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When engine builder Dietmar Bauerle isn't around Madrid resigns herself to doing most of the maintenance herself
The Vintage Auto Racing Association (VARA) is the largest Vintage and Historic Auto Racing and Motorsports Organization in the US. VARA members invariably race for the purity of the sport, and few are any more passionate or joyful about racing than Rancho Cucamonga, California resident Kim Madrid. Madrid drives the hot pink number 291 K&N Formula Vee.
Madrid's daughter Dana and son Chris are all smiles about mom's Auto Club Speedway victory
At the recent Route 66 Classic, held on the 2.88-mile road course portion at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, Madrid dominated her class. Having set the fastest time during the morning session, Madrid started the afternoon Qualifier Race on the pole. She went on to win that race, beating second place finisher, Dietmar Bauerle, her engine builder, by a narrow .0804 of a second.
That was funny," remarks Madrid. "Bauerle only runs one race a season and that is at Auto Club Speedway. That seems to be the race that I am the most pumped up about. He probably also has the most experience of anyone racing Formula Vees. He has been involved with the Vees for over 20 years. I do like racing when he is there though, because when things happen to the motor, he is there to work on it. When he is not racing I am the one that has to do the work."
Streaking to victory at the Route 66 Classic in her hot pink number 291 K&N Formula Vee
A friend of Madrid's told her about VARA while she was still racing a Mazda RX7. I wanted to switch to open wheel cars – I love the rush," says Madrid.
"I made the decision to buy a Formula Vee because I am racing on a budget. The Vee class is a spec class that tends to show your ability more. We all have the same motor, tires and set up. I love the competition in this class."
The race weekend at Fontana went exceptionally smooth for Madrid, after Friday's two 25-minute practice sessions, no major repairs were required.
"Saturday was an awesome race. Very close and very exciting. So much so that when I was trying to get to the pits, I had so many people in there, that I couldn't even get my car under the EZ up sign next to my K&N Flag. I thought my husband and son were going to tackle me after I got the victory. I was on a high all night. We did our traditional BBQ for all the Vee drivers, my husband Rudy is the chef, and everyone was having a blast."
"Sunday morning we had one morning practice for 15 minutes. It was very wet and slippery due to all the rain on Saturday night. We went back and forth between slicks or treaded tires due to the weather. We ended up running the slicks. The weather held out and it was a dry fast track."
Madrid started on the pole again and had an incredible start. "I was out in front all alone and led for seven of the ten laps, then on lap eight, going into turn four, I spun for some reason. I keep watching my car in the video to see what I did and I can't figure it out. I did get passed by one Vee but ended up getting second place over all and second in class. Go Figure," adds Madrid.
"I am so thrilled that K&N has decided to sponsor me. Thankful is more like it. Racing on a budget is tuff. I have always used K&N products on all my racecars and streetcars. Both of our Vees use K&N air and oil filters. I love the fact that I am going to be promoting K&N at races and car shows that we attend."
This season Madrid plans on running in all of the VARA races, plus one extra vintage race held at Laguna Seca. That one is a Historic Motor Sports Association (HMSA) event held on the 24th and 25th of April. And, leading up to that race Madrid will compete with her friend Greg Monise, in his Austin Healy Sprite, in a two-hour Enduro race on the main road course at Willow Springs, on April 10th and 11th.
Ron Daniel describes himself as a quiet man. His reputation on the race track is quite the opposite. His own son describes him as an intimidating driver.
Ron and Ryan Daniel, father and son, continue to race together
"He's an aggressive old man," Ryan Daniel said. "You could learn so much from watching him."
Ron Daniel has a sentimental side too. After running partial schedules over the past few years, the 53-year-old driver from Mentone has decided to race the entire 2010 late model schedule at the Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino mainly because he wants to race with his son.
Ron Daniel is 25 years removed from his last full season at the Orange Show. He started eight races in 2009, almost won a couple of those races with two runner-up finishes, including on opening night.
"We were always in contention," Ron Daniel said. "It just never happened. I'm looking forward to going down there and winning some more races."
The last time he raced a full schedule at the Orange Show was in 1985. He raced at Mesa Marin in Bakersfield, Havasu 95 Speedway and Lucas Oil I-10 Speedway in Blythe since then. He won a track championship at Havasu in 2007.
Last year, his son won the late model track championship at Orange Show Speedway and Ron Daniel decided he wanted to race with his son rather than talk him through races as his spotter. But make no mistake, Ron Daniel is out to win some races too.
"I taught him a lot over the radio," Ron Daniel said. "He learned a lot from watching me. Hopefully he's right there to win with me."
Unlike his son, who races a car built by Jackson Racing, Ron Daniel has a car from Victory Circle and Finish Line Motor Sports. It's an example of Ron Daniel's old-school ways, relying on a proven product than experimenting with new equipment. It's his second car from Victory Circle.
As for being described as an aggressive driver, Ron Daniel said there is a fine line between being overly aggressive and taking unnecessary risks.
While he admits he uses some aggressive tactics, Ron Daniel insists he has a reserved personality.
"When I put my helmet on, it all changes," he said.
In one race last year, Ron Daniel drove up underneath his son, lifting the rear end of his car off the track. Ryan Daniel has a photo of the move, and says it's one of his favorite shots.
"He's real intimidating," Ryan Daniel said. "But one of the cleanest racers I've ever watched."
Ron Daniel said one of his goals is to win some races, but more important than that is to help his son improve.
"I want to try and win as much as I can and not get into too much trouble," Ron Daniel said. "But I want to make Ryan better than he is now."
The new one and a tenth mile track at Las Vegas Motorspeedway, constructed in less then three weeks, features steep bank turns, high-speed technical obstacles and massive jumps that provide hundreds of feet of hang-time. It was just the kind of track fodder that Chris Brandt and his TV Hart and Huntington number 82 Pro Light Toyota feed on.
In Saturday's round one race Brandt lead from start to finish
On Saturday, round one of Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, Brandt qualified third but dominated the entire 12 lap main event, taking the hole shot and leading start to finish. But the best was yet to come.
At the start of round two on Sunday, Brandt found himself buried under a three-truck pile up. The accident seriously crunched his gear-shifter and it had to be completely sheared off. In its place the Hart and Huntington crew installed a Powerbuilt half-inch drive extension and a 13-millimeter socket to engage the gears. Re-starting from the very rear of the field, Chris struggled at first to find gears with the makeshift setup, but with his crazy-focused determination, brilliant improvising, and inspired driving, Brandt managed to pull off a third place finish.
After a post race technical inspection, Pro Lite race winner, Rodrigo Ampudia was disqualified, moving Brandt up as the official second place finisher.
So just how huge was it for Brandt to podium twice in the opening rounds of the LOORRS? "After the way last year finished, ultimately it was my fault I was disqualified, which means I gave away the unlimited light championship to (Brian) Deegan," reflects Brandt. "This is a new race year and I have raised the bar for myself. Last year I was on the podium 10 out of 12 races. The only way to raise that bar is to win. So to answer the question, it's always awesome to podium, but I am accepting nothing less than Saturdays win, because nothing else will do."
Having said that, Sunday's spectacular display of driving prowess also holds a warm fussy place for Brandt. "In my mind, Sundays race was one of my career highlights, to start a race almost a lap down, with a socket and extension for a shifter, and come back to finish third was amazing. And, after Ampudia's misfortune, I end up second; a little luck never hurts either. Still it was not a win. It is unfortunate for Ampudia, I know how he feels, but better the first weekend of racing than the last."
"When racing at this level, you have to have the best of the best, that is why we depend so much on all of our K&N racing products to win, they never let us down," continues Brandt.
"Next up for the Mav TV Bailiegh Industrial BF Goodrich Toyota is to get everything ready for a tough weekend at Speed World. "After all, they aren't just going to give me the next two wins - I'm going to have to take them before they even know what hit them," say Brandt with his game-face on.
Tim Allison won the 360 Sprints car championship at Waynesfield Motorsports Park in 2009
At 51 years old, Tim Allison, a Sprint car driver from Ohio, says some people consider him to be on the downside of his racing career.
Tim Allison has 95 career wins and has set a goal to reach 100 in 2010
Allison has a different perspective. He says as long as he keeps moving, he'll stay healthy and be able to race for years to come.
After winning the 360 Sprint car championship at Waynesfield Motorsports Park in 2009, it's hard to argue he is slowing down. Add that he was the runner-up at Limaland Motorsports Park and is the winningest driver in the 360 Sprint car division at Eldora Speedway, and it looks like Allison has plenty left in the tank.
"Knock on wood, I'm in good health," Allison said. "If you keep your body moving, it puts you in better health. I've been fortunate over the years, had a couple of bad crashes, but I survived them."
Tim Allison is determined to win another Sprint championship
Allison uses NASCAR driver Mark Martin as an example and a source of inspiration on how to have a lengthy and successful auto racing career. Martin, also 51, is considered a Sprint Cup Series championship contender despite being one of the oldest drivers in Cup.
"He can still get the job done," Allison said.
Tim Allison has 14 wins in the 360 Sprint car division at Eldora Speedway
Apparently so can Allison. He won three races at Waynesfield Motorsports Park en route to the track championship.
He has 95 career wins and has set a goal to reach 100 in 2010. He would like nothing more than to do it at his hometrack, Limaland Motorsports Park.
"I'm still competitive. I can still win," Allison said. "I have a lot of energy. I don't like to sit still."
Even though he was the runner-up at Limaland in 2009, he has won more Sprint car championships at the track than any other driver with five.
He also has 14 wins in the 360 Sprint car division at Eldora Speedway, the track owned by NASCAR driver Tony Stewart.
Allison says he plans on racing at all three tracks again in 2010. He works six days a week and races at least two days a week. He stays busy and wouldn't have it any other way.
He says he races against 25 drivers at Waynesfield, a third-mile dirt track, on a regular basis. Eighteen to 20 of those drivers have a chance to win any given race, he said.
"Everybody set the bar higher," Allison said. "Everybody's got good stuff. It's tough. You have to be aggressive, but you have to keep the car in one piece and be there at the end. I love it. It's action-packed."
Limaland presents a different challenge. It's more of a technical track, another third-mile dirt oval, with ties to the University of Northwestern Ohio.
"It's one of the nicest tracks in the United States," Allison said. "It's an awesome place to race, great competition."
Eldora Speedway is the track that has the fondest memories for Allison. He has raced against Kasey Kahne and Stewart at Eldora. He remembers one race which he beat Stewart in a Sprint car.
It was back in 2005. Allison won his heat race. Stewart won his. They started the main event side-by-side. Allison had the ninth spot, Stewart in the 10th spot.
When the race started, Allison shot to the front of the pack. Stewart had trouble getting up to speed and settled in around seventh place. Allison ended up winning that race with Stewart crossing the finish line in eighth.
"It's the fastest half-mile in the world," Allison said. "It's a track that takes a while to conquer. It takes a while to learn how to get around there."
Allison has learned quite well how to get around Eldora, winning twice in 2006, twice in 2005 and three times in 2001.
His goals for 2010 are two-fold. He wants to win another Sprint championship at one of the three tracks. He also wants to win his 100th career race.
"I want to hit that 100 mark and send out a picture," Allison said. "My goal is to win 100 races and we're only five away. We're going to gear back up. Our goal is to win at least one more championship."
This marked the 2nd consecutive Parker 425 win for Glass and his team. Photo courtesy: Kyle LeDuc
Far to often childhood dreams run smack into the proverbial fork in the road, a place where either practicality or pleasure ends up being comprised. Yet, with some, those dreams burn so intensely that they can never fully be extinguished, smoldering until stoked back into a roaring blaze. So it was for Kingman, Arizona chiropractor Macrae Glass. Glass and the KC Hilites Team recently came in first in Class 8000 at the Best In The Desert (BITD) race. What makes this win particularly sweet is that it marks the second consecutive Parker 425 win for the team.
One of the dozens of jumps found along the stretch of the race called the Parker Python. Photo courtesy: Kyle LeDuc
"I grew up reading and dreaming about off-road racing in magazines. In college I would go to the races as much a possible, camped out with a few buddies. We would take a floor jack and tools, hoping some racer would stop, and we would help get them going. We'd cheer on guys like Rod Hall, Bob Gordon, etc. That dream of racing turned to reality in 1995, when I built my first truck in the garage, raced it, and here we are. I have a bunch of other people (crew) who participate in this team now," recalls Glass.
The KC Hilites team finished in 8hrs and 56mins of racing, first in class 8000, 19th over-all. Photo courtesy: Kyle LeDuc
Glass' co-rider for the first half of the BITD race was none other than KC Hilites kingpin, Michael DeHaas. "We stopped for fuel at the third pit (midway), and then took off for the remainder of lap one of the three-lap race. We completed lap one and headed through the Parker Python, which consisted of dozens of turns, jumps and long straight-a-ways. I remember seeing dozens and dozens of our friends and other teams crews run out to the track to root us on."
"I am thoroughly enjoying the gift in front of me," continues Glass. "We will race the entire BITD series this year. I have previously won two SCORE Championships in Stock-Mini, the Baja 2000, Baja 500, and most every race at least once. So immediately, I am enjoying the moment. Long term, I'd also like to go to the Dakar Rally and the Australian Rally, likely as a co-driver for another team."
Why did Glass choose K&N? "K&N makes the best filtration products in the industry. I only use the best; it makes finishing and winning possible. I use the HP-5001 oil filter, 14x5 round air filter with the wrap. All my vehicles are treated to K&N products," says Glass.
Glass' plans for the rest of the season include finishing all the races he enters and to continue having fun doing it. "I am still getting to know this new F250 truck and every outing, be it a race, or test session is a learning experience."
