Laura Olson

First Car Owned: 1969 Mustang Mach I

First Race Car: 1986 Honda CRX GT-4

Current Race Car: 2007 Mazda MX-5 Cup

Current Daily Driver: 2006 Mazda MX-5

Favorite Car: Any car I am racing

Dream Car: 427 Cobra

Favorite Track: Mid Ohio and Road Atlanta

Racing Hero: Ayrton Senna

Favorite Color: Blue

Favorite Restaurant: Outback

Favorite Food: Steak and potatoes or pizza

Favorite Book: ‘Drive to Win’ by Carroll Smith

The job that allows me to race: Operations Manager, Conifer Health Solutions

Hobbies: Racing, racing, and racing; what else is there? On the few days that I’m not racing or working on my cars, I enjoy skiing, biking, swimming, hiking, gardening, or anything outdoors.

Racing start: I didn’t grow up in a racing family nor did I have any interest in it until my long time friend, Steve Hershberger, let me drive his GT-4 car (the same one I started racing in!) in a parade down Highway 101 in Oregon during the Port Orford Grand Prix in 1996. It was then in 1997, with the help of Doug Ruthroff that I completed the SCCA Super School at Firebird Raceway.

Since that time, I have raced several different cars including my 1st car, a 1986 Honda CRX (GT-4), a 1998 Acura Integra GS-R (SSB), a 1999 Mazda Miata (SSB), a 2006 Mazda MX-5 (SSB), a 2006 Mazda MX-5 MX-5 Cup), a 2007 Mazda MX-5 MS-R (SSB), and a 2007 Mazda MX-5 (MX-5 Cup).

Over the years so many people have helped and assisted me both on and off the track and I am truly grateful for all the wonderful friends I have made through racing.

People often ask why I take friends out to the track and let them drive my cars or why I let other racers drive my cars. That’s a simple answer; this was how I got into racing and I want to share my love of the sport with others.

I love taking someone who has never been to a race out and showing them what it is that I love so much that takes up all my time and money! Until you’ve had the opportunity to race, I don’t think you can fully appreciate a racer’s mind!

“To do something well is so worthwhile that to die trying to do it better cannot be foolhardy. It would be a waste of life to do nothing with one’s ability, for I believe that life is measured in achievement, not in years alone.”

Bruce McLaren