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Tom Heath
1974-1993— I was growing up in upstate New York. Although sometimes I miss driving in the snow, I'm awfully glad to no longer have to shovel it. We attended quite a few drag race and circle track events, and I was introduced to road racing when we'd go to see the NASCAR events at Watkins Glen.
1993-2000—During two enlistments in the Marine Corps, I was able to move around the country and experience new things. I also spent a year in Japan, where I learned that fast cars didn't strictly require a V8 or rear-wheel drive. I learned to speak a little Japanese, and made friends with enough locals to sample a WRX, Evolution III, Pulsar GTI-R, and an R32 GT-R, but my favorite was the Suzuki Alto Works. Powered by a 660 cc three-cylinder, the owner had swapped the factory turbocharger with one that was large enough to necessitate a hole in the grill for the turbine housing to stick out. Dyno testing wasn't commonly available, but power was adequate for the tiny chassis. It wasn't fast by many standards, but it was unbelievably fun. I still haven't fully recovered.
2000-2007— I left the Marines to focus on raising my family, so I took a job in Detroit, Michigan working as a supervisor for a Tier-1 automotive supplier. I did a lot of autocrossing in my spare time, and enjoyed a great community of enthusiasts. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy the work so much, and found it hard to abide the constant friction between my management peers and UAW friends. After a particularly unpleasant contract negotiation, I saw the writing on the wall and decided it was time to move on. A few months later, the company was on strike, and I was awfully glad to be out of the situation.
2007-current— Our family's move to Florida wasn't nearly as graceful as I'd have liked, but I certainly can't complain about the results. After making a few well-placed bribes, I was able to start with Motorsport Marketing, answering phones and doing some data entry work. Over time, doors opened that allowed me to take my current position, and I plan to be here for a really long time.