happening within the larger car shows. This year, Goodguys has partnered with the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer to raise funds and awareness for the Foundation's mission to "erase the effects of pediatric cancer for patients, survivovrs and their families."
This event is called the AutoCross for Kids and it gives attendees at certain shows the chance to ride with Pro AutoCross competitors on a specially-prepared closed performance AutoCross course in exchange for a donation.
This is such a great partnership - after all, the Auto Enthusiast community is know for its generosity and commitment to causes, particularly those involving the needs of children. But this partnership with the Goodguys is not the only auto-related effort that the Austin Hatcher Foundation supports. Amongst the other efforts is "Hatch's Garage", a program that takes custom-built or donated vehicles and auctions them off to raise money for the foundation.
We spoke with Jim Osborn, Chairman of the Board for the Foundation and one of its founders along with his wife Amy Jo.
Jim describes himself as a longtime gearhead. He comes from a family of car dealers, most notably in Athens, Tennessee and has raced both cars and motorcycles. In 2000, he finished his medical training and started his practice in Tennessee, while also racing cars and raising money for cancer research. It was there he met his wife, who had come to Road Atlanta to do a story on the races for Southern Living.
The foundation is named for their son, Austin Hatcher Osborn, who they lost to aggressive pediatric cancer. The couple were already active in fundraising for cancer research, and out of a desire to find a cure for Pediatric Cancer, they formed the foundation.
Because of their connection to the auto industry - Jim had not only raced, but built race cars and knew how supportive the industry could be. As the foundation began to increase its efforts, it became clear that he couldn't continue to race and work for the foundation. The last car he raced, a VW Diesel Jetta, was donated to the foundation to raise money, and that action started Hatch's Garage.
The idea was to take vehicles that had served an event or had raced and auction them off for charity. That Jetta sold at Barrett-Jackson for $35,000 initially, but the crowd continued to donate to the cause during the auction for a total of $45,000. It has since been donated back to the auction to continue to raise money 4 or 5 times. Since then, more vehicles have been donated including a Centenniel Corvette, a Dodge Viper, motorcycles, fire engines and other vehicles.
When the cars travel to auction, Hatcher Foundation employees go with them and visit kids in the local hospitals. They bring with them the Pinewood Derby cars with custom cut chassis which they build with the kids. An easy way to donate is to buy a Pinewood Derby car. For each purchase, the foundation gives two to kids and you can donate the one you buy.
Hatch's Garage has been such a success that the last two vehicles were commissioned to be built and auctioned, including 'Midnight Grace', a 1971 Chevrolet 3 Door Suburban 4 x4.
Amongst these builds, Jim Osborn has a dream. His grandfather, JB Hatcher, owned a dealership called Hatcher Pontiac Cadillac from 1954-1974 in Athens, Tennessee (in the same town where the Harold Coker had his retread shop). Jim would love to find a Pontiac, Cadillac or GMC truck that came from the dealership to buy and auction off. Hot Rod Hotline readers have contacts all over the country, so if you know of anyone who might have a vehicle from the dealership, email or call us and we'll put you in touch with Jim!
JB Hatcher and his dealership. Harold Coker had his retread shop on the same street prior to moving to Chattanooga and starting Coker Tire.