Gretchen hails from the Twin Cities area and is a member of the Milwaukee Region SCCA. She also proudly proclaims her membership in the Minnesota Autosports Club (MAC), an independent group of enthusiasts. She is the 2008 Solo National Champion in B Stock Ladies driving a Mazda RX-8 on Hoosier tires.
RR:Â Is this your first attendance at Nationals?
GA: This was my second trip to Nationals.
RR:Â Is this your first National Championship?
GA: This is my first National Championship.
RR:Â What do you think was your key to success?
GA: I was a competitive figure skater when I was young. Having a competitive personality and experience with the high pressure that comes with competing in an individual sport certainly helped. But the real key to my success is the strength of the drivers I compete with every Sunday in MAC, Milwaukee Region, Des Moines Valley Region and Iowa Region events.
RR:Â Who has most influenced you?
GA: My husband, Ivan. He is an excellent driver, a natural talent, and also highly competitive. He pushes me to wrap my head around my driving to a degree I normally wouldn’t. My goal is to beat him in an autocross one day. And I would be remiss if I didn’t give a nod to our co-drivers, Neal Tovsen and Katie Lacey. Both are very experienced and very accomplished. If ever I refused to listen to Ivan about something (you know how that goes… it’s hard to learn from someone SO close to you), it got through to me because of them.
RR: Who inspires you?
GA: Too many people to name. Mostly people who incorporate their “loves” into their daily lives. My father loves racing, is a member of the Porsche Club of America, and hauls his 911SC all over the country to different road races. My mom loves to write and help people and volunteers as an advisor on the Elder Wisdom Circle, an online advice forum. If everyone could incorporate something they truly enjoy into their daily life, I suspect the world would be a much happier place.
RR: Do you have any special pre-race routine, or any superstitions you follow?
GA: When I drive up to the start line, I tend to clap or slap my hands against my legs. I guess it wakes up my senses and fires up the synapses. This year at Nationals, I listened to “Firestarter” by Prodigy to get myself amped up prior to going to grid. That might have to become a permanent pre-race routine, as it seemed to work for me this year!
RR: Do you have any driving aids or tools you use to help you?
GA: We run a DL1 datalog from Race Technologies with …sensors. We also have a… camera with a wide angle lens mounted to the inside of the car.
RR: What do you think you do differently than your competition?
GA: If I told you, I’d have to kill you!
RR: Have you attended any driving school?
GA:Â I have attended my local Novice School and Evolution Driving School Phase 1.
RR: Describe your driving style.
GA: I have been working VERY hard on early aggressiveness and preciseness. I’m usually too much of a chicken. My joke is that I need to, for lack of a better phrase, “Let the nuts drop” and just drive, damn it!
RR: What was your first -and favorite autocross car?
GA: My first autocross car (and favorite) was a C Stock ’93 Miata Clubsport (red). The current RX-8 is only my second autocross car and will always hold a special place in my heart for bringing me my first jacket. But I loved that Miata!
RR: If you could change one Solo rule – either for your specific class or in general — what would it be?
GA: Meh… I’ll leave the rule bickering to those who care.
RR: Who would you like to thank for your success?
GA: My mom for bestowing upon me her lead foot and my dad for the ability to use it. My husband for his encouragement and support and for sincerely hoping that I will someday beat him. And, MAC for giving me a place to play.
Pictures courtesy of Alex Lowe.
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