Driver spotlight on Kim Hiskey

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 15, 2002) -- Kim Hiskey's first full Rolex Sports Car Series season turned out better than she had ever dreamed. With seasoned Porsche driver Randy Pobst as a teammate and Greg Fordahl as a crew chief, Hiskey's Crazy Redhead Racing team brought home four pole positions and three checkered flags in the Rolex Sports Car Series GT class. Again teaming with Pobst and Fordahl, Hiskey shows no signs on slowing down as she makes a run for the 2002 GT Class Driver Championship.

THE BASICS
Series - Rolex Sports Car Series
Class - GT
Team - Crazy Redhead Racing
Car - #15 Porsche GT3 RS
Website: www.crazyredheadracing.com
Date of Birth - November 1, 1964
Hometown - Seattle, Wash.
Birthplace - Indianapolis, Ind.
Spouse - Steve (married 1986)
Children - Jason (1987) & Marissa (1993)

IN HER WORDS...

When did you begin racing?
My very first race was at an SCCA Pro Rally race in 1982 while I was still in high school. When I was a freshman in college a friend and I drove a fully prepared Mazda RX3 Pro Rally car to Arkansas, won first place in our first national race and then drove the car back home. That's when I first really got sucked into the whole racing thing. I put off cars for a few years to spend time with my kids. In 1996 I started doing a few Porsche Club Driver's Education events. The following year I did every driver's education event I could find with any car club within driving distance. I think I did about 30 that year. But, I didn't really start seriously thinking about racing until 1998.

When did you know that you wanted to pursue racing professionally?
I went to the 24 Hours at Daytona in 1998 as a supporter of Team Seattle and Seattle Children's Hospital. I stayed awake for the entire race even though it was miserable. I felt so much energy from everything that was going on around me. I decided that I wanted to run and finish a Daytona 24 Hour race. Because of this new goal, I began SCCA club racing and entered my first professional race at Portland in September 1999 with The Racer's Group. I then ran at Las Vegas in 1999 with my own Porsche RSR. It has only gotten better from there. I love the atmosphere of pro racing - everybody is so close on and off the track, watching out for each other. I really feel comfortable with that.

What is it like to be the only woman in the Rolex Series?
I don't think about it. I'm just a driver like everyone else in the series. The checkered flag looks the same to me as it does to the men. I love to see it first just as much as they do. I think that in 2000, when I first 'invaded' the sport, that some of the other (male) drivers were really keeping a close eye on my driving; waiting for me to make a mistake. I felt like I was under a microscope. I don't think this was any different reaction for me being female than they would have for a new male driver. We had a very successful season in 2000. After my crash at Watkins Glen this year the outpouring of support from the other drivers and crew really was incredible. I felt very honored to be a part of a very elite family.

Do you have any superstitions?
Green has always been good luck for me. The Jack-in-the-Box ball is also a good luck charm for me. I put him on my antenna as a joke at my first club race in 1998. He passed SCCA tech and has been a fixture ever since! People have looked at me crazy for putting him on my car, but it's my own little way of helping me keep the fun in racing. Actually bad things tend to happen when Jack falls off of the car.

What are you thoughts on the 2001 season?
In a word, awesome. Greg Fordahl and the entire Fordahl Motorsports crew did a great job all season. We had some pretty big hurdles to get over, especially after my crash at Watkins Glen, but the crew pulled us through. After Watkins Glen I thought the car was done, but my guys amazed me at getting the car ready in time for Lime Rock. I still don't feel like I have thanked them enough for that one.

What was your most memorable racing moment in 2001?
Winning the Daytona finale was definitely right up there with the best. We've had so many ups and downs this season. I really wanted to win that one for the entire Fordahl Motorsports crew. They have done such a terrific job this season and I wanted to end it with a win for them. Being in the car at the end of the race and seeing the checkered flag first was great. It was a great race in the GT class.

What are your plans for the 2002 season?
I will run my Porsche GT3 RS again in the GT class. I plan to have another successful season with Randy Pobst and Fordahl Motorsports.

What goals have you set for yourself?
I want to continue working on my driver development. I am driving with people who have more experience than me and it sometimes frustrates me how much I don't know. So many things are learned in racing through experiencing them first hand - no one can really tell you exactly how to do some things. Every time I go onto the track I learn so much from my co-driver Randy Pobst and everyone around me. I am surrounded with so many talented drivers and crewmembers from all of the teams. It would be awesome to be the first woman to win the driver championship in Grand-Am.

What's it like being a mom and a driver?
It's really fun. I have taken my race cars to school for my kids' show and tell. After the 2001 Rolex, my daughter Marissa took me to school for show and tell. I took my gloves, helmet and in-car video to show the kids. The girls in her class especially loved it. My son's friends all camped out together to watch "Jason's mom" on Speedvision for the 24 hours. Sometimes it's very frustrating though because my kids want to come with me to the track and I have no way of keeping an eye on them since I am so busy. Even though they haven't been to a lot of the events, it's been very exciting for my kids. They were at Daytona last February and they got to watch me accomplish a dream - finishing the 24 Hours at Daytona. The greatest feeling in the world is to know that my kids are proud of me and of my accomplishments.

What hobbies do you have outside of racing?
I am a glass artist.

Who or what has been the biggest influence in your life?
My parents have been the biggest influence to me. My parents have always encouraged me to be a free spirit and try to do my best at whatever it is that I want to accomplish. I started spending time working on cars with my dad since I was very young. I have always been involved in some form of cars since I was tiny. I went to my first car rally when I was very little. They have encouraged me and helped me pursue my dream since the beginning.

The 2002 Rolex Sports Car Series season will kick off at Daytona International Speedway, Jan. 31 - Feb. 3, with the 40th Anniversary of the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Tickets are on sale for the event and may be purchased online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 386-253-RACE (7223). The Rolex 24 At Daytona will be broadcast on Speedvision.

Additional information about the Rolex Sports Car Series is available online at www.grand-am.com.

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