Host: Jai Shukla & Guest: Sabine Schmitz

 

Q1 — How was childhood like growing up?

When the weather is good, Sabine Schmitz raced alongside her sisters leveraging on some nice collection of cars like 918 Porshe. They had a healthy rivalry as the practices some times without Sabine's knowledge so has to beat me on certain days.

 

Q2 — From my conversations with other racing drivers, the career path of the male racing driver is slightly different from that of the female. Do you think that’s still a thing in the industry today?

When Sabine Schmitz started motor racing, this was tough. At the moment, there is a big change as they have many good female drivers. We have a ladies team, we have lady mechanics and things are going well. This is a stark contrast to the time when Women (in South Africa) are not allowed to even vote.

Q3 — So how did you make yourself known in the industry and get the opportunities that you did?

When Sabine Schmitz started racing, it was not so popular for women to go racing. But she did not stop, she carried on. Sabine won the championship very fast. You have to be successful straight away, otherwise, it is too late.

 

Q4 — With everyone vying for the first position, what separated you from everyone else in winning the championship?

Focus, fitness, the thirst to go forward and the pressure. Yes, old good pressure.

When Sabine Schmitz was in the BMW team, she was the worst driver. So they have to do a lot of sports with the guys with JG late too and all the rival professional drivers. The path of a champion is tough.

 

Q5 — What would you change about the motor industry?

I am not a fan of electric cars, it is not even green. Power comes out of the power station to power it. I believe there will be much better alternatives.

 

Q6 — let's be a little futuristic, would you have the cars fly soon?

 I would like to turn the clock a little bit backward when racing was manual. No ATM, No power steering. I am a fan of the V8 and Pur thriving. Then, racing was pure driving.

The Porsche and GT three are quite easy to drive just like a computer game. I will love to see how a driver will react to unexpected situations.

 

Q7 — What was it about hockey that made you want to join the show some years ago?

I was part of the team since 2000 more or less with live shows and DVD with Jeremy and Top Gear. The opportunity came knocking and I said yes.

 

Q8 — Compared to racing, do you enjoy being on reality TV?

I think it's a combination because I love racing. And that's what I can do in the show. So it's a perfect combination. Because I want to try every car to the limit, and that is allowed. 

But racing is racing. Racing is more intense.

 

Q9 — In general, what do you think people don’t know of being part of a racing team?

During the show, we do some of the battles completely to know who was better. For the show, we start with the following cars, cameras and so on.

In some battles, we have only a chance to film. For some other battles, we film 4 or 5 times. But in all, it has to be as you see it on TV. It has to be true. We do some fun stuff too. 

They don’t script me, they script the others.

 

Q10 — One of the things that you've managed to do throughout your life is not only winning races but just live a life that involves so many things that you are passionate about. What can you say to other people that would allow them to experience their version of their enjoyed, or an amazing life that is fulfilling?

When you have a dream, you have to trust yourself. And then you must follow your dreams. If you stay at home on the couch is nothing will happen. Nobody will help you. You have to help yourself.

Host: Jai Shukla & Guest: Ben Hurst Q1 — How did it all begin in Oakville, all the way to Canada, and now you're the British GT?

The dad of Ben Hurst stirred up the whole process when he took him to Bridgestone racing Academy to try out for a racing license.

Ben Hurst got started in Formula Ford, here in Canada. He met one of the teams when he was at racing school there to get his racing license because Ben was just interested in trying. They eventually then won the championship after 3 years of persistence.

The team he was with In the UK got partnered with an F3 team during the Formula Ford festival of friends. So that's kind of how Ben got introduced to everyone quickly in the UK. And that's kind of how all his opportunities came out. So it's kind of in one meeting after the next.

 

Q2 — You started off racing at age 16, did that affect how you saw the races approach the races?

Yes, especially in F3 you have to be willing to either go into that corner and either crashed your car into someone else or if they back off. But Ben Hurst is not wired to go into a corner and just either Yes, he is going to make it or he is going to be out of the race. Ben always want to finish races, no matter what.

 

Q3 — So have you considered endurance racing something like Lemans?

After watching it this year with Aston, Ben Hurst knew in my heart that there’s where he wants to be. Ben loves the level of preparation the teams go through. It's like an F1 car, but it's a GT car that goes for 24 hours.

 

Q4 — Between F3 and GT, what kind of differences are they in terms of pressure and atmosphere?

I think there's more pressure because it's not only my race weekend, it's my teammates. Having a teammate does change the mentality a lot because you have to bring the car home for them because it's their race weekend as well. It’s always rewarding to get the results on track in the morning after your teammates may have put in the late night to get the car ready morning.

 

Q5 — How is your relationship with your partner and what is your advice on how to create a bond with your partner?

For my partner, despite our different backgrounds, we have formed an efficient partnership. He is naturally quick but does not have racing experience. He helps me with qualifying for my outright pace and I handle the race starts.

To build a great relationship with your teammates, I’d advise you to spend time together, train together, learn how each they work.

 

Q6 — Do you feel that racing is something you will want to continue for the rest of your life?

Well, I've just graduated. And I took a degree that would help me with my racing career (Sports management) So I spent some time with the Renault F1 team, as a work placement in their sponsorship department learning how to how they get sponsors, I think that helped me.

 

Q7 — Can you share tips on how to get sponsorships?

Its hard work, get a lot of verified contacts (email/phone lines especially) who are interested in what you do.

Find the market you are in, look for companies that are interested in what you do. A blue ocean strategy will pay off big time.

On what companies expect in return: Some opt for increased sales of their cars or other organizing coaching events. Expectations vary from one company to another. Be it Aston Martin, Renato or Renault. 

 

 Q8 — How did the university degree help you expand your knowledge about sponsorships?

 I did my dissertation on how sponsorship works in Formula One. I also leveraged on the experience of the Head of my management team with 20 years of experience. He moved from the mechanic side to the commercial side of racing.

Side by side, these two events expanded my knowledge on how sponsorships work.

I’d say that Formula 1 sponsorship is about Business to Business partnership and getting introductions.

 

Q9 — Would you like to go into Formula One at some point? Or is it La mans and hundred percent endurance racing?

I am 100% going to GT and endurance racing.

I want to build my career with support from either dealerships or manufacturers at this level and work my way up to a factory role with one of the manufacturers. Rather than trying to find the funding for F3 for another year, FIA F3, for another year and then F2.

 

 

Q10 — So how do you manage to deal with that pressure of actually going into the car and feeling like everyone's ready and waiting for you to now deliver?

If you're prepared, then you have nothing. That’s exactly my mindset. I think that the biggest thing I've learned is preparation. If I do my training, right, if I eat right, by the time I get to the race, I'm fully prepared and there should be nothing I'm got to think about other than going forward in the race that we're at.

 

Q11 — What do you feel is the biggest difference between watching and driving?

So I think sometimes it looks a bit more intense on TV than it is in the car. Because you're calm in the car, you're just focusing on what you need to do. In the car, you're focused on what's directly in front of you and what's directly behind you. And you count on your team at that point for what's going on the bigger picture.

As a driver, I keep a lot of things out of my mind.

 

Q12 — Have you ever been out of the zone? Are you ever in a situation where you feel like, today's just not my day when you're driving? More so, can you share with us on how you get yourself in the zone?

I work hard at making sure I'm in the zone, I have a mine coach that works with my management company. And they help to keep that going system.

As a routine, I usually do a warm-up of two to three minutes, jump on the skipping rope. And then I will go and find my own space for about 20 minutes, 10 minutes and listen to music. And then I commonly go put my helmet on. By the time my helmets are on, I keep my visor closed because I want to. I'm in the zone by that point. When I get in the car, I get the radios plugged in, and then I'm talking to my team.

And it's all 100% of focus to what you have to do after that.

 

Q13 — What 3 tips can you share with racing drivers wannabes to put them in a position to make their dreams come true?

1. Work hard. I am a fan of fitness.
2. Have a notebook at the track or when you go-karting. If there are bumps and stuff you notice on the track, or if there's a line that works or a good overtaking spot, write it down. Make sure you know and write it down. It helps you.
3. Don’t give up. You can't give up you have to keep going.

Host: Jai Shukla  & Guest: Mike Skeen

 

Q1 — So, what was it that got you into racing?

You could say that it was his father’s love for cars that had him set up for success. Together, they’d work on cars until he was old enough to get into the driver’s seat racing karts. It wasn’t long until he was instructing for events and having others vying to get him into their cars.

 

Q2 — And how did your first break come about?

Mike Skeen actually became a minor reality TV star on the Speed Channel, believe it or not. While not winning the final show prize, the exposure alone led him to a big fan of the show asking him to race professionally.

 

Q3 — How did you manage to secure your sponsors? And also, how do you build that fanbase that you can go to a sponsor with, as well?

Mike Skeen believes that it’s always a struggle to find representation no matter what level you’re at. Even those with established careers are always on the hunt for the next thing. When it comes to his fanbase, he’s always been a grassroots rider. From being extremely accessible as a whole to hosting his own videos, he knows that the work involved on the ground level is certainly worth it.

 

Q4 — What do you think amateurs don’t understand about the industry, that professionals do?

There’s seems to be a misconception that as long as you race fast, there will be unlimited opportunities to become a pro driver. Unfortunately, it’s not so easy.

 

Q5 — When did you jump onboard with Racers360 and how’s that been going for you?

He started only earlier this year, but so far, it’s been going great. Mike loves that he can offer high-level pro coaching quickly and inexpensively for drivers all around the world, something that didn’t even exist when he was starting out.

 

Q6 — What sort of results have you seen from your students so far?

He’s had returning customers already, one of which is now a podium contender under his instruction. It’s still a bit early for him in the program though, so it will take a bit more time to show the results that he’s been striving for.

 

Q7 — And are you a contract instructor? How does that work?

Right now, it’s one-offs, simply pay-by-session instruction. It’s different rates for different instruction, but all of it is much cheaper than what most charge for a typical day.

 

Q8 — You’re also involved in Circuit Studies. Tell us a bit about that.

Mike started Circuit Studies with another coach from the BMW Performance Center, its approach having racers study-specific tracks to help them place as best as they can. It’s completely online and reaches drivers from all over the world.

 

Q9 — What would be one of your favorite races that you’ve had?

He really enjoyed the hard and aggressive sprint racing at World Challenge. Another mention is Pikes Peak, where rode against some high-level equipment. He loves cars and machines, so any chance to just be around top-level equipment clearly puts him in his element.

 

Q10 — Do you feel like there’s a difference between the type of people that love sprint racing versus endurance racing?

Yes and no. So many of the endurance races nowadays have sprint elements, so, of course, the line gets blurred a little bit.

 

With endurance racing, you really need a great program behind with a great team, great pitstops, a great co-driver. It’s harder to control all of those variables as a single person. When you’re sprint racing, once you’re on the track, it’s more on you as a driver, taking on the pressure and the responsibility yourself. Mike admits he prefers sprint driving for those reasons, but thinks they are both a lot of fun, equally.

 

Q11 — To what degree do you feel like you’re in control as a driver inside the car? How much do you feel like, as a percentage, you’re in control?

As a sprint driver, honestly, about 90%. The driver has to do everything incredibly well to succeed. Of course, there’s no substitution for a great team behind you, but obviously, the driver is a massive part of that performance, especially in a sprint race.

 

Q12 — Do you still get nervous as a driver?

All the prep is hard work and situations like when you’re just sitting there on the grid waiting to go can be nerve-wracking, but once you’re in the car it all starts to become natural again.

 

Q13 — Making mistakes can be a killer in this industry. How have you gotten better at handling them?

Usually, until he gets a good feel for the car, he’ll drive fairly conservatively. At this point in his career, though, he has so much experience driving in different vehicles, he knows his limits and knows exactly when and where to push them. 

 

Mike Skeen also considers himself fortunate that he hasn’t made too many big mistakes throughout his professional lifetime, although he knows that they are always bound to happen to even the best drivers.

 

Q14 — What do you feel is one of the biggest things that impacts the way you’ve progressed positively as a driver?

One thing he feels that has kept him on track is his analytical and critical personality. He’s the guy that will come home and watch hours of his video while critiquing it. Coaching has helped, too, as it makes him think about why he does what he does on the track. 

 

Q15 — How much time do you think new drivers should be spending off the track, as opposed to on the track?

Mike’s more preferential towards off the track because he’s a stickler for the fundamentals. The guys that have found success seem to have the driving part down quite naturally. It’s the off-the-track stuff that they’ve devoted time to that propels them to a more successful career.

Host: Jai Shukla    Guest: Kelvin van der Linde Q1 — What made you get started in racing?

You could say it’s in his blood. His father and grandfather were both race car drivers and as a kid, Kelvin was always at the race track in his pram!

 

Q2 — How involved were they in your journey?

Kelvin and his younger brother raced carts on the weekends, but it was really more about spending time with the family. They’d have their camper at the race track and set up a barbeque, definitely fond memories for him. As soon as he got serious about the sport, it obviously was going to become less and less about a family meetup and more about winning!

 

Q3 — What was it like beating your uncle’s record for youngest South African national champion?

Kelvin van der Linde was only 14 years old when he started in the championship, unheard of at the time. His uncle, however, was happy to see him taking on the challenge and succeeding admirably.

 

Q4 — Adrenaline plays a huge part in racing. Do you partake in any other activities outside of the sport that are also quite daring?

It’s difficult to match the intensity of racing elsewhere, but he participates in triathlons like many other drivers. Even though he doesn’t think he’ll ever find a sport that matches the thrill of driving, he sticks to outdoor activities… the more intense the better.

 

Q5 — I noticed you use the term “thrill” as opposed to “pressure.” What do you think allows you to interpret the intensity of racing in this way?

Kelvin comes from humble beginnings, so, in his eyes, racing is still very much a privilege. It’s hard for him to consider what he does, even at his lowest moments, something short of a blessing.

 

Q6 — And how did you manage to change that mentality from “pressure” to “thrill,” specifically?

It’s staying positive and staying thankful. It’s not going to last forever, so you might as well enjoy the ride!

 

Q7 — What are some other things in your world that you care about aside from racing?

On the business side, he’s started coaching young drivers from South Africa, and on the personal side, he’s trying to spend more and more time with his friends and family. You have to balance both sides!

 

Q8 — You spend time coaching young drivers in South Africa. How do you manage that living in Europe?

While he doesn’t have much time for literal hands-on coaching, he’s able to give lots of solid advice and context to drivers from abroad. He knows how drivers felt when they started and he’s quite enthusiastic to give guidance to those coming after him.

 

Q9 — What sort of pointers do you give to these young drivers?

Management and politics are completely different in Europe compared to South Africa. He’s trying to teach them how to transition properly, so they don’t have to make the same mistakes he did.

 

Q10 — How did the opportunity in Audi Sport come to fruition?

With a bit of financial help from his parents, he was able to win race prize money and put it into a season of GT Masters. He won the championship driving an Audi R8 and they quickly started discussing a successful future together.

 

Q11 — What do you think sets you apart from other drivers?

The jump from South Africa to Europe for him meant that it was all or nothing, not even a plan B. It’s that willpower of saying “I’m not going to lose” that he feels makes him unique amongst everyone else.

 

Q12 — Nürburgring is considered one of the toughest race tracks in the world. How did you manage to train and execute that?

Kelvin van der Linde admits that Audi took a gamble on him for Nürburgring, as well as being with the right car and the right teammates in that moment. He’s a big proponent of the stars aligning, his humility at work.

 

Q13 — One of your dreams is to win Le Mans. If you do win someday, what would you do beyond that? Do you have any other directions you see your career going?

He’s not shy to admit he’d love to win Le Mans, but winning all the major endurance races before he retires one day would make him the happiest racer in the world.

 

Q14 — What kind of message would you like to leave with other drivers who are also chasing their dreams?

There’s no escape from putting in the hours, but for racing, there’s no clear line. Occasionally it’s luck, there’s no way around it. But as long as you expose yourself and don’t have too many expectations coming into it, you’ll be on track to succeed. 

Host: Jai Shukla    Guest: Dion von Moltke Q1 — So, how did you get started with Racers360 and online coaching?

After racing for ten years, and as it tends to happen, opportunities were starting to diminish, Dion Von Moltke began coaching as an offset to the situation. Drivers were recording their races and analyzing their performance, and he had the idea that he could have the drivers upload their videos online and get personalized coaching remotely.

 

Q2 — How are you able to get the coaching costs so low?

It gets rid of travel expenses for the coaches and gives amateur drivers a lower cost barrier of entry to professional coaching. It’s essentially a win-win for everyone involved and has had proven results, the average driver is picking up an average of one second after just one session

 

Q4 — You said your father is one of your biggest fans and had asked you, “Is this what you want to do?” Is this a question that you use with your students to gauge their seriousness in the sport?

Honestly, no, because most of their students are in the amateur ranks and are simply driving, at the end of the day, for fun. However, for the student that is looking to make a career out of racing, then yes, he would.

 

Q5 — Where is your biggest source of motivation for coaching coming from?

Dion feels passionate about ending the high cost of entry for drivers to get professional advice, giving all drivers access to great, affordable coaching.

 

Q6 — What is the definition of a good day for you?

When drivers tell their coach they just shaved off a couple of seconds on a lap or just set a new track record. The results get them more passionate and excited about the sport and only encourages them to continue driving.

 

Q7 — How did your original vision for this company compare to how you see your business now?

The original goal was to see how we could make this sport grow. He knew that by making it easier to find events and being able to register easily, it would get more amateurs involved. Later on, the company ended up launching a small coaching program to bring in extra revenue and what they found was that the amount of success coming from their education program was so great that he decided that this was what he needed to be focusing on.

 

Q8 — Do you feel more relaxed now that you’re no longer driving and dealing with the immense pressure that it entails?

He admits that for him driving is the greatest feeling in the world. He doesn’t call himself retired yet and if the right opportunity came about he’d happily jump on the chance, no questions asked.

 

Q9 — Being a driver can be incredibly nerve-racking, worrying about when certain things will end, be it a race, a sponsorship, or a career. How were your methods of dealing with that? 

Dion is a big believer in meditation and related breathing exercises. He comments that when you focus on the breath correctly, it’s quite difficult to think about anything else. Also just as important is learning to let go of what you can’t control. This happens when you realize your goal and realize the rest is meaningless.

 

Q10 — That you’ve been so successful and the fact that so many people around the world want to be where you are, is that extra pressure of judgment something you’ve had to deal with?

Dion doesn’t acknowledge added stress, just increased motivation. That he feels lucky to be where he makes him hungrier to utilize the opportunities he’s been given to their very fullest.

 

Q11 — And what do you do to let go?

Not worrying about what you can’t control. Dion believes that once something is over, there’s nothing you can do about. You have to focus solely on the next goal or action and be giving it the best of your abilities, and the only way to give your best is to not focus on what you can’t control, the past.

Host: Jai Shukla    Guest: Kaz Grala

 

Q1 — You started racing at four years old and at an early age you were already winning championships. How did that affect your racing mentality as a child?

That’s the biggest reason he felt he should stick with it. By the time he was six years old, he had essentially tried every sport out there and racing was the one he seemed to excel at the most. 

 

Q2 — What other sports did you participate in? 

Swimming, tennis, baseball, soccer, you name it, he tried it. He tried to gauge where his passion was and what he enjoyed the most. The answer was racing.

 

Q3 — What was it about racing that you knew this was something you wanted to do for a living? 

He loves that “being in the zone” feeling from racing. Away from outside distractions, it’s the epitome of peace for him. Of course, being at a higher level of racing now there are more distractions, even in the car, but even today it’s still incredibly calming.

 

Q4 — It’s that “zone” that people talk about in sports. That perfect balance between doing something and yet feeling like you’re not doing something. Is that what you’re referring to?

It’s in every sport. An athlete who is great at what they do gets into that zone. For Kaz personally, no other sport could give him that experience.

 

Q5 — Talk to me about your dad’s journey to America. Did that have any effect on your aspirations as well?

His dad emigrated from Poland with his family when Kaz was 8 years old and weirdly enough it was because he wanted to buy a car! Kaz explains his dad grew up always wanting to race and it was he who passed the torch down to his son.

 

Q6 — You’ve been the youngest person ever to compete in countless racing events. How did this affect your mindset towards the sport? Did this make you want to be first in more things? Did you set out to do this?

Kaz Grala wasn’t aware that he would be the youngest person to compete or win in these events at the time. It’s not something he chased, but a cool bonus. Racing fundamentally keeps you humble, he admits. For all the highs, there are certainly the lows to match them.

 

Q7 — And how do you manage the pressure of the extreme highs and extreme lows?

The best thing to do is to just take it one week at a time. You’re always fighting to be able to just stay in the game, so all you can do is just keep your nose to the grindstone and focus.

 

Q8 — How do you train yourself to be able to do that so successfully?

Racing his whole life, Kaz Grala doesn’t know any other way to handle that level of pressure and focus. It’s been intimately woven into who he is. He admits if he had gotten into racing later in life, he definitely would’ve had some struggles with the intense focus needed to be successful.

 

Q9 — It seems like doing what you love can feed the energy you need to avoid the mentally draining aspects of the sport. What are your thoughts on that?

It’s definitely what gets him through the harder parts. Maintaining a proper balance between professional and personal life, however, is one thing that helps in addition to his passionate energy.

 

Q10 — In your time off, you’ve managed to create a competitive NASCAR team in just under two weeks. What was that like?

It just so happened that a contract wound up being broken and Kaz was offered three racecars for compensation. Kaz Grala wanted to take advantage of the situation, so he rounded up some other racers to start a team and before he knew it, they placed in the top 10 of their debut race.

 

Q11 — How has that process of managing relationships and the behind the scenes team operations differed from just being solely a driver?

Although it does take away time dedicated to driving, Kaz feels it’s made him a more well-rounded driver for the better.

 

Q12 — What sort of specific impacts has that had on the way you drive?

It helps him appreciate even more the organizations he’s with, but once that helmet goes on, nothing’s changed.

 

Q13 — You were sponsored by a spicy ice cream company. How did that come about?

It was a fan who told Kaz about this ice cream company whose owner was a huge racing fan. They forwarded him his info and from there they ended up as a sponsor.

 

Q14 — And what exactly does spicy ice cream taste like?

It’s quite sweet, just with a spicy kick to it. It’s good!

 

Q15 — What would you now like to do with the level of fame and excellence that you’ve worked for?

Driving is still his passion and he has no plans other than to focus on what he loves the most.

Host: Jai Shukla    Guest: Derrike Cope

 

Q1 — Explain to me a little bit about your journey. How did you go from a driver to now a team manager?

It all started when Mike Kohler from StarCom Fiber wanted to sponsor Derrike as a racer. That opportunity led him to eventually managing the entire team!

 

Q2 — How has the pressure been different in the various roles that you’ve played?

The pressure of being a driver is immense, as you’re performing at such a high level and you’re only as good as your last race. It’s a different kind of pressure when you own or manage a team. It comes from a broader perspective of competition, competing as best you can and not settling for mediocrity.

 

Q3 — Do you feel like you have more or less control as a team manager compared to a driver?

As a driver, a lot of things are out of your control. You just drive your heart out and everything else is simply left to be. As a team manager, there are more aspects to manage while at the same time still focusing on the driving side since you also want to be able to provide the best environment for the driver to thrive.

 

Q4 — So, the message I’m getting from you is that each side has its own pressures and neither is necessarily more significant than the other.

Obviously, as a driver, there is much more pressure physically, especially at the higher levels. As you run a team, the pressure is more in the numbers, making sure that your team can have the best possible parts and pieces, including the best possible working environment.

 

Q5 — Do you feel like you have a higher degree of control now?

Derrike admits he feels like he has a ton of control, his wife and him essentially running the whole team themselves.

 

Q6 — What would you say is a significant difference in the way you have to approach your day as a manager? How is the mentality different from that of a driver?

He’s constantly on the racetrack, even driving for his team just last year, so he honestly doesn’t feel too far removed from still having the mentality of a driver. His biggest struggle while he balances the driving mindset with the managing mindset is that when he makes suggestions, it needs to be for the benefit of the entire team. He has to be cognizant to not think only in terms of driving, but managing the team as a whole.

 

Q7 — Can you tell us what makes you happy right now?

The fact that he can still be at the race track every week, waking up and looking forward to going to work. Also, knowing that at the highest level of motor racing he can still put a quality product on the racetrack and give the team a quality perception in the marketplace for the owners. Those are the things that make him happy.

 

Q8 — You treat your team as your own. How did you feel like this was the team you wanted to stay with and take ownership of, as opposed to, say, just another team you want to win with like any other that you would manage?

The fact that the team owners had admired Derrike Cope as kids and wanted to sponsor him as a driver, and then subsequently asked him to be team manager meant that they put a lot of trust in him and treated him as part of a family. 

 

Q9 — How have you and your wife managed to work together while still keeping the relationship intact?

Derrike's wife loves the sport just as much as he does, which he believes is the underlining glue that makes them able to spend every waking moment together and still keep the relationship intact. It helps them keep their sanity!

 

Q10 — How did you and your wife meet?

They met at a race while she was doing marketing for her father’s team. 

 

Q11 — As a manager, what are some daily tasks that people might be surprised to learn that you still have to do yourself?

He’s in charge of shock absorbers, so a lot of the time he’ll still run for parts. And since he manages the budget, he’s involved in most of the purchasing decisions.

 

Q12 — If you could do any race over again, which race would you choose and why?

He’s quick to mention the 1998 Daytona 500, the race Dale Earnhardt placed 1st in. Derrike Cope says his car that day was faster than Earnhardt’s, but his victory was thwarted when he was hit exiting the pits. Until that moment, he thought he was going to win his second Daytona 500 and he’d loved to see how that race would have played out had he not been hit.

 

Q13 — Looking back at your 40 years of racing, management, and ownership, where did you originally see the trajectory of this journey taking you compared to where you ended up today?

Derrike Cope is amazingly fulfilled when he looks at where his career has taken him. From the beginning, he always wanted to race stock cars and he was lucky enough to be able to do that for such a long time and with tons of success.

 

Host: Jai Shukla    Guest: Andy Pilgrim

 

Q1 — When you first started you worked in IT to allow yourself to race. At what point did you realize that racing full time could become a reality?

Andy Pilgrim had an old Kawasaki 500 street bike, and while had income coming in from his day job, he simply decided he would start racing, Andy being someone who loved anything with an engine in it. He wanted to just start racing, but his current income dictated that he would be on two wheels, not four. Without a car, his mate would drop him off and pick him up from the track, the latter, he says, if he wasn’t in the hospital at the end of the day.

 

Q2 — When you mention being in the hospital, are you saying injuries were common back then?

Of course, he was being facetious in that statement, but Andy admits the sport was still actually quite dangerous when he started. The tracks were built for cars, so you had a much greater chance of getting hurt if you were on a bike.

 

Q3 — And you didn’t want to accrue a bit more money and wait to buy a 4-wheel. Why jump into the bike?

Financially, it seemed so out of reach to him, so he never even gave it a thought. He wanted to see right now if he was any good and didn’t care if it was a car or not. After quickly starting to win, he realized he actually was quite good. This led to his first job in the U.S. He comments that said job could have potentially saved his life, seeing how dangerous racing was to him back then.

 

Q4 — So, you went to America with about 106 dollars in your pocket. You mentioned that you were lean on food for the first few weeks. Can you explain that for us?

When he arrived in America, Andy Pilgrim was told he wouldn’t be getting his first paycheck for a few weeks, which meant he had about 100 dollars to live off of for nearly a month! He had to live with meager means to get by until his first payday.

 

Q5 — Is there any experience from those paltry times that you’d like to share with the audience?

Well, believe it or not, Americans looked at his English accent as if it was some sort of speech impediment. Because he was broke, he had to live between a home for battered women and an overflow for a mental institution, which was all he could afford. He’s actually quite carefree about the situation when commenting that it was quite entertaining, to say the least.

 

Q6 — What do you feel the differences are between your life back then compared to your successful life now in terms of happiness?

He says what he has now hasn’t affected his happiness at all. Andy’s generally a content person and doesn’t focus on the negatives in his life, just trying to take things as they go.

 

Q7 — And when did you actually get that break that enabled you to get these great opportunities?

In 1987, he had three-thousand dollars to his name, putting all that money into two race weekends with his team in an endurance race series. He was out of money by the end but was allowed to race for the rest of the season given his stellar performance. They ended up winning third in the championship and he received nine-thousand dollars in prize money, which he considers his first big break.

 

Q8 — To bet everything on one opportunity is incredibly tough, and for a lot of people it might not have worked out in their favor. Do you feel any gratitude for your success?

Of course, he feels incredibly fortunate for his victories and is especially grateful for being able to quit his well-paying IT job and start his own IT consulting business while managing to race full time.

 

Q9 — You’ve said that America creates a land of opportunity and if you’re willing to work hard and make the necessary sacrifices, you can go a long way. Is that something you still believe in?

It’s still true, Andy Pilgrim asserts, the land of opportunity he calls it. Never having even been in a race car until twenty-seven years old, he tells racers of all ages to never give up on their dreams.

 

Q10 — Is that what your foundation is about?

Andy Pilgrims ’s foundation is a traffic safety education foundation built as a giveback to the community and inspired by his mother and godmother who were big on helping people. It’s a non-profit organization where he gives everything away for free and these days it’s where you’ll find him spending most of his time.

Host: Jai Shukla & Guest: Pierre Kaffer

 

Q1 — You’ve been in the game for almost 30 years. What do you wish you would have known when you started?

Unaware of Formula 1 racing as a kid, Pierre Kaffer found himself attracted to go-karts. Only after his first kart race did he realize that racing was the one thing he wanted to do.

 

Q2 — How did you manage to get into the sport?

In his hometown in Germany, he’d constantly see people driving go-karts on the local track. He finally asked his father if he could drive, luckily he obliged, and the rest is history.

 

Q3 — How did you cultivate the unique strengths that allowed you to become successful?

Never planning on a career, he simply raced for the fun of it. Over time, he gradually got better, just taking it to step by step, race by race.

 

Q4 — Talk us through the journey of getting your first sponsorships. How did you take this sport from a hobby and into something serious?

In the beginning, he just looked to local businesses to sponsor him. When he started racing Formula 3, the higher budgets meant he could get bigger sponsorships, one of which recruited him into their racing family, his first big career milestone.

 

Q5 — Where do you think your strength lies in comparison to other drivers?

Pierre Kaffer isn’t just a driver, but someone who also understands the techniques of the cars he drives. He honed his skills as a race car mechanic for Zakspeed and took those skills to race, where he understood how to improve racing techniques from a mechanical standpoint.

 

Q6 — Even today, what would you say your weaknesses are?

Even he’ll admit that impatience can sometimes get the best of him, chalking it up to his immense love and passion for the sport.

 

Q7 — Are you referring to more on the track or off the track?

On the track, of course.

 

Q8 — Explain how all this translates into endurance races which you do more than others.

His fondness for endurance racing comes from the multi-faceted approach needed to be successful. Aside from driving, a lot of calculation and off-track strategy is required to win, from fuel and tire conservation to the synergy of the entire team. 

 

Q9 — What is a common myth that is related to racing?

The team as a whole can sometimes be undervalued. You need to build up your team to have the best support and the best race car. If you have all the cogs training, working together, and trusting each other, it allows for the best possible outcome. It’s a cost-free tactic that gives him an edge in competition.

 

Q10 — Have there been any resources that you feel have helped you along this journey?

A good handling of his team and being able to bring everything together is one of the biggest resources he has. At heart, he is a people person and he builds his team to be the most successful they can be.

 

Q11 — You drove on frozen lakes in the Swedish Laplands. Can you tell us what that was like and what it's all about?

Pierre Kaffer was able to rent a frozen lake, from which he then organizes multiple races. There are high speeds, varying difficulties, and freezing temperatures. He gushes that it’s a lot of fun with a lot of great people.

 

Q12 — You said that life is a race. If Heaven does exist, what would you like to have God say to you at the end?

Hopefully, God will put him among the other former racing drivers, including former great James Hunt, who he’d love to chat with. Maybe there will even be a race track up there so he can compete against the greats of all time.

Host: Jai Shukla & Guest: Iker Lecuona Q1 — You got started at a pretty young age. Can you talk us through your journey of how you began riding motorcycles?

His father rode a bike his entire life, so Iker Lecuona wanted to try just for fun. It wasn’t long until the bug got the best of him.

 

Q2 — What made you want to turn your inspiration into a career?

He started to train at nine years old, although it was still just a hobby. He decided to turn it into a career after receiving his first sponsorship.

 

Q3 — One of the quotes you have is “Never stop learning because life never stops teaching.” Where did you get that from or was that something that you came up with?

Improvement is the top priority to Iker and he truly believes you should never stop reaching to be better.

 

Q4 — Unfortunately, crashing can be a big part of the sport. Can you talk us through some of the safety equipment you wear to prevent yourself from getting hurt?

Your helmet, your leather, everything is important. With proper gear, you can focus completely on the race and not be distracted by your safety. You end up driving much better, for sure.

 

Q5 — Can you talk us through how you overcome an injury after a crash?

Believe it or not, Iker Lecuona actually tries to do the area of the track he crashed on faster and harder the second time. If you harp on the crash and are afraid of the turn, your performance suffers. You have to go at it again with even more confidence. 

 

Q6 — You manage to get sponsorship and work with team KTM. How did that opportunity come about?

He still can’t believe it honestly. He admits that just getting better and better at racing led him to the team. He wants to stay with them since he loves being apart of the family and everyone on the team strives to improve together.

 

Q7 — Tell me what things about a team someone should look for? Or is it even possible to know before you start?

The most important thing to Iker is that the team acts as a family. The more it acts like one, the more beneficial it is for the rider. 

 

Q8 — With the knowledge, you have known, what advice would you give to yourself 10 years ago?

You have to enjoy the sport. If you are happy on the bike, you’ll never be stopped from improving. Riding can be difficult, especially at the top level. If you don’t enjoy riding, you’ll never succeed.

 

Q9 — You had your first podium win last year. Talk us through how that affects your confidence, your racing, and how you want to race in the future?

It was the best moment of his life. Since then, he assures us that he’s improved a ton and only looks to win a championship in the near future.

 

Q10 — You have a few decades ahead of you in racing. Looking ahead, how would you like to go out?

When age kicks in enough to stop riding, Iker Lecuona wants to teach riding to young riders, teaching and inspiring them the way his teachers did for him.