[Wes Boyd]

My friend Patrick McNamara owns a lot of race cars -- I'm not sure how many and suspect he may not be too clear about it, either, especially since he's unsuccessfullly trying to keep the total number away from his wife, who knows better. I know the number is at least nine, and that doesn't count the two cars that he won't admit to his wife that he recently bought, even though she knows that he did.

Now, this isn't exactly Roush Racing or Hendrick Motor Sports. These cars are four cylinder "Pony Stocks" that are run at several local race tracks, and V-6 "FWD Pure Stocks" that are also run at the same tracks. This is to say that these are old grocery getters that have seen better days and a fenderbender or two before being picked up cheap to be run on the tracks.

Patrick has these cars for a purpose, not just the sheer joy of collecting. He runs a deal he calls "Community Racing Challenge", which puts rookies into race cars for charity fund raisers, or just for the heck of it. Talk nicely to him and you can get a car for a full season, twenty races or so, all the hauling involved, maintenance, gas and oil, helmet, firesuit, everything but entry fees for $1500. Let me tell you, compared to other ways you could do it, it's a deal and a half. Patrick does it because he thinks there's a need to draw new people into racing, and he tries to do it and at least break even.

So, I shouldn't have been surprised to get an e-mail from Patrick a couple weeks back, saying "Hey, Wes! I'm going to have some Pony Stocks down at Evergreen Auto Park. You like to drive one?"

Well, yeah, sure. Nothing like a few hot laps to blow out the carbon and get the feel of what it's like to run a car on a dirt track. I mean, it's not like I was going to be racing or anything . . .

I got down to Evergreen Sunday to discover that I wasn't the only one that Patrick had invited. In fact, I never did get a good count, but there were considerably more drivers than there were cars.

Patrick led us on a hike around the track, talking about some of the things we'd need to know, and then in groups of four or five we went out to turn some laps at ever-increasing speed. I was in a gutted out Pontiac Grand Prix well over a decade old. I was trying to be conservative in finding out what the car would do, and never really got totally comfortable with the car.

I got back up to the pits, got out of the car -- and as big and stiff as I am, that is not easy -- figuring that I'd had the chance to drive the car, it was fun, but a little dissatisfied that I hadn't really had a chance to push it. When Patrick asked, "You like to go again?" I said, "Yeah, sure."

I'm not sure how they worked out the starting lineup -- a drawing, maybe -- but half an hour later I discovered that I was starting on the pole in the first heat race.

I got suited up in the heat, got into the car, and waited, and waited and waited some more. The temperature outside was about ninety by this time, and I had on a heavy racing suit and helmet, and yes, I was sweating.

Finally we got on the track. We took a couple laps at a low speed with my excitement increasing before the green flag flew and I stomped the accelerator on the old Pontiac to the floor. The guy on the outside of the front row spent several laps trying to get around me before he finally managed it, but I held onto second, finally feeling like I was pushing the car toward its limits. I was glad to get out of the car, as I was really starting to feel the effects of the heat.

My taking second qualified me for the feature, but I took a pass considering the heat and the fact that Patrick was running out of running cars.

Basically, I'd accomplished what I set out to accomplish -- I'd driven in a race and didn't finish last. Patrick was pretty honest about the whole deal. "I'm like your neighborhood crack dealer. The first hit is cheap. It gets more expensive once you're hooked."

Not unexpectedly, my wife hit the roof when she found out about it. "Your health insurance doesn't cover racing!"

There is, however, supplemental Motor Sports insurance that does cover racing. I'm thinking about it . . . I have to do something to fight off the sixtieth birthday demon, after all.

[lansingsportsrage.com]

Wes.. it was my pleasure.

Let me tell you.. seeing you, Tom, Brandon, Russ, Steve, Rob, Aaron, Brandon (the other Brandon , and Darren make your first ever starts in a race car was absolutely priceless. Even seeing old pro's like Laci Donnert and Derek Lacey going at it was just fantastic.

The sure joy each of you had on your faces getting out the cars.. whether you were the first car across the line or the last one.. is something I'll carry with me forever and its worth more then the value of all the cars combined. And my wife knows that too !!

And its not all just me either.. Mike Putnam gave me my start, the Garlands (even if they won't admit it now) helped a lot when I was just getting going.. John Ward answers every question you ask him. Dennis O'Neil went above and beyond this year helping not only me, but bringing along several other new faces also.

I hope all of you.. and at least some of you.. will get bitten hard enough that you'll be at the track next year with a car of your own in some shape or fashion.

And the best part is.. we get to to it again next weekend... my voice mail is filling up and I'm answering emails as fast as I can.. lets get 12 more people out there this weekend !

As the Racing Hippie would say.. its more fun then a human being should be allowed to have..

[idiotracer]

I would like to express a great big "THANK YOU" to Patrick for allowing us "rookies" the chance to come out, suit up and tear it up around the banked dirt at Evergeen. I should also thank the track owner and all of the support staff that showed their patience with us while we got up to speed.
We had an absolute blast and it was definately a thrill. We will be leasing cars from Patrick for the 2008 season.
For those bleacher fans that attend the races to watch and always wanted to get involved, Patrick is offering a great opportunity. Dollar for dollar you will not find a better deal in racing anywhere.
I have done the Track Time driving school at Bristol before and it scaled in comparison to last weekend. The chance to tighten the belts up and actually race was a head rush.
As Wes said, "Patrick is our crack dealer" and we are now hooked.

[lansingsportsrage.com]

Race Videos are now online..

http://communityracingchallenge.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=39&Itemid=1

[todd metz sr.]

Good for you Idiotracer

What track will you be racing at and which car/class??

I personally do not like to call someone an idiot untill they have proven to me that they are one. So what is your name or do you just want to be called idiotracer??

Welcome to the addictive world of racing. I too got hooked this past season by just driving my son's car and the cars from the good guys at O'Neils on thursdays at springport.

I plan on racing next season with my neon we are building. Hope to see you out to springport in 2008.

THANKS
_________________
"Yogi"
2008 Springport Speedway Rookie of the Year
2008 Springport Speedway Track Champion
1st and only automatic pony in the 15's
Team Never Dead Racing Team Beacon
If you are not having fun while racing, Adjustments are definitely needed !!!!!

[idiotracer]

Thanks for welcoming me and I look forward to meeting you.
It looks like I will be racing at Springport just because of time constraints on Friday with work. I would lilke to run some races at Spartan though as well as I live closer to Spartan and that is where the bug hit me as we have been watching races there for the past couple of years.
The name idiotracer was picked becasue I had to pick something and when I signed up here I figured that going racing was a pretty stupid idea and a good way to waiste alot of money. I posted and ad looking for a car to lease and Patrick responded to me and was very generous in making an offer to get me to the track. He probably knew from past experience that he has a pretty good hit rate once he gets people in the car at the track and gets their blood flowing. My real name is Tom.
I brought along two buddies of mine to Evergreen as well that have never raced before. At least one of them will also be racing next year through Patrick. It looks like I will start by splitting a season and running every other weekend with this buddy, Brandon. That is the plan and it would not surprise me if after the first week or two that we both decide to run the full season, pending Patrick has the cars. Although the wife is all for this, she does have some reservations about the time commitment. We don't have kids but we do run a large farm and it is just the two of us so we will see how it goes.
Just curious but why did you pick the Neon versus a heavier car? The Neon would run Pony Stocks correct?
Tom

[daytonapony]

[todd metz sr.]

Tom,

Glad to see more people getting into this sport. Yes I too believe this would be a good, no ,GREAT way to spend some money. I hope that you don't think that you will be " wasting " money after next season gets started and you get to race a few races.

Hopefully you get into a dependable safe car next year. Since you are signed up with Patrick this early, you should be able to get almost any make or model of car you want and Patrick should have plenty of time this winter to make sure and have a fine one done by spring.

I think that anyone wanting to lease a car with Patrick would be wise to sign up asap so he can have plenty of time to do a good job of getting the kind of car that the driver wants. Anyone that works on race cars can understand the vast amount of time needed to build a safe, dependable and competive car.

What kind of farm do you and your wife operate? We are retired dairy farmers. Now I work in town like most of the population. MY daughter and son in law still dairy farm in Ohio.

I will be in the Pony Stock class at Springport for 2008 along with my son.

First off I WANTED to drive this class because of the lower costs assotiated with it. Next to nothing for fuel, 2 gallons or less most weekends for my son's Daytona this past year. Tires are usually good for most of the season, except when we run those AWESOME 60 lap pitstop races. Thats like running more than 3 features. 4 cylinder motors and transmissions are cheeper to buy or build than a V6 or a V8.

I decided on a Neon for several reasons.
1. I AM a MOPAR nut from way back. ( I will talk about 440's or 426's etc.. with anyone. )
2. I got a good deal on this car from a friend.
3. Neon parts are readily available at almost all junkyards.
4. Neons have SO much potential to run up front on a regular basis.
5. My son knows a LOT about Neons and is going to help build this one.
6. My son wants to build one of his own, so if it turns out that I don't have the tallent to handle it, I will trade him rides for the season. I feel comfortable in and can handle his Daytona.

I look forward to meeting and talking to you Tom and Brandon also.


THANKS
_________________
"Yogi"
2008 Springport Speedway Rookie of the Year
2008 Springport Speedway Track Champion
1st and only automatic pony in the 15's
Team Never Dead Racing Team Beacon
If you are not having fun while racing, Adjustments are definitely needed !!!!!

[idiotracer]

Todd,

Interesting.....I thought about the Pony class just because of the low cost as well. Your comments concerning it being the cheapest class to run is what I thought. But, the deal that Patrick has for leasing cars in the FWD Pure Stock is very hard to pass up. The fact that all I have to do is show up and drive is what I like. Maybe after the first season I will want to buy and build my own car but right now I am not sure how much time I can commit to this.
Both my wife and I work off of the farm full -time. She is a vet tech (which helps with farm vet bills) and I work as an Account Manager for an automotive stamping company.
Our farm is a horse farm and we somewhere around 45 horses. We are trying to get that number down but the horse market (just like the house market) is not very good right now. We also have Jersey's that we raise for beef....and for the fun of it.
It looks like Brandon and I will be splitting seat time to begin with. We both are concerned that this may take too much time away from family life and are waiting to see how the wifes react. It would not surprise me if very early in the season we both decide to run all of the races. It would a roll of the dice as to availability of cars at that point.

[lansingsportsrage.com]

[idiotracer]

Patrick,

I am not going to doubt it one bit. BUT, if there is one thing that I know it is my wife and I have to lead into this gradually. She has bought into the every weekend thing and about the only thing that would change that right now is if Richard Childress called and made me an offer the #3 every weekend.