By alley - Oct 12, 2014, 10:03 PM ET

SVRA: Coached for success

A recurrent theme at the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association National Championship races at the Circuit of The Americas this weekend was the cross-pollination between the amateur drivers of the series and professionals bringing their skills to assistance. A great example is the partnership between Group 8 Sedan driver Bill Able and 1996 Indianapolis 500 starter Scott Harrington, who also earned the Indy Racing League's rookie-of-the-year honors in 1999.

Harrington applies the knowledge he acquired from the motorsport school of hard knocks extending back over 30 years. He started on two wheels to become a consistent winner in AMA Motocross and Supercross. He adapted to racing cars quite nicely as a regular winner in Formula Atlantic and winning the 1992 SCCA Shelby Can-Am series championship. He also competed at America's premiere sports car races – the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring.

Since retiring from professional driving Harrington recognized a market opportunity coaching young aspiring professional drivers and gentleman amateurs ticking off their bucket lists. He has been attending SVRA race meets for years and even returning to driving on occasion. For the 2014 COTA weekend he was at the wheel of client Bill Able's Dodge-powered Shelby Can-Am racer identical to the one he drove in the early 90's.

Harrington finds serious racers – amateurs or those with professional goals – readily recognize the need for a coach. He believes the decision to use a coach's services quickly pays off.

"Michael Jordan had a coach," Harrington says pointedly. "People like Bill come here and spend a lot of money. It's safe to say they not only want to win but also they want to stay out of trouble. I tell people they can hire me or pay big time to fix a wadded-up racecar."

Bill Able agrees. He knows the consequences of accidents are not always about wrecking equipment. Bill first met Scott as teens racing motocross, a sport he pursued until a career-ending injury crushed his spine and nearly paralyzed his legs in 1994.

It was not until 2009 that Bill caught the bug to race again. When friend Rob Davenport was looking to sell father Dick's SCCA National Championship-winning Alfa his passion was re-ignited. With steel rods and pins still holding his vertebrae together Bill did what a lot of vintage racers do. He turned to professional assistance to help him tackle the challenge.

That's where Scott Harrington's services played a role. Combined with additional assistance from long-time friend Mark Gibbs who crewed for Harrington during his IRL rookie-of-the-year run and consulting from professional mechanic Larry Nash Able feels like he has the right team to keep him safe and do the job right.

Consider this: there is no better evidence than results. On Sunday afternoon Bill Able won the Group 8 Sedan national championship and brought home a Bell Helmet Trophy. Apparently it pays to hire a coach.

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