SneakerWorx,
the Story:
SneakerWorx MotorCars, Inc., started to form in late spring,
2000, when an extremely wealthy race fan (known from here after
as Mr. Anonymous) started forming a team and building Volvo's
to compete in the TPTCC with a self funded effort. He saw the
first race at Riverside and had to join the series even know
he can't be linked to the team because of business and privacy
reasons.
He started looking for drivers, and came across SS Motorsports
test driver and former TPTCC champion Tommy Brolsma at a local
Indiana speedway. Tommy was recovering from injuries received
in a violent testing crash driving a V8 car getting ready for
the opening of the Winter Tour at North Point at the end of 1999.
Tommy had just moved to Indy with his wife and was settling
into their lives there, but Tommy was looking for a ride again.
The two started to plan a team (Mr. Anonymous immediately hired
more mechanics knowing Tommy's reputation on equipment) and started
looking for a team driver.
Tommy had heard of this guy from Maryland that could drive
the wheels off of 'Cup and GPL car, but had never run a race.
His name is Ken Trout. The anonymous owner asked Tommy to contact
him about driving for the team, wanting to bring new blood into
the series. Ken agreed and started testing immediately. Tommy
had some other commitments and was not quite healed from his
injuries, so he and Ken had to skip Brands Hatch to get the team
ready for their assault on the TPTCC at Heartland Park Topeka.
They ran the cars un-painted, but they will be ready for the
2001 season. The team has to catch up with the wrecking abilities
of Tommy and Ken.
They have put together an impressive team around Tommy and
Ken. They bring three trucks to the track, one for each car
and one for spare parts and fenders for the Dodge's. Mr. Anonymous
has made both Tommy and Ken Vice Presidents of the company, although
in the spirit of the team they are ridiculous ones. Tommy is
VP of crash/tire wall testing and Ken is VP of lawn and sand
care. Tommy and Ken handle their own PR (which is scary, I know)
and the basic organization of the team. The team owner has left
most of the decisions up to them. He just likes to sit back
and watch the circus in action. Tommy has also been nominated
as the team manager being the veteran of the team.
The team is now running the TPTCC-offline full time, and raids
the IWSC championship at will. Tommy won the teams first race
in 2000 at Desert Winds in the IWSC series. Also, the team has
grown by adding Bryan Hostetter in 2001.
|