Rob Bodle makes the jump to pro racing

 

“When you’re a driver like me who loves the sport but doesn’t necessarily have unlimited resources, you have to put a lot of thought into a decision this big,” said Bodle, “however, Trans Am really stuck out to me.  It has so many elements that you look for in a racing series and it’s all in an affordable package.”  

 

Bodle has declared for the TA3 class, a strictly production based class that harkens back to the glory days of Trans Am—real production racing against other muscle cars.  Racing in a true manufacturer’s class just like the legendary drivers of Trans Am’s past.

 

“Look at the numbers on some of these cars,”  stated Bodle. “I can remember the drivers who had these, George Follmer’s 16 or Tommy Kendall’s 11—to have the same number as they once had, in the series they raced in, that’s pretty special.”

 

Bodle also cited the tracks on the 2013 Trans Am Schedule as incentive enough for participating in the series.  The schedule features venues like Lime Rock Park, Watkins Glen, Sebring, and Daytona.  

 

“I see this as a bucket list of tracks.  Who, as a fan of racing, can say that they’ve never wanted to race at The Glen, or run the courses at Lime Rock and Road America?  These are special places where legendary drivers have made history.  They’re iconic tracks in racing and every driver’s dream to race on.”    

 

Emotion was not the only element affecting Bodle’s decision.  As a self-proclaimed “racer on a budget” he has to run through the financials of his decision as well, along with their potential consequences.   

 

“A lot of it comes down to the fact that I can’t afford to wreck.  If I total my car, logistically I’m done for the year.  That rules out some series.  Anything that runs street courses is automatically out, if you hit the wall you’re looking at a repair bill that can ruin a season.  Also, if you’re running as a secondary class in a race where teams have hundreds of thousands of dollars in their race budgets who need to win and you end up in their way on a lap, accidents can happen.  They’re not intentional, and they’ll come say sorry afterwards, but for you it can be the end of the season.”

 

“Finally, when you look at the participation costs and entry fees, Trans Am is just a better deal.  It’s more racing for the dollar and at the end of the day that’s what everyone wants.  It’s the perfect opportunity for guy s like me to go out, race, and cut their teeth as a professional.”

 

Look to find Rob in the TA3 class for 2013 Trans Am season as he competes against the likes of Tim Gray and defending TA3 Champion Chuck Cassaro and tries to forge his own Trans Am history.