I have lived almost all my life about an hours ride from the capital of auto racing, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I have attended every 500 mile classic since 1973. As a youngster, my dad used to take me every year to qualifications for the big race. I dreamed of driving a race car around the famous two and a half mile oval. As the years passed, my fascination with racing never wavered.
In the fall of 1986, I announced to my wife, my desire to see if I had what it takes to chase my life long dream. Not knowing how or where to start, I asked everyone I could think of how do you start a career as a racing driver. Before I knew it, May rolled around, and it was once again time for Indy. I had a friend that had pit and garage area passes for the speedway. So, my friend and I headed to the track, I was determined to find the answer to my question. While walking down pit road, we saw Rick Mears, a former winner of the 500, sitting in a golf cart, watching the action on the track. I walked up to Mr. Mears, and ask him the question, how do learn to drive a race car. Mr. Mears politely told me many start by going to a professional racing school. I had my answer, and hurried home to make my plans to attend a racing school.
After looking at the adds for racing schools, I decided to go to ELF Winfield Driving school in France. I left for France, July 4, 1987. After a days rest because of jet lag, the other 17 students and myself were shuttled from our hotel rooms to circuit Paul Ricard. After a short introduction to the staff, the class was lead out to the racing surface, their sat 6 beautiful turbo charged formula Renaults. After we had all had a turn driving those open wheeled beauties, the learning of how to control the machines started. Exciting to drive that fast, yes, easy, NO. First, you learn, there is more to driving a race car than just opening the throttle, and steering. You have to learn where and how to use the throttle, and how much. Then you have to learn how and when to steer the car, and how much, you see you have to have just the right speed, and hit the correct turn in and turn out points in a corner, to be fast going into and coming out of the turn. Next, comes the technique know as heel and toe. Thats where you cover half the throttle pedal, and half the brake pedal, with your left foot. You use your right foot for the clutch. While pressing the brake pedal with half your right foot, you press the clutch in with your left foot. While the clutch pedal is depressed, you rock your left foot sideways, blip the throttle pedal, and down shift a gear. The trick is to brake as late as possible, be smooth with your foot work, hit your turn in point at the right place, at the right speed, and in the right gear, to be fast going into, and exiting the turn. Keep in mind while all this is going on, you have to watch the car in front, and a car that maybe beside you, and knowing the driver behind you is just waiting for you to make a mistake. All this is going on at 160 miles per hour. And this is just one of the things you have to learn, there are many, many more.
After returning from France, I raced in the United States, and was a member of the Sports Car Club of America. I raced at road circuits, Mid-Ohio, Road America, and Gateway International Raceway to name a few. After a few years, as my children got older, racing became far to expensive for me to stay competitive.
Even though I quit driving race cars, the lessons I learned about driving, I use everyday. Anyone interested in either driving a race car, or just wanting to learn to control your family car for emergency situations, should consider attending a professional driving school. There are many good driving schools in the U.S. Skip Barber, Jim Russell, Bondurant and Bertil Roos just to name a few. Go ahead, try it, you won’t regret it, and you will be amazed at what you have learned.
For a personal note, I would like to thank Mr. Rick Mears, I took your advice, I tried it, I loved it, I never got to drive at Indy, let alone win 4 times like you did, however, not only did you point me in the right direction, you taught me what a true champion and gentlemen is. Thank You.
