Dedicated to Allan Simonsen a standout endurance racer. R.I.P.

At 28, I've been trying to share what I can do behind the wheel of a car for the past 5 years with little success. I've sacrificed too much, no cell phone, no new clothes, girlfriend, drinking, travel etc. (do NOT do this young guns reading! Keep a balanced life, you will live+race better). I've taken a few risks to try to forge a path into racing as far as my skills will take me. Whether that meant racing professionally or just mixing in the pack in our club, when I first came here I didn't know. More recently I'm ranking in the top 00.5% of planet earths sim racers of which there are plenty.

5 years of planning to make every single event and have a 1st Sr. season.. I can't hide it, I'm a little frustrated by now. I've asked most of the big dogs for help or advice, but without the funds or face time at the track. I can only beg so much, and I don't expect freebies. I feel like I'm on my own here most of the time, as I was when I watched the LeMans 24 last year.

An extremely fast Dane named Allan Simonsen was on pole, I had noted his skill at the Bathurst enduro where he set the track record in a 458 italia. At LeMans on just the third lap his Aston Martin lost control and impacted a guard rail near the trackside. I knew instantly that it was a bad situation and did what I usually do in this scenario, dropped to my knees and prayed for his safety... But it sometimes isn't enough. I went into the shop, worked on my cars and didn't talk much to my own family. I shed tears for him and his family.

In those dark moments feeling even more alone, contemplating why, I realized:

WE RACE FOR EACH OTHER yet only a select few can reach the highest skill levels in Wheel to Wheel racing, it's special in this sense. When I get the chance to race, I leave a part of myself on track for everyone who's worked so hard before me. I will fight on. I will never give up.

In honor of Allan and all my heroes.