Driver Profile - Paul Brown of Tiger Racing World Challenge Team
- Jan 13, 2012
Paul started out doing autocross or gymkhana events with his street cars and the local SCCA, moved on to open track events with various clubs, then got his race license and got really serious. "As I got older and worked on the Saleen program right out of high school, I worked with Steve Saleen, Rick Titus, Scott Pruett, Parnelli Jones, George Folmer and Pete Halsmer to name a few in the exclusive league," stated Brown. "They all had an influence on me one way or another and I soaked up as much information as I could. Sometimes it didn't make much sense until a decade or so later when I could actually apply what was being taught or fit the scenario. I've even had the pleasure to race against many of them years later in either modern pro racing or vintage racing which is always fun."
"The real thing I found with all of them is that it doesn't come easy. Every one of them had to eat, live, and breathe the sport to make it where they are today, or at the height of their careers. I think it's actually tougher to stand out now than back 20-40 years ago. So many modern cars have driving aids that help you be a better driver whether it's anti-lock brakes, traction control, or data acquisition, to just having better quality parts like shocks and tires. It's a much different game today. You also have all the driving/race schools and clubs that are around now; it's really a full time business and the separation between a good driver and a great driver is actually closer than it's ever been."
To date, Paul holds more than a dozen track records, and numerous championships in SCCA Pro Racing, NASA American Iron Series and Monterey Historics. He has been a factory test driver for Aero Racing USA, a tier 4 test driver for Ford Motor Company, and has even been called in to drive K&N's G35 Time Attack car. "I actually started out selling K&N products over 15 years ago," said Brown. "When I relocated to the west coast I got to know some of the staff and guys in the race shop from being at the track and race events. This eventually led into the sponsorship of the Porsche GT3 car we raced in World Challenge back in 2008. K&N has been a big part of our program for many years now and the products are top notch." Paul Brown has now become a mentor as well. He takes the experience he's gained on the track and uses it to help other drivers. From coaching trackside, to managing one of the largest and most successful race shops and retail outlets in the Midwest, to now building a reputation for himself on the West Coast, he does everything from modifying street rods to building complete racing chassis. Paul's mechanical knowledge of the cars he drives, his innate car control skills and his focus and dedication to the sport, all combine to make him a fearsome and noteworthy competitor. Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world. |
