This article first appeared in the July, 2016 edition of SportsCar Magazine. SCCA members can read the current and past editions of SportCar digitally here after logging into their account; To become an SCCA member and get SportsCar mailed to your home address monthly in addition to the digital editions, click here.
Catherine Tran
Cal Club Region
SCCA member since 2008
“Growing up with my brother as a father figure, I was naturally drawn toward his interests in anything automotive. Eventually, I started working at FRSport – an automotive performance parts store – surrounded by passionate car enthusiasts. I learned about autocrossing from a close friend, and would randomly come out to autocross practices for fun, but I never imagined myself competing.
“In 2014, however, I was bitten by the competition bug. FRSport built a Subaru BRZ to compete in the STX class, and the company allowed me to demo the vehicle at local festivals. I couldn’t believe how amazing the car drove, so I signed up for every practice and competition to get more seat time. Because our BRZ was doing well locally, our team ventured out to compete in more Solo Championship Tours and ProSolos, as well as track days.
“I was able to meet many amazing and inspiring racers who shared the same passion for the sport. My greatest motivation came from having talented and fun-spirited competitors in my class. They pushed me to drive faster and work harder to be competitive. Their energy and positive encouragement kept the competition enjoyable, and now I’ve built a second family with many members of the SCCA community.
“I wondered how I could give back to this amazing SCCA community to keep the spirit alive for future racing generations, so I volunteered to design a course for a Cal Club Region novice Solo school. I also encourage new drivers at the various events by hopping in their car and instructing. If they ask for advice, I do my best to provide positive feedback and useful suggestions – anything to help pave the way for future SCCA members to gain the insight and experience we received.
“When someone asks me, ‘Why do you compete?’ How do I explain to them the big picture that encompasses all the feelings and emotions of the experiences involved? Sometimes I can’t put it into words, so I get out there, push the limits, and encourage the same in others.”
Photo by Jesus Martinez
