Racing Is a Necessary Hobby

Cindy Necessary enjoyed her first hobby stock powder puff car race so much that she forgot to stop.

“I was so intense that they had to flag me off the course to tell me the race was over,” she said. “I was still racing after everyone was done.”

That was three years ago.

Since then, Necessary, 39, a Canyon Country resident, has found it a lot easier to recognize the finish line.

In fact, she finished sixth out of a field of 93 in Saugus Speedway’s factory stock enduro race July 4th.

Finishing right behind, in seventh, was Pam Warren of Van Nuys--Necessary’s on-track nemesis and off-track friend.

“Pam has beaten me so many times,” Necessary said. “It’s a real honor to finish ahead of her for once.”

Warren, who senses Necessary’s growing savvy on the track, is not about to give ground.

“Cindy has gotten better and better” Warren said. “She’s very ladylike, yet she drives aggressively. And now, neither of us would give an inch to the other.”

Necessary’s aggressive driving style helps keep her competitive in a sport that is predominantly male. Necessary said that most of the male drivers at Saugus are supportive of her racing and she rarely gets hassled.

But even if she did, Necessary has learned to deal with men--she is raising four sons. Her oldest child, Darin, 18, already is starting his racing career. “I haven’t been nervous about racing in a long time, but when you see your own child out there it’s a different story,” Necessary said.

Her boys are enthusiastic about her racing career, but Necessary said her biggest fan is her 10-year-old daughter, Karin.

“She’s out there every night with her stopwatch,” Necessary said. “I’m teaching her how to drive, but I’m not sure if she’ll get out on the track or not.”