When Claude Reed purchased his first Porsche back in 1982, he never imagined it would lead to a successful racing career in Porsche Club of America (PCA), or a wedding to a fellow PCA driver at one of the most legendary race tracks in the world!

Reed’s father was the first to introduce him to the  iconic Porsche brand. After studying the Porsche 914’s technical manuals, the Ph.D. engineering graduate from Purdue University discovered just how well-made Porsches are.

“I quickly realized that was the type of car I wanted to drive,” Reed said. “As an engineer, you immediately recognize that Porsche puts engineering first into their cars. The quality of the engineering in the car is exceptional, and you can easily see that as an engineer. That’s one of the things that drew me to the cars.”

Reed, a mechanical and nuclear engineer at Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, Ill., has written more than 100 publications and reports.

After his first Porsche purchase in 1982, it took him an additional 10 years to join PCA. He started driving in PCA’s High Performance Driver’s Education (DE) at Blackhawk Farms Raceway in 1994 and completed his first race at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Fla. in 1997.

Sebring will always have a special place in Reed’s heart. He married his wife Rachel, who was also an avid driver within PCA, at Sebring International Raceway in 2000.

“We were both heavily into PCA racing and we both loved Sebring – we had been there together three or four times – so, I figured if she agreed to get married at Sebring, then she would be a guy’s dream wife,” Reed said.

So, the couple got married in their driving suits on the hairpin turn on Valentine’s Day weekend in 2000. Attendees included dozens of people from Reed’s Chicago PCA Region, plus other PCA friends. The ring bearer was one of Eurosport Racing’s mechanics, with the ring displayed proudly on a shop towel.

“Coincidence of all coincidences, there was actually a space launch that day,” Reed said. “It was a special day.”

Reed has a daughter and two sons, and all three have done some type of driving within PCA. His two sons even expressed interest in sharing the car during an enduro race with him, so now they’re working on getting enough track time for a racing license.

Reed owns two Porsches – a green 1976 911 Targa and a yellow 1996 993 C4. He currently races the Targa in the SP911 class.

“As an engineer, I appreciate the lighter weight cars – it’s going to be lighter and faster than other stock 911s,” he said.

The prestigious engineer is enjoying his 40th year at Argonne this May. He works on multiple projects, and is the primary subject matter expert for mechanical and electromagnetic (EM) pump technology for the resurgent sodium fast reactor work at Argonne.

“It’s always been my dream job,” Reed said. “When I was studying at Purdue University, they would give weekend bus trips to Argonne and I got a tour of the Lab and it just stuck with me.”

Reed has also built his own Porsche motor – the same motor that has been in his Midwest Eurosport entry since 2009.

“I’ve done 40 races on that motor,” he said. “I have also rebuilt the transmission several times, put on a brake upgrade and designed my own brake rotor adapter.”

He has multiple stories about the camaraderie displayed in PCA, and specifically within in his Midwest Eurosport team.

PCA Club Racing Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport Trophy East series driver and Midwest Eurosport teammate David Varwig loaned Reed his own Porsche 944 Turbo at Reed’s very first race at Sebring in 1997.

“While my car was being prepared, David let me borrow his Turbo,” Reed said. “Porsche people do that! He let me drive his car so I wouldn’t miss out on the weekend.”

Another time, Brian Weathered, owner of Midwest Eurosport, lent a customer Reed’s spare transmission at a race. Reed said the PCA driver followed up with a handwritten thank you letter.

“These types of stories are what club racing is all about,” he said.

Reed typically does between five and six races per year.

“It’s really, really hard to say what my favorite track is because there are so many awesome tracks,” he said. “I love Sebring, Road America, Watkins Glen and Road Atlanta – but it’s almost impossible to pick a favorite track. The tracks PCA races at are world-class tracks – each has its own unique aspects.”

Reed has earned three well-deserved Workers Choice Awards, which are hanging in his “man cave” – Putnam Park in 1999, Gingerman Raceway in 2015 and Brainerd International Raceway & Resort in 2016.

“Even though it’s competitive at times, this is a club and it’s just for fun,” Reed said. “We all just enjoy each other’s company and we try to look out for each other.”

Source. LST Marketing