This weeks Meet the Driver is of a guy who I personally once knew as another driver on the track. In past year or so I got to really know this guy, and have quickly began to like him more and more as he is a really fun guy to be around and is really funny to talk to. Mike Kolka has had an up and down season but that doesnt affect his outlook and his personality. He stayed upbeat all season and cant wait to start the 2015 season! Now lets all Meet Mike Kolka. AGE: 36 HOMETOWN: Middletown NY FAMILY: GIRLFRIEND Jessica, DAUGHTERS Reilly and Kaileigh, SON Brett, CREW: Dad, mom, Eric, Jason, Mark, Jessica SPONSORS: County Coach Corp, and Fredricks Excavating NICKNAME: The Mayor friends call me that because i always disappear talking to everyone. (laughs) YR MAKE OF CAR: 2013 Bicknell CAR 25 WHY?: Bob Hayes said to choose a good number, such as a birth date. So I chose my birth date. # OF YEARS RACING: Started in go-karts in 1991. By 1999 I had my 1st Sportsman. I went to big blocks in 2004 and earned Rookie of the Year. I had 11 Championships and over 300 wins in karts, 4 wins in Sportsman, and currently have 9 wins Modifieds. FAV RACER PAST/PRESENT: PAST Robbie Green, PRESENT none (laughs) FAV PERSON TO RACE WITH: Timmy Hindley BIGGEST RIVAL: Any competitor FAV FOOD/DRINK: FOOD Anything my girl Jessica cooks me. DRINK Ummmmm orange and Gatorade and beer (laughs) shhh FAV MOVIE/TV SHOW: Days of Thunder, football (laughs) FAV SPORTS/TEAMS: Yankees and Jets HOBBIES: Golf and racing BEST MOMENT IN RACING: Winning WORST MOMENT: 2008 ESW hard wreck in turn 3 wall leading the heat when my brake rotor broke. 2014 WAS KIND OF UP AND DOWN FOR, THOUGHTS ON THE SEASON AS A WHOLE: Besides over thinking like a smart idiot (laughs), creating a new team with great friends and family!! Probably the best year I have had for that ever! HOW WOULD YOU GRADE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE NEW TEAM?: The team is A+, our performance was an F (laughs) YOU RAN THE HAUBRICH OWNED 7-17 FOR SPECIAL DEYO SHOWS. WHAT WAS IT LIKE COMPETING IN THE FAMED 7-17?: Its a good car. Cant wait to run it again. They are GREAT PEOPLE!! YOU MISSED THE HARD CLAY OPEN THIS PAST YEAR, HOW DO YOU THINK ITLL FEEL RUNNING OCFS WITH SAILS?: We missed it because we had to move (laughs). Car was ready, but not the trailer and team. As for sails, I dont know. May not be an advantage for a Big Block unless you can get it hooked up. THOUGHTS ON OCFS DROPPING DIRT, AND STICKING WITH DEYO, AND THE HARD CLAY OPEN: As long as we have OCFS to support us racers and fans, I support them either way. DO YOU THINK ESW WILL BE BETTER OR WORSE WITHOUT THE DIRT GUYS AS A DRIVER? FAN?: I dont see it changing with the schedule the way it is. Saturday of ESW would be the only day affected. The DIRT guys will be able to qualify on Friday, go to the series race Saturday, and back on Sunday for the 200. PLANS FOR 2015: As of now, OCFS and some road shows with the 7-17 again. We are working on some deals that may help us travel more with the 25 Big Block AND the 7-17. SHORT TRACK SUPER SERIES?: Yes, we plan to hit that series with the 7-17, but not committing to the entire series yet. Things are up in the air right now (laughs). Nothing is in stone for our team yet. GOALS: Finish every race and be competitive in those races. WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO THANK, NOW AND THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER?; First my parents for giving me the equipment and opportunity to do this! Then my girlfriend jessica for her support, encouragement, and love. Then my sponsors Ben and Greg for their years of continued support. My crew, they may be new with me but we feel like we have been together for years, Eric, Mark, and Jason. Finally the fans, without their dedication we wouldnt be able to do what we love. PUT ON THE BEST SHOW WE CAN FOR THEM! I SEE A LOT OF KOLKA RACING SHIRTS IN THE STANDS (STILL GOTTA GET OURS), HOW DOES IT FEEL SEEING THAT EVERY WEEK?: Its awesome!!! I cant wait to make more next year! They sold quickly, but Jessica and I paid for them ourselves and it takes time to get more. I will have more next year, hopefully by the OCFS Motorsports Show!!! WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY TO THOSE FANS, PROUDLY WEARING KOLKA SHIRTS, CHEERING YOU ON WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT?: There is NOTHING like fan power!! keep cheering!!! EVERYONE KNOWS MY SON SEAN IS A HUGE, LITTLE FAN OF RACING. HE TOO CAN BE NICKNAMED THE MAYOR THE WAY HE WALKS AROUND PITS AND TALKS TO EVERYONE. WHEN YOU SEE HIM, OR KIDS LIKE, HIM WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR HEAD?: I love it!!!! It shows that we, as drivers, are reaching out to the young fans. By doing that, they bring their parents deeper into our sport. We have to keep getting young young Mayors (laughs) so we can keep racing. I remember Robbie Green being the only driver to wave to us kids under caution! Made my night! Thats why I wave! Ya never know how important that small gesture could be. MESSAGE TO THOSE KIDS WAVING THROUGH THE FENCE WHO MAY WANT TO WORK ON, OR RACE, CARS ONE DAY: Ask their parents how to join. Most teams will welcome new members, especially young ones. All you have to do is ask. ON BEHALF OF THE RACERS DAILY, AND OUR FANS, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A HAPPY HOLIDAY AND A HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND SUCCESSFUL 2015: Thank you for the opportunity. WE HAVE JUST MET MIKE THE MAYOR KOLKA, A DRIVER IN THE MODIFIED RANKS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AT OCFS, A PAST ROOKIE OF THE YEAR, AND A MULTI TIME CHAMPION IN KARTS WITH OVER 3OO WINS TOTAL IN RACING. HOPE YOU GUYS ENJOYED MEETING MIKE AS I ENJOY DOING THESE INTERVIEWS. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT! *On a side note, Mike sent my son Sean, an extra shirt he had left for Christmas this year. Thanks again, Mike. This proves the kind of person you truly are. These guys are more than just drivers, theyre people and some, like Mike, are top notch people. This is why I do these interviews so people get to see the drivers as the people they are 1st!! NEXT WEEK WELL MEET WILLY AUCHMOODY, DRIVER OF THE HALMAR INTERNATIONAL 16 MODIFIED. HAVE A GREAT WEEK EVERYONE AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! pics were taken from Mikes page with his permission. Action shots courtesy of Sean Hart Photos
Posted on: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 20:14:09 +0000
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