Kirk Olsen ... "I like to drive anything with an engine to its limits."
Posted on March 05 2026
How Did You Start Racing?
I bought a 1991 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 in 2003 and a friend of mine said there are groups that rent Watkins Glen and you take your car on the track.
I did 3 DE schools in 2003 then 5 DE schools in 2004.
I took the BMW ITS school in 2005 and became a driving instructor. A year later I became an ITS instructor for a few years. Now I was doing 15 events a year.
Yeah, I was hook into car racing pretty quick.
What Is Your Favorite Car to Race?
Well once I became a driving instructor, I was asked to drive a lot of fun/fast cars.
My personal DE car was a 1999 Covette then a 2008 Corvette Z06.
I've driven a Ferrari 360 Euro race car, 2020 Porche GT4, BMW E46 race car, a couple E36 race cars with S54 motors and a 2011 BMW E92 GTR built in Europe.
All those cars are fun to drive, but the BMW E92 GTR would be the best and I share the car with a close track friend.
What Is Your Favorite Track?
Let me see I have competitively raced at Sebring, VIR, Watkins Glen, Summit Point, Canadian Tire, NJMP Thunder, NJMP Lighting and Mid-Ohio.
I have instructed at Monticello.
Watkins Glen & VIR would be my favorite
Best Track Day Experience?
It all starts when you arrive to the track, unload your car and start saying Hi to all your track friends then you go to dinner and trash talk who is going to win the race.
My best day was at Watkins Glen in 2018 when i won the CM class over Allen Lewis from Canada, Todd Brown from Virgina and Rick Schickler from Rochester NY.
I made the Roundel race page
Worst Track Experience?
My worst track experience was at VIR during a Chin Motorsport event.
I run in the instructor group with my 1995 E36 S54 swap race car.
I was on my 5th or 6th lap flying down the back straight doing 149mph and I hit my brakes just at the final dip in the track before you enter the roller coaster.
The cars right rear A-arm came disconnected from the frame of the car.
I went sliding through the grass sideways.
Caught a little air and ended up on the other side of roller coaster.
Thank God the car did not roll.
Advice for Newcomers?
Ask how your car should be prepped for a DE and if you get hooked like I did just plan on spending a lot of money on your new hobby
Tell Us About You?
I work as a construction project manager for a large developer building multi-family apartment projects.
I like to drive anything with an engine to its limits.
I've been a ski instructor, downhill ski racer, started racing motocross in my 40's and enjoy car racing.
In 2022 I finish 2nd Nationally in BMW club racing CM class and finished 1st Regionally
Final Thoughts?
I have realized the track is not about getting into your car and going fast and passing other cars.
It's about all the new people you become friends with and look forward to hanging out with them.
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