From the great windy city of Chicago (or its close lying environs) comes Danielle Engstrom. As talented behind a keyboard (piano) as she is behind a steering wheel, Danielle added yet another championship trophy to her case as the 2008 Super Stock Ladies National Champion. Driving a borrowed, Patrick Montello owned, 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z-06 on Hoosier tires she bested her nearest competitor by more than 1.2 seconds. Danielle is a member of the Chicago Region SCCA. Â
RR: Is this your first attendance at Nationals?
DE: No, this was my 15th Nationals.
RR: Is this your first National Championship?
DE: No. In all I have five other Solo Championships and one Pro Solo Ladies Class overall Championship that I won in 2005. I won F Mod Ladies in 1996 (I had fast time of day on one course and my class ran 1st or 2nd heat before the guys with better conditions) and F Mod Ladies again in 1997. I won C Street Prepared Ladies in 2003, 2005 and 2006 all in the Rod McGeorge owned Toyota MR-S. I think ProSolo Ladies Class is actually much more difficult than the Solo Nationals.
RR: What was your favorite memory of the competition?
DE: My first run on the 2nd day, when the car handled really well after not handling well the 1st day (we did a post alignment and made shock adjustments).
RR: What do you think was your key to success?
DE: Knowing, I could win
RR: Who has most influenced you?
DE: Tim Aro, Chris Dvorak (my brother), Eric Eckman, so many co-drivers and car owners over the years…
RR: Who inspires you?
DE: Lynn Rothney-Kozlak.
RR: Do you have any special pre-race routine, or any superstitions you follow?
DE: Stretching, deep breathing; sometimes I sing or chant to myself in the car.
RR: Do you have any driving aids or tools you use to help you?
DE: Piglet rides with me.
RR: What do you think you do differently than your competition?
DE: That’s hard to say, although I think I really have fun and most people take this sport way too seriously.
RR: Have you attended any driving school?
DE: I taught for the McKamey School in the beginning before it became Evolution, so obviously I took the schools too. I have also taken the Russell Racing Advanced Road Race school in Formula Mazda at Sears Point or whatever they’re calling it now.
RR: Describe your driving style.
DE: I’m told I’m very smooth.
RR: What was your first –and favorite autocross car?
DE: My first autocross car was my daily driver of the time, a 1987 Toyota MR2. My favorite autocross car was our A Modified — hard to not love a beast like that. I took a 3rd place in the open class at Nationals in it one year. I was regularly faster than John my husband in it.
RR: If you could change one Solo rule – either for your specific class or in general — what would it be?
DE: I don’t feel qualified at this time to engage in this sort of thing. In the past, when I was very involved in the sport I might have had trouble picking just one.
RR: Who would you like to thank for your success?
DE: Chris Dvorak, John Engstrom, Howard Duncan, Rod McGeorge, Tim Aro, and everyone who I’ve ever been pushed by.
Photos courtesy of www.gotcone.com & Danielle Engstrom
For copies of photos email david @ evorticity.com
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