Gold in the Scrap Bin: Racing Your Dreams on a Budget

I was constantly rummaging the scrap barrels at Goulet Racing taking little nuggets of gold!

They say money makes the world go 'round, and in motorsports, it can certainly feel like it buys speed. But what if your wallet isn't overflowing? What if you're the kind of racer who sees treasure in the scrap bins of the big teams, who builds champions out of ingenuity and elbow grease? Well, I'm here to tell you that you're not alone, and your path can be just as rewarding – maybe even more so.

Looking back at my own journey in the late 80s through the 2000s, I wasn't rolling in dough. My racing career was built on a foundation of resourcefulness. Those "scrap" barrels at the bigger race shops? For me, they were gold mines. What others discarded, I saw as potential, as building blocks for my own machine. You wouldn't have guessed by looking at my rides, which I always took immense pride in keeping sharp, but underneath, a lot of it was homemade, pieced together from those discarded treasures. And you know what I wouldn't trade that experience for anything. I was 28 years old before I learned to read a tape measure! But I learned by doing, by researching, by figuring out what would work through trial and (sometimes) error.

"Having to work with what I had, to build my own components, forced me to learn in a way that a fat checkbook never could."

My dream of stock car racing started when I was just ten years old. "Some day," I'd tell myself. That dream became a reality thanks to a couple of the Northwest's greats, my brother and dear friend, Dave Goulet, who became my mentor and guide, and the late, great J.J. Zaffino. They both invested their time and knowledge in me, and for that, I'm eternally, and forever grateful.

It took seven years of hard work, of countless hours in the shop, before I finally stood in victory lane for my first main event. i knew that I was going to win that night. So much so that I called my wife at home and told her that she better get to the track because I was gong win it. That win wasn't just a trophy; it was a testament to me about perseverance, about the unwavering belief that even with limited resources, you can achieve your goals.

What I learned during those twelve years of building my own cars and chasing speed wasn't just about nuts and bolts. It was about the fundamentals:

• Meticulous Maintenance: Treating your equipment with respect, ensuring every component is clean and in top condition. In racing, just like life, cleanliness truly is next to godliness.

• Precision: Not settling for "close enough." If you need 80 inches, 79 and 15/16ths won't cut it. That unwavering commitment to accuracy translates to performance.

• Freedom and Alignment: Making sure everything moves freely, without binding, and that your chassis is square and true. Don't try to band-aid underlying issues with quick fixes. Address the root cause. I never did believe in crutches. If you were right and balanced, crutches aren't necessary.

• Preparation: Never go to the track to working on your car. Arrive ready to race. Your focus should be on driving, not wrenching.

  
  

My meticulous approach wasn't just about trying to make my limited budget stretch; it gave me something even more valuable: confidence. I knew my ride was prepared to the best of my ability. If I didn't perform, the responsibility lay squarely with me. There were times my crew wanted to make changes, and I had to say, "The car is better than I am right now. I need to fix myself first." Having excellent people around me, like my crew chief Jim Emery, (who was a mechanical wizard), life long pals Rick Terry and Geoff Land was also crucial.

You don't need to win a hundred races to understand what it takes to be fast. The journey of building, learning, and constantly striving for improvement, even with limited resources, forges a deep understanding of the sport. It breeds a passion that runs deeper than any bank account.

So, to all the racers out there who are turning scraps into gold, who are pouring their heart and soul into their machines despite budget limitations, keep wrenching, keep learning, and keep believing in your dream. Your ingenuity, your dedication, and your passion are powerful forces. Your success might look different, but it will be uniquely yours, and it will be earned. Trust me, there's a special kind of pride in that.

So how bout it racers I'd love to hear some of your budget racing tips, or how you made it happen with limited resources in the comments below