Donors get “Hot Lap” before giving blood SONOMA, Calif. (Sept. 27, 2010) Community members and race fans alike can enjoy the ride of a lifetime and help save lives during the 10th annual High Speed Blood Drive at Infineon Raceway on Thursday, Sept. 30. The raceway will partner with the American Red Cross and the Blood Bank of the Redwoods on this one-of-a-kind blood drive, which will be held from 1-6 p.m. at Infineon Raceway. Since 2001, Infineon Raceway’s High-Speed Blood Drive has generated nearly 750 pints of blood, and each pint can be used to save up to three lives. In true high-speed fashion, the raceway will put its own “spin” on the traditional blood drive, as donors will get their hearts pumping with a high-speed “hot lap” around the 12-turn road course before giving blood. Donors will ride along with a professional instructor from the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School in an official Infineon Raceway Toyota Camry. “I came out here not knowing what to expect with the hot lap, but I knew it would be good because it was at Infineon Raceway,” said Robert Adler, a 2009 participant from San Francisco. “When (the driver) started up the car and got on the track, he was flying. It definitely got my heart pumping. It was a great time.” To make an appointment to donate blood at Infineon Raceway and for information on donor eligibility, go to www.redcrossblood.org (sponsor code “Infineon”) or www.bbr.org. All donors must be at least 17 years old (or 16 with parental consent) and bring a valid photo ID. For more information, contact Diana Brennan at [email protected] or 800-870-RACE.