'I'm proof it can be done'

If you have ever wanted to put on a helmet and get behind the wheel of a race car and go fender to fender with other drivers, that’s a dream that can come true.

Richard Walker-Talbot said he is proof that being from Bermuda should not be a limitation to making that happen.

The Bermudian owns WalkTall Racing and is a certified racing instructor for the National Auto Sport Association.

Walker-Talbot said: “I have progressed and my dedication to proving that even from our small island a dream of being involved in motorsport aside from watching on TV is possible.”

The racecar driver has done about 20 events over the past few years.

He’ll next get behind the wheel on July 23 at the VIP Race at Virginia International Raceway. This is an invitation only event held once a year by Grassroots Motorsports magazine.

“I’ve been racing since 2000. I’ve never had an instructor. I’ve been lucky to be at the right place at the right time. I’ve progressed to the point where I’m a professional.

“Being invited to this race is a pretty big deal,” Walker-Talbot said. “It’s invitation only and its held only once a year. There will be about six or seven classes with about 30 cars in each class on the day.”

Walker-Talbot drives a Dodge Neon, which he built himself in New Jersey.

“I started building it in 1996 and finished it in 2001. It was a long labour and a lot of money and time.”

He estimates it cost him just over $80,000 to fix up the car to make it race worthy. Mr. Walker-Talbot said his parents, Eunice and Henry, were a major financial support in getting the car built.

“I’ve been on a few teams and they’ve given me cars to drive, but this is my own personal car.”

He has raced Formula 2 and touring cars on both the east and west coasts of the States.

Walker-Talbot added many of the models of cars he races against can be purchased in Bermuda.

“They start with a street car like you’d get in a showroom and then modify it to be a race car – take the seats out, fit it with a roll cage. It’s kind of interesting dynamic because I’m racing against cars you can see on the roads in Bermuda. Most people just think of NASCAR because they don’t televise a lot of these races. If you stay up late at night you can see them.”

He said his introduction to the sport saw him living in the team dorm in Pennsylvania where he also had to work on the cars during the day.

From there he went to California to race.

“Bermudians can do this. It is difficult, but if you put your mind to it and have the natural skill, it is possible.”

The VIR is a three-mile road course.

Walker-Talbot said: “Paul Newman’s raced there. He said ‘If you can race there, you can race anywhere.’

“It’s one of his favourite tracks.”

He said his goal is to finish in the top 10, but “it’s more of for the experience and exposure than who can win.