LAYTON -- The Pioneer Adult Rehabilitation Center Pallet Grand Prix provided one magical ride for Ann Holt on Wednesday.
Holt, a student at PARC, was pushed to a first-place finish in the third annual race by Brayden Ryan and David Waite, representing Davis County-based Horizon Credit Union.
Holt's pallet on wheels was adorned with a rug to make it resemble a flying magic carpet.
The race, held in the south parking lot of Layton Hills Mall, is put on each year by PARC as a way of bringing awareness to the mostly untapped labor pool of people with disabilities.
Local employers were given large wooden pallets by PARC days before the race, then worked to transform them into their best speed machines.
Students from PARC united with the employers to form race teams and pit crews.
The theme of this year's event was "Working on Dreams."
"We are just trying to get the message out that people with disabilities can be great employees," said Merri Ann Perkins, public information manager for PARC. "We think this is a pretty fun way to get the word out."
PARC is a community rehabilitation program administered by Davis School District. It provides services to people with disabilities via programs supported by a combination of local, state and federal dollars through a fee for service. Private sponsorships also are available on a tuition payment basis.
The programs are specifically designed to help people with disabilities who cannot obtain training and employment on their own.
Aside from Horizon Credit Union, 11 other local employers participated in the event: IRS, ATK Aerospace Structures, Alpha Glass, Superior Air Handling, Clearfield city, Stroops Exercise Equipment, Hatch Auto, Smith's Optics, West Point Junior High School, Mountain America Credit Union and Insta-Fire.
PARC student Janice Botts was on the ATK team's pit crew and said she had been eagerly anticipating the race for days.
"These cars are awesome," she said. "I can't believe they push them so fast."
The event also featured a small classic car parade and an awards ceremony to honor the racers.
Jamie Dicks, an ATK employee, said the event is one of the year's highlights for the employees who participate.
"We all look forward to this," she said. "Every year, we see something new, and we get inspired by the PARC students."
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