12/Jan/2008
Harold Laird is No. 7
Drag Racer from Central Wins Pro Mod Challenge
What would be your email address if you worked as a plumber and you were a champion drag racer? How about: plumbfast@cox.net
The real owner of that email address is Harold Laird, 42 who is currently No. 7 in the
world of Pro Mod drag racing, and he lives right here in Rambling Oaks subdivision in Central.
“The Pro Mod class means we drive full-bodied cars in the Chevy, Ford or Chrysler style,” Laird said. “They are built with aftermarket parts to the exacting specifications of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA).”
Pro Mod class cars must weigh at least 2,700 pounds which means they are built from titanium. This reduces their weight as compared to a standard 4,000-pound car by more than 1,300 pounds. “Pro Mod cars are very light and very fast,” Laird said.
Split-Window Corvette
Laird’s race car is a 1963 Chevrolet split-window Corvette with a 526 cubic-inch all-aluminum Brad Anderson engineered power plant that develops 2800 horse power. From a standing start, Laird covers a quarter mile in 6.085 seconds and streaks across the finish line at 235 miles per hour. In August he beat the defending champion and point leader Chad Hernandez to take the top prize ($50,000) at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals AMS Pro Mod Challenge event in Indianapolis.
“What we won in August is just the biggest race you can win in Pro Mod,” Laird said. “It is like winning the Indianapolis 500 or the U.S. Open in golf or the heavyweight championship in boxing.”
A native of Denham Springs, Laird started out racing when he was 14 with an old Chevy Camaro with a small block 350 horse power engine. He has never been interested in any kind of racing except drag racing from the days when he was just a spectator at the Cajun Nationals at the old track in Erwinville.
Laird’s Plumbing
“Of course I owe it all to my crew,” he said. “Without them and the very high level of support I get from my wife, my children and my brother David and his wife Carolyn who own Laird’s Plumbing and Mechanical in Denham Springs where I work, I simply could not be a professional race car owner and driver.” Mom and dad are William and Jewel Laird of Denham Springs.
The champ has four children: Christopher, 24; Justin, 21; and Jacob, 13. His wife Stacey, who was born and raised in Central, just delivered a brand new baby girl named Matilyn who they call Mattie.
“I’m going to call her Mattie Lou,” Laird said. “That’s her real name, and I plan to use it whenever I want her to know I’m really serious.”
Adrenaline Rush
Laird said the rush of adrenaline and the high emotions he experiences at a race are similar to what a child feels when he sees his gifts under the tree on Christmas morning. “When you get that green light your heart skips a beat. It is a terrific rush. But winning the nationals was like winning the Super Bowl for us,” he said. “It was just a lifelong dream come true.”
Stacey Laird explained that teams in Pro Mod racing come from all over the world. “We compete against the best people from England, Australia and other countries, and they are the top teams in their home countries,” she said. “NHRA races are strictly by invitation only, so we see the best of the best, and for Harold to be No. 7 right now is just amazing.”
The Lairds travel to the races in a gigantic white Kenworth T-2000 – their home away from home. It is worth approximately $250,000. “Our rig has full living quarters and all the comforts of home including a full kitchen and bath,” Laird explained. “We tow a trailer with the race car riding upstairs and the pit car that is used to tow the ’63 Corvette downstairs.”
“To tell the truth, we just sleep at our house in Central,” Stacey Laird said. “We are actually more at home in the Kenworth.”
Drag Racer from Central Wins Pro Mod Challenge
What would be your email address if you worked as a plumber and you were a champion drag racer? How about: plumbfast@cox.net
The real owner of that email address is Harold Laird, 42 who is currently No. 7 in the
world of Pro Mod drag racing, and he lives right here in Rambling Oaks subdivision in Central. “The Pro Mod class means we drive full-bodied cars in the Chevy, Ford or Chrysler style,” Laird said. “They are built with aftermarket parts to the exacting specifications of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA).”
Pro Mod class cars must weigh at least 2,700 pounds which means they are built from titanium. This reduces their weight as compared to a standard 4,000-pound car by more than 1,300 pounds. “Pro Mod cars are very light and very fast,” Laird said.
Split-Window Corvette
Laird’s race car is a 1963 Chevrolet split-window Corvette with a 526 cubic-inch all-aluminum Brad Anderson engineered power plant that develops 2800 horse power. From a standing start, Laird covers a quarter mile in 6.085 seconds and streaks across the finish line at 235 miles per hour. In August he beat the defending champion and point leader Chad Hernandez to take the top prize ($50,000) at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals AMS Pro Mod Challenge event in Indianapolis.
“What we won in August is just the biggest race you can win in Pro Mod,” Laird said. “It is like winning the Indianapolis 500 or the U.S. Open in golf or the heavyweight championship in boxing.”
A native of Denham Springs, Laird started out racing when he was 14 with an old Chevy Camaro with a small block 350 horse power engine. He has never been interested in any kind of racing except drag racing from the days when he was just a spectator at the Cajun Nationals at the old track in Erwinville.
Laird’s Plumbing
“Of course I owe it all to my crew,” he said. “Without them and the very high level of support I get from my wife, my children and my brother David and his wife Carolyn who own Laird’s Plumbing and Mechanical in Denham Springs where I work, I simply could not be a professional race car owner and driver.” Mom and dad are William and Jewel Laird of Denham Springs.
The champ has four children: Christopher, 24; Justin, 21; and Jacob, 13. His wife Stacey, who was born and raised in Central, just delivered a brand new baby girl named Matilyn who they call Mattie.
“I’m going to call her Mattie Lou,” Laird said. “That’s her real name, and I plan to use it whenever I want her to know I’m really serious.”
Adrenaline Rush
Laird said the rush of adrenaline and the high emotions he experiences at a race are similar to what a child feels when he sees his gifts under the tree on Christmas morning. “When you get that green light your heart skips a beat. It is a terrific rush. But winning the nationals was like winning the Super Bowl for us,” he said. “It was just a lifelong dream come true.”
Stacey Laird explained that teams in Pro Mod racing come from all over the world. “We compete against the best people from England, Australia and other countries, and they are the top teams in their home countries,” she said. “NHRA races are strictly by invitation only, so we see the best of the best, and for Harold to be No. 7 right now is just amazing.”
The Lairds travel to the races in a gigantic white Kenworth T-2000 – their home away from home. It is worth approximately $250,000. “Our rig has full living quarters and all the comforts of home including a full kitchen and bath,” Laird explained. “We tow a trailer with the race car riding upstairs and the pit car that is used to tow the ’63 Corvette downstairs.”
“To tell the truth, we just sleep at our house in Central,” Stacey Laird said. “We are actually more at home in the Kenworth.”
Comments
Posted by: Len
Status: Guest |
Member since: | Date Posted: 17/Jan/2008 09:25:02
Outstanding! Just wait for this season.