Mazda Scholarship Driver: John Dean

John Dean II is a lifelong racer, father, and owner of Sick Sideways. In October 2015, he added Mazda Motorsports scholarship driver to the list.Have you considered the attributes that make you a great driver? Dean has many, but as we have gotten to know him, we can hone in on: very analytical; advanced knowledge of vehicle dynamics; and passion for motorsports. These attributes have led to his success as a driver and coach.Dean is known for his ability to drive any car and immediately push it to its limits – key for being a test driver, a driver coach, and a top-tier professional driver. As a young child, Dean wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and drive race cars. In 1990, he began racing go karts on local dirt ovals in Florida, realizing his love for racing. In 1998 his sports car racing career began with his first race car, a BMW, running track day events. Shortly thereafter, he began club racing. In 2003 and 2004, Dean took back-to-back regional championships in an ITA prepared BMW in SCCA. He later went on to instruct with Skip Barber Racing School, and became an exhibition drifter and test driver.