New to the forum, how I started racing.

[MBellRacing]

I didn't see any member introduction area on the forum-- at least not in an appropriate section. My name is Matt Bell, not the English one, I'm the Californian. I race professionally in the U.S. and have been for about 4 years now. I can't believe it's taken me this long to stumble upon this site! I haven't cruised the forum too much yet, but from what I've seen, it looks like an awesome virtual hangout.

A quick bit about myself: I did not start in the usual manner to end up in my current profession, especially by European standards. I never did karting as a kid, never did any open wheel stuff, never had much serious coaching beyond a three-day track class as an 18th birthday present. I was just a complete idiot on the street with my parents' cars in high school and learned the hard way how to control a car-- crashing a few in the process. My family decided it maybe best for me to let some of that aggression out on a closed course. They bought a little project/track 1989 BMW M3 and I learned a lot in just a couple years about how to be efficient around a race track.



Just a few years later, my dad decided that maybe we should make the best of a good friendship we had made with a team owner running in a then-prominent series here in the U.S. For sale was a two-time championship winning BMW 325i Touring Car. We bought it, and I spent the next few years leaning to drive it, but not racing it.



After three or four years of just doing inexpensive track days (followed by expensive services to a high-strung car), I finally thought it might be fun to try some BMW club racing. My first race ever I ended up 2nd. The winner was surprised that I didn't pass him when I had the chance, surprised to hear that I never had to pass for position before! The season went fairly well, never a DNF, decent qualifying, and a 4th place finish to the national championship, 2nd regionally.



The big moment that year was not the top three finish, but a conversation with a fellow club racer. He asked me if I'd like to join him in trying out a professional series, sharing the payment for a ride. Not having much money of my own and struggling with reworking my college career, my parents were enormously generous in saying they'll pay for the opportunity. I shopped around for a little while, looking for BMW teams to join up with (you best race what you know). After speaking with a few B-rated (often C-rated... does Q-rated exist?) teams, I was surprised to get a call from the gentleman that we bought our touring car from. He said that he had been paying attention to my previous season in BMW CR and that he'd love to see me try out his Grand-Am ST-class 330i-- a car that had won the ST championship the precious year! He also said that he would match the price that the other teams were offering!

The first season wasn't great, unfortunately. I was more excited just to be at the track, in a professional environment, seeing things happen from behind the curtain. I was also excited to be on a team with one of my racing heroes, Bill Auberlen, a factory BMW driver. The highest we finished a race in the 2008 ST season was 2nd, but the lessons I learned about pro racing were priceless.



We had mixed results the 2008 ST season, but once again, the highlight was a conversation, but this time with Bill Auberlen himself. He said that he'd like to share a car the next year, that he liked what he had seen throughout the season... You can imagine my excitement!

The upgrade to the more powerful GS-class M3 was an easy transition for me. With enough power to loosen up almost any situation, the car was easy to place wherever you wanted. I learned volumes on how a race car driver that would like to get paid is to ask, as well as how to set up a car from Bill. The season turned out fairly well. I took a number of lap records, a record five consecutive pole positions, and two wins. We ended up 3rd in the championship by year's end.



That same year was my first time trying a "real race car", testing a Rolex GT car for Turner Motorsport, as well as competing in Petit LeMans in Lou Giglotti's ALMS GT2 Corvette.

The following year (last year) I joined up with a factory GM GS team, Stevenson Motorsport driving in the classic looking #6 Sunoco Camaro. The season wasn't record-breaking, but I did learn a lot about a developmental series.



I also got to play around with the Stevenson Motorsport Rolex GT car at the 24 Hour of Daytona as well as the Doran Racing Daytona Prototype in New Jersey and Utah. Once again, the lessons learned were incredible. The DP race also set my record for the fastest progression through the Grand-Am series: ST to GS to GT to DP in just three years.





This year has been exciting so far. I was joined with John Edwards back in the Stevenson Camaro GS.R, this time minus the Sunoco livery. John is an incredible driver that did complete the classical path to professional racing, being a karting champion in Europe, the youngest person to hold an FIA license, the youngest Star Mazda champion, youngest Atlantic champion, etc. We have had more mixed success but did take the first laps lead, the first pole, and the first two wins for the new Camaro. I've also had a couple good stints in the Doran DP as well as the MSR Riley DP.







So as I said, just introducing myself here. Also showing that you can take an odd route and make it to a pro level. Don't let anything deter you-- just make whatever you'd like happen!

P.S.
Yes, that is Juan Pablo Montoya in the 10th picture. He's not as mean as people make him out to be!