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"If
you’re reading this, you’re probably looking for
place where you can rent a car or provide trackside
services for your car. Stop now, don’t read anymore
and just call.
Not convinced?
Okay, let me share my arrive-and-drive experience
with you. On Thursday morning, I was surfing the
net instead of working. I already had an SCCA
license, but I’m not as active in the sport as I
would like. I don’t have a car yet and was
interested in renting for a few races before I
commit. I found the Meathead Racing website (www.meatheadracing.com).
I also found out that MARRS IV (at Summit Point) was
in two days. I called Mike Collins on Thursday
morning to see if it was even possible to get into
the race. He said they could have a car ready. You
can probably guess that it was like the Three
Stooges or the Keystone Cops at my house, deciding
on Thursday that I wanted to race on the weekend
(Where’s my suit? Where’s my license? Where’s my
copy of the GCR?).
I arrived at the track on Friday night, unfamiliar
with the registration and check in procedures for
the event. The Meathead Racing Team helped me
through the process and offered plenty of help, even
though check in took over an hour. They made sure I
was taken care of, even though they were prepping a
dozen cars for the weekend. It seems as though
everyone at the track knows and respects the
Meathead Racing Team. The car they prepped for me
was terrific and had been freshly painted in a color
that matched my fire suit (although that last fact
was probably just a nice coincidence). The fresh
paint probably made mine the shiniest car in the
field.
Need more convincing? In my weekend, there were two
15 minute qualifying sessions and a 30-minute race.
That left a lot of time to hang around the paddock.
Take my word for it, there is no better place in the
paddock than the Meathead Racing Team area. If you
didn’t get this from the website, Meathead Racing is
primarily made up of four families. I showed up for
the weekend alone, but they made me feel more than
welcome into their clan. The atmosphere in the
paddock, where I spent more than 20 non-racing
hours, was just great. It was relaxing; fun…I don’t
think I can put enough superlatives together. In my
arrive-and-drive weekend, I got to race a good car
with a competitive team, play with some dogs, play
with some kids, have some great conversations with
some wonderful people and eat terrific food. It
just doesn’t get any better than that."
Scott Ayles, SCCA Racer
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"I
have wanted to race a sports car since 1951 when I
attended the "Grand Prix" at Watkins Glen as a 16
year old. Going back to the Glen in 1953,53 and 54
did nothing to curb my appetite. The army
interfered in 1955 and 56 but not in 1957 or 58. By
1959 I was getting into drag racing because I
thought that was all I could afford. As the years
passed I kept thinking that I wanted to see what it
was like to drive on a road race course. Suddenly
it seemed like I was too old and in the meantime an
inner ear problem surfaced that I had a very low
tolerance for lateral G forces. I thought perhaps
if I went to a commercial drivers school that use
cars with street tires the G forces would be reduced
enough that my ears could tolerate them. While
reading a magazine in October of 2006 I saw an add
by Skip Barber for a High Performance Driving school
at Daytona in December the 2 days after the PRI show
in Orlando. They offered the opportunity to drive a
BMW M3, Porsche 911 (997), Audi S4 and a Dodge
Viper. So I signed up for my youngest son (36) and
myself. I learned very quickly my ears would not
tolerate the G forces. Fortunately another member
of the class offered me a Dramamine pill. Within 20
minutes I felt great and was able to participate in
the school with no problems.
So I came home went to the SCCA web site and
downloaded all the rules etc. for IT racing. I was
basically familiar with the rules due to many
customers who race IT. I felt like I opened an
enormous can of worms. There was no way I could
pick out the car for the class and without national
results it started to look like a crap shoot. I
then discovered Spec Miata. The rules were not as
much to my liking as IT, but still tolerable.
Several days later I get a phone call from an old
customer who now specializes in Spec Miata race car
preparation. After talking with him for over an
hour I became more interested. Getting on the web I
found Meathead Racing. A conversation with Mike
Collins was all it took for me to sign up with him
and apply to the SCCA for a Novice Permit. I went
to Summit Point and was surprised at the number of
cars with Meathead Racing logo's. It seemed every
time I was ready to get in the car there was someone
to help. Every time I pulled in the pits it was the
same. All the Meathead car ran the entire weekend
without any mechanical repairs that I saw. There
was some accident damage on one car that was
actually repaired in time for the car to go back out
on the next session. If you have been wanting to
get out on a road race track.... call Mike. He will
make it all happen for far less money than you can
imagine but I want to warn you... be careful... it
is addictive.
In case you haven't figured out.... I'm an old
fart. In about six weeks I'll be 72... and I have
to tell you.... I don't remember being this excited
about anything since I was a kid on Christmas eve.
And the $64.00 question of "am I too old now" was
answered... it appears to be no. Damn I can't wait
for the next time at the track."
Jere Stahl, SCCA Novice Permit
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“We appreciated the professionalism and preparation
level that MEATHEAD Racing bought to the tire test”
Jeremy Thoennes, SCCA Club Racing Technical Manager.
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"When I was decided
to get back into SCCA racing, I settled on the Spec
Miata class. I rented a car from Meathead Racing
that was first rate in every regard, safety, cost,
reliability, and performance. They welcomed me and
my family into their camp and showed us all a great
time. The car finished 5th on it's first weekend on
the track. Rentals that run up front, what more
could you ask for?"
Chris Kellett, SCCA Racer
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"MEATHEAD
Racing is a great operation with great people. The
depth of their racing and crewing experience is
amazing and included a list of experienced
competitors. MEATHEAD Racing managed everything to
do with the race car, allowing me to focus 110% on
the classroom sessions, on learning, on
driving and on safely passing the school. They were
always there to help and to let me know what to
expect and when. I'm leaving my race car at home
again, renting with MEATHEAD for the second school
as well. I don't know why anyone would do it any
other way! Thanks MEATHEAD Racing for a great
event!"
Tim
Kress, SCCA Novice Permit |
You will learn the ins and outs of what it takes to
own and manage the car on your own. The success of
this program speaks for itself. Our very first
A.D.A.M. client received year end recognition for
MARRS point’s accumulation and was nominated for
rookie of the year.