Drive to Succeed Takes Rowland to England : He’s Fulfilling a Dream and Seeking His Fortune on the Competitive Formula Ford Racing Circuit

Six months ago, Troy Rowland sold his Porsche 914, pooled his savings and said goodby to his friends and family in Mission Viejo.

Rowland, with about $10,000 in hand, moved to England to compete in Formula Ford racing, a series that attracts aspiring drivers from throughout the world. Rowland, 24, moved in with relatives in Kent, about an hour’s drive south of London.

He had served as a crew chief for Dan Gurney’s All-American Racers in Santa Ana for three years, beginning as a garage gopher and later becoming the second mechanic on Gurney’s factory team that competes in races such as the Daytona 24-hour endurance race.

As a teen-ager at San Clemente High School, Rowland would often test his Porsche on the twisting canyon turns along Ortega Highway. He always was interested in racing and later decided to become a racer after competing in a Porsche time trial at Riverside Raceway.

“The first time I got my car on the track, I was hooked,” Rowland said. “Racing was something I always wanted to do, but I also knew it was an expensive game.”

Rowland’s racing budget wasn’t enough to buy a competitive Formula Ford car, so he rented a $12,000 car from Anglo European Racing for his weekend qualifying and racing. The rental fee also included a mechanic.

“Rather than buy a used car and spend all my money at once, I thought it would be better to rent the best car available and get a good mechanic,” Rowland said. “That way, I wouldn’t have any excuses if I didn’t do well. I feel I have some talent, I just need some more experience and some sponsorship.”

Rowland has competed in five races and has placed as high as third. He wants to race in two Formula Ford series next season, which encompasses 30 races and 35 test sessions. He said it costs about $45,000 for a season of racing.

“I spend as much time here making contacts and talking to racing teams as I do actually racing,” Rowland said. “I’m trying to secure a sponsorship for next year. I’ve made some big sacrifices to race here, and I’m determined to make it.”

Rowland has received some financial assistance from Racing for America, a non-profit organization based in Lakewood, Ohio, that assists American drivers in the United States and abroad. Funds are generated through personal and business donations.

The program is patterned after Racing for Britain, which has assisted aspiring English drivers for the five years. Rowland learned of the program through a trade magazine and contacted Jim O’Brien, president of the organization, before moving to England.

“Troy answered our add, and we were impressed with his resume,” O’Brien said. “He wrote about his goals, his interest in racing and his future. We thought he was a very marketable driver, and we were immediately interested in working with him.”

Rowland will remain an amateur but is paid a contingency bonus based on how he finishes in the series.

O’Brien said the British program has played a vital role in developing English drivers.

“Their organization has raised about $300,000 in five years to help young drivers,” O’Brien said. “The English go to racing like Americans go to baseball. They’ve done a great job developing young drivers and advancing them to big-time racing.

“If you look in the Formula One series, there are five English drivers. They didn’t have any a couple of years ago. A young, promising driver like Troy gets noticed right away in England.”

Rowland said the quality of racing offered on the Formula Ford circuit was what motivated him to move to England.

“You have Brazilians, Italians, Swedes . . . . guys from all over the world driving here,” Rowland said. “They’re all goal-oriented to become professional drivers. You’ve got 30 guys here dreaming of becoming a Formula One racer.

“I want to build a name for myself in racing. But whether I make it or not, I’ll never regret coming over here.”