|
Biography
Motoring go-karts
around local tracks as a youngster gave Matthew Maxey his first
initial taste of racing, but having never fully satisfied his appetite
for speed and competition, it has only developed into a fierce hunger
that craves more. If there is anyone that possesses the determination
and ability that it takes to make this desire a reality, it is most
certainly him.
Born May 13, 1984 in
Detroit, Michigan, Matthew has always had an admiration for motorized
vehicles. Those close to him would call it an obsession. Being born in
the “Motor City” could possibly be a reason why, but whatever the case may be, it is a
fascination that has not faded away.
When he was little,
Matthew would often watch motor races on television and whenever a
race was in town, his parents would treat him to the experience of
being in the grandstands. However beyond being a spectator, not much
thought was given about having any deeper involvement in motorsports.
Racing cars didn’t interest him immediately, he wanted to build them.
From the time he could hold a pencil, Matthew was drawing. A majority
of his artistic attention was focused on automobiles. Over time,
simple drawings developed into more complex sketches. It seemed only
natural that he wanted to be an engineer and have a career designing
them.
Matthew always liked
to draw, but sometimes his parents felt that he spent a little too
much time indoors scribbling over a sketchpad. When Matthew’s father
wanted to take his nine year-old son to a go-kart track to get out of
the house for some fresh air, he did not realize how the day they
spent zooming around a track would change his son’s life forever. It
wasn’t until a couple of years later while vacationing at campgrounds
with go-kart tracks nearby that young Matthew would realize he was
bitten by the racing bug. Describing his late entry into karting,
Matthew says, “If racing was calling me, it must have been dialing the wrong number – it
took a couple of years before I finally received the message.” From
that point, it didn’t take long for him to get hooked on racing. Soon,
he was frequenting karting facilities, eventually entering local karting
leagues, and winning competitions.
|
“ If
racing was calling me, it must have been dialing the wrong number – it took a couple of years
before I finally received the message. ”
|
Even though Matthew
was enjoying the racing he was doing, the competitive spirit in him
desired more. He very much wanted to race on a higher level, but the
costs were too high and lack of opportunities were too numerous to
make it feasible. During his high school years, Matthew was ready to
work his way into an official series or league but also knew that
until his chance came along, his priorities were maintaining high
marks in school.
During
high school he was routinely earning good grades along with being
involved with many extra-curricular activities. Matthew was his high
school’s first student council president, junior and senior year he
was a student athlete; playing on the varsity basketball team and a
key force behind an unsuccessful effort at starting a soccer team.
Maintaining a high grade point average while keeping busy outside of
the books was a personal goal he set – and successfully completed, as
he graduated in the top five of his class. Some of Matthew’s academic
accomplishments include being a member of the National Honor Society,
receiving his high school’s Citizenship Award, the Michigan Merit
Award Scholarship, and the Ford Motor Company Freshman Engineering
Scholarship.
In his junior year of high
school, an opportunity arose where Matthew could get the best of
both worlds and do the two things that he really wanted – do well in
school and also compete in an official racing league. A new
science teacher at his high school was closely involved with
alternative-fuel vehicles; he also ran karting teams on two different
racing circuits. Science, always a favorite subject of Matthew’s,
quickly became a much bigger favorite upon hearing this news. He
realized that this was exactly what he needed to continue on his way
to professional racing.
Not long after
talking to his new teacher, he was a driver on the team, a competitor
in the Electrathon America and NECA karting leagues, and cashing in
on the advantages of the link between race team and school. He enjoyed the
hard work, preparation, dedication and commitment that being a part of
team required. The cars were built by the team from the ground up, and
the techniques learned were applied in school. The engineer in Matthew
felt it was an added bonus that would help tremendously in
college.
When the time came
for the first race, the anticipation was building and adrenaline
was flowing. Matthew was ready to compete in his first sanctioned race and
months of preparation were about to be put to the test. In an
interesting twist of fate, all to the
momentum he had going in was brought to a halt five minutes before the
start of the race. As the batteries were being prepared, the crew
damaged the motor and the car was unable to be fixed in time to start
the race. Alhough frustrated, he had waited this long so he could most
certainly wait a little longer. The next race was not too far away, and
he was looking forward to the chance to finally show what he could do.
In his debut, Matthew was fast, setting a world record for the fastest
mile lap. In later races, he continued to post excellent results.
Matthew
is currently attending the University of Michigan studying Mechanical
Engineering, but he has not forgotten his roots. Upon graduating high
school, he has continued to be a part of the team that got him started, is
still competing, all while working as an advisor and driver coach to
his newer teammates. In college, Matthew joined the Society of
Automotive Engineers and the University’s Formula SAE racing team.
Although he has never
owned his own kart, Matthew Maxey has been gifted with a talent, determination,
and ability that has not hesitated to make itself known once it has
been given the opportunity to shine. He has felt extremely
lucky and blessed to catch the breaks that he's had, and hopes his hard
work continues to pay dividends in the future.
|
