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Q & A with Ray

As the year comes to a close Welded Media sat down Ray Parent to discuss his thoughts on his up-and-down 2013 season, the American Canadian Tour in general and what's ahead for the 17RI Team. We give thanks to those Facebook fans that helped contribute in learning more about the Tiverton, RI driver.

Welded Media: If you were to give your 2013 season a letter-grade what would it be and why?
Ray: E… for effort; my guys really worked hard all season. I’m very proud of everyone.

WM: You are now going into your 4th year of American Canadian Tour [ACT] racing. What made you pick that touring division over others?
R: Tom Curley… I went to a ACT race at Lee [USA Speedway] in 2008 and was really impressed how professional it was run. It’s organized, well run and people represent themselves in a professional matter. Competing with the Tour also gave me the opportunity to run in bigger events like the Oxford 250 at the time, the Milk Bowl and of course Loudon.

WM: You and your Team have come a long way since you started. Take about the evolution of starting with a touring series to being competitive week-in week-out.
R: It was not easy… our first year we didn’t quality for 4-races, those results were tough on the crew. We ended up losing people. It was tough on my family too; you travel a long way and you don't even race in the main event... I was lucky to put together a new crew, a new car and with a lot of effort things started to turn-around. Touring and weekly racing are two different things. I/we didn’t understand how different till we tried it.

Q: Joshua Haywood on Facebook - What are the biggest hurdles you have had running in the American Canadian Tour and how did you overcome them?
R: We are still trying to overcome those hurdles… One of them is the tires, learning how the tires react on long runs vs. short runs. We’ve got bit by the tire bug a bunch of times over the last few years. Shocks are another one; although the Koni may not be as expensive as other [types of] shocks, the learning curve of it has been a struggle sometimes... They make a lot of combinations of that shock; it’s easy to put the wrong one on. Now in 2014 we have a new tire coming and they added a new shock [laughing]; more things to overcome…

WM: You’ve been very vocal about getting the ACT Tour to southern New England; Tom Curley has said they plan to schedule a mini three-race series involving Seekonk, Waterford and Thompson Speedway’s in 2014. How do you thing that will help with the growth of the Tour?
R: I think it would be a tremendous help to the tour, there’s a lot of guys down here [CT, RI, MA] that would love to run the tour but the travel expenses are too much. I really think scratching the Canada races may be equally as important. As you can see they kept just one for 2014. That will help some… But it’s the travel up there that gets so expensive; particularly for guys like me in southern New England. It’s a full day’s travel to-and-from, 8-10 hours each way depending on the location. When you lay out the cost of extra travel days, extra hotel nights, people taking work off; it can defiantly add up.

WM: You ventured to Seekonk, Waterford, and Thompson Speedway's outside of the Tour this year. Do plan on doing the same next season?
R: Yes one way or another we will… With or without the tour at some point we will.

WM: If it was up to you to make a touring schedule for the ACT Tour where would take the series and how many races would there be?
R: I think Tom is on the right track for next season with 9-points count races with 4-6 other optional ones. Taking the tour to Southern New England for sure.

WM: Why?
R: Again because of travel experience. When they are more spread out they are easier to manage financial.

WM: If could make one rule change about the ACT car or format what would it be?
R: The car [laughing]… There are too many rules. I understand why but I would like to see some changes in brakes specially. As far as format…I would like to time trial more often; maybe at the bigger events…

WM: Talking about getting outside the typical racing region, you've competed in Florida for the annual February Speedweeks multiple times. Are there any plans to compete down there again?
R: I would love too but you can blow your whole racing budget in Florida in a week. It's never out of the question but not likely anytime soon.

WM: Having run a touring series and competed at a local Saturday night track which do you prefer and why?
R: Touring by far; it would be hard to go back to weekly racing. Running the tour is so much more respectful. Drivers race hard, as in you would think we were time trailing for 150-laps hard. But the majority are very respectful; you know they won't wreck you. You can run side by side lap after lap. Plus Tom won’t take any of that BS you see at your local track on Saturday… ACT even has a flag for that, the piggy flag. You’ll be parked before you know it.

Q: Theresa Dupras Johnson on Facebook - What has been your biggest achievement in racing?
R: Winning the ACT Innovational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a moment we will never forget.

WM: Where do you see your racing program in 5 years?
A: To be determined for sure… I would love to go modified tour racing.

WM: Realizing the season has just finished, what are your plans for 2014?
R: Run the whole ACT Tour and some other open events.

WM: What’s the one thing about you most people don't know?
R: I'm colorblind [laughing]... I was working on the car one night replacing a door panel and the next morning my son comes in the house and says "why did you put a green door panel on the race car dad" I had no idea… I pulled a green sheet of sheet metal out of the rack made the door, lettered it all up and everything.

WM: What would you be doing every weekend if you weren’t racing?
R: Spending more time with my family. Doing the normal things like weddings, yard work, fish, and golf or camping. Isn’t’ that what normal people do [laughing]…

WM: Any final thoughts on closing out 2013?
R: I’m glad it’s behind us for sure… We learned so much. I have to thank everyone involved that make this Team possible. First and foremost my family; my wife and kids have been great and are my biggest supporters. I couldn’t do it without them. To all of our partners on the car that make it possible to do this week-in and week-out; and my crew that bust their buts every week. They take time out their lives and schedules to work on the car… I can’t thank everyone enough. We are really looking forward to next year.

Parent and the Amtrol Racing Team have one final event to close out the 2013 racing season; when the American Canadian Tour Banquet or Champions takes place in Burlington, VT next month. Parent and company will collect their awards finishing 7th in overall point’s.

Next Event
What: American Canadian Tour Banquet of Champions
Where: The Doubletree Inn - Burlington, VT
When: January 11th, 2013 -7:00PM

Ray and the Amtrol Racing Team would like to thank their proud partners for making 2013 a sucess: Amtrol • Carlin Combustion Technology • HydroLevel • Distinctive Auto Body • Phoenix Builders • Bayside Auto Center • Bobs Sea and Ski • Dan Davies Sales • Dominator Diesel • Five Star Bodies • Longacre Racing Products • Hedman Hedders • Ford Racing • Welded Media

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