ABOUT
Our team started in 2011 and has continued to grow every year. We have been blessed to have generous people that have supported and continue to help and volunteer to keep High Performance Heroes going, year after year!
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Interested in Joining Our Team?
HPH is actively seeking people to join our team. If you are a veteran or support our U.S. military veterans we are interested in hearing from you!
We are seeking both U.S. military veterans and/or active duty military personel with combat related wounds for racing and team positions. Veterans from all branches of the U.S. Military, National Guard, Reserves, and Coast Guard all are welcome. Click Here.
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Our organization is a 100% volunteer and donation based.
TEAM
Liam Dwyer
Patrick Brown
John Vann
Jonathan Flores
Driver
A native of Connecticut, Liam joined HPH, while he was stationed at the Wounded Warrior Battalion, Walter Reed Hospital, Bethesda Maryland. While he was there he worked hard every day to both complete his rehabilitation and college education.
Liam brought a wealth of technical expertise, won in the world of high-performance sports cars and National level Autocross. He built and campaigned a Spec 350Z in the Northeast Region and claimed a top-ten finish in the prestigious “One Lap of America”.
In 2011 while visiting The Gold Cup Historic Races, held at Virginia International Raceway, in Alton, Virginia, then Sgt. Dwyer, USMC met Dave Thomas and served as the inspiration for the formation of High Performance Heroes.
In his first vintage racing season, Liam impressed everyone with his adaptability, speed, concentration and wit. His solid engineering and driving experience made the rest of the team better. Liam’s convincing victory in the 2013 Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix thrilled the crowd and the paddock too. We are thrilled Liam’s HPH experience was part of the pathway to reaching his goal of becoming a professional racing driver. He is now competing in the Continental Tire Series with Freedom Autosport.
Driver
A native of Chesapeake, Virginia, Sgt. Patrick Brown was first deployed to Iraq. Later, he was serving as a Combat Engineer with Company C 4th Combat Engineer Battalion when wounded by an IED, resulting in the loss of his left leg and the below the knee amputation of his right leg, while serving in Afghanistan. When HPH first met Patrick, he was assigned to the Wounded Warrior Battalion at Walter Reed Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. While living in Bethesda, Patrick was the recipient of a new modified Jeep, which only fueled his excitement to get into the race car. Patrick’s transition from full-fledged car nut to bona fide racing driver was planned in a series of incremental steps. High Performance Heroes built a nearly all-hand controlled 1972 MG Midget, designed to meet both Patrick’s needs and Vintage Racing rules. Patrick received professional racing instruction and training in early 2015. He also competed in that highly modified racecar, in several Autocross events in Pennsylvania and in Virginia. Patrick’s skills have increased impressively since his introduction to the number 15 MG Midget.
Patrick has moved on to pursue his own motorsports goals and is building and developing a 240Z drift car with a Skyline drive train.
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Driver
A native of Ohio, John served with the U.S. Army infantry in Iraq from 2001-2007, during which he suffered combat injuries including TBI and PTSD which required 2-3 years in rehabilitation. In the Summer of 2012, John joined Racing4Vets as their first Race Driver.
He became Co-Founder and Vice President of Racing4Vets in September 2012 and was the first Regional Director in the Cincinnati area.
John has significant experience with nonprofits benefiting service-disabled veterans and brings his knowledge of veterans’ needs to Racing4Vets and HPH. He has participated in the VA’s National Veterans Sports Clinics, and was a participant-organizer of Team River Runner.
John now resides in Tampa, Florida where he leads the Racing4Vets automotive training and competition program. At the beginning of 2017, HPH was introduced to John. He completed his Vintage Driver's School training during the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix at Pittsburgh International Race Complex. He Then competed in the race that weekend and the following weekend at the PVGP Schenley Park Event in the HPH 1959 Turner. John is still living in Florida and working for Racing4Vets and travels to race with HPH.
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David Thomas
President
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BA ’78
The College of William & Mary:
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Dave claims a 40+ year “love/hate affair” with British sports cars. After spectating for over 30 of those years, he finally “bit the bullet” and started racing. In just a few short seasons he went from a single open trailer and one HP Sprite to two trailers, including a 28 ft. enclosed hauler, four British racers and a 1978 Club Formula Ford Zink Z-10. Rehab may be next.
While pondering how to work his way back to a sane level of participation, he met Sgt. Liam Dwyer USMC and, along the tireless efforts of many, many people, they began High Performance Heroes.
A native of south eastern Virginia, Dave is the owner HBS LLC, a diversified group which supplies various services to the oil and gas industry. He is also President of High Performance Heroes, a 501( c )(3) dedicated to helping combat injured veterans achieve their motorsports goals. Dave would like to extend a special thanks to his father, Charles “Buss” Thomas, himself a former circle track racer in the Pacific northwest and a USN retiree, and his mother, Barbara Thomas, for their unfailing support of High Performance Heroes.
Treasurer
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Driver
A native of Hempstead, NY and later Tampa, FL. In 2005 he enlisted in the U.S. Army. Attended basic training at Fort Sill, Ok. 2005, Flores was stationed in Schweinfurt, Germany; under the 1st Infantry Division, 2nd Brigade Combat team. 2006, deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; as a 249 Dismounted Saw Gunner on foot patrols and house assessments. As a 50-caliber machine gunner on a HMMUV conducting combat patrols and route clearance.
On July 4, 2007, while conducting combat patrols, his vehicle was hit with a pressure plate IED and small arms fire in Baghdad, Iraq. While in Walter Reed he medically retired from the military on Sept 25, 2008 from injuries sustained on July 4, 2007. At the beginning of 2018, HPH was introduced to Johnny. He attended the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, as crew for John Vann. February 14, 2019, Cpl. Flores had his left leg below the knee amputated due to his injuries. He was awarded a Purple Heart, along with various other wartime accommodations. His recovery and therapy continue at James A. Hailey V.A. Hospital in Tampa, FL. Today he continues to serve and help his fellow brothers and sisters in arms in the Tampa area. Johnny will complete his Vintage Driver's School training during the 2020 Jefferson 500 at Summit Point Motorsports Park. He now resides in Plant City, FL with his wife Wania Flores and son Jonathan Flores and will travel to race with HPH.
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David Morris
Secretary
Dave has built nearly everything that goes down the track. From sports cars to drag racers to classic American muscle cars to 2000 hp competition pulling tractors. Dave is a veritable library of automotive information. He was truly High Performance Heroes greatest resources during the resurrection of #14. The hours he put in bringing the little blue and green racer back to life, are uncountable.
Dave’s calm approach to problem solving, even during the most hectic of pit environments, and willingness to turn the wrench long after the rest of the team are exhausted have kept us out of tons of unnecessary trouble.
Calling northern Ohio his home, Dave has worked in south eastern Ohio, as owner of DMS LLC. His company provided everything, from fluid and compressed gas dynamics to technical Courthouse data acquisition, needed by Marcellus and Utica Shale Operations.
Dave now works driving truck. Dave and his wife Amy recently bought a home in northern Ohio.
Dave serves as the Secretary of High Performance Heroes.
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Matt Wheeler
Board of Directors Member
BBA, ’98
The College of William & Mary
MBA, ‘03
Indiana University
Matt, a stand-out collegiate athlete, brings a love of anything fast, and strong knowledge of accounting, banking and finance. Matt’s business background has been invaluable during the formation of the 501(c)(3) and the establishment of our financial operations.
Matt’s early automotive exploits include off-roading and modification and repair of those vehicles, as well as boating and Jet skiing. An avid SCUBA diver and barefoot water skier, Matt and his family enjoy all forms of water sports.
Matt is employed by Advent International in Boston, MA serving as their Manager of Financial Planning & Analysis.
A native of Richmond, Virginia, Matt currently resides in Boston with his wife Kelly and their two children Edge and Maggie. Matt has graciously agreed to find time, in his dizzyingly busy schedule, to serve on the Board of Directors of High Performance Heroes.
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Ashley Thomas
Director of Race Operations
AAS Criminal Justice '11
AAS Police Technology '11
CCBC
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Ashley was first exposed to vintage racing when her parents brought her to the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix (PVGP). As a youngster, Ashley was introduced to Tivvy Shenton, a perennial race winner. Her parents made it a point to take she and her brother back to the race each year. As time went by and Ashley grew up, she attended the race on her own.
While at the PVGP in 2012, Ashley met Dave Thomas and became interested in the HPH mission. She helped out with charity for a few months, as a Team Member and later that year was appointed to her current position, Director of Race Operations by the Board of Directors.
Ashley works in local government and in the private security sector. She also runs her own business, A.R.T. Creations. www.art-creations.site
Ashley currently resides in Clarksburg, WV and is married to Dave Thomas, President of HPH.
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Mathieu Huovinen
Active Duty Military Liaison
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Full bio in the works.....
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Mathieu is currently serving in the U.S. Navy. Mathieu and Rachel are the owners of Hoovie's Vintage Race & Restorations. He also races both vintage, a Triumph Spitfire and a Fiat.
Mathieu currently resides in Virginia Beach, VA with his wife Rachel and their son Hudson. Mathieu has helped HPH for the last two years and has moved up to this position.
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Amy Morris
Team Member
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Chris Randolph
Team Member
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Craig Bolton III
Team Member
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Matt Daly
Team Member
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Jim Frank
Team Member
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Carl Harvey
Team Member
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Matt Washington
Team Member
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David Kinsey
Team Member
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