Racer Christian
Copley has a need for speed
For
Kristi Erath, mother of 16-year-old race car driver Christian Copley, breathing
deeply and cheering loudly is a matter of distraction while watching Copley at
the race track.
But
for Mike Kappmeyer, Copley’s grandfather, watching
him race is one of his biggest thrills.
It’s
because of Mike that Copley discovered his love of speed and racing at the age
of eleven.
Years
ago, Mike raced off-road motorcycles and desert buggies. He never drove a race
car himself, but instead purchased cars and put drivers behind the wheel.
Eventually,
Mike started a program at the Ventura Raceway for underprivileged and troubled
teens, taking them off the streets and putting them behind the wheel — and
teaching them how to drive.
At
age 11, Copley was hooked on go-cart racing, thanks to Mike, but within two
years he moved up to the junior midget, a sort of souped-up
go-cart requiring more speed and skill.
At
age 14, Copley was competing on the short run, a quarter-mile track for
underage drivers designed to increase skill and confidence but keep speed to a
minimum.
But
minimum speed wasn’t in Copley’s vocabulary. Within the year, he won his first
championship, was named rookie of the year, and became the youngest driver to
compete in the adult division half-mile track at the age of 15.
Now,
Copley is racing Irwindale and Kerr County Nascar tracks.
“At
first I felt iffy about the whole thing; this is my little boy,” Kristi
explained.
“But
then I saw him behind the wheel; I saw what he could do, and was totally
amazed.
“This
is really his calling, so I have to go above and beyond just being a mom and
just be supportive.”
With
solid family support and seasoned racing veterans Greg Voight
and James Weston and cousin Jerry Kappmeyer
rounding out Copley’s pit crew, he snagged most wins in his division over the
summer racing season.
“Copley
has great potential,” Kappmeyer said. “He’s a smooth
driver; I like to watch him drive. And he’s got a lot of support out there.”
Although
Kappmeyer saves critique for the long drives back
from the raceways spanning California, Nevada, and Arizona, Copley is quick to
critique himself.
“Honestly,
I don’t get nervous; I get excited. We have a strategy: pace on the first laps,
save the tires and then pick them off at the end when their tires are gone,” he
said.
“But
sometimes I do stupid things; I try to pass too soon, or get too anxious; I’ve
got to calm down.
The
strategy works well until I get impatient,” Copley said.
As
Copley reflects on his weaknesses, you can almost hear Kappmeyer’s
voice running through his mind. Then he offers out loud, “My grandpa never
misses anything I do.” Copley says that with a smile.
Regardless
of room for improvement, Copley has proven to be a promising driver in short
order — and at a very young age. In a recent race at Lake Havasu Raceway,
Copley earned top lap speed, which qualified him for pole position in the
starting line up, and he went on to win the trophy
dash.
As
the youngest competitor in his division, Copley also earned a standing of 10th
in points out of a field of 30 drivers – all of them seasoned drivers who were
his senior.
“I
never thought I would come this far in three years, with the opportunity to go
farther,” Copley said.
Now
a junior at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, Copley has aspirations of
going to UCSB, perhaps becoming a fire fighter and continuing to race; maybe
even making it all the way to Nascar.
With
11 career wins under his belt and a bedroom full of trophies and ribbons, he’s
well on his way.
While
Copley spends his summers consumed with training and racing, the valley
community is constantly rallying behind him.
With
sponsors such as the Red Barn, Santa Ynez Valley Paint, El Rancho Marketplace,
Pizza Shack, Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, Go Rhino, Auto Pro, John Fosmire, Goerschner and Simandle Studios and MRK Motorsports, there is no lack of
local support and enthusiasm for Copley’s promising career.
Reflecting
on his support team, Copley also reveals what could be his secret weapon for so
much success.
“My
mom comes to all my races and records my times.
When my grandmother, Vicky Kappmeyer,
comes to my races, I always win — she’s my good luck charm. But my grandfather
is my biggest mentor,” Copley said.