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Guyanese is Road Racing Champion |
"Among drivers there is a thought that there is a point of illumination, in your mind, at which you know you are a racer," said Peter in an interview with The Caribbean Voice. "Before that you are simply driving a race car. Some drivers get to that point many years after they start driving. One driver said it took him 15 years. I finally arrived there in the fall of 2000."
"SCCA Racing is the Road Racing counterpart to NASCAR," explained Peter. " While NASCAR runs on the oval track with 4 turns and is all professional, SCCA courses are made up of multiple turns and elevations.
Born in New Amsterdam, Guyana Peter was one of ten kids. His family owned a manufacturing, distribution and Trucking business. "It was here that I learnt to rebuild engines and wo
rked on fixing various
mechanical problems," said Peter. "When I was 12 years
old I learnt to drive my father's Ford Cortina and it was on
that car that I developed my driving skills. Before I obtained
my driver's license (I was 16 yrs.) I could put the car into
a 90 degree spin and recover it without letting off on the gas.""I fell in love with auto racing, one day when I was about 12. My sister was listening to racing from Timehri. I heard the cars go past the microphone and it stopped me in my tracks. I had to find out more about this. I was the guy who beat the hire cars from Georgetown to Rosignol in a lorry."
"My friends and I would give the thumbs up and say Branzat when a fast car went by. Branzat was a slang word of approval for the fast cars and so I named my racing team Branzat."
Peter migrated to the US (Maryland) in 1979. There he worked for a dealership selling cars. Then he became manager of a Duron Paints Shop. Subsequently he moved to Chicago and joined his brothers as owners of a Commercial Printing Shop.
"At this time, my brothers and I played in a Blues and Hard Rock band," said Peter. "This did not get off the ground. So I left Chicago and went to New York. There I worked as an Investment Analyst for an Insurance company."
"Though I badly wanted to race it was not feasible at this time," Peter explained.
Married in August 1992, in New York, Peter and his wife Anne (nee Madramootoo) relocated to Maryland. There he worked for IBM as an Accounting Analyst on Government Contracts. "I joined the SCCA and completed the necessary "school", which means going to a class for a weekend where the Instructor, who is usually an experienced racer, lays out the rules and explains theoretically what racing is. Then you are placed on the track with other drivers to race. Here you are observed on how well you respond to the flags, whether you are a danger to yourself and others, whether you know anything at all about techniques."
"Your instructor will then critique your performance and give you a License to race in Regional races or fail you. You then have to complete 6 Regional races in order to be eligible for a National License. You have to also pass a physical examination that is very stringent. It was at this point in1992, that I started honing my skills, learning about my racing self and what racing is all about." In 1995 Peter and his family moved to Texas. There he started built a Kit Car from scratch, engineering the electrical system, engine and suspension and all other specifications. Then it was time for racing.
"When we finally got settled in Texas I again completed "school" and physical in order to renew my License and started racing again 1999. I was now ready to go for the Championship. And in 2000 I was won second place."
So then is Peter ready for NASCAR? " I do not plan on going to the NASCAR circuit. I prefer Road Racing Circuits." Thus he does not race professionally, though he holds an International Professional License (FIA) and can register for a professional race at any time. However, he hopes to make a living from racing at some time in the future. "Some famous drivers who started with SCCA are Mario Andretti and AJ Foy."
Added Peter, "Even though, I do race national races, I have not concentrated on the US National Championship run-offs. I hope to be going to the run-offs in Mid-Ohio (that is the name of the Speedway), in 2002. This is the largest televised event in Car racing in America. To qualify you have to be in the top 10 in the national Championship in your region. I have qualified both in 2000 and 2001 but have not been focused on this event. I usually race at Texas World Speedway, Hallet in Oklahoma, Abilene in Texas and at other times circuits on the East Coast and Mid-West."
"Racing, has been very emotionally rewarding to me," said Peter. "Financially, I have received contingency fees and support from Sponsors like Hosier Tires, McKinney Dodge, NTB and BF Goodrich. But I finance most of it myself. However, I have expert professional support on my team. Mr. Ed Peters was a former Chief of Chrysler for Mexico. He worked on engineering/designing the racing Neon engine (ACR). Also a driver he is a dear friend of mine and works on my engine development. Kevin Cagle a dear friend is my suspension specialist. And AJ Foyt's chief machinists build my brakes."
But even though I have professional help on engine, brakes and suspension from the experts, I develop and maintain my race car by myself. This, quite often, entails a lot of preparation before a race. I am usually working on the car the weekend before a race and on evenings after my regular job. Stanley, my brother, who is my Crew chief usually does any necessary adjustments at the Track between races along with others on the crew."
In fact his family is very supportive. "My wife is my harshest critic. After a race I just have to look at her face to know how well I have done. My two boys are also interested in racing. My eldest son, Ryan impressed me, when we took him this summer to Ed's ranch and go-cart track, and while driving the go-cart upon cornering, he got into a tight spot. He counter steered to get out of it, something which goes against your natural instinct to do in such a situation, and usually an untrained person will not do."
Speaking of his feelings before a race Peter said, "on the Grid, it is nerve racking. The few minutes before the start, there are times that I have questioned myself, but as the race begins all fear and nerves evaporate as you become focused."
His worst moment was "When I had no brakes, hit the brakes and the pedal went to the floor, had to depend on my wits to get me through the turns (at 120 mph) in order to finish the race to ensure the Championship."