Advanced Autosports Beloit Daily News Article

The Beloit Daily News ~ Press Release . . .

February 14, 2006

Staff photo by Hillary Wundrow
From left, Advanced Auto Sports office manager and designer Robin Wendland and owner Dave Wheeler stand underneath a race car. Advanced Auto Sports is the Stateline Area’s newest shop and show room for race enthusiasts.

Ladies and gentlemen start your engines.

Dave Wheeler is moving his race car shop and showroom to Beloit. With Blackhawk Farms race track only four miles away in South Beloit and Danica Patrick fever in the air, Wheeler is confident his wheels will be winners.

“Racing is safer than being on the highway, for one thing everyone's going one direction and no one is drinking alcohol,” Wheeler said.

Wheeler opened Advanced Auto Sports, 1928 Whipple St., in November. A one-stop-shop for race lovers, the store will soon showcase 20 vehicles ranging from $7,500 to $250,000. The owner envisions his business to be much more than a store. He hopes families will stop in, learn about the sport and browse at his flashy cars.

As racing increases in popularity, Wheeler hopes to help bring more newbies to the track. His race car rental program allows amateurs the chance to enjoy the sport without the hassle of housing a vehicle.

“We can have our clients' cars taken over to the track,” Wheeler said. “They just show up and their car is there. They can go to the race track, have fun and not have to worry about the maintenance.”

Wheeler's hottest sell for first-time racers is older Mazda Miata's used for their low cost and reliability. Wheeler will take a used car, remove its interior, add roll cage bars in addition to rebuilding the engine and transmission.

One of Wheeler's custom-builds was recently purchased for $110,000 by a California racer. On weekends the racer flies in, races and leaves his car back in the reliable care of Wheeler.

After a career as a mechanic, Wheeler started dabbling in the sport about 20 years ago. In 1996 he opened a shop in Wauconda, Ill. After a few trips to Blackhawk Farms race track in South Beloit, however, Wheeler considered moving his entire shop to the Stateline Area.

“I wanted to live out here. I can buy a whole lot more building,” Wheeler said. “The old place was 4,000-square-feet and the new place is almost 12,000-square-feet.”

Racing is becoming a multi-billion dollar industry, according to Wheeler. Race car trade shows were one of the top 40 trade shows held in the United States this past year.

“Some racers are carpenters and plumbers and some are doctors, lawyers and CEOs,” Wheeler said.

At Blackhawk Farms, 15538 Prairie Road in South Beloit, people pour through the gates to watch racing from April to October. The 19.95 mile racetrack owned by Raymond Irwin has been a fixture of the Stateline Area since the 1960s. Although it began for only race club members, it's now open to any spectators and includes car, motorcycle and go-kart racing. Race clubs featured include the Sports Car Club of America, the Midwestern Council and Champion Cup Series motorcycling races.

After Wheeler and office manager/designer Robin Wendland complete their showroom at Advanced Auto Sports, the store will hold a grand opening celebration on March 11 and 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In addition to food and refreshments, representatives from Hans, Autometer and Fresh Air systems will be on hand to discuss all facets of racing.

On Sunday Advanced Autosports will be sponsoring the Midwestern Council's “Annual Tech Day.” The Midwestern Council's technical inspection staff will be on hand to approve cars for the upcoming race season.

For more information about Advanced Autosports and the Midwestern Council visit, www.advanced-autosports.com and www.mcscc.org.

For more information on racing at Blackhawk Farms, visit the www.blackhawkfarms.com Web site.

Advanced Autosports was founded in 1996 by Dave Wheeler, a Master Mechanic with over a quarter century of real-world experience. After two years of working from his garage, Dave opened his first race shop in Wauconda, Illinois a 3,000sf facility. In 2005, Dave purchased his first shop in Beloit, Wisconsin, a 12,000sf facility to better suit his customers. This facility has a fully stocked showroom, in-house custom vinyl graphics and plenty of room for a top-notch race shop.

Dave started his racing career in 1988 while working for a local Pro Formula Atlantic team. There he learned the importance of doing things right or not at all. Following a two year stint with a multi-car Formula Ford team Dave decided to try driving himself. In 1991 a Mercury Capri was purchased. Subsequently the Capri was replaced by a 1981 Ford Mustang Notchback, which was campaigned locally from 1993 to 2001. Multiple race wins and championships followed. In the fall of 2000 a proposal was brought to Midwestern Council of Sports Car Clubs for a Spec Miata (SM) class.

Dave was hooked and became one of the early adaptors and class champions. A Spec Miata racer was subsequently built in April 2001. That was followed by two race wins, including a six (6) hour enduro.

During the final race of the year at BFR Dave set the Spec Miata track record, which stood for over a year. During the summer of 1993 Dave started working on Trans-Am series cars. He started working with Mitch Benders, Pace Trailers Camaro, and a long time association with these fantastic machines then grew. In 1994 Dave started working with Orion Motorsports and its’ driver Bruce Nesbitt. After Bruce purchased the ex-Tommy Kendall Roush Racing AllSport car, Dave became the Crew Chief.

The 2000 Rolex season saw Bruce and the Orion Motorsports team competing in the Grand American Sports car series. Competing in the AGT class the team earned two pole positions and numerous podium finishes. The team continued in Grand-Am during 2001, a partial schedule allowed for only two races with the DuPont Teflon sponsorship.

Over the years Dave has worked on everything from IT (Improved Touring) to IRL, Formula Ford, Trans AM, and Ferrari challenge cars. He has supported race teams from the local short tracks to Road America, Mid-Ohio and the high banks of Daytona.

“Until you get to the very top drivers, reliability is the most important thing. Most of us race for the joy of it. Seat time will make the driver faster which makes the car faster. Safety must never be compromised. Remember, Racing is supposed to be fun!”
David J. Wheeler

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