Jordan’s Racing Hobby
Jordan is a graduate of the Transition to Life Course who is pursuing the big goals he set out for himself! We had a chance to catch up with Jordan and he told us about his favourite hobby of Bone Stock Car Racing.
Hi Jordan, It’s great to speak with you today! Thank you for taking the time to discuss your racing hobby.
- How did your interest in racing and cars begin?
It’s been my dream, ever since I was three years old. Way back when I was in a high-chair when I was very young my Mother showed me a hot wheels car and she spun the wheels on the car. This made me laugh for the very first time. Then I remember seeing a race car on TV and hearing the noise of the cars and how they excited me.
- How did you get started in racing?
I actually entered in the Canadian Carting League in 2013. I won the championship that year, and in 2015 and 2016. When I started my racing career, it was in a wag-jag that my Mom gave me.
I took a break after 2017 because the league moved. It was a bit too far to travel so I took a break from it.
After a few years of saving up, in 2020 I purchased my own race car. We tested it in the fall of that year. In 2021, after months of waiting during the pandemic, my first season got underway.
- What type of racing is it?
I started racing in what’s called the Bone Stock Division which is an entry-level division for anybody who wants to get into a race car. It’s very cost-friendly. The rulebook says that every single part needs to be stock, including tires.
The only thing that makes it a race car is the five-point safety harness, the window net, a race seat and roll cage. That’s basically what is required to make it a Bone Stock race car.
- Tell us about the car that you drive for your division.
Right now, I have a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt. It used to be driven by another driver.
We purchased it because the other car I had was very rare, that you would barely see on the road. I would go all over Barrie and would never see a car like it. Therefore parts for it were very rare. I sold it because if something were to go wrong, I wouldn’t be able to find the parts.
My car number is 68, I chose that number because I have another hobby which is collecting Hot Wheels cars. The number is a reference to the year that Hot Wheels hit the market. The font that my name is in, that hits the side of the roof, is also in the same font of the Hot Wheels Logo.
- How do you train to prepare for a race?
The number one thing is to get a good sleep – sleep is everything. When you go out on the track when you’re racing, anything can happen in a split second. You’re traveling around the track somewhere around 100 kilometers per hour. At speeds like that on a small track like Sunset Speedway, things can change in a split second.
You need really good reaction time and reflexes so getting a good sleep is a priority for me when preparing for a race.
- How often do you have to change a tire?
Well the tires on a Bone Stock are street tires so you don’t have to change them as often in a division of race cars that are higher performance. It also depends on how the car is set up. If your car is set up the wrong way, it can go through tires much more quickly than if the tires are set up the right way.
- What other types of maintenance do you need to provide to your car?
For the Bone Stock it’s mostly basic maintenance like changing oil. Other than that the stuff we do is to make the car faster, so that we can win more races.
We might add in some new spark plugs. It’s not just within the engine itself, it’s in the car’s setup.
- What type of wins have you experienced at the race track?
I’ve experienced a lot of wins, this year has been the most successful season of my career. I won the feature on opening night. I also won 6 heat races this year as well. This year the season started on May 7 and it goes until September 18th.
The last race of the season is what we call Fall Velocity so there are tons of divisions that race on that weekend and it’s over two days. You would have late models to modified stock cars, legends, and mini-stocks.
- Why do you enjoy this hobby? What about it has you coming back?
If it isn’t just for the speed or the sounds of the cars or the taste of winning, it’s the friends you make along the way and people in the racing community – if they know you and you’re a good driver, they will help you when your car is having trouble. It’s something that I do that makes me feel important or worthy. I like it because it keeps me busy and it also lets me forget about all of the negatives around the world – it’s my escape from the bad stuff that goes on in the world.
I firmly believe that when you find something that you like to do and it makes you feel important, nothing can stop you.
- When we first met, you had the goal of getting your license and beginning a racing hobby. What advice do you have for young adults who are setting big goals for themselves?
Well I would tell them that no matter what happens you don’t give up. You keep pushing for that dream that you’ve longed for. So you work hard to achieve the smaller goals that are meant to get to that big goal that you dream of. You have to put in the work to fulfill that passion.
Once you achieve those goals, then the possibilities are endless for you. You want to do something in your life that you not only like but that makes you feel important. It doesn’t matter what race you are, how old you are or what disability you have, you can do it. Don’t let people tell you that you cannot. In this world, the possibilities are endless.
- Who helps you with your racing and do you have any sponsors?
The cost of racing is expensive. To help with the costs of racing, I have many sponsors helping me who provide me money and other special perks to help me achieve my goals. My biggest sponsor is Craft Automotive Repair Services and the owner is Devan Craft. The owner used to race in two different divisions, the Four Cylinder and the Thunder Car division. We would bring his car to the shop so me and him can work on it together. I have some other friends that help me as well. So whenever stuff needs get it done on the car, we do it.
My other sponsors include DGR Electrical Contracting, Brightside Technical Services, Ideal Supply Napa Auto Parts, Northern Electrical Panels and Services.
- Do you have any tips for people who are looking to get involved in racing?
What I have for advice is that first of all it’s an expensive sport so work hard and save your money. Put your money in a savings account and use that toward your career. It also depends on the type of people that can help you. If you can find someone who has a shop and can work on it with you, then that’s a bonus.
I found Devan because one of the people I worked with used to be on his pit crew when he was racing, and he mentioned his name. Fast forward to when I got my new truck, to get it certified my Mom mentioned his shop, so we went there. Then he mentioned another racer Mike Robinson Jr. and how he used to sponsor him.
As soon as I bought the new race car, Mike was excited to be on my team this year. We have done a lot for each other together. We even had his son participate in a few races as well and Mike worked for Napa Ideal Supply so he was able to provide me with another sponsor from them.
It’s been a delight to connect with you Jordan as you are always so fun to talk to and also very positive! I’m sure you have a good attitude towards your team and opposing racers as well – this must go a long way on the race track. Thanks for speaking with us today!
