Video
Jun.
21, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
FATHER'S DAY: Dads grow closer to their kids by sharing
love of auto racing
Children learn a lot
about life while working with parents on cars
There's
a universal relationship involving dads, cars and kids that defies explanation.
Dads
usually have the cars and, eventually, kids want to drive them. First, they must learn to
drive, which often involves dads, kids, cars and parking lots. Not to mention, a lot of
patience on both sides.
These
things often are painful rites of passage that all fathers must go through with their
children, usually around the age of 16.
But
not all dads. Some, such as Brian Holley, Jim Petrie and Vince Generalao, choose an easier
way. At least to them.
They
introduced their children to racing at an early age and continue to race with them today.
These dads had their reasons for getting their kids involved in driving cars fast. One is
a father who started racing with his daughter because they didn't know what to do with
themselves, or their grief, after the death of their wife and mother.
Others
are carrying on family traditions, passing down their love of cars and racing to their own
kids the way it was passed down to them.
Following
are three stories of dads who race with their kids.
THE
HOLLEYS
Brianna
Holley, 17, was a mommy's girl mostly because her father, Brian, was a workaholic. He
wasn't around, didn't spend as much time with his daughter as he wanted.
Then
four years ago, Brianna's mother died suddenly, sending them down a path neither knew how
to navigate. They were sad and scared and didn't know what to do with themselves.
"We
were laying in bed after her mom died and we were like, 'What do we do?' " recalls
Brian Holley, 46. "And we decided on racing."
It
sounds simple, but the new pastime became their anchor and their glue. It gave both of
them something to focus on so they didn't feel so lost, and it bonded them in a way many
parents never achieve with their children.
"I
don't think too many fathers have the relationship with a 17-year-old daughter like I have
with Brianna," Brian says. "The racing brought us together, and it has turned
out beyond my wildest dreams."
Brianna
drives while Brian serves as part of her pit crew and adviser. The two spend hours each
week preparing Brianna's Charger and actually racing it. Brianna is part of a driver
development program offered by Jim Petrie. The program helps young drivers learn the
ropes, providing them with the vehicle and auto shop.
"Racing
was something that me and my dad had in common," Brianna says, explaining their
decision to get involved in car racing. "I definitely thought it was going to make
our bond stronger." Someday, she hopes to race professionally.
Brian
raced off-road vehicles before he got married, but once he had a family to support, the
racing fell by the wayside, he says. He always has loved it.
Brianna
says she admires her father, and racing has enabled her to witness his work ethic and
learn important life lessons from him.
"It
has taught me if you want to set a goal, you really need help to achieve your goal,"
Brianna says. "He's held my hand, he's shown me the way, he's set examples."
Brianna
describes her father as a nice man, independent, patient, hard-working and considerate.
"My
dad has always been there for me, always, always," Brianna says. "If I was ever
sick, he would stay home and make me soup. He taught me how to ride my bike. He's taught
me all the basics in life. When I need to man up, he'll be like, 'Brianna, you need to man
up' when I'm complaining. He definitely shows me how to be a better person."
THE
PETRIES
Some
families go camping. Others fish. Jim Petrie and son Jimmy, 7, drive cars really fast.
"My
favorite thing about racing, honestly, is that we do it as a family and we spend time
together," says James Petrie, 32. "Other than that, trying to go fast."
Petrie
is part owner of Ace Town Racing, a team of family and friends who race at the Las Vegas
Motor Speedway and sponsor a youth driver development program, providing cars and
mentorship to young drivers. Racing is truly a family affair; Petrie's brothers race and
their father raced. It was only natural that the youngest, Jimmy, would want to follow in
his footsteps. He races go-karts while his father races NASCAR Super Late Model stock
cars.
"I
help my dad and my uncles and the pit crew working on the cars, so that's a lot of
fun," says Jimmy, who has learned everything he knows about racing from Dad.
What
has he taught him?
"Um,
he tells me what to do, so if I'm doing something wrong, he tells me to do better,"
Jimmy says, adding that his dad is cool.
He
especially likes the way his dad "races good and how he has all the trophies."
One day, he plans to drive a car like his dad.
"Probably
when I'm 23, but I'm only 7, so I've got a long way to go," Jimmy says.
THE
RAUCCIS
Vinny
Raucci, 40, says he's been into racing his whole life.
"I
just never had the opportunity to give it a try," he says.
That
changed five years ago when he discovered the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. That's when he and
son Vinny Jr. started hanging out at the Bullring. Junior was only 5 at the time. Now, at
10, Vinny Jr. is racing bandolero cars, a light-weight race car for entry-level racers.
Watching dad do it made him want to race, Vinny Jr. says.
"I
just wanted to drive," Vinny Jr. says. "I like to spend time with my dad. He's
cool."
Junior
says his father has given him the most important advice he's ever received about racing:
"Dad said, 'Have a good time. Just race good and hope you don't crash.' "
THE
GENERALAOS
This
will be the first year that Vince Generalao will miss some of his son's drag races. And it
will be the last, he says.
"I
don't want to miss his races," says Generalao, who will be racing on some dates that
14-year-old Vince Jr. is scheduled to race.
Although
Generalao loves to race and has been driving race cars for 34 years, his son is his
priority. When Vince Jr. drives his junior dragster, his father helps him with the car and
offers advice.
"I
enjoy seeing the smile on the kids' faces," says Generalao, 45. "For me, that's
more of a win. If I can make someone else smile, that's a win for me. I really don't care
about racing, I just enjoy it."
Racing
has been a family tradition; Generalao's father raced, his older brothers, too. Spending
so much time working on the cars and driving them enabled Generalao to get to really know
his father, and now it's giving him the same insight into his son.
"My
dad and I are best friends," Generalao says. "I have a very similar relationship
with my son. We get along great, our relationship is just as good if not better than my
relationship with my dad."
Vince
Jr. says his father has taught him a lot about life as well as how to drive a car.
"Over
the years, we've learned to communicate better with each other," Vince Jr. says.
"You learn from your mistakes, and I've learned some lessons."
Among
those lessons?
"I've
learned sportsmanship from my dad," Vince Jr. says. "I've learned to be thankful
that we get the chance to drive. He's shown me the tricks of driving, how to get out of
something that might hurt you."
A
good lesson that transfers to other parts of life, too.
Click this logo to return to:
Jack Hedstrom Web services.
Copyright © 2010 [Jack's Race Photos]. All rights reserved.
Revised: January 10, 2010.