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Traditional Sprint Car FanSite |
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Interrogation
by Gary "Hammerdown" Costa |
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Tribute
to "The Champ" Mike Sala This
"Interrogation" is a tribute to someone I look up
to, and inspire to be one day. This individuals name is Mike
Sala. A
little history on this remarkable man before I begin. Mike has
been involved in racing for years. His father and grandfather
were involved in our beloved sport as well. Mike has told me
many a time; "He nursed on a steering wheel when he was a
baby". Mike
woke up one day a few years back and decided he wanted to be a
car owner, "When I want to do something, I just do it
!" as his words echoed through "our" Sala
Racing shop one sweltering night working on the Midgets. Mike is
not only a successful car owner, he is a successful business
man too. I've been lucky enough to watch him in his dealings
with people in the racing world and in business. I can
honestly say, he is strait across the board with everyone. If
he says something, you can pretty much take it to the bank.
It's one of the many traits I admire about him. I've
known about Mike Sala of course. I've seen his cars race for a
number of years. If I'm not mistaken, he started racing Winged
360s with Craig Dillard at the helm. Some of
the drivers that have wheeled the Sala Racing Sprint cars or
Midgets at one time or another; Bud Kaeding, Steve Ostling,
Damion Gardner, Mark Monico, Josh Wise, Kevin Pylant , David
Robinson Jr., Troy Rutherford, Jerry Coons Jr. and the list
goes on. Well, I
woke up one day and decided I wanted to learn to work on race
cars. I thought about it, tossed it around and got in contact
with him, with the help of Sala Racing's driver at the time,
Greg Taylor. I made
the right decision. I was able to see racing from another
angle, but more importantly, what a car owner like Mike has to
deal with on a daily basis. His
commitment to winning is unparralleled. I would meet him at
the shop after he and I were done with our day jobs, then get
after it on the car or cars, working into the evening. I can
honestly say, whether we were blocking the car or washing the
trailer, I always learn something from him. Mike is
very meticulous and every move he makes around the race car is
calculated, it has meaning behind it. I personally find that
to be inspiring. I know
he gives me time to figure things out on the car. He lets me
struggle for a bit, then he will come over and show me the
easiest way, but more importantly, the right way to get things
done. I can
be tightening a bolt on the race car, and he can be on the
other side of the shop. Our radio will be banging out the
oldies, and he will tell me, "tight enough, that's
good" or "tighter!"....That's experience my
friends. Mike
won the USAC Western States Car Owner Midget Championship for
this season. I am
part of "Team Weldway" Mike's Company, Weldway Construction. When I
see him at work, I call him "Champ". I don't mean it
in a joking way either, for my happiness for him is genuine. We
missed the whole Championship by a smidgen, but I take my hat
off to Jerome Rodela and his team, congratulations ! Our
2005 team also includes driver Robby Flock and wrenches Brian
Matherly from Kaeding Performance and Steve "Biggie"
Watt from Maxwell Industries Shock Dynos. In
ending, congratulations "Champ" you deserve it. I raise
a cold one to you buddy - "It's like blood to a
vampire" Quote by Mike Sala gary_costa1@yahoo.com |
