My name is Daniel Justice, and I want to be a Formula One Driver.

"Daniel Justice" (DanielJustice)
12/30/2014 at 15:56 • Filed to: None

"Hahaha! That's hilarious!" Is what you probably said when you saw the article headline. Well, no probably not, since it's not that funny. You're probably think I'm silly saying that, because what I wrote in the headline is like walking up to the hottest girl in high school, the one with a dozen other guys chasing her, and saying "Let's get married."

Actually that's a pretty good metaphor, as every racing driver wants Formula One, though I wouldn't go as far as marriage, and I'd approach that girl at school in a less frightening way. But I understand your skepticism that I'm assuming you have, since you have no idea who I am. Right now I'm just a high school senior with glasses, who drives a 2000 Honda Civic (it's a stick!) and sits on his laptop all day reading Jalopnik, waiting for the next Doug DeMuro article. But today, I want to take a break from my monotonous routine to share with you my dream. Formula One.

To introduce myself, I'm 17 years of age, a senior in high school as I just said, a resident of a small (ugh) Virginian town, a kart racer when the weather is warm and the money allows, and most importantly, a major racing, car, and motorcycle enthusiast. I started karting in September of last year, at 16. Yes, I know that I'm fairly old to think about F1 as a career, but it's a disadvantage, not an impossibility.

What's the plan?

Race car driver is one of those top tier careers, on par with others such as rockstar, president, and astronaut that you dream about in your first years of life. My dream didn't start then regretfully, so I must make do at 17. Combined with me being in the States rather than Europe and with our shaky financial situation, the odds aren't in my favor right now. I've educated myself over and over of the requirements and how to get there, so I'm not ill informed of the task at hand.

So the plan is to go for the top of auto racing. Formula One. In 2015 I'll continue with my two karts, in 2016 we should be able to run a shifter kart, and after a few more years in shifters I might be able to make the jump to British Formula Ford and continue working up the ladder.

So where do I stand right now?

If you haven't already figured that out, take a look at the head photo above again. (Sorry Sparco, I would have created my own photo but I love your shirt that I got for Christmas so much. It's the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! shirt also) Look at the bottom. That little kart is where I'm at right now. With 2015 days away, I'll be heading into my 2nd competition season in a few months. I raced twice in 2013, but that was to get used to the kart. In 2014 we attended 5 events, 4 of which were road races which have a Saturday and Sunday race (I'll be posting an article about road racing shortly). Doesn't sound like much, but over those 5 races, I've gone 100 MPH, purchased a second kart, (which was used to achieve said speed) had a nasty crash throwing me out of my kart, blown up two motors, kept up with faster class karts, made many friends and experienced the genuine, behind the wheel racing experience.

The Racing

So now I'd like to take you through all my races with the GoPro that accompanied me through each one. Note that most of these videos are full 20-30 minute races so I don't expect you to watch them all through.

First up is my race in June at Sandy Hook Speedway, after a 7 month hiatus of being out of the kart.

This was my 3rd ever kart race, so I'm not up to F1 snuff yet. Not to mention some issues with wrong gearing, a loosened spark plug, and brake dragging.

Now for the first road race at Summit Point's Shenandoah circuit.

This is a really badass track, even when everyone else is passing you. I was the only one in my class though. We still had some teething issues with the kart so I was one of the slower ones. Didn't get lapped though. To this day, this remains the only road race I have finished without mechanical incidents.

Now we go down south, right outside of Danville, VA, to the most beautiful race track you'll ever see in the United States. I speak of course, of Virginia International Raceway.

Unlike the last race, we were there to stay for the whole weekend. Friday we set up shop, and Saturday and Sunday we were all business. We found out that right away we wouldn't be competitive with the others in my class, as our bodywork is pushing too much air. Such would be part of our many problems, because at 15:25 in the video the piston began having a meltdown as I neglected the carburetor. It failed fortunately right at the start of the pit entrance. I coasted in and refired the engine, but the damage was already done. I retired out on the track.

Then Sunday came, and the luck seemed to have ran out. The clouds urinated all over the track, but the racers were called upon to make the track race worthy when there was a break.

Sadly the rain came back shortly after, and we left the track disappointed. But we had a plan for the track right in our backyard. Time to go back to Summit Point.

With our new, more aerodynamic sprint-enduro kart, I set off for Saturday's race under darkening clouds. Being the only one in my class with the fastest kart, I ran away with the "lead". However as the 3rd lap began, mother nature wouldn't let us finish our race, and I would experience something that I'll never forget.

I laid on the ground for a second and the karter I crashed into helped me up. I had no injuries at all besides a bruised back. Oh and a damaged nerve in my back. Which I still feel even today. So I guess I technically did get injured. The damage to the kart only consisted of a bent rear bumper sitting on the back wheel. No problem though.

Sunday's race. I should add that the entire weekend we were having issues with the cylinder head getting too hot. No kaboom this time though. This was my only other race I finished, but I brought the kart in a few times to cool the engine. So not my strongest result. But we would be back again in October to the same circuit.

Round 2. The video above is Sunday's race, never got around to uploading Saturday's race. You aren't missing much though, just me grenading another motor. Also, if your KT100 is getting ready to blow, please do not try to be a hero and save it. Pull off to the side when it starts to go. But anyways, this race is my best performance yet, setting my fastest lap time while being faster than my 2 classmates. I was even faster than some of the 125cc karts, you can see some action at 9:50. The last race of the year would not end with a happy finish though. The issue was...

...I ran out of gas.

Yep, that really happened. I sensed the issue and brought it in before it ran dry. Still, it remains my most notable race.

Those yellow gloves don't match...

Don't worry, I'm changing that for 2015. Going to put some more orange in my gear choice. I have a thing for Orange.

Epilogue

Well that concludes the year-end report of my 2014 racing season. I hope I didn't bore you with all the videos, causing you to go back to the front page to wait for Doug's next article. Road Racing isn't exactly the orthodox way of getting to F1, but it's a great place to get used to high speeds.

Like I said, Formula 1 is my dream, and I am very serious about fulfilling it. My promise to you is that I'll be here, right on Jalopnik, updating you on any progress. If you hear nothing more from me in the future, it might mean the money well ran dry and I'm trying to become a lawyer or something. Or maybe the right rear tire on my Civic that's showing it's cords gave up right in the s-turns next to the Shenandoah river, plunging me into it's polluted depths.

Things should continue to pick up in 2015. We should be able to pull off more races with more seat time. We've got a long way to go though. Have a great new year and see you next time.

For races in the future keep up with my YouTube channel !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

DISCUSSION (20)

MarquetteLa > Daniel Justice
12/30/2014 at 16:14

Best of luck to you!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Daniel Justice
12/30/2014 at 16:23

Hope you get there, kid.

I also think you should legally change your name to "Captain".

Or perhaps "Poetic".

Racecar drivers need racecar names.

Audi-os, Amigos! > Daniel Justice
12/30/2014 at 16:25

Daniel Justice

Nice try.

Kinja'd!!!

RallyWrench > Daniel Justice
12/30/2014 at 16:35

"Not to mention some issues with wrong gearing, a loosened spark plug, and brake dragging."

Well, you've already got the racing driver's excuses down, so that's a big step. ;)

Kidding aside, I wish you all the best of luck in your endeavor.

Daniel Justice > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
12/30/2014 at 18:36

I'll find some way to use my last name, haha.

Daniel Justice > Audi-os, Amigos!
12/30/2014 at 18:38

Looks a little old to want to be a Formula One driver, haha.

Daniel Justice > RallyWrench
12/30/2014 at 18:43

I knew someone would bring that up haha. The spark plug may have been bull but we changed so much from the last race months ago that I had an almost brand new package to work with. But yeah, I still need to pick up the pace around the track. Thank you for the wishes also.

KadeS > Daniel Justice
12/30/2014 at 19:08

Out of curiosity, what was your cost for the 2014 season? (If its not too private, I'd like to get into karting or something...)

ChuckGm3 > Daniel Justice
12/30/2014 at 19:16

As a 37 year old car and motorcycle track day nut and fellow wannabe F1 driver, I commend your dedication and focus. I'd without at doubt, have a storied professional racing career of some sort on my resume today if 20 years ago I put half the effort I put into trying to get laid into karting instead. Keep your eye on the prize kid, the good women in this world don't want anything to do with you until you're in your 30s anyway. I'll be following your progress!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Daniel Justice
12/30/2014 at 20:23

Justice is just around the bend!

Daniel Justice > KadeS
12/30/2014 at 20:58

That's a tough question, because we never really kept track like we should have. Since 2013 we have spent about or over $7k. For 2014 I'd say about $5500+. That was for 5 races, and for the last two races we fielded two karts, with the other driver covering her entry fees. Next year we'll definitely keep track. Glad to see you want to join the world of karting, you'll get hooked after the first race. Let me know if you have any questions or need any help getting started.

Daniel Justice > ChuckGm3
12/30/2014 at 21:09

Thank you for your support! I understand what you mean about chasing girls, I knew before I started I'd have to put that on the back burner. You have to dedicate yourself and make racing your love is what I've found out. Still, doesn't mean you have to shut out the opposite sex entirely. Makes you stand out more when you tell girls that you race haha.

RaggedMile > Daniel Justice
12/30/2014 at 21:28

The good news for you is that Red Bull putting Verstappen in the STR next year caused a pretty big backlash so the late start might not hinder you as much as it would've until recently.

The bad news is that even the guys who moved up to F1 at 22 or 23 were in single seaters by 18.

Daniel Justice > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
12/31/2014 at 18:11

"Justice got a drive through penalty. Guess he got justice for that one."

Daniel Justice > RaggedMile
12/31/2014 at 18:16

And that's something that I'm constantly reminded of with these young drivers coming in. Still, I look at drivers like Timo Glock and Takuma Sato who while aren't American, still found a way into Formula One despite the late start. I probably won't be in a single seater until 21 or so.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Daniel Justice
12/31/2014 at 18:56

Will we ever have Justice on the podium?

Soon. Very soon...

Daniel Justice > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
01/02/2015 at 20:07

Good one! I'm all out of ideas. But I'm really looking forward to what the announcers will come up with, if I get there of course.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Daniel Justice
01/02/2015 at 20:13

You might consider going by "Dan"...

Daniel Justice > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
01/06/2015 at 19:45

That would work, but that's what my father goes by (also a Daniel). So it would be a little awkward for me, but Dan sounds better than Daniel.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Daniel Justice
01/06/2015 at 19:47

More catchy, anyway.

Justice is on the way. Dan Justice.