Have you ever noticed that some people just seem to be having more fun than the rest of us?
Walking the paddock area of the SVRA / Trans-Am weekend at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, we came across a bright red C4 Corvette and a driver who was definitely enjoying himself.
What caught our attention straight away was the lack of a crew around his well-prepared #26 fourth-generation Corvette. In fact, Rick Ortman was running this weekend solo.
Racing solo is one thing, but doing it when you’re 75 years old is a horse of a different color.
As we were soon to learn, Rick has been figuring out how to make Corvettes go fast around a race track since the late ’60s and having fun every minute.
At a time in life when most of us might be thinking of easing into the pits, Rick has hit the gas and grabbed another gear.
What follows is the edited transcript of our conversation with Rick in between practice sessions. Enjoy!
Started Racing In 1968
Rod Worley – Editor – Rick, you’ve been racing as a privateer for decades. Can you tell us about your business back home?
Rick Ortman – SVRA Racer – Sure, Rod, we have a family-owned business, Ortman Drilling and Water Service, in Kokomo, Indiana. My grandfather started in 1922 with a homemade wooden drilling machine he bought for $200.
We do water systems, wastewater treatment pumps, and so forth, commercial and residential.
Rod Worley – Editor – When did you first start organized racing?
Rick Ortman – SVRA Racer – I began racing with the National Corvette Council in 1968 and 69, started running SCCA in 1971. We started running Trans-Am with IMSA and raced competitively up to 1976 when I got married. We raised a family, and so I quit until five years ago.
SVRA Winner’s Swag
Rod Worley – Editor – Congratulations on your podium finish today, Rick. I see you’re sporting a bronze medallion and a new red SVRA logo hat.
What is the significance of the red hat?
Rick Ortman – SVRA Racer – SVRA awards a red hat to each class’s top three drivers after each race. They also award gold, silver, and bronze medallions for first, second, and third place.
It’s a challenge to try and get some more hats. But I’ve got enough that I’ll probably never wear them out.
First Win Was Special
Rod Worley – Editor – So what was it like getting your first red hat?
Rick Ortman – SVRA Racer – Oh, the first one, the first one was just super.
My first win was in Mid-Ohio in the rain. I’ve only gotten one or two first-place finishes over the years.
All the rest have been second and thirds. But that first one was special, and I’ll never forget it.
Rod Worley – Editor – So how did you win that Mid-Ohio race in the rain?
Rick Ortman – SVRA Racer –Well, we’d run in the rain some when we were running the ISMA Trans-Am races back in the 70s. So I knew a little bit about driving in the wet.
Some of the guys didn’t even go out to practice, qualify, or anything. The whole weekend looked like it was going to be wet.
So I thought, I’m here, I’ve got rain tires, I might as well go out and race. So I went out and qualified in the front.
The thing is, when it rains, and you’re in the front, it’s tough to pass somebody. So I just stayed in front and won the race.
Rod Worley – Editor – So I wonder what your wife said about you racing and winning in the rain?
Rick Ortman – SVRA Racer – Oh, she was thrilled. She thought that was really neat.
Getting Back Into Racing
Rod Worley – Editor – How did you come across this car when you decided to get back into racing five years ago?
Rick Ortman – SVRA Racer – We’d gone to Sebring for the 50th Trans-Am anniversary race.
We were walking through the pit area when she spotted one of my old Corvette race cars, which brought back some good memories.
Well, the winner of the vintage racing that day was celebrating his 81st birthday. His helper was also 81 years old.
I was only 71 at the time. So, I turned to my wife and said, I think I could still do this, and would you care?
She said, well, if you die, you’ll die happy. I told her that it’s her fault if the insurance isn’t paid up because she pays the bills.
So I found a car, and we started having fun.
Future Plans
Rod Worley – Editor – So how long do you consider you’re going to be racing?
Rick Ortman – SVRA Racer – As long as I physically can do it and I still enjoy it. So I hope another five, maybe ten years.
I see people in their 80s racing competitively and still having fun. And when you get to the point where it’s not fun, or I feel like I’m an endangerment to myself or others, I’ll quit.
But no, not till then.
A Team Of One
Rod Worley – Editor – As I walk around the paddock area, several people are usually working on each car. Some of the bigger teams have a whole host of crew members and techs fine-tuning their race car.
Rick, there’s just you here. How do you manage to get the car ready for racing?
Rick Ortman – SVRA Racer – I try to have the car pretty well prepped before I go to the track. I work on the race car one to three nights a week.
I also work on it the weekend that I’m not racing and through the winter months. Things happen, but I don’t plan on doing any major work at the track.
Usually, my wife comes with me, or we have another couple with us. A good friend of mine wasn’t able to come this weekend because of shoulder surgery.
I’ve done several races by myself, and you do what you can do and take your time. You always try to be prepared.
Rod Worley – Editor – Well, it’s worked out for you this weekend.
Rick Ortman – SVRA Racer – Well, so far, yeah. I should have thought ahead and brought a little better tire. That’ll never happen again.
Why Choose SVRA?
Rod Worley – Editor – Rick, there are several organizations you could be racing with today. Why the Sportscar Vintage Race Association?
Rick Ortman – SVRA Racer –When I first bought this car, the guy who owned it was running with the National Auto Sport Association. I ran a couple of races with them and didn’t think much of the organization.
With NASA, there’s too much differential of speed on the track at the same time. We’d have cars running 20, 30 miles an hour faster than us.
And I didn’t think it was safe.
So I looked into SVRA looked like a good organization after I went to a couple of their races and got to know their people.
I started out getting my competition license again through SVRA by going to Roebling.
While I was at Roebling Road Raceway, I met several people there and was impressed with them.
They’re friendly, helpful people who get you going. They make sure you’re aware of where you’re supposed to be and when you’re supposed to be there, and everything else.
They do a nice job of running a race.
Fast Fun With SVRA
You can’t spend 10 minutes with Rick Ortman and not want to put on a helmet and go racing. Listening to his on-track exploits and seeing the way his eyes light up as he talks about competing at SVRA events makes you want to get out there yourself.
The way the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) has set up its classes ensures competitive racing in every category. Having fun while taking on some of the most famous tracks in the country is a real bonus.
So if you find yourself on a road course with a rearview mirror full of a red #26 C4 Corvette, know it’s Rick Ortman, and he’ll be smiling as he passes you.
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