Proving that bigger is not always better Brian Ciarlei who hails from the Finger Lakes/Central New York Region and driving a 1988 Red Devil F440 on Hoosier tires proved to be the class of the field at the 2008 Solo National Championship. Brian also is clear proof that one doesn’t always need to have the newest car, or the fanciest equipment to get the job done. Sometimes what is really needed is just desire…
RR: Is this your first attendance at Nationals?
BC: No, this was my 4th trip.
RR: Is this your first national championship?
BC: Yes, I am a first time champion.
RR: What was your favorite memory of the competition?
BC:Â Winning with a large group of friends in attendance, and spending the week with my girlfriend.
RR: What do you think was your key to success?
BC: Lots of practice and a well prepared car (thanks Dad). Pennon Composites and Sharlay Machine and Fabrication all contributed money/support as did my Grandfather. Tina and Brian Reeves loaned us their Chevy Trailblazer so we could tow the car the 1200 miles to Topeka. Jose Gonzales let us use the shower in his hotel. My mom made Michelle and I a pie to eat. Danny Kao gave us some food/gas money to get home.
Michelle Quinn, my girlfriend and co-driver, pushed me to go this year. I knew I couldn’t afford to go, but she inspired me to make it happen. I couldn’t let her down because she wanted to go really bad. It was her first trip to the Nationals. Finally, Paul and Jane Quinn helped us buy new tires to run the season with.
RR: Who has most influenced you?
BC: My parents made me who I am. They always told me to go for my dreams and never give up on something you start. They were very loving and supportive my entire life.
RR: Who inspires you?
BC: I am inspired by my family and friends. I was never good at sports or anything like that in school so to succeed in something makes me feel good. I love impressing them with wins.
RR: Do you have any special pre-race routine, or any superstitions you follow?
BC: The only thing I do before a run is take a deep breath and relax my body.
RR: Do you have any driving aids or tools you use to help you?
BC: No cameras, no data acquisition, no notebooks. I try not to mess with the car, I just drive it. My dad describes it like he handed me a loaded spring ready to unwind. He hands it to me and I do my thing.
RR: What do you think you do differently than your competition?
BC:Â I honestly don’t know. I have an old car and an outdated motor. I try to drive as many different cars as possible, and that has given me a feel for what I like/need my car to do.
RR: Have you attended any driving school?
BC: No. I took the classroom training at an EMRA Time Trial once and ran the time trial. But that is not really a driving school.
RR: Describe your driving style.
BC: I used to be over aggressive. After a number of years in the car (7total) the mist goes away and your brain speeds up enough to allow you to think in the car on course. Then I was able to apply what I knew all along and it smoothed out my driving.
RR: What was your first -and favorite autocross car?
BC: My first auto-x experience was in a 1994 Pontiac Sunbird 4-door with an automatic transmission. My favorite is a tie between the FMod and Danny Kao’s STU Mitsubishi Evolution IX.
RR: Who would you like to thank for your success?
BC: Michelle, Paul, and Jane Quinn, Brian and Tina Reeves, Pennon Composites, Hoosier tires, Grandpa, mom and dad, and of course all the competitors. We had the largest modified class this year.
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