Note – This article originally appeared in the July 3, 2015 edition of the Ohsweken Speedway souvenir program.
“TOP 10”…WITH THUNDER STOCK DRIVER WYATT VAN WART
By Tommy Goudge (June 29, 2015) – Our series of interviews for the 2015 season continues with Thunder Stock driver Wyatt Van Wart. A graduate of the Bomber and Mini Stock divisions, Wyatt was in contention for the Thunder Stock title right up until the end of the 2014 season, and finished 3rd in the standings, just 28 points behind division champ Dave Silverthorn, Jr.
Wyatt Van Wart – Fast Facts
Car #: 04
Division: Thunder Stock
Birthdate: April 21, 1994
Hometown: Cambridge ON
Website: www.wyatt04racing.com
Sponsors: Affordable Towing & Recovery, Amsoil, Street Tech Performance, Pioneer Transmissions
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TG: How did you get involved in racing, and who were the people who helped you learn the ropes when you were starting out?
WVW: Dad made me go kart racing with him. I hated it. Every week we used to go to Cameron Motorsports in Hamilton. I used to spin and come in last every race. It wasn’t ’til the end of the season that I was getting better, so Dad bought me a race kart for the following year.
TG: Which driver(s) do you most enjoy competing against?
WVW: Dave Bailey. He is an excellent racer and drives clean. I had a couple of races last year where we raced side by side for many laps, and it was a different person crossing the finish line every lap. It was great.
TG: What do you remember about the first time you saw racing at Ohsweken Speedway?
WVW: WOW, look how big and wide this place is!
TG: If you could change one thing in racing (a rule, etc.), what would it be?
WVW: Bring back the rebuild-able shocks. I am spending more money on these other shocks. I cannot find the right ones.
TG: If money were no object and you could race anywhere, in anything, what would you choose?
WVW: World of Outlaws Late Model Racing Series all year long in North America.
TG: What piece of advice would you give to someone looking to get involved in racing that you would like to have been given when you started?
WVW: If you are coming from Karting like I did, go straight into Thunder Stock – you will do great.
TG: Who is an autograph you got as a kid that seemed to be a big deal to you at the time?
WVW: Alex Tagliani from the Molson Indy in Toronto. He was the only one that would stop and talk with all the kids and sign whatever you had.
TG: When you’re hanging around with other racers and tell old racing stories, what’s one of your favorites to tell (either something that happened to you or someone else)?
WVW: This is a good one! In 2011 when my car got t-boned on the track, and we had no way to get it on the trailer, we asked Jay (Liverance) from Affordable Towing and Recovery if he could take it home for us. When Jay dropped it off the next morning the car was in bad shape; roll bars were crushed, rear end and axles torn out, ball joints ripped out, and a lot of welding to be done. We asked him if he knew any good welders in the area who could help us out because we did everything in the driveway. We did not have a shop or garage. Guess what happened – “Affordable Towing Jay” is still mad at my dad for getting him into racing today (laughing). We could not afford a lot of the work, so we offered Jay a race car to help his son to get into racing in exchange for all his help. It used to be my back-up car.
TG: I’m asking each person to give me a question for the next interview. Dave Bailey asks “What is the significance of the number on your car?”
WVW: When I started in karting in 2004, I wanted the number 94 for the year I was born. We could not use that number because Sunoco 94 fuel was the main sponsor for all events, and that number could not be used. So I picked 04 for the year I started racing.
TG: …And do you have a question for the next person?
WVW: All my friends and people that I meet always say “Racing is easy – All you do is turn left and hit the gas. If you have the fastest car you will win!” What is your argument against this? Do you have friends like this, and how do you answer this?
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Do you have a question you’ve always wanted to ask your favourite Ohsweken Speedway personality, or suggestion for someone you’d like to see featured in a future edition of “Top 10″? E-mail us at media@ohswekenspeedway.com, and stay tuned for future editions of “Top 10″ printed in our weekly program, and on www.OhswekenSpeedway.com!