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Featured Racer!     

      Every month or so we are going to have an article on one of our racers in the SWSC. Some of you may remember when we did this before. We have found out over the last couple of years that we have ALOT of people following our humble website. We have also gained new race teams! This gives everyone a look at who we compete with all season long and maybe a little insight for those that follow the SWSC!
       Racers, this is your notice that I will be contacting you for a bio and team photo!

 
Featured Racers:

Kenneth Rierson

Andy Mears

Lubbock, Tx.

      I have had an interest in anything that runs sense I was a kid. My brother and I flew and played with model airplanes, slot cars, go karts, and motorcycles. My brother still talks about me taking everything apart to see how it worked before I would even play with it. We would build “push cars” from lumber we “found” at construction sites and have the bigger kids push us down the street. I was a pure car nut at 12, and the only car that I wanted was a 55 Chevy. At that time you could find a nice one for 500.00, and that’s what I did. I drove it to school while my dad built a 265 to compete in V/SA. We put it in and set a national record on the first trip to the track. I was hooked for life.
 I ran the 55 Chevy in V/stock and held the National record for 2 years. At 17 we switched to a 69 Rambler in E/stock, set several records with it also. Bracket racing took over the class racing in the late 70’s so I turned to a front engine dragster with a SBC (I thought I was big time then). It was short, ill handling, and dangerous. And I have got some stories that will put tears in your eyes (from laughing) about this one.
      When I turned 20 I decided to try my hand at some other driving venues. I ran SCCA solo 1. Winning the high point championship. 
      Then I turned to dirt racing, running a mini-modified (Mazda Rotary), we won the track championship for 3 years. Then an accident burning me over 40% of my body in third degree burns, and spending 3 months in the hospital put a slight delay in my racing program. After recovery, I promised my wife that dirt racing was over, and I wanted to go back to drag racing. I contacted Mike Carpenter to build me a tube chassis Mazda RX-3. We installed a rotary engine and adapted a B&M supercharger to it. This was in 1981, way before an import craze. The car was a feature in SUPER STOCK & DRAG LIST. In 1982.
      After several years of bracket racing the Mazda, I went to a SBC dragster for super comp and super pro. A few years into it I got into sever tire shake and broke my lower back, paralyzing me from the waist down. After surgery and a year in a body cast, I was able to walk, but the doctors said I would be in a wheel chair by the time I was 40 and never drive a race car again.
 While recovering from back surgery (yes still in a brace) I started racing go-karts with my kids. They were 10 and 7 years old at the time. My daughter won the Texas karting championship at the age of 11 and rookie of the year. My son finished 4 points behind her.
 After the karting thing we went to JR. dragsters and did very well, Jamie (my daughter) made it to the quarter finals at the Nationals, while Nick ( my son) finished #1 in points at Idalou.
  Jamie wanted to step up to real cars, so at 17 with the help of Mike Carpenter, Jackie’s Automotive, and Tracy Dennis at Sunset Racecraft, it was back to a R.E.D and a Sunset Racecraft SBC. We ran it for 3 years till it was time for her to go to college.
   Well the car was just setting there, waiting, pleading, wasting away, so I decided I would try driving again. So off to the track with a smile and a worried wife. The first pass was great, an 8.60 and like old times. While getting out of the car on the return road, a racer lost control of her car and ran into the back of the dragster as I was getting out. The roll cage caught me across the lower back, and knocked the car about 40 feet into the weeds. Yet another trip to the hospital. (I feel like Tim Taylor from Tool Time), Now you know why Jan is a little nervous. Accident prone, no not me.  
   I had just about given up on being able to drive again till I found a doctor in Florida that after 3 surgeries, and a few metal rods fixed my back.
   I started going to the races with Mike Jones in the VOODOO CHILD car with Southwest Superchargers. I have never had so much fun, met so many nice people and enjoyed something so much in my life. So after 3 years of helping Mike, I build a R.E.D for the class. With the help of Mike Carpenter, Mike Jones, and Sunset Racecraft, Jackie’s Automotive, Mears Mazda/Volvo and Jegs, we built a Spitzer 235” supercharged dragster.
   My first full year will be in’08, with a few races at the end of ’07 to get dialed in. I also built another RX3 to bracket race, but Southwest Superchargers is going to be my main racing venue. Nick Mears is going to crew chief, making the calls on tuning and preparation.
 Also I would like to say that none of this would be possible without the great support of my family. My wife Jan, and both of my kids Nick and Jamie, my father and brother Bob is what makes this great.