Dream is now Reality for Guist

For Ottawa-area racer Paulo Guist – the 2013 racing season is marking the delivery of a long time dream….the aspiring driver has entered his first year in the Pro Mod racing category….  

Roll back to late in 2012, Paulo acquired the supercharged and very proven 1963 Corvette which was previously raced by Ike Maier after Ike choose to devote his racing focus exclusively to the Top Fuel class.  But Guist’s name is not unfamiliar in Eastern Canadian drag racing, he ran a very competitive Top Dragster within the PMRA’s sister Napa Quick 32 Series previously in recent seasons.

“I have used both the Top Dragster and Top Sportsman classes as a stepping stone to get to this point — but I’m very happy to be able to graduate to the Pro Mod class,” Guist admitted.  “Since I starting following Pro Mod racing in the early 1990s – it’s where I’ve always wanted to end up.  I just didn’t have the funds to do it until now.”

Guist has aligned himself very strategically too.   First with reputed Canadian engine builder Kirk Silbermann and Ajax Engines.   One of Silbermann’s powerful and supercharged 526 CID motor programs will be utilized in his Corvette.   Guist will also lean on some truly expert tuning advice and experience for his racing equation with both Jim Salemi (G-Force Race Cars) and Jon Salemi (Racing Resolutions) being involved in his car’s development going forward.

Jim Salemi & Paulo Guist

Guist’s immediate focus will be within the PMRA and he plans to run most of that season schedule.   But Paulo also revealed that due to his extensive investment in his race car and team – he is ultimately setting himself an even higher goal.

“This car has been revamped and is fully NHRA legal,” he added.  “It has already been raced in NHRA by Ike and ran very well there.  My ultimate goal is to run in NHRA too at some point — but I first want to build up some experience and confidence in the car.”

Guist’s racing operation is a family affair which is co-owned and funded primarily by himself and his wife Shannon who have built up a very successful Pet Food company (Chew-That).  His good friend Jamie Clarmo (the owner of Clarmo Auto Repair) is his crew chief.

Photos and Posting by:  Bruce Biegler