We interviewed Paul Hamilton…a driver who has been in TPTCC since 1997. Always a threat to win, Paul has risen up the ranks from a mid-pack driver to a two-time TPTCC Champion.

Jan: Hey, Paul…give me the normal junk…you know, name, rank, serial number… Where you live, what you do, other hobbies (besides racing)… How many jackrabbits live in your yard?

Paul: Paul Hamilton, I’m the IT guy for a children’s advocacy group, my other hobby is politics and I run a political chat board called “The First Amendment” on Delphiforums.

Jan: I guess no jackrabbits then…What form of real racing is your favorite?

Paul: I like sports cars, mostly GTs, in Grand-Am and ALMS. I’d like the LMS even more but you can’t see it over here. I’m a huge fan of Flying Lizard Motorsports.

Jan: Since you’ve been in TPTCC forever, what’s your favorite race?

Paul: The next one.

Jan: Heh, heh…Goy still talks about the race at Sears Point where he was slightly faster than you, but due to good driving skill (or luck ) you kept him behind you for quite awhile. He really enjoyed that race. I think that was NASCAR Racing 3, if I remember correctly…

Paul: I remember that as well — I drove the tires off the car trying to keep up.

Jan: Favorite TPTCC driver?

Paul: My teammate Greg Haley. We’ve been together five years and I’m glad that we’re friends as well as teammates. I still miss Gregg LaMar, who had the best attitude I’ve ever seen in a sim racer — he showed up for every race and no matter where he finished, he was always cheerful. And he could use Motec, which I’ve still never figured out. Also friends with Tom Nascella and Bob Roberson.

Jan: What TPTCC season did you have the most fun?

Paul: Summer ’05 with the GTPs and Summer ’06 with the Porsches. Those were fantastic mods which led to close, exciting racing at every event.

Jan: Yeah, it was interesting with the Beemer/Porsche deal how it was actually 2 separate mods but we put them together and it worked. Ok, so what season couldn’t you wait to get over?

Paul: Probably that one where we tried NASCAR Heat. I never figured out those cars at all.

Jan: I’m wid ya on that…I hated those cars. Never got a handle on them either. Ok so if you were given a million bucks and a time machine, what timeframe and real racing series would you like to compete in?

Paul: I’d rather have the talent than the money. It’s only recently that money will buy you a seat in a race car where skills will not. So, given the talent and courage, I’d like to have gotten in on the ground floor of the Ford GT project back in 1964. My greatest racing inspiration is Ken Miles and it would have been fantastic to have raced with him, Bruce McLaren, Lloyd Ruby and all the rest.

Jan: What real car(s) do you drive/have?

Paul: I haven’t driven since the early 90s, but the wife has a 2000 Focus which is about as sporty as a London cab but it is paid for, cheap on gas and gets her where she needs to go.

Jan: Which ones would you like to drive/have?

Paul: That’s easy — when we hit the lottery, we’re getting a Porsche 997 GT3. I love Porsches and that’s about the ultimate.

Jan: Any real tracks that you’ve driven on?

Paul: The only track competition I’ve done is some Solo I and II stuff back in the 70s, but I was a worker with the Indy region of the SCCA for several years and the highlight of my career was towing a disabled McLaren Can-Am car back to the pits at Indianapolis Raceway Park with my Volkswagen Thing. I participated in TSD rallying for several years as well.

Jan: Thanks Paul, and thanks for all the years of hard drivin’! (And keeping us on our toes!)