Multi-time National Champion Kim Wilson had to make room in her closet to add another jacket in 2008. Driving the Team Blender Blaster Toyota MR-S on Hoosier tires owned by the CEO of Team Blender Blaster, Tracy Ramsey, Kim became the 2008 D Prepared Ladies National Champion. Originally hailing from the Chicago area but now a resident of Bowling Green, Kentucky Kim is still a member of the Chicago Region SCCA.
RR: Is this your first attendance at Nationals?
KW: No, I have been participating at Nationals since 2000. I have competed in seven Nationals: 2000-2008 (excluding 2001 , we were there but we left early because of the terrorist attacks).
RR: Is this your first National Championship?
KW: No, this is my 5th National Championship. 2002 in A Stock Ladies; 2005, 2006, 2007 & 2008 in D Prepared Ladies.
RR: What was your favorite memory of the competition?
KW: Besides the blender…the announcer of our heat, Heyward Wagner and my husband Lloyd Wilson telling me I was .001 seconds behind my teammate Anne going into my last run. Then driving .6 seconds faster when all along someone had just done the math wrong and I was actually ahead by .001 seconds. It would have been the smallest margin in Nationals history but I was much happier with the extra .6 of a second.
RR: What do you think was your key to success?
KW: Experience and determination.
RR: Who has most influenced you?
KW: Mr. Les Schoeber, I don’t think I would have started autocrossing if it was not for him. He just kept egging me on to jump in the car. Once I did start racing regularly he figured out that if he agitated me enough my times would improve. He would say “Just get her mad enough and she’ll go fast.” Of course it was all in good fun. I learned some really great basics from him that I still use at every event.
RR: Who inspires you?
KW: My husband, Lloyd Wilson. He has been “Driver of the Year” for Chicago Region, he has been top driver and in the top 20 every year (that he raced) since he started autocrossing. He has had numerous Pro-Solo and National Tour trophies and wins. The “Big One” still eludes him but I am convinced he will win it. He loves the sport with great passion and is a joy to watch on the autocross course. He is a wonderful teacher and he wholeheartedly supports me in autocross and in life and he is a joy to be married to. Thanks honey!
RR: Do you have any special pre-race routine, or any superstitions you follow?
KW: I always have to put my left glove on first, if not it I feel very discombobulated.
RR: Do you have any driving aids or tools you use to help you?
KW: Without a doubt… friend, teammate and car owner Tracy Ramsey. For one reason he lets me drive the car which definitely aids in my driving, but in all seriousness he is also a master at car setup, and even though our driving styles are very different he tries to set the car up neutrally to suit all of the team Blender Blaster drivers. He will also set us up at every event where we can review our runs via video and data software. As always, a big thanks goes out to him. The DP Spyder is a blast to drive, it makes my adrenaline pump even just thinking about driving it and Tracy is the “nicest guy in autocross”, what more could I ask for?
RR: What do you think you do differently than your competition?
KW: I am pretty consistent and sometimes I can drive a bit of an unconventional line for rear wheel drive (sometimes it helps and sometimes it hurts). I also feel I am learning to adapt to course elements and surfaces better than I have in the past and most of the time I can “kick it up a notch” when I need to. Of course I wish I could drive at 100% all of the time but with my driving style sometimes I just need an extra push.
RR: Have you attended any driving school?
KW: I had attended a “Jim McKamey 1st phase” autocross school in 1998 with Jim being one of my main instructors. Then one Evolution Driving School in the early 2000′s.
RR: Describe your driving style.
KW: My husband has called it aggressively cautious with fast hands. I am definitely not detailed so most of the time I drive by “feel”.
RR: What was your first –and favorite autocross car?
KW: My first autocross car was my 1996 VW Jetta VR6 which was in G Stock. I only drove it for three or four events because I got a taste of the Corvette bug during an “instructional run”. My favorite autocross car had to be the 1995 Corvette ZR-1. You just can’t beat going over 55 mph in first gear, engine screaming, gobs of torque and being in a four wheel drift through the sweepers in a 3500lb monster.
RR: If you could change one Solo rule – either for your specific class or in general — what would it be?
KW: Only one?
RR: Who would you like to thank for your success?
KW: Mike Bullis, he is an awesome racer. Whether it was motocross or autocross and he has taught me well by example.
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