Drag addiction
Matson Racing smokes competition for No. 2 West Coast ranking
By Zuri Berry
» More from Zuri Berry
12:01 a.m. PT May 9, 2008
At one point, racing became more than a hobby.
Some time after that, it also dug a deep hole in the wallet.
Dave Matson, a local dragster who has turned his speedy hobby into a business, is on the hunt for sponsors in an effort to revamp his racing bug and implement much-needed changes to one of his two Chevrolet Camaros.
It's a lot easier said than done.
For the last six months, Matson has been scouring local business in search of sponsors for Matson Racing.
"Well, it's a hobby but it's not," Matson said. "I'd like to build this thing up so maybe in 10 years I could turn a profit. We've set it up as a (Limited Liability Corporation). We're gradually getting sponsors here and there. The more sponsors I get the more I'll be able to step up with the car."
"Yeah, it's expensive. It's an expensive drug addiction is what it is."
His impediment is the economy. People aren't readily handing out checks for local race car drivers because there isn't much money to go around. In Matson's day job, owner of a concrete and engineering contract business, he's feeling the pinch on the other side of the coin as well.
It doesn't matter that he won the Las Vegas Speed Spectacular, an NHRA heritage series race, last weekend or that he's No. 2 in points in the West Coast Top Sportsman, leading in the Pro Gas division and after last weekend is making inroads on the NHRA Heritage series lead. He can't make much noise without the dollars to back his campaign.
"I've got a tall order to fill," Matson said.
These are all new steps for Matson, entering the business world of racing after enjoying the fruits of its simplistic end - the speed. Now, he's building up what has become a life's passion. Last year, he brought in a second driver, Jerry Tittle, to race his fraternal twin Camaro. Of the two, Matson drives the Australian version of the 1967 Camaro the two sport at races up and down the West coast. His hopes are that he can not only build the 'A' car up, but spurn the door-cars and get into something better.
"I'd do anything to drive one of those (funny) cars," he said. "They're easier to drive.
"Nothing is impossible if I can get those sponsors," he continued. "I look at what this little 16-year old kid (Alexander Rossi) is doing, and he's almost got a budget of a top team."
If he wasn't driving a Camaro, he'd probably race an older style Barracuda or Challenger, Matson said. "We're thinking about making a body style change, possibly. We haven't solidified."
The more simplistic of his goals, though, is to get his car in the six-second range. Right now, the top time Matson has hit is 7.33. Winning that NHRA heritage series wouldn't be bad either. But, he still has to worry about getting the economy screwing around with his plans.
"Reality is reality, but I plan on doing this for the next 25 years," he said.
To contact Sports Writer Zuri Berry, e-mail zberry@theunion.com or call 477-4244.
