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Medina driver Hillestad pleased daughter, mom will watch at Mid-Ohio
By Michael Beaven
Special to the Beacon Journal
Published on Friday, Jun 19, 2009
The two most important women in his life have never seen him race in an event in person.
That will change at 1:45 p.m. Saturday when Mark Hillestad of Medina competes in the Grand-Am KONI Sports Car Challenge GS class race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington.
Hillestad, 55, said his mother, Wanita, and daughter Julianna will be in attendance along with several other family members and friends to watch he and teammate Barry Waddell race the No. 99 Automatic Racing BMW M3.
''It's going to be a great time,'' Hillestad said Tuesday. ''My mom and daughter have never seen a race.
''I will have a lot of famly, friends and employees there,
probably over 50 people. I can't wait. It seems like I get a call every day for tickets. The list is growing.''
Hillestad said the 21/2-hour timed race is the seventh in a series of 11 events this season.
''I think he will do a good job,'' said Wanita, who will turn 84 on July 19. ''I am a mother, naturally I will be a little bit nervous. I am very proud of him for doing something he wants to do and for sticking with it.''
Hillestad and Waddell will share the driving duties on the 2.4-mile track.
''It would be really nice to finish in the top five,'' Hillestad said. ''It has been gorgeous all week and it looks like it is going to rain this weekend. You lose 60 percent of your grip on the tires in the rain. In the rain, all bets are off. It is fun but also sort of nerve-racking. I have been looking at the Weather Channel and it looks like it is going to rain a lot.''
Hillestad graduated from Akron's Garfield High School in 1972 and Kent State University in 1976 with a degree in economics. He said he was a member of Garfield's football and swimming teams.
Hillestad is the president and CEO of H&S Tool Inc. in Wadsworth, a company that specializes in machine tool manufacturing and owns properties in Manchester, England; Melbourne, Australia; and Dubai.
H&S Tool Inc. is his main job, but racing is his passion.
''I raced for 10 years and then my daughter was born,'' Hillestad said. ''I quit for almost 10 years, mainly because of travel. She is an only child and I wanted to see her grow up.''
Julianna, 11, just finished fourth grade at Old Trail School in Bath Township. Hillestad said his daughter has seen him compete in person at two test stages in Birmingham, Ala., and Daytona, Fla.
Hillestad said his father, Tolleif, who died in 1999 at age 86, was supportive but not a racing fan because he worried about his son's safety.
''My dad would not have anything to do with it,'' Hillestad said. ''When he was younger they didn't have the safety measures that they do now.''
Hillestad and Waddell are tied for ninth out of 39 in the KONI team standings with teammates Charlie Putman and Charles Espenlaub, a duo that drive Automatic Racing's No. 91.
The two most important women in his life have never seen him race in an event in person.
Get the full article here.
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