CELEBRATING A REMARKABLE LEGACY: 

BILL WADE TO RETIRE AS 
NATIONAL PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF TIRE RACK STREET SURVIVAL

After more than two decades of tireless service, dedicated leadership, and unwavering commitment to teen driver safety, Bill Wade will retire as National Program Director of Tire Rack Street Survival at the end of 2026.

The BMW CCA Foundation extends its deepest gratitude to Bill for his transformative contributions to our mission and to the tens of thousands of lives impacted through his work.

A Legacy Born from Vision and Service

Bill’s journey with Tire Rack Street Survival began in 2001, when he joined the original working group tasked with creating a hands-on teen driving safety program. He was there for the program’s launch in 2003—wrangling students and setting up cones at one of the very first schools in Laurens, South Carolina.

In late 2005, after stepping forward to offer an educator’s perspective during a critical period of growth for the initiative, Bill was invited by the BMW CCA Foundation Trustees to step into the role of National Program Director. He officially assumed leadership on January 1, 2006.

Growth, Impact, and Partnerships

Under Bill’s guidance, Street Survival evolved from a modest grassroots effort into a premier national safety initiative:

• Scale & Reach: Bill expanded the program from just 18 schools in 2005 to over 100 schools annually—a landmark milestone first achieved in 2013 and sustained for seven consecutive years.
• Record Achievements: In its most productive year (2019), the program delivered 106 schools and trained 2,472 young drivers.
• Historic Milestones: Across his tenure, Bill oversaw the program’s 1,000th school in 2017 and its 1,500th school in 2025, reaching more than 32,000 students trained.
• National Partnerships: He built and fostered vital relationships with major automotive and safety partners, including the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), Porsche Club of America (PCA), Michelin, Continental, BMW NA, Liberty Mutual, Enterprise Holdings, LiquiMoly, FCP Euro, and Safelite.

Champion of the Volunteer Community

While the growth figures are historic, Bill’s true legacy lies in the human connections he nurtured. Throughout thousands of miles, rental cars, and weather conditions ranging from freezing snowstorms to extreme heat waves, Bill was a rock for our volunteers and steadfastly held the standards of the program.

Bill brought a rare mix of operational grit, genuine heart, and humor to a mission that saves lives every single day. He leaves behind an incredible national footprint and a community forever changed by his dedication. He consistently credited the success of Street Survival not to himself, but to the more than 125 local Chapters and Regions, the 2,000+ trained in-car coaches, and the countless volunteers who arrived early, stayed late, and gave their all for teen safety.

"When we look at Street Survival, Bill Wade’s heart and energy are everywhere you look. Bill has kept the program focused on the one thing that matters: saving lives. Bill dedicated his career to ensuring thousands of teenagers came home safely to their families. That is the purest definition of success”.

— Simone Harrison
President of the BMW CCA Foundation

Looking Ahead

As Bill prepares for his well-deserved retirement at the close of 2026, the Trustees, staff, and entire BMW CCA Foundation family offer our heartfelt thanks to Bill for his decades of service, friendship, and leadership.

Please join us in celebrating Bill Wade, honoring his incredible career, and wishing him the very best in his next chapter!