When Import Tuner magazine first started, the Racing Industry was still very young. Back then it was all about amateur drag racing, car shows and illegal street racing. Some have been around since before you were born and others have just started, due to the popularity of imports. Slowly, the industry has branched out to a few different catagories. In any case, the industry has grown so much that it's like one big restaurant menu where you can pick and choose your favorite type of racing. In this case everything is in season, so pick as you please.
Here are three different racers all choosing their own type of racing. The one thing you may have in common with them is they are inspired by cars and speed. I think all of our readers have dreamed of being a racecar driver and with that in mind, it's about time we show you the different routes you can go to achieving race driver status. Keep in mind that these are just a few of the routes we have seen import racers take.
Road Alex FiggeRoad Racing: Road racing is based on running through a series of turns on a track. With the many different types of road racing. Our particular choice hits home to our readers.
Name: Alex FiggeAge: 21Hometown: Santa Monica, CaliforniaRacing background: Formula Mazda and Formula 2000
Vehicle: Toyota Atlantic is an open-wheel, single-seat car with a spec design. Teams are only allowed to play with suspension, aerodynamics and gear ratios, which makes the racing based on a driver's skill rather than the company with the most money.
Sponsors: Pacific Coast Motorsports, Wine Country Motorsports, Pattrick Racing. Horsepower: 245Top Speed: 155 + Tires: YokohamaWheels: 15-inch center locking. Engine: Toyota 16 valve 4A-GE (Same block and head as the 1985 Toyota Corolla.)Body: Swift 0.14A Carbon fiber chassis. Monocoque tub.
How long have you been racing? Five years.What got you started in racing? My dad raced as a hobbie so I started to get into it. Worst crash? In Formula Mazda I dislocated my shoulder. What is your daily ride? 2002 Subaru WRX, 2003 Mitsubishi Evolution VII and an Audi S4. What kind of car did you first start in? Formula Mazda.What does it take to get to your level? It has to be financing! Plus you have to build a reputation. Racing school helped out a lot. Fortunately it came through real quick for me. It's all about talk to people that seem trustworthy, cause it might get expensive. Laguna Seca can really tell you how well you are fitted for driving. Go-karting is another way to race. In one sentence describe what it's like behind the wheel? It's like driving at an extreme edge of performance.