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David Swope
My name is David Swope. For those of you who don’t know me, I am a car guy. I have loved motorized vehicles from the moment I was born. Whether it was hot wheel bracket racing or big wheel racing, I did it. I loved building car models for the state fair, going to car shows, or sitting in the bleachers at Speedway Park with my parents. I even had a set of flags and would flag the drivers on my block as they drove. If it had a motor, I loved it.
I was fortunate to grow-up in a household that cars and racing played a big part in. My parents are both race car drivers. In my early years, my Mom didn’t drive on the track but she could weave in and out of traffic like Dale Earnhart. They loved racing. Racing was a family event. The Indy 500 was a religious holiday.
I started racing when I was 15 at the Triple-T on west Central. I remember the first time I put on the helmet. It was a combination of thrill and fear. I actually still feel that way. My path has always been on asphalt. I appreciate dirt but I have only actually driven on asphalt. In my first season racing go-karts, I won my first race. What a thrill! I wanted to get in the kart and go again. I have been a junkie ever since.
I also love collecting cars. My first daily driver that took me back and forth to Valley High School was a ‘56 Chevy pick-up. The 283 was a dog so my Dad talked to his friend, Lyle Mann, who had built motors for Dad’s SCCA Corvette in the 70’s. The pick-up ended up with a 350 horse 327. That truck was so fast.
Later I put that motor into my ’67 Nova SS that used to be a regular on Eubank. Maybe you remember, it was faded blue with a primer grey hood. Eventually I sold that car to a gentleman that put it on the drag strip where it needed to be.
My racing life took a winding path much like a road course during college and early adulthood. I had different cars but the same need for speed. After providing my parents with their first granddaughter, I was allowed to drive a B Sports Racer my Dad had set-up for vintage racing. The disease was back.
During that period, I drove a lot of road courses in that Crusader BSR and a 67S 911 Porsche. My journey took me to Skip Barber Racing School and the Mecca of road racing, Road America. It was my first experience in an open wheel car. The first practice was in the rain at 90 mph with zero visibility. I currently race a Formula SuperVee with SWMS Racing and have been tinkering with Dad’s F2 Brabham.
When Sandia Motor Speedway opened in 2000 I was very excited to have a road course in my backyard. I would attend some Saturday night races and wanted to try my hand at circle track racing. I bought a Slug Bug in 2003 and won the fourth race I entered. I won the division championship in 2005 after a long season battling a strong group of drivers and the weather. I am currently driving an 85’ Monte Carlo in the Street Stock division. The car owner and good friend, Roger Frakes, allows me the privilege of smoking tires on most Saturday nights.
I am not gifted in the mechanical arts. I have the ability to put parts on backwards. My area of giftedness is found in communication and organization. I have successfully owned and operated a custom picture framing business for 20 years. My community involvement has included many board positions and planned numerous community events. I am foremost a people person. I like working with positive people and doing positive things. I will admit, I don’t like negative people or personal agendas.
It is my goal as Promotions Director to make Sandia Motor Speedway an essential member of the local racing community and ultimately an important component to the community at large. I am very excited to bring my greatest passions together, racing and promotion. I can be reached at (c) 321-0380 and by e-mail at sandiaracing@yahoo.com.
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