Gratitude frequently comes in the form of words, but there's an organization in Colorado that expresses it differently—through the roar of powerful engines and the sleek lines of high-performance automobiles.
Warrior’s Chariot, a nonprofit dedicated to honoring veterans, first responders and children facing adversity, orchestrates unique events that provide a thrilling mix of supercars and camaraderie.
Phillip Koontz, a Navy SEAL combat veteran, recently received an invitation to one such event—an extraordinary opportunity to ride in some of the flashiest cars on the planet.
Rally Day
The day began with an air of secrecy as Koontz, along with about 30 other "warriors," car owners/drivers and support staff gathered early at a stealth location. These events are purposefully private, designed solely to honor the warriors—not to draw attention to the organizers. They shared breakfast burritos and coffee and each warrior drew a token from a bucket, determining which car they would ride in first.
“Then, we were off to the races,” Koontz reminisces, describing the rush of winding through scenic mountain routes in an Aston Martin, Lamborghini, Ferrari, two Porsches and a “souped-up Audi.”
“It was a bummer I couldn’t drive,” he said with a chuckle, calling the experience “one of a kind.”
They stopped several times to change cars and later enjoyed a BBQ lunch together at Red Rocks Amphitheater. Koontz, who co-owns Karambit.com, donated a folding tactical knife that was gifted to one lucky warrior and all participants received small goodie bags with t-shirts and coupons.
What sets this nonprofit apart, Koontz says, is that “they give an experience rather than just financial help.” Koontz emphasized the importance of events like these in providing space for individuals to connect with others who understand their experiences.
“It’s hard for us, sometimes, to get out of our shell. It’s hard to open up even though we need to. … We 100 percent appreciated it and walked away feeling very loved and very seen,” he says.
A Special Mission
Chad Jensen, president of Warrior’s Chariot, says that’s exactly why Rick Douglas founded the organization in 2018.
“We really like to put on a good event and make sure that everybody has the time of their life,” Jensen says.
These vehicles aren't just transportation—they are symbols of freedom. Warrior’s Chariot holds rallies like the one Koontz attended, as well as track days. And recently, it helped Make-a-Wish grant a wish to child who dreamed of riding in a Rolls Royce. Nine other supercars showed up to create a private showing just for the child and his family and friends. The organization also regularly lends a hand (or exotic cars and their owners) to other good causes such as toy drives, Aero Angel and more.
“We’ve got a lot of very generous supercar owners,” Jensen says.
At the moment, about 80 car owners are on the roster. Due to logistics, track days max out at about 40 cars. Rallies could accommodate more cars, if more were available. The goal is to hold more events each year—and ultimately to expand beyond Colorado.
“It is a bottomless pool (of warriors) that we could get to participate,” he says. “What we don’t have, unfortunately, is a bottomless pool of supercar owners. … We are looking for cars that you can’t see every day. We’re looking for the most exotic of supercars.”
The other limiting factor is funds. This experience is complimentary for warriors, but the events aren't cheap. Renting a track, for instance, can cost $12,000 to $15,000 per day, with track personnel and first responders. To date, the car owners not only have been donating their time to the events, but also footing a large portion of the bill—$200 to $300 each per event to pay for their own lunch, a warrior’s lunch and other costs.
“We hope to make it to where the drivers don’t have to pay," Jensen says. "We really appreciate the drivers who donate their time and really appreciate the veterans for everything they’ve done."
Website: https://www.warriorschariot.org/
Facebook+ Instagram: @warriorschariot