Steve Aderholt, long time friend of Rolex Grand-Am driver Memo Gidley,
is back as an associate sponsor of the #77 McDonalds/Doran Racing
Daytona Prototype during this weekend’s VIR Bosch 250 race.
Steve Aderholt, long time friend of Rolex Grand-Am driver Memo Gidley, is back as an associate sponsor of the #77 McDonalds/Doran Racing Daytona Prototype during this weekend’s VIR Bosch 250 race.
Aderholt’s story is a familiar one among young businessmen who take up racing. Steve met Memo, who was then working as a mechanic, at the Jim Russell School at Laguna Seca Raceway. Steve was a frontrunner himself in Formula Russell Mazda Series, until his involvement in both his racing and his company grew to the point that one or the other had to be put on hold. Aderholt chose to focus on developing his business as a contractor working on major office buildings and casinos in Las Vegas, including the Aladdin, Paris, Venetian and the new Trump Tower to name a few.
Then, a few years ago, Steve made a random phone call to Memo’s mother looking for Memo, and the two re-connected. "It was one of those out of the blue phone calls that you get from a friend that then makes you wonder why you had ever lost touch with them," said Gidley. "Now we do a lot together: drive cars, sail fast catamarans, go jet skiing, or just hang out. He’s become a great friend."
It has only been the last few years since he re-connected with Memo that Steve has really re-connected with the sport that he loves so much. Taking advice from Memo, Steve jump-started his driving by getting back into karts. Now the two have spent numerous days pounding around Northern California’s go kart tracks. Then last year, Steve bought a Radical Sports Racer, which he keeps at the Spring Mountain Racetrack in Nevada.
The two now travel to the racetrack a couple of times a month and spend the days driving fast and having fun. "Memo and I have really had a lot of fun with racing and driving the last few years," said Steve. "I have a number of aspirations in racing, some of which are to keep getting faster myself, and doing some races myself this year in my Sports Racer before moving up to something faster next year."
Steve also has other aspirations in racing. "I want to help take Memo to the Indy 500 next year and maybe someday be part owner of a Grand-Am team. I have never seen a driver that is as dedicated and talented as Memo and I want to help him achieve his goals. I saw Memo in the beginning working as a mechanic in the race shop; it is really an inspiration as to how he fought his way to the top and to get to where he is today."
Check out Memo Gidley’s personal sponsors: Muscle Milk and other Cytosport workout products and supplements at www.cytosport.com, Aderholt Specialty at www.aderholt.com, Trackmagic Karts at www.trackmagic.com, Gatorz precision eyewear at www.gatorz.com , Builders Sound manufacturer of high performance contractor grade and true surround sound architectural audio products at www.builderssound.com, Sean Thomas Automotive at Infineon Raceway, MG Secrets of speed karting books at www.mgsecretsofspeed.com