The Battle of the Imports coverage was huge. In fact, Javier and I came out to California to check out a race before opening up DRT. We wanted to see it for ourselves and meet some of the people behind it. We met some of the JG Engine Dynamics guys, Myles Bautista, Adam ran 9s in his RX-7, Steph was working at Honda Pro and the Bergenholtz brothers had their CRX. We got to meet future customers, see what the shops looked like. I was building a new race car and used the trip to get some of the latest ideas. Later, as Javier got busy at E-Town I bought out his share of the shop.
Backing Away From The StripThe first year of the NHRA I wanted to run the whole schedule. But you come to realize after a while, although I was doing well, finishing fifth in the Hot Rod class, I realized that I couldn't run a shop and run the full circuit. Without sponsorship it was not feasible. We tried working a bunch of deals but it, the big sponsor deal, never worked out. Then the second and third year it got even more expensive.
So for the second year I went local; running Englishtown, Atco, Florida and whatever other events were close. We went as far as Texas. But the budget wasn't there to realistically go for the championship.
But now it is unreachable. Forget the championship I'm talking about being competitive. There used to be 20 to 25 cars in Hot Rod and just making the field was an accomplishment. Now there's five cars in the field. So I have sold everything.
If I get back into racing it will probably be as part of a team as crew chief, like with Manny Cruz. He is crazy, he just wants to show up and race but nowadays things are much more organized, much more professional. Hopefully he will get it together for 2006, get the car back and have some fun.
I have been approached with some interesting ideas but it must make sense financially. It will take me away from my shop and in my shop is where my family eats. So if I am going to be away I need to make some money, even if its not much, just enough to maintain the shop.
I will never leave my shop behind. In any decision I make my shop will come first. That is the way it has to be. I am looking for ways to make it grow. One of the things I am looking into is manufacturing parts, the margins are much better than retail. I need to make parts for cars that are relevant. If the car is on the way out it won't work.
I think the Scion tC is the next Honda. Its low price tag makes it good for the youth market. Scion is putting a lot of money behind it, the motor is excellent, the car looks right. The Civic keeps getting bigger; it's like an Accord now. The cool thing was making a small car go crazy fast. When it comes down to it, I will build whatever the customers want.