Santapod Raceway, ENGLAND – July 2018: Sometimes it is very difficult to approach a drag race driver when he or she is still competing. Like any other athlete or competitor, Drag Race drivers prepare themselves mentally for a race. They also check the car/bike data from last race, track condition for an upcoming race, car/bike setup etc. But with patience and the right timing, they’re always available for an interview.
As MSA Pro Modified winner during the ‘Summer Nationals,’ it was definitely the right moment to ask Michel Tooren some questions. As previous ‘behind staging lane’ editions, we went looking for the story behind the story: This is the story behind Michel Tooren.
[gard]
|
|
|
Michel is the owner of RBC Group-nederland; a safety oriented company which provides personnel and safety systems. Michel was always interested in cars, bikes, and speed. But it wasn’t until 2008 that he got introduced to the world of Drag Racing by a friend of his. He was invited to the Nitrolympx races at Hockenheim-ring (Germany). Michel liked every bit of it, especially the accessibility for the public to be around the race cars. He also knew one race car driver; Robert Joosten (R.I.P), who at the time was behind the wheel of the ‘Pro Dutch Racing’ Chevrolet Corvette C5.
Michel’s Drag racing career started at first as a sponsor of the Pro Dutch Racing team. As the friendship grew even more, it took a surprising turn in 2010. Michel was asked to join the team during a race event in Sweden as a crew mechanic.
The Team just switched from the Chevrolet Corvette to a 1970 Camaro and could use a pair of hands. Michel has never worked on a race car before, but the team trusted his mechanical skills to reinforce them during the FIA races at Mantorp Park, Sweden. He got told by the team; ‘it’s either you are going to love it or you won’t’.
|
|
|
Michel enjoyed that weekend so much that he joined the team as a mechanic and went for the full FIA season the following year. Michel continues as a team mechanic from 2011 to 2015 and had a dream to add a second car to the team and start his own racing career.
At this moment in time, the team also has swapped the Camaro for the current 1971 Plymount Barracuda.
In 2015 the lives of the Pro Dutch team members got turn upside down as driver Robert Joosten passed away at the age of 46, after losing the battle against cancer. Dealing with a huge loss of their friend and nobody willing to take the wheel of the ‘Cuda’, the question remained; what now?
[gard]
Michel had a feeling that he needed to take the wheel and told himself ‘if I don’t start to race now, it will never happen! After discussing it with the team and family another question came into the light; How?
This would be quite a challenge! As he never raced before and it is quite unique for someone to step into the racing world of ‘Pro Modified’ class. As these cars are faster (A lot faster) than the average supercar; They run between five to six seconds on a quarter-mile track and can reach speeds up to 260 mph (Impact on driver up to 3G in force).
|
|
|
After hearing the story you would think that you have it all figured out. But Michel had also another reason for staying in the Pro Mod class. Hear him out! ‘well, I love ‘Doorslammers’ (Car with doors) and I prefer Heads up races over index classes. I find index classes (Supergas, Super comp etc) to complicated’. So far Michel has a Personal Best of 6.005 seconds at 240 mph and is eager to take the Cuda into the 5 second.
|
|
|
This season started not quite as expected. Unfortunately, Michel lost control over the ‘Cuda and hit the wall during the Doorslammer event (May 2018). But they worked very hard and made their come back at ‘Summer Nationals’.
After spotting the old nose of the ‘Cuda’ at Santapod, we needed to know the story behind it as well.
As Michel carry the nickname ‘ Sloop Kogel (wrecking ball)’. This name was given to him by his teammates as he is known to wrecked parts. They started a wall of shame for him and started displaying all parts he ever wrecked during his career so far. Half of the old nose was on its way to ‘Cuda’s storage location to be displayed on the wall.
|
|
|
So what does Drag Race means to Michel? ‘as a businessman, it is a weekend out with the team, a moment to clear my head and get busy with something different than my daily routine’. ‘
What attracts me the most is the technical aspect of Drag Racing, finding a way (either technical and/or electrical) to make a vehicle go as fast as it can on a quarter-mile track’. That’s my passion!
[gard]
# PM1971 Car info:
Build in: America by Tim mc Amis
Make: Plymouth Barracuda
Year: 1971
Engine: 521 CI
Check out some extra pictures made of the Pro Dutch Racing Team over the years!
Story told by Michel Tooren
Story edited and Picture by Benjamin Wefer
[do_widget id=text-15]
