Motor sports’ new partner

Car racing is the one sport that knows exactly when and where it was born.

During the prohibition era of the 1920’s and 1930’s, some resourceful moonshiners persisted in evading law enforcers despite driving trucks heavily laden with illegal booze. Thus, they tinkered constantly with their vehicles, learning new ways to outrace the long arm of the law.

Eventually, these illegal chases spurred organization. Today, what has evolved into NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) has become the most successful business model in the world, even outstripping the NBA, NFL and Major League Baseball.

Meanwhile, here in the Philippines, the fire of car racing was lit and kept ablaze by a few intrepid men, who spent their formative years deeply committed to a sport that had an uncertain future. They have now become the legends of motor racing.

"Somehow, racing had more glamour in the old days," muses Pocholo Ramirez, who has spawned a generation of champions in all of the diverse fields of racing. "But I think it has more following today. Let’s say, for example, I won an Enduro once, and I was on the front page. Now, you can win driver of the year and it would be a very small article."

"Before, I used to race cars. Now, I’m just raising grandchildren," says Philippine Olympic Committee chairman and four-time Rally Driver of the Year Robert Aventajado. "During my time, we were more into car-rallying because this was after the oil crisis. Previous to that, there were more events in circuit racing."

Recently, the automotive racing fraternity has been very active, with the various international races like the Asian Festival of Speed being held next weekend at the Subic International Raceway. Still, the sport has never really been galvanized, partly because of its diversity.

"The Philippine racing scenario is one of the fastest-growing sports right now," says Mike Potenciano, whose MP Turbo team has been one of the dominant forces in local racing. "We’ve endured the Asian crisis, the September 11 tragedy, and it’s moving at a faster pace than before."

Fortunately, there is a private group that is now benevolently hoping to bring together the legion of auto sport groups and also pull in the illegal, underground drag racing fraternity.

Dickies USA, the world’s top work apparel manufacturer, was also born during the Prohibition era, when the Williamson and Dickies families decided to venture into clothing. They’ve also been very active in car racing as a sponsor in March of 2001, the Dickies Racing Team recruited Trent Owens, perhaps the most popular new Craftsman truck driver in NASCAR. Now, they’re here in the Philippines.

"We are launching Dickies DRIVE, which stands for Dickies Racing in Values and Excellence," reveals Dodie Arcaya, vice-president of American Star Apparel, Inc., the Philippine manufacturer and distributor of Dickies. "This is geared toward the promotion of responsible racing in the Philippines. The probability of excelling in international competition is very high because racing does not require height. We want to provide a venue for young drivers also to keep away from illegal drag racing on city streets, avoid accidents and not injure innocent motorists."

Dickies has recruited actor brothers Monching and Tonton Gutierrez for their initial venture into racing. The pair started back in 1999, and Monching is now Class C champion.

"There is some pressure on me," Monching told The STAR. "But Dickies is doing this for a cause. We want to give the sport more exposure because we can do well, and also make the sport safe to participate in."

"I’m very excited to be racing again," Tonton adds. "My schedule really made it difficult for me to race last year. Naiinggit nga ako sa kapatid ko e."

Dickies USA executive Sam Ferronti flew in from Fort Worth to attend the spectacular launch of the Dickies MP Turbo Racing Team held Saturday night at the jampacked Ratsky on Tomas Morato in Quezon City.

"There is a big NASCAR race this weekend, and over 260,000 people are watching it live," he said. "But I’m missing it for this launch. That’s how important this is for us."

Ferronti saw how big an impact their team would be making, considering that this was a rare opportunity that the most famous celebrities and sports and entertainment media came together for the event. Entertainers like Rudy Fernandez, Zoren and Kier Legaspi, Onemig Bondoc, Slapshock, the Gutierrez family, Ian de Leon and top drivers like George Ramirez and George Apacible rubbed elbows, perhaps sensing that something big was going to take place.

Dickies USA has stepped into the picture to try to bring together the different racing bodies in the Philippines, in the hope of strengthening the sport and attracting more participants and sponsors.

Other sports should be so lucky.