BREAKING THE MOLD
probably driver error, though,” Baker considerable help from several manu-
admits. “I beat the hell out of that facturers. However, he bristles at the
thing and put that transmission
term, “sponsorship,” as he feels it
through torture. I don’t think there’s
often is skewed by people using it as
anyone who has abused that trans- a status icon instead of an opportu-
mission as much as I have. I raced on
nity to work hand-in-hand with per-
20-inch drag radials, with an upgrad- formance outlets to improve
ed clutch and launching at 5,000
rpms on every pass and that trans- “It’s really a good chance for you to
mission was consistent as hell. But work with companies and get a good
since we decided to go twin turbo
relationship going and that’s what
this year we decided to upgrade just people forget. It’s like a second job if
to be safe.
you do it right; you are providing
them information in real-world situ-
“Racing has become a passion for me, ations that they can’t get from their
but this car will always be a full street
own cars. You get these select few
car,” he insists. “Last year I loaded my
people who push limits of the prod-
back seat with cans of E85 with the
ucts, and provide your research or
roll bar holding them up just in case
design feedback so the end customer
I couldn’t find any gas stations on my
is happy,” he explains.
way to Mod Motor Nationals. I drive
to and from events and I’m going to “Last but not least I’d like to thank
continue doing so. I plan on hitting
everyone that is involved with the
as many events as I can this year, es- build, Corsa, Cervinis, UPR Products,
pecially NMRA events and I hope to VMP Superchargers, Hypermotive,
make it out to Street Car Takeover. Fastlane Motorsports, 1320wheels,
Last year I missed the Charlotte event, MGW Shifters and Bullseye Retros.
but this year I will be there and I plan The car wouldn’t be anywhere near
to come out swinging. If there’s one
what it is today without all of the
race we are going to break the car, it companies that got involved. Hon-
will be at SCT.”
estly, that’s what makes this car so
special, the relationships that were
Baker emphasizes he wouldn’t have
formed with each company while this
been able to build the car without car was being put together.”
STREET RACE
79