Joe Walker - PanAm 18 T ST
I was born in Radford Va, and unfortunately my parents were uncreative and simply went with the second for my name. However it turned out alright and as we all know the sequels are normally better.
I grew up a very simple life out in the country and spent more than a few weekends going to martinsville and bristol to watch em' drive in circles. From that I started to desire to drive like that more than anything, as I got older and continued to look into how to get into busch series racing I started to learn that it would take tens of thousands of dollars to compete even as an amature racer. So I went with the next best thing and starting taking may car, which at the time was a mitsubishi lancer to the drag strip with my best friend Brock Clayton. Then luckily we got turned onto the SCCA by a fellow member of the car club of Va Tech and we were hooked. In 2006 I joined the US navy and headed away for a little while. I had a training mishap however and got to come home early. Once I was recovered I came back into the US Army and got stationed here at Ft. Bliss and the auto-xing turned into desert-x in a 93 Jeep ZJ that I lifted and ran to death. However I needed something more practical as the gas went up and the trans went out. Hence BMW came back into my life and and brought auto-x screaming back in. I can only say that I may have one of the most patient and understanding wives in the world as she has never once asked me to put aside my hobbies (of course I have a good idea of what the limit is).
I can say that I never realized how much I missed solo and although we do not have the largest turn out for our races I can say that this is probably the best group of people I have ever had the pleasure of participating with in any of the motorsports I have played with. I would also like to say thank you for choosing me as the spotlight for this month, I consider it a great honor.
1. How long have you been a member of SCCA?
Since Feb of this year, but I started racing SCCA in 2004.
2. What was your first car?
A 1992 Mazda 626 that probably wishes it had a different owner.
3. What was/is your favorite car?
This list could go on forever as it depends on what the car is used for as to which one is my favorite but for the basics my favorite AWD car would be a subaru impreza 22b, FWD would have to be a late 90's Ford Focus hatch, and my favorite RWD would definitely be a mid 90's M3 coupe.
What is your favorite racing memory?
I still vaguely remember when I was around 8 years old and went to martinsville motor speed way to watch my first nascar race with my Pa Paw. The sounds and the smells of the track that day are still with me today and very well may have been the beginning of my love of all things auto.
Who is the racer you admire or respect the most?
I would have to say Colin McRae in his 555 wrx is the racer who I have always admired and really led me to always want to rally. He was a shining star in the WRC and he is missed in many circles still today. You can always know that the epitomy of driving challenge is a right 1 at 50+ mph.
How do you rank the following: Driver, Car, Car Preparation?
Well this answer is going to be far from the norm, but I truly believe that the car is the most important of the three with the driver being RIGHT behind followed quickly by prep. In all truth these are all almost equal with maybe a thousandth of a second between each.
I say this because no mater how amazing the driver is if you put them into a car that simply will not perform they are not going to go much farther than a much worse driver. However at the same time if you put the worlds best car into the hands of some one unprepared to drive it then they will not succeed either.
The car and the driver must be a match for each other, and once you have that match is when you can really see the true potential of both driver and car.
(If you need more reasons why I think that the car is the most important feel free to ask me at the next auto-x)
What makes you successful?
The things that I succeed in, in my life are in direct correlation with my loving and understanding wife, Kristina, and the values that my parents and grandparents instilled into me as a child.
Remember if you quit before you have given it your all, then truly you are doomed to lead a life of mediocrity.
