Ten Questions With Engine Builder & Racer Vic Hill

[CPG Marketing]

When it comes to "big time" motorsports, Vic Hill is a legend in his own right. His career began in NASCAR Winston Cup racing and spanned many years of working with the best and brightest teams and drivers around. While in NASCAR, Hill built engines for some of the best racers in the business, including luminaries like Dale Earnhardt, Charlie Glotzbach, Cale Yarborough, Richard Petty, Dick Trickle and Michael Waltrip.

Today Hill runs his own successful engine shop, Vic Hill Racing Engines in Mosheim, TN. His engines run in winning cars in a variety of series, such as Lucas Oil, World Of Outlaw (WOO) and Pro Cup Asphalt, which covers both dirt and asphalt racing. Not only is Hill a renowned engine builder, he also continues to race his own car. You can usually find him racing in his Land Air Transport and Pilot Travel Centers sponsored car at any number of dirt tracks but especially at the “Friday Night Fights” at his home track – Bulls Gap Raceway in Greenville, TN.

Hill considers Bulls Gap his home track for good reason – his shop is literally across the street, which is where we caught up with him to ask some questions that shed a little light on the man and his business.

How did you get started in racing?
After I graduated high school in Sevierville, TN, I wanted to get a job with a race team. So I moved to Winston-Salem, NC. I managed to get a job with Richard Childress by just showing up at Childress Racing in Welcome, NC. I guess they knew I was serious, and I got a job working with Bob Gorrell, who was the cylinder head guy at that time. My real goal was to drive a car but the chance to work at the shop was a great way to get in the door. My dad told me that if I really wanted to do the racing thing, then I should go to Charlotte – go to work for a team and learn from the ground up. So that’s just what I did.

Who was your biggest influence?
It turned out to be Bob Gorrell, the cylinder head guy at Childress. When I said earlier that I went to work for him, it wasn’t all that simple. At first he thought I was just a neighborhood kid that was hanging around but when I finally told him that I was broke, he cracked up and figured out how to put me to work and get paid.

What was your most memorable moment?
Without a doubt it was when I was working for Childress and the famous race when Dale Earnhardt won "The Winston" – the one called “the pass in the grass” at Charlotte in 1986. The race was exciting but the big moment for me was when I got to drive the car to inspection. It had no brakes, but I got it there. I wish I had a picture of it, but it remains a very memorable moment for me.

What is the biggest change you’ve seen in racing?
NASCAR and the corporate money. It’s not as fun as it used to be. There are so many rules that control the innovation - it's just not the same. It’s one of the main reasons I dirt race now. You can be as innovative as possible within the guidelines. Dirt racing is like the Winston Cup series was in the 70s and 80s.

What’s your view of the future of dirt racing?
I think it will remain strong and grow for the grassroots racer. It still remains the most affordable kind of racing and has the best payback for individuals. Fans love it, and we seem to be doing OK.

Why else do you race in dirt?
Although there is not a lot of money, in the dirt world, if you manage your assets well and with a little sponsorship, the payback is good enough to support a team. You won’t get rich, but you can sustain. Also, you can’t deny how fun it is and fans seem to love it, too.

Why are your engines so good?
We take a lot of pride in building our engines, and we build them to perform well. Naturally, the valve train is critical, and we use the best stuff. COMP Cams® is one of the reasons our engines are the best. When you have a company like COMP® that will work with and get you what you need to build the best engines, then you know that you're building with the best possible cams and valve train. I couldn’t do great engines without their help and products.

What advice would you give to someone going racing?
Learn as much as you can about cars, engines and every part of racing if you are going to race. Focus on your specialty, whether it is dirt or asphalt. Focus and learn is my advice.

What do you do for R&R?
Race. That’s it. Just race.

If you did not do what you are currently doing, what would it be?
I just don’t want to do anything but this.

Source:
Vic Hill Race Engines, LLC
10386 Blue Springs Parkway
Mosheim, TN 37818
Phone: 423-422-6644
email: vichillraceengines@yahoo.com