Rescue 1 Fire Safety for Kids is a non-profit organization that uses motorsports marketing methods to teach kids about fire preventions.
Jeff Steere drives the Rescue 1 ’33 Willys Dragon Slayer funny car. He says, “High-quality illustrations in our fire prevention booklets, a broad motorsports theme that kids really take to and professional driver and race sanctioning body support make for a high octane fire prevention program.” Steere, a professional firefighter, worked for the City of Grand Rapids for 24 years. Jeff explained how Rescue 1 uses fire departments, schools and other community partners to distribute the literature that has a motorsports image. “Kids actually collect the artwork, so that leads to a high retention of the fire safety information covered in our books,” the lead-footed firefighter pointed out.
Additional fire safety booklets are distributed when the Bar’s Leaks sponsored Willys is displayed at auto shows or raced at the drag strip. Known as the “Dragon Slayer,” the Willys five-window coupe is powred by a 528-cid, 1400-hp alcohol-burning stroker motor built by Reichert Engines. The motor features a 14:71 Littlefield blower, Enderle fuel injection and Blue Thunder heads. It is linked to a two-speed Lenco Drive racing transmission. The Ford/Strange rear end is fitted with 4:10 gears and the fiberglass body rides on a 108-in. wheelbase chrome moly chassis. In competition, the Dragon Slayer has turned in a 7.5-sec. quarter mile at 185 mph. Rescue 1 Fire Safety for Kids is also putting together a ’48 Chevy Fleetline Aerocoupe that promotes the Dragon Slayer theme. The fastback Chevy will ride on a custom pro-touring chassis built by Jamieson Fabrications that utilizes 2005 Corvette C6 components such as brakes and suspension. It will be motivated by a Pro Charged LS2 V-8. The Chevy has been on a 10-show multi-state tour during 2009, which ended at the Nickey Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals in Rosemont, Ill., during the latter part of November. Next, the car will be auctioned off with 100 percent of the proceeds of the sale going to the non-profit fire prevention and safety education program.
Anyone interested in helping with the Rescue 1 programs now or in the future can contact Jeff Steere. Police and fire departments interested in purchasing Rescue 1’s motorsports-themed books will find that they are available at very affordable cost. Contact:

Jeff Steere
President of Rescue 1
7531 Westlane
Jenison, MI 49428
jeffsteere@comcast.net
(616) 617-6895