LIBERTY Pintaric brothers share love of racing their cars

They are adamant about not racing against each other.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
LIBERTY -- Brothers Bill Pintaric Jr. and David Pintaric have similar business interests.
They are employed by the same investment firm and work in the same building.
But racing cars on the Sports Car Club of America circuit at some of the same tour stops has brought them closer together.
They travel together to the races, use the same company to prepare, maintain and deliver their race cars to the road courses, and give each other advice and support at the tracks.
However, there is one thing that they don't do -- race against each other.
"We both own this business -- WRP Investment -- but it [car racing] does give us something more to talk about than work," said Bill, 48, of Liberty, a 1974 Liberty High graduate who attended Ohio State.
But, "Luckily we are not racing against each other because the competition is there and it would not work with us."
David, 41, of Canfield, a Liberty High (1980) and Youngstown State (1985) graduate, agreed that racing has brought them closer.
"We have something in common," said David.
Different classes, divisions
Bill, a veteran road racer who has been a SCCA competitor since 1986, drives a customized 1999 Corvette in the Touring 1 class, and competes in the SCCA's Northeast Division.
Bill's car is a type of showroom stock class that has been updated with 2001 Corvette specifications.
David, a former drag racer in his first year on the SCCA circuit, drives a Nissan GT 4 in the Grand Touring Cars class, and vies in the SCCA Central Division.
David's car is an all-purpose mini-race vehicle.
The brothers will race at the 21/4-mile Mid-Ohio in Lexington Saturday and Sunday, and then at 1.6-mile BeaveRun in Beaver Falls on June 19-20.
Bill won his class at the 2-mile Nelson Ledges course in his second race of the season two weeks ago, after taking runner-up in his season opener at Summit Point (W. Va.) in April.
Bill plans to enter six races this year.
After Mid-Ohio and BeaveRun, he will race at Watkins Glen in July and Pocono in August.
David has raced three times this year, but still is learning the ropes on long road courses after straight drag racing on quarter-mile strips.
He placed ninth at Summit Point (W. Va.), sixth at Gingerman Raceway (Mich.) and seventh at Nelson Ledges.
"The road racing lasts 40 minutes while drag racing typically lasts only 10 seconds, [so] with me I find I am making mental errors because I'm not used to the longer concentration time. I have to learn to focus for a longer period," said David.
Their objective is to build points in the races to qualify for the national runoffs at Mid-Ohio in September.
Kryders make it possible
Kryderracing in Canal Fulton, owned by Reed Kryder and his wife, Sandi, has helped to make it all possible.
"All we do is show up and drive. They [Kryders] take care of the cars for us. I don't have the skills to work on cars. Kryderracing stores, maintains and trailers the car to the races," said Bill.
"They are getting our cars ready for the next race [at Mid-Ohio]. They have been doing this for 30 years. All [we] have to do is show up and drive."
Racing became more of a family affair recently when the brothers' parents -- Rita and William Pintaric of Liberty -- showed up to see them race at Nelson Ledges.
The brothers also are grateful for the support they receive from their wives and daughters.
"My daughter [Katie] has been my good luck charm for years, but they [Katie and wife Sandy] both now are into horseback riding and go to shows, and they are not coming to watch me race as much as in the past," said Bill.
David's family is wife Janet and daughter Rachael.
Bill said they don't race for money, because very little, if any, is given out for prizes.
"We [usually] race for a $5 trophy, said Bill.
kovach@vindy.com