RACING
So why do I have a passion for speed, cars and racing? Let’s start with the fact that I spent my teen years growing up in the Detroit area, otherwise known as—Motor City! A lot of my best friends’ fathers worked for the major car companies and well—automobiles were the thing! If you could tweak it, tune it and race it—you were cool! In High School, we use to race up and down Woodward Avenue because it was perfect—the lights were a mile apart. That was my weekend activity and that was my training ground… police cars were my obstacle.
Later, out in California, I had the fortunate opportunity to form a partnership with Steve Saleen and created Saleen/Allen Speedlab Racing. For me, it was truly, a dream come true. To actually be a part of the racing team and participate in SCCA World Challenges is well… beyond comprehension. First, you learn the rules of racing. Then you get out on the track in a race and you’re going fast—really fast. All you care about is getting round that next corner, shoving on the gas, and getting round the next corner. Nothing else in your life really matters at that moment—it’s all testosterone and technique.
A lot of guys ask me, “How do I get started in racing?” I’m here to tell you, I’ve learned a lot since my street-car/drag-racing days on Woodward Avenue. There’s a lot to know about racing and I recommend, like anything you want to do really well—you start with classes.
There’s many great performance racing schools all across the country, but I took the Skip Barber Formula Ford Racing School and the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving. Trust me—you’ll be shocked to learn that what you think you’re doing as spectacular ‘race driving’ is really not the fastest way to get around a corner.
Here’s a Tip: Most spouses sincerely want to know what you want for your birthday or for Christmas. If you’re one of those guys that has a ‘thing for speed’—tell them, and tell them clearly—I WANT A RACING SCHOOL! I promise, you’ll never, ever regret it.
Check ’em out!
