Tigard man chases dreams on the fast track

Tigard’s Todd Harris keeps focus on family as he chases racing dreams and success at Portland International Raceway

By Darryl Swan

The Times, Apr 24, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (1 Reader comment)

Jaime Valdez / The Times

RACER DAD – Todd Harris of Tigard races cars, such as the Spec Ford Racers seen in the background, for a living and co-owns Pro Drive Racing School at Portland International Raceway. Harris was named as Dad of the Month by www.dadsworld.com, one title among many he has won.

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PORTLAND – It’s 17 long, slow miles up Interstate 5 from Todd Harris’ home near Tigard High School to the Portland International Raceway.

The route is fraught with distracted drivers — cell phone yappers, en-route snackers, tailgaters and daydreamers.

“If you go into autopilot, that’s when a lot of things happen,” Harris said.

Harris is more attuned to the follies of driver distraction than the rest of us. He sees things in slow motion, a side effect likely due to strapping himself to an 800-horsepower Corvette and zipping around the curves of a racetrack at breakneck speeds that top 170 mph.

Harris is co-owner of the Pro Drive Racing School located at the raceway, one title among many worn by the youthful 40-year-old Tigard man.

On Monday morning, following a red-eye flight home from Atlanta, Ga., where he channeled pro driving advice to a collection of Ferrari racing enthusiasts, Harris sat down with the The Times and offered an insider’s glimpse into the fast-paced world of auto racing and, in general, the art of driving.

He also offered a snapshot into the man www.dadsworld.com named as its Dad of the Month for April.

For starters, the father of two sons — Calvin, 9, and Taylor, 5 — says he has no intention of steering them toward racing.

“As a family we’ll talk about it and I’ll fully support that, but I’m not going to be the one who drives them to racing,” Harris said.

“If it’s something they want to explore, we will obviously support that,” said Harris’ wife, Jennifer. “It’s in their blood.”

Beyond racing, Harris coaches youth soccer and track and field, the latter in particular he hopes to see his children participate in.

Jennifer said it can be tough for her and the children having a husband and dad who spends roughly three months out of the year on the road, working either as a driving coach or competing in an out-of-town event. When he returns, however, he devotes exclusive time to the family.

“He gets home and takes one-on-one time with the kids,” she said.

Having an extended family in the area helps, she added. And as far as their marriage is concerned, Harris knows when to keep his driving instruction to himself.

“He never says anything about my driving. I think I say more about his driving then he says about mine,” she said laughing. “That’s probably why we have such a great marriage.”

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