My Background in Motorsport
I have been involved in motorsport in one way or another starting in 2014. It started with my first track day in my daily driver. We all know what a slippery slope that can be! I quickly upgraded to a dedicated track car, a 1997 E36 M3. It came with a half cage, race seats and harness, with most of the interior stripped already. After buying the car, the S52 stock engine was removed and an S54 took its place. MCS single-adjustable shocks were added. Sticky Nitto NT-01 tires completed the setup... and I haven't looked back since.
Since that first day on track, I have driven hundreds of track days at three tracks closest to me: Portland International Raceway, Ridge Motorsports Park, and Oregon Raceway Park. I am a driving coach with several area clubs including Hooked on Driving - Pacific Northwest Region, Cascade Sports Car Club, and BMW ACA Portland. I have coached at private events including Taste of Motorsports, Ron Tonkin Gran Tourismo hosted Ferrari owners track days, and the NSXPO 2-day event at Oregon Raceway Park in 2021.
I absolutely love coaching people on how to drive on the track. It is always such an eye opening experience for my students, they don't really understand what their car can do or what THEY can do! Helping them learn how to use the whole track, how to advance from driving point-to-point (the helper cones) to working a series of corners as a single entity, watching as they have those light bulb moments... This is why I keep coming back. The best part of my day is when a student recognizes that they didn't do something right. They might not know what the issue is, but when they can start reading the feedback they are receiving, this is when the REAL learning begins.
Sitting shotgun, coaching. You can see my hands as I mimic how much steering input is needed for the corner.
Taking a student for a demo ride through an autocross course in my friend's Exocet.
I took my 2021 Ford Transit 350 XLT out on the autocross course. Click above to watch the video!
In 2016, my life changed. I started an internship at Palatov Motorsports in Portland, OR, where I assisted in building the D4 track car I ordered from them. During my time at Palatov, I learned so many new skills, including composites tool manufacturing, composites part fabrication, computer aided design, 3D printing, MIG welding, fabrication, wiring, and more. My background in sewing and quilting allowed me to easily move into leather and vinyl upholstery. After a time as an intern, I had gained enough experience and had added my specialty of upholstery to the company's offerings... I was hired on as an official employee.
Driving my Palatov D4 at Oregon Raceway Park.
Laying up carbon fiber parts for vacuum infusion.
D2EV leather upholstery, including diamond quilted seats and embroidered headrests.
In 2019, Palatov built their first battery electric vehicle, the D2EV, and entered it to compete at Pikes Peak International Hillclimb and Bonneville Speed Week. I was involved with the build, creating and installing many of the carbon fiber components, including creating new molds for new components. I was on the pit crew for both events, and I am so glad I did. At Pikes Peak I was in charge of the tire warmers, keeping them nice and cozy until it was our turn at the mountain. At Bonneville, there was a lot of "hurry up and wait" unfortunately, as it had rained about a week before the event and the salt was in poor condition. Only one long course was open, meaning a long wait for our turn. I will say, though, that the energy at both events was absolutely intoxicating and I would love to work with more teams to be on a pit crew, supporting them at either of these events again... or any other event where my assistance would be needed!
The D2EV, staged and ready to run at the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb.
A month after Pikes Peak, waiting for a chance to run the long course at Bonneville.
Adding a stabilizer to the windshield, to prevent flexing at high speed at Bonneville.
I left Palatov in 2023, which led me to being hired on to a team building a vehicle bound for CES - the Consumer Electronics Show. My contributions to the project included designing and creating the upholstery per the customer's requirements, bodywork to alter the shape of the donor vehicle, vinyl wrapping of some body panels, cutting and applying vinyl logos to the vehicle, and sourcing materials and services as needed to complete the look of the vehicle. The whole team pulled together and finished it in time to be loaded on the transport. Go team! (Sorry for no photos, I'm under NDA.)
Let's not forget about my time with the Lucky Dog Racing League! 2024 starts my third year on the team, as a pit crew member and occasional driver. I want to drive more, but various circumstances did not allow that... until now! I look forward to more seat time this season. As a pit crew member, I am responsible for helping drivers exit the car, for being the safety person during refueling, and for helping the new driver into the car, among other tasks. I also have made CoolSeat inserts for several other teams in the league.
Repairing the throttle pedal. Working upside down is... interesting.
Helping with a driver change. (I never said racing was glamorous LOL.)
The best part is getting to play with fun racers like Randy!
I hope this introduction gives you a feel for what skills I can bring to your project. If you can't tell, I like diversity, I like solving problems, and I like making the projects I work on look their best. In my Gallery I have collected some photos of projects I've worked on, with special projects highlighted in their own sections. Please take a look and let me know if you have any questions.
And don't forget to have fun. :)
