From Pit Lane
Dan Hingley, Gearbox Mechanic

2007.08.07: From aviation to motorsport, Dan Hingley likes speed. He started as an aircraft mechanic, overhauling components like starter generators and landing gear. Now he's AIM Autosport's gearbox mechanic and the point man on driver changes during races. He and his family also provide track emergency services in Ontario. He took a few minutes at Barber Motorsport Park to talk about his world.

Gearing
Our engineer gives me a list of the gears we have to go through, at which point I'll take the gearbox out, go through all the gears and get the proper ones in the car. I'm also checking for wear, replacing any parts that are worn, checking the bearings to make sure they're okay.

Gearing changes from track to track and sometimes from session to session. At a track like Barber where you don't have very high speeds, we'll go with gears that shift closer. At Daytona, they're farther apart.

There have been times when we've changed gears just before qualifying or just before a session or a race, when we don't have much time. Because I've done it so much, I can get it done pretty quick, about 20 minutes from start to finish.

Driver Changes
As one driver is getting out of the car, he loosens the seatbelts and unplugs his radio, his water and his cool suit. He gets out and as the other driver gets in, I do up the seatbelts and hook up the radio and the air vent to their helmet. They connect the cool suit and water as they leave pit lane.

Mark [Wilkins] and Brian [Frisselle] are very close in size, so it's easy to whip them in and out. Burt [Frisselle] is a different size, so we have a foam pad that we have to put in with Mark. The seatbelts are a little tighter on Burt than the other guys, but it's not too bad.

We're getting our pitstop times down to 23, 24 seconds; that's our goal. We're pretty quick. Every stop, I look out, I have my own little competition with the other teams. For the driver change, we're up near the top of the teams. You have to compete within yourselves, but you also have to watch and compete with the other teams.

Racing Passion
Racing has been a passion in my family for years. We've been involved with racing since 1990, with the British Automobile Racing Club. We love racing, we always have. This is the way we, as friends and family, can be involved in the racing community without having to be on a race team.

My dad started a track rescue service, which we're involved in now. We based our training on Champ Car's rescue squad. We have all the training that we can take a driver out of a crash, no matter how bad it is. We have all been trained in first aid, fire-fighting and getting a driver safely out of their car. Last year was the first year Champ Car recognized our training and used that to their advantage. This year, they specifically requested that our guys go out and help them in wrecks and clean-ups.

Because I've been around for so long, I know what to expect. I know what the daily routine is trackside. Going out on track, I know what the procedures are, so it's second nature. It also helps with the rules – when you're on that side, you know all the rules, you're used to enforcing them – so I'm more aware.

I can also go back to tell my dad, 'Hey, you guys should try this.' I see things on the pro side that help them out. They've made a lot of changes this year that have significantly improved their side of the job, from my input and their constant need to raise their bar of expertise.

Family
I have a new little baby, Abigail. She was born March 7, so I missed the Mexico race. She's adorable! She's growing so fast. I call her every night and I can hear her talking away. I'm so eager to get home and see her.

Thankfully, my wife Rachel's just as interested in racing as I am. It helps that she has the same enjoyment as I do, so it's not so much of an impact when I'm away. As time goes on, it may change a little more. We'll have to see when that time comes.

... And Friends
We're all friends outside of work. Mark [Wilkins] and Kevin [O'Reilly, AIM's chief mechanic] do some things together, I've gone up and helped Kevin on his cars a couple of times. It just brings everyone so much closer because it's a home feeling when you're away. That's what we all strive for.

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