Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

Mr Beard
I know you are busy racing this weekend but when you get a chance, maybe you could shed a little light on a few thoughts.
Do you have life other than racing?
You can't be married or does she travel with you EVERY weekend?
Are you independently wealthy or have a very understanding boss?
Yes, to some small degree I am jealous of your racing schedule but I really do not think someone could remain sane drag racing their way around the country weekend after weekend. There just has to be more to life than time slip booth and a plastic out house.

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

If you paid any attention then you'd know Mr.Beard is self employed.
www.staginglight.com
Plus he races on a tight budget......
And you'll NEVER get to race that much in Smog City.........

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

Gee, thanks John Kelly
that was very informative.........................

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

Drag racing is my life, yes, and that's by choice. I've worked my whole life toward doing what I love. I worked at Mickey D's as a kid, then a sign shop for the same money, before going to work for Bill Bader's IHRA, 2000-2002, as webmaster, journalist and jack of all trades. Missed racing Stock, so I left to work for Quaker City Raceway. Won the Stock World Championship in 2003, then decided that in order to race how and when I wanted, I needed to run my own business. Started a sign shop in NE Ohio, and began my solo career of being "independently poor". Met Jill while I was there, and a couple years later we moved to North Carolina. Refocused my business on strictly graphic design and printing for drag racers and dragstrips, running it out of my home. Living in NC allowed me to run 56 races a year (but still home every week... Don't think I've ever stayed out on the road from week to week). Still towing with a 4.7L Dodge Ram (14mpg this weekend!), and an open trailer that I won in a Shootout race when I was a kid. Because I play it close to the vest and have been blessed with success on the track, I make money racing. Because of what I do, racing IS the advertising for my business -- I HAVE to race. (Good excuse, right?).

I told Jill she could have a ring when I got out of debt. Ran myself in the finals of the 2008 World Footbrake Challenge $10K (Win and R/U), and proposed to her over the phone right then and there. We were married that November. She's ultimately supportive, and goes when she can, a few times a year. Even got her to race the Turismo a couple times last year!

I'm never going to be rich, but I'm happy! You have to do what you love, and love what you do.

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

Now, that folks, is how you acheive the American Dream ! WTG Micheal !

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

Drag racing is an addiction for which there is no cure or rehab

Oh and no retirement

It is a passion - there are few in life - for most

Your lucky if you have two

One has to be family

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

I have two families. Drag racers ARE family, and we have a reunion every weekend!

"I like to reminisce with people I don't know. Granted, it takes longer." - Steven Wright

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

Congrats on doing what you love!

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

I would like to add also, you will not find a nicer guy to help racers familys when the need arises, this guy is straight up one of the nicer guys to work with when getting things done to help a fallen racer......thanks again for helping us out this year.......B Dixon stk5010

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

Mike, good luck! Call me when you get time or get home.
Bob Lowry

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

Thank you Michael for your honesty. That was, with out a doubt, the best reply to a thread I have read on this board in a VERY long time. Many win lights to you!!!!!

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

I've been following Michael for a long time, since the days of online access -- yes, that's well before the Internet existed.

If I'm not mistaken, back then he was just beginning racing and had a whole lot of desire but not a lot to work with in the race car area. He asked a lot of questions, figured it out mostly on his own, and managed to mold himself into the great racer we see today.

I seem to remember that he and I butted heads many years ago on a message board about something trivial, but maybe that's just another hallucination. Regardless, I've enjoyed watching his success. He's a prime example of setting your priorities, following a plan, and managing as much as possible at making your life exactly what you want it to be.

I'd bet there are a lot of "famous" professional racers who'd trade lives with him in a heartbeat. Along with Toby Lang, he's one of the internet crew chiefs who knew what they were talking about.

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

You will not find a nicer most genuine guy then Mike Beard. A true gentlemen. Quick story, we're at Norwalk one yr, must have been a national event IHRA and my dad goes to the mens room behind the main grandstands tower side where the showers are located. The lense in my dads glasses pops out on the floor and breaks. Who I there to help him pick up the pieces? You guessed it Mike Beard. I think they've been friends ever since. That's the definition of a class racer

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

Naw, Jeremy, don't go telling stories.... It was at Toronto. ;)

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

Charlie,
I've been privileged to know Michael for quite a while. He drove my SS Camaro for a short time as I was recouping from a racing accident.
Without a doubt he is one of the nicest young men I've been around. He is well grounded in his desires and the direction of his life. I've never met his family, but can say they are pretty good parents. It shows in him.
It was a joy to be his Crew Chief. He was like a sheet of Bounty... Soaked up everything! We made some real nice memories that short summer. My wife and I consider him an extended member of our family.
My wife Donna was impressed with him because he made his bed.
I was impressed because he didn't wet it!!
Mama Donna, as he calls her, and I have an open invite to him and Jill to visit any time.
Charlie you ask: "Do you have life other than racing?"
My suggestion is give him your cell phone # and enjoy some conversation with him. From time to time I get to enjoy calls from him as he is traveling the roads to and from races. (ever once in a while he thumps his chest, a little, after a win) I bet it would surprise you what topics are covered in those conversations. Yes, I'm even a little jealous of his ability to work at racing for a living and fulfill his dreams. :~)

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

Good Reply Michael! Most people would'nt have responded so positively, and snapped at the orignal posters questions, Kudos to you.

You have all my decal work from here on out! PM sent!! John

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

It was toronto?? Wow my memory is fuzzy!! Haha but you got the point. Good luck this weekend!!

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

Michael was one of the people that helped me get my stats gig going and we have been friends ever since, he is the one that designed my web site and nitro joes's drag racing stats logo.

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

Yeah, Beard's not a bad guy.:D Jim

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

Thanks for letting the rest of us in on your story. Sounds like you have life figured out....people matter the most and you mix in racing and friends as you go. We should all be so blessed to have so many friends and to have them tell us how much we mean to them. Most folks don't receive that kind of praise until they are long gone and then it's too late. Good job! in business.......and in life. Tom

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

My hats off to you Mr Beard!!!! Wonderful reply and I must say I would have been suprised if it had been different..

The first time I met Michale he was shooting pictures for IHRA.. It was at a "Bracket Finals" in Jackson SC... He got a rear shot of my Duster leaving theline with the wheels up and I had never seen that angle of my car... He looked me up in the pits and made me a disk of the picture... This before I had e-mail... I still have that picture and earlier this year while we were working on the lettering and numbers for the Challenger I sent it back to him.. He said he had lost a bunch of pictures due to a hard drive crash... I was glad I had it to return the favor... Yes he did the numbers and names on the stocker... Very pleased and went out of his way to make sure they were EXACTLY what I wanted... Will never use anyone else for lettering again...

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

How about the time at Pittsburg 5 years ago he waited for his opponent to change a tire in the lanes, final round .....Thanx Trevor

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

Michael, again, great response. To add to the description of Michael, he is not only a great racer, but a great guy on top of that. He is a true sportsman with a wonderful personality to compliment it. He brings great detail to the sport; with not only his driving capabilities, but his writing skills and "live from" reports.

7423 - why would this even be posted as a topic in a thread???? If you wanted to know that answer, send him a private message. At first it bothered me but after thinking and commenting on the post.......it made me realize that your professionalism...and to be quite direct, your maturity level is not quite up to par. So, no matter how Michael answered or how you replied to any additional comments, your respect was lost at word number one!!!

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

I have to agree with Chris on both statements -

Michael is a true gentleman and a real "class" act (no pun intended!). When we first met at Richmond last year he greeted me like an old friend, and was very helpful. He has always taken the time to answer my questions. Thank you for being so considerate, as I know sometimes I can be an "information sponge"!:o

I also have to wonder why this thread was started in first place, but was glad to see the wonderful comments. It's not often when you don't hear a disparaging word from someone, but in Michael's case that doesn't surprise me at all!

Lew

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

Lew said "a real gentleman and a real class act".
He got that right.

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

Well said Chris. When I first read the thread I thought..... wow talk about jealousy!

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

That one was kinda funny, actually. We'd gotten rained out the month before, down to 3 cars, so we were just finishing the race Saturday night of Pittsburgh's second Pro-Am race of the year. I'm sitting up there waiting to run the finals, and Jim Klacik rolls up on his scooter, carrying with a flat front-runner, telling me I've got a bye in the final. "Why? Go fix it!" Said he didn't have any tools. "There's a Hoosier trailer over there, get it fixed!" Talked to Mike Baker, and he let us run after the ET cars made their time trial. Win or lose, it's always better to do it on the race track. I think it was the same year that Joe Oswald waited for me in the finals (with rain on the horizon) of a $5K No-Box race when I had starter solenoid issues. (We got it cooled down and just when they said they couldn't wait any longer and Joe started his car, mine fired up, and we raced... ran into raindrops at 1000'!) Someone waited for him in the late rounds when he had a problem once, and he went on to win the Bracket Finals. It all comes around. Fletcher waited for somebody to change a transmission in the semis of Super Stock at Norwalk one year, and flat REFUSED to go without him, despite officials telling him they couldn't wait any longer and they were going to go without him if he didn't go. It was down to the very last instant, but they poured the last quart of fluid in the trans, drove it right to the lanes, and they raced. That's cool.

That's something that really struck me. Thanks to all for the kind words! 'Course it also struck me that things like making the bed, helping people in general, etc... that's what passes for American exceptionalism today? :eek: Should be standard issue. That being the case, the credit must go to my parents for bringing me up right.... something none of us should take for granted.

I was picking on Peter Biondo the other night for going .000, .000, -.005 in a car he'd never sat in before. "Pete, you're way too nice a guy to have a nickname like the Terminator... but the numbers bear it out!" Dude doesn't have an "off" switch in his head! The next day he said, "I thought about what you said...." can't remember exactly how he worded it, but it was something along the lines of 'you don't have to be a nice guy to be a good driver'. I guess that's what make Peter (and many other big names in our sport) special, by being as good or better off the track as they are on. Don't know that I've ever met Sam Biondo, but knowing Peter and Sal, you just know why they are the outstanding individuals they are -- once again, I think it goes back to the parents.

I appreciate those being defensive on my behalf. I'm sure Charlie's initial post wasn't intended as it came across to many. That's just the internet for ya -- tough to read intent sometimes. It's all good! Heck, looking at it from the outside, I'd be jealous of me! It's hard to trace the path that got me to where I am today. It's a dream that I never really would've thought would come to fruition. Baby steps... and a lot of them. As I alluded to earlier, it's not a glamorous life, but I'm doing what I love, and I'm lucky to have the love and support of my wife, family, and all of you -- my amazing extended family!

Back to work...

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

Michael
Don't really know where to begin as I am a bit embarrased. There was never intent of anything bad, nasty, rude or in any way ugly in my post to about you. After reading a few replies to what I wrote, I realized that my wording was horrible and it looked like an in your face attack....NEVER the intent. I do apoligize for any bad impression that I left with you.
Your road trips are very interesting and I do realize that you are a one man band. My goal was have you explain how and why you do this week in and week out. I am sure there are many other racers on this board that would enjoy reading that also. I raced NHRA and brackets 35-40 weekends for 5 years straight in D6 and D7. It worn me out bigtime and took a toll on my family life also. I now stay close to home, race once or twice a month and actually have more fun doing it. To each his own I guess.
Thanks for listening and again I apoligize for any ill feeling my poor choice of words created.
__________________
Charlie Allen 7423

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

Thats it, I cannot take this anymore. Michael Beard has all of you buffaloed. I spoke with Billy Nees several times about Michael and got a whole lot of information. Where he raced, how his racing exploits went, who his father was, where he lived, and other things. I cannot disclose any of this information though as it might incriminate this writer of any fabrications.

I have read about him in the racing publications and even spoke to him on the telephone, you know, telephone, that equipment that allows you to communicate with someone verbally, instantly without texting.

I have spoken to other racers who have made a comment or two about Mr. Beard.
Even if they were positive, I could sense a tone of respect, I hate that, kiss kiss.

I knew we would cross paths at some point in time, well it occured recently in W Palm Beach FL. He came over and ate my food, and then ate more of it. Then he started taking all of the BBQ sauce and kept stuffing his face with more food. I tried to converse with him at times, but his mouth was full. At one point we actually had a conversation about racing. Then he ran away, did not see him again that week, said he had car problems, yea sure. He shows up in Immokalee the next week and is foraging again, only this time he brings his buddies. I'll tell you about this character, here is what I think about Mr. Michael Beard

I think he is an allright guy, he was alot of fun, there I said it, happy.

The tales that the Imperial Palace holds are what folk lore is all about, and Michael is just one of those tales.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA Mr. Nice Guy

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

Truth be known, I did in fact stuff my face at the Imperial Palace (multiple times), but Oritz had a gun to my head the whole time. Or maybe it was a pair of tongs. Hard to tell through the haze of those smoky ribs....

Billy's got me figured out. After the Combo in the Hills, I hit Beaver Springs on Sunday. The Turismo died while warming it up on top end in the morning. Turns out the rotor got a pinhole in it. Dad and I scour three parts stores before we found one in stock... which turns out that despite the parts store computer acknowledging that it's a 2.2L, the part numbers listed are actually for the 1.8L, so we get back to the track to realize we've got the wrong parts. Billy contacts another parts store and they look it up under a Dodge Charger to get the correct part. Dad heads off for another parts run. Then Billy spots an unwitting spectator's donor car. "Michael! Is that a Dodge Shadow down there? That's got your distributor in it!" We find out that the car (from out of state no less) is the track starter's daughter's car, and she lets us steal her rotor. (gave her the new one then)

2008... showed up to Beaver and the rear float on the Volare's carb went bad. The time prior to that, probably 2006, on the way back from Toronto, it developed a leaking brake line.

"Michael, I'm on to your game, and I've had enough. You only come home when you need your car fixed!" :D

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

That's it, if you guys get him to purchase one of the new $100,000 factory built super Stockers and a new trailer he won't have money left for gas!

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

Michael did a great job when he worked at Quaker City,it was a shame he did not stay around longer. Had alot of fun racing with him.
John Borland

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

And all these years I thought that Beaver Bob McCardle was your money source... It has to be nearly 25 years since I first met you at Beaver Springs...

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

Let me add that Mike treats everyone like they're his best friend. One of the nicest and hilarious people I've ever met in the sport!!!

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

Ortiz...if you'd start supplying snacks again for your fellow racers, you'd regain your respect. And everyone knows that Nees lies like a fisherman :D:D:D

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

That's because they are! Don't know if I can even count on one hand drag racers that I dislike. Even guys that come across like a major *$$ on message boards are usually pretty cool in person. :p Like I said, we're all family.

Looks aren't everything. :eek:

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

X2 For me...that's a dream I've had since I first learned about this sport... :)

Re: Michael Beard, when you have time...........
 

Michael, you're one of the main reasons I'm glad I was able to live a dream of mine last month (of racing in Texas). San Antonio is now the 19th different track I've been blessed and fortunate enough to race at. Yesterday I was talking with my other bud McNeal Freeman, and in so doing I realized that in the IHRA, North Carolina has a division all to themselves (D9)! No wonder you live there...and going to the other tracks in other states isn't so horribly out of wack for you either I bet? Furthermore, I'm wishing I'd have won that race I was in, so I'd have to opportunity to meet, hang out with, and race with you! It's too bad that the Salt Lake City race doesn't count for the Tournament of Champions. :( However, now that's a dream of mine too...to win one of the Nitro Jams that will qualify for that race. It's nice to (finally) be able to race both of the 'HRA's (for once), and I'm glad that 18 of my western neighbors will be heading to Salt Lake City next month as well, so we can enjoy another small taste of what you've been feasting on for years...class racing regardless of sanctioning body!

You're a real class act, that I hope to be blessed with the opportunity to meet at a race in the future...bring on the ribs, because I can put 'em down too.... :) lol.

btw, have fun this weekend!!! :)