Brett Lengel
June, 2009
NASA Profiles: Brett Lengel
Vital Stats
Hometown: Tempe, AZ
Job: Driver Training for Nissan NA
Run Group: Time Trial, TTD Class #6
Vehicle: 1992 Nissan 300ZX, 2005 Nissan 350Z
Gives Point-Bys to TTC drivers: Absolutely
Last month in the Who’s Who column, everyone briefly experienced the diversity and dedication people have to motorsports and how that passion doesn’t just start and stop at the track. For this month, the word “passion”, can easily be replaced with “obsession”, as this month’s guinea pig and TTD competitor Brett Lengel, has just a few. I know what you are all thinking, “I’m obsessed with stuff too, you know!” While I’m sure you are, Brett’s hobbies and passions, including his stories of motorsports are diverse, interesting and deserving of this spotlight for the next 30 days. Let’s spend a few minutes getting to know Brett!
After driving one of his first cars–a 1966 Chevy Impala with a 396–last in a string of 60’s and 70’s muscle cars, Brett first saw the light in early 80’s when he got a chance to go canyon carving in his uncle’s 1972 Datsun 240Z. That experience according to Brett, put the automotive phrase “good handling” into perspective and opened the door for a plethora of future well-handling vehicles, a career path, and a passion for driving with the National Autosports Association. Shortly after that first test-drive, Brett purchased the ’71 240Z from his uncle, drove it for a while, sold it, then bought it back and he still owns it today. “It’s been on jackstands for a bit.. you know, six years. Ok, seven. Now that I think of it, it’s probably closer to eight.” Whatever the year count is on the original 240Z, Brett has since acquired a fleet of Nissan daily drivers for himself, his wife and their son, including Brett’s “backup track car” 2005 Nissan 350Z and his most prominent vehicle, a 1992 Nissan 300ZX which he uses currently for NASA Time Trial competition.
Brett's motorsport interests aren't limited to TT!
Aside from driving on the track, Brett spends his weekdays working for Nissan Research and Development at their proving grounds, where he helps engineers with driver training, driver development and driver safety training. Previous to his six years at Nissan, he worked at the General Motors proving grounds in Mesa for eight years doing vehicle testing in addition to the driver training and safety program duties. Brett says his favorite parts of driving with the NASA organization are the learning experiences and development that come from driving on track, which are also lessons he can carry into his work everyday at Nissan.
Most of Brett’s real obsessions come away from the track… far away from the track. While I had some clue, I wasn’t aware of the diversity and complex world that existed courtesy of the millions of barrels of rum floating around, and the cult-following and enthusiasts that partake in various rum-related activities. “There are over 300 different types of rum! 50 of which, I own..” During our conversation, Brett briefed me on some very essential facts about rum:
- Worst Rum ever: Bacardi. “It doesn’t even taste like real rum”
- Proper aging time: Longer the better, but at least four years
- Favorite Type of Rum: 15-year El Dorado
- Best local place to taste rum: Trader Vic’s in Scottsdale
- Best Mixed Rum drink: Mango, Pineapple & Guava juice + Rum. Tasty
As always, the passion for rum-tasting and collecting goes further than an “unsober” night out with friends and family. Pirates are the first anachronistic character most people think of when they imagine vintage barrels of rum, and Brett often enjoys taking that thought to the next level through participating in pirate parties, conventions and get-togethers around Phoenix and the USA, including a recent trip to New Orleans for five days of rum and walking the plank. “Seriously, what’s could be more entertaining than dressing up like a pirate, drinking rum and walking around in New Orleans??”
Random Facts
Most recent movie: Star Trek, of course
Favorite Racetrack: Arroyo Seco Raceway
Guilty Pleasure: Online gaming
Catherine Zeta Jones vs. Elizabeth Hurley: Catherine.. everytime
Girliest Drink Ever: Pina Coloda
Bringing Rum to the next PIR Social? Yeah right
When not swordfighting (literally, with huge metal swords) with other pirates, Brett and his wife are active participants in the Society for Creative Anachronism, which is a worldwide organization that caters people who wish to recreate civilizations that are out of our current time frame. The Estrella War, the nation’s second-largest gathering of Medieval recreationists, is a popular destination for the Lengel family as they dress up, break out with their jousting weapons and even go so far as to host SCA members from foreign countries wishing to participate in the large gatherings.
Whether it’s swinging large, sharp metal objects through the air, scouring the oceans for floating barrels of rum or upgrading one of his many Z cars to make it faster, the dedication to his various hobbies, or should we just get to the point and call them “obsessions”, indicates that Brett Lengel will be a member of the NASA family for some time to come. Having participated with NASA in Arizona and California, including a recent NASA event at Laguna Seca, his dedication to the automotive lifestyle and NASA shows with his current season-standings lead in the Time Trial TTD class. Going for a season jacket, ie. a first place title, it is ensured that Brett will be around in the paddock or on track, so be sure to say hello to Brett next time you see him!
