Cory Starr
February, 2009
NASA Profiles: Cory Starr
Vital Stats
Home: Casa Grande, AZ
Job: School, NASA
Run Group: HPDE2
Car: ’91 Nissan 300ZX
Think about your high school job from way back when. In the case of some NASA members, you might need a calculator to figure out how long ago that was! Maybe you delivered pizza or were a lot attendant at a local car dealership, where if you were lucky, got to beat on some poor customer’s Mercedez Benz. While most of the junior class at Casa Grande Union High School spends their weekends bagging groceries or pressure washing parking lots, our next contestant in the Who’s Who spectacle brought to you by NASA Arizona, hangs out with the cool crowd and plays with race cars.
I know what you’re thinking – who? What car does he drive? Thing is, nearly everyone who has driven at a NASA event has not only seen Cory Starr, but chances are we’ve all given him thumbs up, or perhaps been singled out with the infamous furled black flag. If you haven’t guessed it yet, Cory is one of the dedicated NASA corner workers who ensures our safety and good times on track. After dedicating an uncountable number of days behind the concrete in turn two, Cory recently started driving in the HPDE program. Oh, yeah, and he’s only 17 years old as well, making him one of NASA’s youngest participants.
A brief encounter with NASA Arizona legend Kyle Giannuzzi tipped Cory onto the underground world of club racing. “I was sitting there reading a car magazine, when this guy named Kyle walked up. In less than 30 seconds, we were arguing about something car related. When that was finished, he told me to check out the May night event”, Cory recalled. Mind you, that was May 2007, making Cory only 15 years old when he worked his first NASA event!
Since then, Cory has worked his way up to become the assistant worker chief, filling in when Kyle is absent. The years of corner working naturally progressed into entering the HPDE1 school, and then into his current run group of HPDE2. During the interview, I gave Cory two options: 1. Drop out of high school and devote your life to NASA like the rest of us, or 2. Tell me about college and your plans to become a member of Congress to fight for club racing rights around the USA. “Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of mechanical engineering. The most interesting part of corner working is watching vehicles work – more specifically, the differences in suspension movement and dynamics.”
Random Facts
Favorite Food: Shrimp Scampi
One Word about High School: Racial
First NASA Event: May Night Event 2007
Salma Hayek or Penelope Cruz: Salma Hayek
Coolest Car in NASA AZ: You kidding? My Car!
Right now Cory commutes from Casa Grande on the weekends to be part of NASA Arizona, both in working and driving. His Nissan 300ZX is progressing steadily, largely due to extra help from his friend Charles at Powertrix.com and advice from participants at the NASA events. Cory has chosen to work on upgrading his suspension system, which seems to naturally feed his appetite for mechanical systems and suspension design. When he’s not in school or working for NASA, his hobbies include working on his car, reading about his car, thinking about Salma Hayek and planning out future modifications for his 300ZX.
What became apparent in my interview with Cory is his undeniable passion for racing, vehicles and enthusiasm being able to contribute to NASA Arizona – all things that are easy to lose sight of after a long weekend at the track. For that reason, Cory’s presence within NASA Arizona is invaluable, and we wish him many successful years to come!
Written by: Brady Dohrmann