Peter DeVido started Walnut Grove-based race driving school "to make racing more accessible to anyone who wants to try it," training drivers to compete in the popular Spec Miata class of modified Mazda convertible sports cars.
DeVido, who has raced in Europe, UAE, Qatar, Thailand and Canada over the past 25 years, has been coaching professionally for the past 10 years.
"After moving back to Canada from Qatar six years ago, I started racing with the SCCBC [Sports Car Club of British Columbia] at the track in Mission and discovered that there was a lack of teams that do rentals, coaching and driving experiences," DeVido told the 91原创 Advance Times.
When he isn't teaching, DeVido can often be seen racing at Mission Mission Raceway Park.
On at least one occasion, one of his rivals was a former student, Andy Wright, who finished a few cars behind DeVido.
"Andy decided to take up racing three years ago at the age of 62 and has never looked back since," DeVido recalled.
"Three years ago, he had never driven a racing car before coming to Delta Velocity."
Several of DeVido's students took to the track during the B.C. Historic Motor Races at the Speed-Fanatics Motorsport Circuit, Mission Raceway Park, held over the Aug. 10-11 weekend.
It was the Spec Miata Race of Champions as part of the with racers from Alberta, Washington, Oregon, California and B.C. in attendance, as well as several group races, where different models of cars can compete.
Delta Velocity Motorsports team members did well, with 91原创 resident Mark Nickel taking second in the Spec race, three first place finishes in the group races, and 91原创 racer Cory Macleod taking two third places.
Andy Wright was back racing after hip replacement surgery earlier this year and recorded personal bests.
DeVido did not race.
With low-cost cars and limited modifications, Spec Miatas are the most-raced car in North America, according to the National Auto Sport Association.
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