Old Speed News Issues

Speed News February 2016

Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/634989

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 84 of 97

"I had a lot of traffic tickets as a kid." While studying to become a pilot at Texas State Technical School in Waco, Rueth said he was doing donuts in a parking lot when he was approached by someone who told him about autocross events at a nearby university. "I autocrossed everything from a Ford SHO Taurus to my Mustang," he said. "I had all these different things I tried and had a blast doing it." After graduating from college, Rueth went to work as an instructor at a flight school but continued to race. Using a flight simulator to teach the students, Rueth realized he could use the same technology to improve his track skills. "It was a very natural transition for me to start using driving simulators," Rueth said, adding, "I attribute a lot of my success in 2014 to simulators. I had never been to Road Atlanta and everything I learned was from the simulator. I got up to speed a hundred times faster because of it." Being a corporate pilot for a longtime Texas family in the oil and gas industry has its perks. When Rueth gets his client to their destination, he can pursue his other passion of paragliding. It was a sport he chose because the equipment fits in a 50-pound pack and is ideal for some of the locations (think mountains) he flies the family to for business or vacations. "It's one of those sports where there is no room for error. It really challenges me as a person," he said. "There's nothing better than flying above a mountain range or flying above the ocean with a non-powered aircraft. Flying like the birds with the wind in your hair at 15 to 30 mph, there's nothing better." Another perk of the job is lots of down time, which is why Rueth is developing the racing program for Winding Road. He met Martin at Harris Hill Road, a private member track in San Marcos, Texas, where they developed the concept. The goal is to have at least five drivers on the team at each of the six race stops. "We can coach them on their health … we can teach them how to knock down all the mental barriers that are involved with auto racing, especially pro racing," Rueth said. "And then we can teach them all the things they need to go faster. We found the only way to be truly successful at the highest level of motorsports is to have all of those elements present in a development program." Rueth's driving coach and mentor says he wouldn't bet against Rueth developing a successful driver program and growing personally as a driver. "I know his ability is at a pro level," Costas said. "I think the neat thing is how fast he can develop the chassis racing, where everyone else across the country is trying to do the exact same thing. I'll put Corey's dedication and determination against anyone." — Gregg Mansfield SN 85 BRETT BECKER FINISHLINEPROD.NET

Articles in this issue

view archives of Old Speed News Issues - Speed News February 2016