As you will soon see Randy Herrick has long been a nationally competitive autocrosser. As the 2008 G Prepared Solo Champion driving Bill Cutrer’s 1979 Fiat X-1/9 on Hoosier tires Randy added one more notch to a fairly full gun belt. As a ‘local’ who resides in the Topeka area he has put his local knowledge to good use. Randy is a member of the Kansas Region SCCA.
RR: Is this your first attendance at Nationals?
RH: No, this year marks my 28th appearance at Nationals.
RR: Is this your first National Championship?
RH: No. I have seven other championships in Solo, one in Pro Solo and one in Solo 1.
RR: What class or classes? What years?
RH: I won in D Prepared in 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1995 and 1996. I won B prepared in 1999. This year was my 3rd championship driving Bill Cutrer’s Fiat X1/9 that I helped him build and maintain. The other years I won in this car were 1995 and 1996. I also was second in 1981 in this car at its first National Championship.
RR: What was your favorite memory of the competition?
RH: Getting to enjoy the moment with my son Cameron who has been co-driving with me for several years.
RR: What do you think was your key to success?
RH: Never giving up. It was a tough year. I built a fresh engine and transmission for the Fiat and worked on the handling setup. We had much go wrong and had bad luck before Nationals. We then had a fuel pump failure on the first day of Nationals and Bill and I both missed our last runs. We got it fixed and focused on finishing strong on the second day.
RR: Who has most influenced you?
RH: My Dad, Dale Herrick. He started autocrossing in the sixties in a Lotus 7A. He helped me learn to drive properly and fast at a young age.
RR: Who inspires you?
RH: Rocky Balboa, like him I still have some junk in the basement.
RR: Do you have any special pre-race routine, or any superstitions you follow?
RH: Of course I inspect the car thoroughly. I also always do some cosmetic things to the car, cleaning, touch up the paint; it just makes me feel better.
RR: Do you have any driving aids or tools you use to help you?
RH: I watch the top guys in other classes run. I talk to everyone I can that has run already. I walk the courses a lot. I pray before each run.
RR: What do you think you do differently than your competition?
RH: I have an automotive background so I may understand the car more than some of my competitors. Still, setting up for best handling can be tricky. I used to take too long to get down to a good time. I have focused on 1st run speed. Usually I won’t take more than 3 runs at local events because 3 runs are all we will get at Nationals and we need to learn to get it done in 3 runs.
RR: Have you attended any driving school?
RH: Yes, in about 2000 I attended an Evolution Dial In School to help improve the set up on my 87 RX-7 BP car.
RR: Describe your driving style.
RH: Overly aggressive! I feel I struggle with trying too hard. I have to calm myself down and smooth it out.
RR: What was your first –and favorite autocross car?
RH: My first was an MGB in D Stock class; my favorite was my D Prepared Sprite (1986, 1987, 1989, and 1990).
RR: If you could change one Solo rule – either for your specific class or in general — what would it be?
RH: I am against the current minimum participation rules. SCCA is looking at the total national entry number and then saying that each class must be at minimum a certain percentage of this total entry. They bumped the minimum from 12 to 17 cars and that is pinching a lot of classes. I feel that the number of classes has ballooned and this hurts some older classes.
RR: Who would you like to thank for your success?
RH: My wife, Amy Rose has helped me a lot and put up with my racing habit. My Dad has helped me immensely. Bill Cutrer has been a great friend, supporter and teammate. Larry Tessendorf from Tessendorf Welding and Machine has sponsored me for a long time with welding and machine work and superior advice, I thank them all!
Photos courtesy of www.getcone.com & Randy Herrick
For copies of photos email me at david @ evorticity.com
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