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"Inspiring learning through racing" |
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Misty Balser, Growing Up Fast @ Orange
Show |
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(Acton,
Ca) After sitting in the grandstands
at Orange Show Speedway in, San
Bernardino,Ca, for the 2nd Annual
Hornaday 100, driver Misty Balser
could not wait to race on the
legendary track.
This past
Saturday night was, Misty's debut in
the INEX Legend Cars, and it was at
Orange Show Speedway. |
"I guess
Orange Show is my home-track," stated
Balser as she reflected on her short track
career. "My first run in the Bandolero was
here at Orange Show, and my Grandpa was
here for that, and my first run in a
Legend car is here at Orange Show." Misty
continued," they make me feel at home
here, they treat all drivers the same.
I really want to thank the track officials
and the Stockman family, they are all
awesome!"
A driver who has been racing for 7 years,
is just getting started. Doesn't make
sense to some, but the understanding of
Short Track racing verses the style of
racing where, Misty has made a name for
herself... Go Karting, explains her new
challenges.
The two are very different in so many
aspects, but one thing holds true to both
styles of racing, the driver!
Misty is a vision driven, focused racer
who simply loves to go fast. When I was
her age, racing wasn't really an option,
except the BMX (Bicycle) style of racing,
so that's what I did, but the young racers
of today, have series' such as the newly
added attraction to Orange Show, the
Midget cars, for drivers as young as 5,
and the INEX (600 Racing), and ASA Speed
Trucks to start their career much sooner.
"Karting is a great place to start, but
the short track forum is awesome, it
provides the racing I am looking for,"
commented Balser. Her goal is to race in
NASCAR.
This first race would show a dedicated
driver willing to learn and compete with
drivers twice and even three times her
age. She started in the rear of the field
of 21 cars and got a top 15 finish.
Her short track, Bandolero, owned by Scott
Lynch of MotorsportsWeb. com, has seen
some top finishes at other venues. "I have
two 2nd place trophies from racing the
Bandolero," commented Balser. "I love the
INEX group, they offer so much and my dad
and I feel were living the dream."
How does one do all of this at the young
age of 13? Well, she doesn't do it on her
own.
Misty's Grandfather, Dave Balser found a
special side to his Granddaughter. One day
he found she knew the concepts of a car,
as they were driving on a winding road
and, Misty told her grandfather to down
shift and go faster.
At age 5, Misty showed her grandfather a
go-kart and she said she wanted to race.
What else would a car enthusiasts like,
Dave Balser, who built some awesome
classic cars, do when he heard this from
his granddaughter, what else, he bought
her a go-kart and got her into racing.
Misty would bring home a rookie of the
year title, a National points title, and
back-to-back club titles in two different
divisions.
Dave Balser said to me, "Yes, it cost
allot of money, but for what we get out of
it as a family, and what, Misty gets out
of life, it's all worth it!"
In January of this year, Misty's
grandfather and number one fan past-a-way.
Losing, Dave to cancer was hard, yet, as I
stood with his family, friends and
co-workers reflecting, Dave's life, I felt
I had to say these words, "Dave's body
maybe gone, but he lives by way of his
dreams, in Misty, and everyone can follow
Dave's dream at MistyBalser.com"
Misty's car's are decorated with different
colored stars, pink, red and white, and
wants to start a campaign to bring in
funds to help fight cancer. 'My Grandpa
died from cancer and so did 8 year old,
Tanner Lusk. The Bandolero says, "Together
For Tanner" on it and so many miss her,
like her family and racer's like Ron
Hornaday are heart broken, and I know,
because I lost my grandfather to cancer
and he is very missed by so many. I want
to help stop this thing." Misty will start
selling stars that will go on her car, and
money made will go to the American Cancer
Society. "I have to thank, Coz, the
announcer at Orange Show, he talked to me
about how I can get started with the local
chapters of the ACS," added Misty.
For the first time since Dave's passing, I
sat down with his son, Misty's father,
Shane.
Shane found pride in the story telling,
and one that stood in my mind the most
was... "When I was five, me and my dad
worked on his cars together, and funny
thing is, Misty joined us and at age 5. My
Dad or I would ask, Misty to get a 12mm
and she would ask if we wanted a socket or
a wrench." I saw in his eyes, the loss,
yet the pride strongly pushed through.
Shane continued, "With the opportunities
for the kids today, my kid is racing
instead of just helping out. It's funny,
now I am helping her!"
You could tell, Dave is missed, but he is
the true driving force and vision of the
dream.
Before his passing, Dave called
MotorsportsWeb. com and said these words,
"Scott, I have become very ill, and the
time has come to find out who is here and
going to help, Misty."
Scott told, Dave, who was a big supporter
of, Ron Hornaday, we are racers, we are
from Saugus, and I have learned from one
they call the Professor, Ron Hornaday...
it's about racing and it's about the kids.
The funding for her move up from Karting
to the Short Track style racing was found
and Misty found herself, "Getting A Ride,"
as MotorsportsWeb. com put her in the car
her Grandfather wanted to see her race.
Misty went to Orange Show Speedway, one of
the most racer and fan friendly tracks on
the west coast, and she made her short
track debut, with her Grandfather in the
stands.
Moving along, Lynch and Balser knew
something would have to change.
Karting was something that was conflicting
with the dream of moving up, but who could
work on the car?
Friends through karting, The Liberante
family, was working with Lil' Al Simpson
and would be on hand to assist with,
Misty's racing, by working on the car.
Misty did well and brought home a 2nd
place trophy.
A few weeks later, on the way home from a
family vacation, Misty said to her
father... "I don't want to race go karts
this weekend, I want to race Scott's
Bandolero."
Here she was, making a career decision on
her own. Her Father supported the action
and Misty went racing, bringing home
another 2nd.
On to the Legends.
The Liberante's, driver Race and Father
Brian, have been working with Misty the
past couple of months, and it seems Dave's
dreams for his Granddaughter are in
full-swing.
Brian had, Misty testing out at Willow
Springs and has been crewing on the
MotorsportsWeb. com Bandolero the past two
events.
"It's awesome that Brian and Race are
working with, Misty and Shane. I told,
Brian how thankful I was and happy to know
he's there for them in this new form of
racing," stated Lynch.
Misty's Legend debut was only fitting to
be at her "Home Track" and know that
Grandpa Dave is watching from the
Grandstands in the sky.
This weekend, Misty will be heading out to
Las Vegas and is in hopes of running the
Bandolero and the Legend car.
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| Race 2 Learn Gets A Taste of Victory Lane |
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Racing with winners has been our goal since Race2learn’s inception, and we finally savored the sweet taste of Victory Lane, with a new “all woman race team” aptly named, DivaSpeed. After observing them at INFINEON earlier this year, competing against Karen’s “28” team, in the Factory Five Series, I knew they were destined to race together.
Call it fate, luck, destiny, nonetheless, Karen began a |
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journey with DivaSpeed, only to hit the wall, two weeks before the “6-hour Enduro” race at Buttonwillow – Bakersfield, CA . Realizing their funding plight, Team - Race2Learn decided to sponsor them, knowing victory lane was eminent, realizing, equipment is main ingredient to winning a race. Karen felt confident after her short practice session in DivaSpeed #52 “Little Blue” Acura Integra, Ron Carroll, MLS, and race car builder gave our ladies the best car on the track.
Karen’s FFR team prepared to drive without her, as we raced against time preparing for the long journey from Carson City, NV – home of DivaSpeed, to Buttonwillow Raceway Park, http://www.buttonwillowraceway.com praying we covered everything in such a short time. We raced to update our websites, sending email announcements, and coordinating crew duties for both teams in hopes for sponsor recognition for our teams.
Minutes before the white flag dropped, Ron, Donna and Karen were busy checking their “in car” communications; I asked God to bring them safely to Victory Lane. Through the first 2 hours of the race, Karen’s headset was not working, so we used the “old fashioned” placards in place of radio communications, nonetheless, she remained focused, and continued racing without it, with only one thing on her mind, placing this car in a winning position, so her team mate Donna, could put her in Victory Lane.
As I sat in Karen’s air conditioned motor home, I waited until the last 20 minutes of the race, before I proceeded to the pits again, anxious to know where we were, and astonished to know we were three laps ahead of our competitors. What a great win for Race2Learn – DivaSpeed and Thundervalleyracing – amazing group of women racing together to win, both in business as well as on the track.
As we gathered at Victory Lane, sharing the stage with our winning competitors, I realized I was finally living my dream, through these two dramatically driven women. Sponsoring a winning team only solidifies my belief that women can race too. “Thanks” to all those who supported Race2learn through all of its delays the last couple of years, and now with many new endorsements following our success at Buttonwillow, we will see you all again at our California Grassroots raceways, and onto the Nationals in Mid-Ohio in September.
Race2learn is pleased to announce our new N.A.S.A. Proracing endorsement and look forward to working with their team of instructors promoting Race2learn through their HPDE 1-2 classroom download meetings, mandatory after each session, hoping to bring physics of racing to their classroom.
Watch for exciting new addition to our website, our own “Smoking Sammy”, featured junior NHRA female driver, writing about her racing experiences and helping the kids realize their dreams can come true if you believe in yourself. |
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| Thunder Valley Racing Team Returns to Endurance Racing |
| June 5, 2008 - The intrepid Thunder Valley Racing Team returns to endurance racing this weekend, taking on the challenging “6-Hours of Buttonwillow” to be held at Buttonwillow Raceway Park on June 7. Driving the Factory Five Racing (FFR) #28 Cobra, TVR Team drivers Rick Anderson (FFR Regional Director), Peter Hopelain (CMC2 standout), and Mike “Mad Dog” Peters (NASA lead instructor) will be piloting the Cobra through six grueling hours of endurance racing.
Team owner Dr. Karen Salvaggio will be serving in dual roles this weekend, serving as team manager for the Cobra, as well as co-driving with Donna Gilio |
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Karen Salvaggio |
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| and the newly formed Team DivaSpeed in an Acura Integra entered in the E2 Class. Both teams are poised and ready to take on this demanding test. |
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Donna Gilio |
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The Thunder Valley Racing Team is fresh off a very successful racing weekend at Willow Springs International Raceway (May 24-25) in which Karen secured three podium finishes in hard fought battles at this legendary track. The team will be honing their endurance racing skills this weekend in preparation for the December running of the 25 Hours of Thunderhill. |
| Crewmembers include representatives from the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), as well as fellow Cobra enthusiasts. Opening ceremonies are scheduled for 12:00 PM, and racers will take the green flag at 12:15 PM. Teams will battle it out through 6:15 PM, when the checkered flag falls. A BBQ and concert hosted by the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) will immediately follow the race. Team Thunder Valley Racing is pleased to host a live webcam provided by our generous sponsor EzLogy. Follow all the action at: http://thundervalleyracing.camstreams.com/ |
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Words From Our
President: |
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Hey Race Fans,
The 2008 Racing season is well under way, and I am still reporting from behind the wall due to some health issues. Last year started off with a heart attack putting me off track for a year, so, I asked some of our team to take over for me temporarily. I will continue to report on tracks and racers, teaming up with smaller race teams, bringing you the best of GRASSROOTS racing directly from the track.
This year we will present a new format. With the loss of NASCAR Nationwide teams to sponsor, we decided to go back |
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to basics featuring local tracks and follow a local team of professionals competing in endurance races, at our local California road courses. It takes concentration, focus and dedication to achieve this sought after profession. So next time you think racing is easy, go to your local track and watch some amateur drivers go through their learning laps at a local track featuring - HPDE (HIGH PERFORMANCE DRIVING EXPERIENCE). www.buttonwillowraceway.com We would love to feature your experience on our new interactive website.
So, let’s go racing with our Race2learn driver, Stephen, while he starts his driving lessons. Stephen is still learning the track configuration and getting his line down, while racing with 25 other cars, it demands focus - concentration and dedication to be a safe race car driver.
Check out the different raceway configurations at – www.buttonwillowraceway.com We signed up for a complete weekend of HPDE - It is my belief that we can bring you closer to the track, drivers, cars, and families of our favorite sport, directly through our racing experiences. There are four twenty minute sessions each day, so seat time is important in getting to the next level. Much like our new educational products we are busy converting are files to meet the changing technology demands in today’s education environment, targeting home schoolers and internet learners. RACING is our focus.
We are touring the California N.A.S.A. teams this year, reporting from the “RACE 4 A REASON” team, featuring our own, Karen Salvaggio – Factory Five Team driver and owner, #28. Following along with Karen will be a learning experience for all of us. Watch for surprise guests, you never know who will be racing with us at our local California road courses.
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Happy Racing, |
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Cynthia
Campagnale |
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Founder and President |
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The
News Chalkboard |
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SMOKIN' SAMMY - We are working with Samantha Neild, Female Drag Racer out of, Florida. She will have something new and hot, so keep an eye on the site |
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