{"id":41961,"date":"2018-07-14T22:04:50","date_gmt":"2018-07-15T02:04:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tcobcur.com\/ver4\/?p=41961"},"modified":"2018-08-05T08:41:44","modified_gmt":"2018-08-05T12:41:44","slug":"behind-staging-lane-michel-tooren","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tcobcur.com\/ver5\/behind-staging-lane-michel-tooren\/","title":{"rendered":"Behind Staging Lane – Michel Tooren (Summer Nationals)"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u2019re always available for an interview.<\/p>\n

As MSA Pro Modified winner during the \u2018Summer Nationals,\u2019 it was definitely the right moment to ask Michel Tooren some questions.\u00a0As previous \u2018behind staging lane\u2019 editions, we went looking for the story behind the story: This is the story behind Michel Tooren.
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\n[gard]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\"M17A8675--Tekst-only\"<\/a>
Pro Dutch Team \u2018Summer Nationals 2018\u2019<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
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\"4Q6A7807-Tekst-only\"<\/a>
Michel Tooren \u2018 Summer Nationals 2018\u2019<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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\u2019t 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 \u2018Pro Dutch Racing\u2019 Chevrolet Corvette C5.<\/p>\n

Michel\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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; \u2018it\u2019s either you are going to love it or you won\u2019t\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\"Robert<\/a>
Robert Joosten at Nitrolympx 2014<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
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\"Robert<\/a>
Robert Joosten at Nitrolympx 2014<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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.<\/p>\n

At this moment in time, the team also has swapped the Camaro for the current 1971 Plymount Barracuda.
\nIn 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.\u00a0Dealing with a huge loss of their friend and nobody willing to take the wheel of the \u2018Cuda\u2019, the question remained; what now?<\/p>\n

[gard]
\nMichel had a feeling that he needed to take the wheel and told himself \u2018if I don\u2019t start to race now, it will never happen! After discussing it with the team and family another question came into the light; How?<\/p>\n

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 \u2018Pro Modified\u2019 class. As these cars are faster (A lot faster) than the average supercar;\u00a0They 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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\"Michel<\/a>
Michel Tooren at Nitrolympx 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
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\"\u2018Cuda\u2019<\/a>
\u2018Cuda\u2019 at Tierp Arena 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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! \u2018well, I love \u2018Doorslammers\u2019 (Car with doors) and I prefer Heads up races over index classes. I find index classes (Supergas, Super comp etc) to complicated\u2019. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\"Michel<\/a>
Michel Tooren at Summer Nationals 2018<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
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\"Michel<\/a>
Michel Tooren at Summer Nationals 2018<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

This season started not quite as expected. Unfortunately, Michel lost control over the \u2018Cuda and hit the wall during the Doorslammer event (May 2018). But they worked very hard and made their come back at \u2018Summer Nationals\u2019.<\/p>\n

After spotting the old nose of the \u2018Cuda\u2019 at Santapod, we needed to know the story behind it as well.
\nAs Michel carry the nickname \u2018 Sloop Kogel (wrecking ball)\u2019. 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 \u2018Cuda’s storage location to be displayed on the wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\"\u2018Cuda\u2019<\/a>
\u2018Cuda\u2019 Old Nose at Summer Nationals 2018<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
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\"\u2018Cuda\u2019<\/a>
\u2018Cuda\u2019 Old Nose at Summer Nationals 2018<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

So what does Drag Race means to Michel? \u2018as 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\u2019. \u2018<\/p>\n

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\u2019. That\u2019s my passion!<\/p>\n

[gard]
\n# PM1971 Car info:
\nBuild in: America by Tim mc Amis
\nMake: Plymouth Barracuda
\nYear: 1971
\nEngine: 521 CI<\/p>\n

Check out some extra pictures made of the Pro Dutch Racing Team over the years!<\/p>\n

Story told by Michel Tooren<\/a>
\nStory edited and Picture by Benjamin Wefer<\/a><\/p>\n

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