PREVIOUS DRIVES ::: The Jim Russell School I drove my first race car on august 11th 1983 at the Jim Russell School at Riverside International Raceway. It was just a simple Van Diemen Formula ford, but to me it might have just as well been a Ferrari. My first day at the school was completely frustrating as I could not get my heel/toe technique to work properly, and I left the track the first day totally pissed off and wondering if racing was really what I should be doing. That night, after dining at McDonalds, I went back to my hotel room and placed three napkins on the floor, and spent about an hour practicing my footwork. It paid off as the next day I had it down, and for the remaining two days just had a total blast…learning, and getting more comfortable with every lap. My instructor at the school was Jacques Couture, a very no nonsense type guy, but very gifted at teaching. I was totally soaking up everything he told me, and learned much more than I ever thought would be possible. Having raced go-karts for so long, I was surprised at just how different a car felt, especially at speed. Regardless it was a great experience, and without a doubt, it was the Jim Russell School that really allowed a poor guy like me to enter the sport. During my senior year of college, I spent the month of January working for the Jim Russell school for free as part of a graduation requirement that Denison University had. I basically worked in the front office to learn about how the driving school was run. Anyway, every year the Russell School would run an event called the graduate run-offs which was open to all students that had been through the school, but had not yet raced with them in their school series. Whoever was chosen the best, would win a free year of racing in the school series. I found out about the event while I was out there, but unfortunately for me the event was already booked full with 56 students. My only chance was if someone didn’t show up for the event. That wasn’t the only problem actually, as the cost to participate was $675..which was money I didn’t have. I called my dad, and he said that if a spot opened, he would lend me the money. Lady luck was surely on my side when on the event day, one fellow didn’t show and that allowed me to get in. To make a long story short, I won the event and the free year of racing. The only real problem I had was that I was still in college…in Ohio. My dad was totally cool and paid for me to fly out for the races until I graduated, at which point I moved to Southern California and took a job with the Gallo Wine Company. I ended up winning the school championship and soon after, quit working for Gallo and went to work at the Russell School doing their mechanics training program. Basically what that meant was that I would work for the school for free, and in return get to continue racing with them. It was without a doubt a tough year financially, but again I won the championship and my driving was getting stronger and stronger. During that year I met some people that took me under their wings and helped get my career pointed in the right direction for the future.   Site contents © 2002 Johnny O'Connell GM, GM Emblem, Corvette and the Corvette Emblem are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation and used with permission.