Brad Jaeger talks shop
Obinna Ubabukoh
Issue date: 1/31/06 Section: features
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Versus Magazine Online [Image Edition]
I sat down with semi-professional racecar driver Brad Jaeger of to see what impact the club has had on his passion and future.
O: Can you give us a little background on how you got into racing? What was your inspiration?
B: I grew up seeing my dad race. He did club racing in SCCA, which is the Sports Car Club of America. Just being around it at a young age and seeing your dad, who is one of your earliest role models do it - just hooked me. Ever since I was in first grade it was something I wanted to do but I never thought I'd do it professionally. When I started, I had the talent, and now I'm doing it at an entry professional level.
O: Going on from that, how did you hear about VUM? Did you know that you wanted to drive for them immediately or did you just want to help out?
B: Actually, it's one of the reasons that I came to Vanderbilt. When I was looking for colleges I printed out the entry sheet for the 2001 Formula S competition and Vanderbilt was on it. Then I went down a list of all the schools that competed and I said 'which schools of these do I want to go to for other reasons,' you know, location, academics. Vanderbilt entered a car, was close to where I'm from, and is a great academic institution. You put all three of those together and it was a perfect fit.
O: So how was your initial experience there?
B: I came freshman year and I felt lost. I didn't feel like it was organized and I guess I didn't talk to the right people, I didn't talk to Jake [Ware]. He was the only member who really had his heart in the project. So I didn't really do it all freshman year. I came back sophomore year with two semesters of engineering under my belt and an understanding of what engineering really is. Then I met Jake, and Ben Morris and Walter and got the ball rolling and were able to go to competition, which was amazing.
I sat down with semi-professional racecar driver Brad Jaeger of to see what impact the club has had on his passion and future.
O: Can you give us a little background on how you got into racing? What was your inspiration?
B: I grew up seeing my dad race. He did club racing in SCCA, which is the Sports Car Club of America. Just being around it at a young age and seeing your dad, who is one of your earliest role models do it - just hooked me. Ever since I was in first grade it was something I wanted to do but I never thought I'd do it professionally. When I started, I had the talent, and now I'm doing it at an entry professional level.
O: Going on from that, how did you hear about VUM? Did you know that you wanted to drive for them immediately or did you just want to help out?
B: Actually, it's one of the reasons that I came to Vanderbilt. When I was looking for colleges I printed out the entry sheet for the 2001 Formula S competition and Vanderbilt was on it. Then I went down a list of all the schools that competed and I said 'which schools of these do I want to go to for other reasons,' you know, location, academics. Vanderbilt entered a car, was close to where I'm from, and is a great academic institution. You put all three of those together and it was a perfect fit.
O: So how was your initial experience there?
B: I came freshman year and I felt lost. I didn't feel like it was organized and I guess I didn't talk to the right people, I didn't talk to Jake [Ware]. He was the only member who really had his heart in the project. So I didn't really do it all freshman year. I came back sophomore year with two semesters of engineering under my belt and an understanding of what engineering really is. Then I met Jake, and Ben Morris and Walter and got the ball rolling and were able to go to competition, which was amazing.