THE SOFTER GENTLER ROY HILL
Those of us who have ever
been on the receiving end of one of his school tirades have a hard time
believing that. But, you have to look into his eyes to know that something his
changed his heart.
Blame it on the kids.
Hill has found solace in
working with the next generation of drag racers. The newest program at Roy Hill’s
Roy Hill has had a change
of heart. He says he no longer yells at his drag racing school, but takes the
time to methodically explain the ins and outs of driving technique.
Those of us who have ever
been on the receiving end of one of his school tirades have a hard time
believing that. But, you have to look into his eyes to know that something his
changed his heart.
Blame it on the kids.
Hill has found solace in
working with the next generation of drag racers. The newest program at Roy Hill’s
“I had about 25 junior
dragsters built in 1992 and got rid of them because I couldn’t deal with the
parents,” Hill said. “Now I have such a ball doing this and the kids get the
results.”
The softer and gentler
Hill says that a number of kids have already visited the winner’s circle as a
result.
Hill has a school
forthcoming at Piedmont Dragway next week. For more information on this, contact
Hill was on the NHRA tour recently
working with Top Fuel driver Doug Herbert.
Herbert has had a tough
run of things early in 2007, and with that said he brought in Hill as an extra
set of eyes. Those eyes aren’t on the car. They are on the driver.
“It’s like a golfer going out and golfing for a month or two,” Hill said. “and
things aren’t going so well. He goes out and gets his professional to help him
smooth him up on his swing. Doug is a great driver. I am just out here to help
smooth him up some. We had some great runs in E-town and I am here this weekend
and will be next weekend in
Herbert is pleased with the Hill factor thus far.
"We're happy to have
Hill said that only a small amount of fine-tuning should continue working
wonders for Herbert.
“We’ll just get him on his game plan and turn him loose. He’ll be just fine.
Doug is no different than any other racer, including me, sometimes we goof up
and we have to go to someone to talk and get things worked out. Sometimes you
have to take a step back and look at the things you may be doing wrong.”
Hill and Herbert have worked together off and on for the last five years.
“A couple of years ago, we had him on a roll and really doing well,” said Hill.
“The last few years, he’s had some tough situations to deal with. He called me
last week and we went to Englishtown and we had some good luck.”
Hill admits to being unable to escape the reputation of being on top of the
emotional tires many times in the early part of his career as an
instructor. He’ll softly argue that he’s a changed man.
“I’ve learned to relax a little over the years,” Hill said. “I felt when a
person came through my school that I had to deliver a license to them. I am
more conservative now. Now if someone gives me the tools, I work with them. But
it is up to them to get their license. I have calmed down a lot.”
It was the kids who calmed
the big bear down.
“It has made all of the difference in the world,” Hill said. “I love working
with them. You have to be easy with them. Safety is my first priority.
Sometimes I do raise my voice, but that’s only if they are making real bad
mistakes that could hurt them. I’m just not the same person that I used to be.”
Does he treat Herbert like a junior dragster driver?
“I have the last few weeks,” Hill said with his trademark smile.