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Runnin' the High Groove

by Paul Kuyawa

 

Some of the younger drivers coming into the sport of sprint car racing seem to have everything they need to go fast. Parents and or wealthy relatives have poured truck loads of cash into a young drivers operation hoping to get them, and I sure despise this term, to the next level. What ever happened to the breed of racer that scrimps and saves every penny just to be able to race? What happened to the young driver that sacrifices all their time and cash to build a race team?
I am proud to say I have located an old fashion racer. We now refer too them as a throw back. One race car, one engine, a couple spare tires and minimal amount of spares he gets his car to the track using dad’s pick-up and believe it or not an open trailer that was built 30 years ago. He only wants to race, who needs the dog and pony show, this is what I refer to as the huge haulers, over stuffed mules and a debt that comes close to what our government has amassed.
Jimmy Sivia is the young man’s name and what he wants to do is race. At 21 years of age this young man is committed too making a career racing sprint cars. Jimmy spent six years racing speedway karts, rather than climbing the ladder he went head first into sprint cars. How he got his start in sprint cars is rather humorous, at least for his dad Jim.
Jim Sivia, the elder, has been a long time mechanic on sprint cars and modifieds. After seeing his father spend countless hours working on race cars Jimmy decided to go about bugging dad into a go-kart ride.
After six successful seasons running the caged karts on Midwest ovals Jimmy decided sprint cars were the next challenge for him. How does a young man go about purchasing a sprint car with limited funds and no huge check book in dad’s back pocket?
First he needed to understand the working of a sprint car. Jimmy was working with Brian Kristan for several years before he was fortunate enough to get a job working on Chad Hillier’s outlaw team. While it was short lived Jimmy was able to pick up years experience in six short months. Sivia still longed to drive.
“I told my son that if he could come up with a car that I would purchase the engine for him. Never in a hundred years did I expect Jimmy to be able to assemble a sprint car on what he made working at the local machine shop,” said the senior Sivia.
Slow but sure Jimmy began to accumulate parts and pieces and the bare frame he purchased was starting to look like a race car. “This is when dad began to get a little nervous, of course I wouldn’t let him live down his end of the bargin about the engine,” Jimmy laughed.
With the car was completed in 2008 it was up to the old man to live up to his end of the bargin and find a powerplant for his son. “I knew a full blown 410 would be too much for my son to start with. I found a good strong 377 cubic inch engine for him. He needed to get out and make laps and not worry about overpowering the race car,” Jim said.
With sprint car in tow the father and son started to make the trips to whatever close 410 sprint car shows they could find. Living in Northern Illinois this meant running Interstate Racing Association shows and open shows held at the Wilmot Raceway.
Sivia’s start was much like any other person stepping into a sprint car for the first time. Following the normal spins and minor skirmishes Jimmy began too smooth out his driving. At the same time he was also building his own confidence as well as the respect of his fellow competitors. As the 2009 season wound down Jimmy Sivia is becoming a fine young sprint car driver with a bright future ahead of him.
Sivia is quick to thank his dad for all he has done. “Without his help I don’t know where I’d be. I also have to thank my cousins Adam and Brian, they help so much on the car while at the same time attending high school at Kenosha’s Saint Joseph High School. My girl friend Jessica Dodd has always been there to help. I need to thank her for all the sacrifices she makes so I can race”, Sivia said.
A victim of the economy Silvia is now helping his dad at the family business. Racers all have sponsors that need to be recognized, Sivia is no different, his backers include Frolic Tavern and Grille, Hot Rod Shop, Image One, Trifinity Distribution, and J&J Powdercoating.
One problem that can be foreseen is how are the Sivia’s and Dodd’s going get along at the holidays. Elder Sivia has worked on cars that were direct opposition to his sons’ girlfriend dad Darrell Dodd so there was always some bad blood in the air. Getting both families together may be the same as having the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s getting around the Christmas tree to sing carols.



A big congratulation is in order for now two time Interstate Racing Association champion Billy Balog. Balog parked his number 17b sprinter in victory lane four times in 2009 and is the third straight IRA titlist to win back to back crowns. He is also featured in an article written by yours truly in the December issue of SprintCar and Midget Magazine.
Second generation driver Phillip Mock accomplished his goal by winning the 2009 IRA Rookie of the Year crown. It was a close race between Mock and Nick Alden as they raced back and forth trying to win the elusive prize. Phillip’s dad Kim, himself a two time IRA champion, made the ultimate sacrifice by stepping out of the drivers seat to allow his son achieve his goal. At times it was difficult to see Kim not be behind the wheel. His sacrifice was worth it. Scott Lenz was the man behind Alden’s rookie efforts. Lenz is one of the IRA’s most laid back competitors choosing to spend much of his time keeping Alden alive in the rookie chase. While the two rookies deserve credit on the track it was Lenz and Mock that should be getting a round of applause.
Tires, tires, and tires seem to be in the news right now. With Goodyear wanting back in the sprint car market they have already captured huge targets by getting the World of Outlaws, All Stars, Knoxville and several big name tracks to run their tires.
Will this be good or bad for the sport, who knows at this point? Some tracks that have only a mandated right rear tire rule now face the problem of having their competitors purchase several rear tires in order to come up with the proper set-up for their cars. On the positive side there is some serious money being throw around in an effort to get sanctioning bodies and tracks to jump on a certain manufactures tires. As of this printing the IRA has not yet decided which tires they will use in 2009.
From merely a nostalgic sense this writer has always loved the look of a Goodyear decal on the roll cage of a sprint car or dirt champ car. So if the deal is done on just who has the cooler decal, Goodyear has my vote. Hoosier has done a lot for the sport; this is what makes this such a tough decision. Don’t forget about American Racer for years their MC-2 was the track tire locally.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. With snow in the forecast it would seem like the 2010 racing season is quite some time away. It may be a few months away but soon we will all complaining it’s so hot outside.
You can reach me at rthg@wi.rr.com. God Bless.