Newcomer to the TC America series this year with 20+ years in Autocross, Jonathan Newcombe drives the #178 VGMC Racing Honda Civic Si. The Roofing Salesman (call him if you need one!) now resides in Florida but previously lived in Colorado where he participated in Pikes Peak Hillclimb. Read more below on our catch up for his Driver Download.
QUICK FACTS
Team: VGMC Racing
Car: Honda Civic SI TCA
Age: 41
Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida
Favorite Track: COTA, but I also love Sebring
Daily Driver: Chevy Silverado lifted truck
Dream Car: Koenigsegg one:1
Racing Hero: Love all pioneers of Racing that have gotten us to this point now in history.
Favorite Food: Everything. Ha ha I’m a little chunky in the waist. but seriously it’s probably pizza.
Favorite Hobby: Racing and about any sports in general. I love watching college football. Go Gators!
Occupation: Roofing Salesman
Vacation Spot: I don’t have a favorite vacation spot but Europe is beautiful and I love to go to the beach.
First Car: 1986 Toyota MR2
Favorite Movies: Read Dawn, The Breakfast club, Braveheart a lot of 80s early 90s movies.
Favorite TV Shows: top gear and ridiculousness.
DEEP DIVE
Tell us about your COTA debut?
I had a great time learning the track and pushing the limits but had car problems. In my first race I went through some debris and punctured a tire. In my second race I moved up to P5 and then fuel starved and lost power.
How did you get into racing?
I got into Racing from my dad. He raced Autocross and some time trials and always took us to the runoffs every year when I was young.
What is your favorite racing memory?
My favorite Racing memory would be every time I get to race is a good memory. Finishing the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and breaking the front wheel drive record.
What is the story behind your helmet design?
There is no story behind my Helmet Design except I wanted it to be yellow and black and have a lot of shapes to look different than everybody else.
If you could invite 3 people to dinner, who would it be and why?
I’m not sure who I would invite to dinner if I had the chance.
We know you've competed at the Pike’s Peak Hillclimb, tell us more!
My very first practice run on the mountain it was foggy and I could only see 10 yards in front of me was one of the scariest things I ever raced. I also spun out while going 120 mph and somehow ended up doing a 360 and stopped in the middle of the road pointing in the direction I needed to go so I continued to the finish. after finish it snowed so hard at the top of the mountain that all of us racers had to follow snow plows a quarter of the way down the mountain to get back to the pits. That race it can be 90° at the start line in 10° at the finish. It’s so crazy.