One of the things that I really enjoy about the world of racing and the high performance aftermarket industry that I work in is the fact that no one is here by some happy accident. The people involved in the companies you buy parts from are there because they love it. They are gearheads, they are racers, they are speed freaks in their own right and they have found a living where they can apply that love and passion and feed their own at the same time. Dreamy stuff, right? The crew at Racepak have been working on a video series called “We are you” and it is a cool venture that will show people that the men and women at Racepak working on, developing, and answering questions about their products are just like the people buying them, servicing them, and using them in the field.
This first installment focuses on Todd Paton. Many of you likely know Todd from his exploits driving nostaliga nitro funny cars, alky funny cars, and top fuel dragsters. He is a multi-time IHRA world champ in the alky funny car ranks and he has raced with his dad Barry for decades, starting out as a pit monkey kid and ending up as the pilot of a 300+ mph capable top fuel dragster. He’s also the Operations Manager at Racepak. Todd spends LOTS of time at the races helping racers with the equipment and lending a hand wherever he can.
This video is not super long and it is not all drawn out but it is a great window into a guy who lives and breathes this stuff. THAT is the guy I want helping me with tech questions, interpreting data, and whatever else I need because it is a guy who understands the sport, who understands the commitment, and who understands the need to get everything right the first time. Watch this and enjoy.
Todd’s dad Barry raced different cars at our local strip here in Canada’s Maritime Province of New Brunswick many years ago, and I took photos of his various cars. Think Todd was just a wee one at the time.