After years of learning the ropes and soaking up everything possible as crew
chief of his father’s Pro Modified operation, Mike Carpenter is finally getting
a chance to experience what it’s like behind the wheel.
The 24-year-old graphic designer for Torco's CompetitionPlus.com will take his first stab
at piloting a race car when he heads to Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School in
Gainesville, FL this week. Carpenter hopes to earn his Super Gas license in the
school’s big-block powered Pontiac Firebird while absorbing everything the
renowned driving coach and his staff have to offer.
“This is something we’ve talked about doing for a while
now,” said the younger Carpenter. “I graduated college last May and was supposed
to go to driving school last winter, but things just got hectic around the shop
and we weren’t able to make it happen. I’m really excited about it now that it’s
finally happening, and it should be the perfect way to cap off the great season
we had.”
While his 34 years of door car experience would probably
make Charles Carpenter an excellent teacher in this situation, he is the first
one to admit that Hawley’s school is the ultimate place to start a drag racing
career.
“I could show him the ropes, but one look at the pedigree
of drivers that have come through Hawley’s school shows that this is the place
to start,” the elder Carpenter said. “I went to the school of hard knocks and
probably picked up a few bad habits along the way. This is the perfect way for
Mike to learn the proper way to do everything, not just on the track but in the
mental preparation as well. That’s where Hawley’s school is really heads and
shoulders above the rest.”