Racing Bio

OVERVIEW

I am an amateur club racer who focuses on racing in vintage events. My racing history started when my father and I attended “vintage” races at Road America when I was an early teenager which ignited a passion for classic cars, racing, and the associated comradery. I started auto-crossing in high school and then participated in high-speed drivers’ education events before obtaining my amateur racing license in 2000. Since that time, I have raced in different classes including Spec Miata (when there were only a handful of these cars), Improved Touring S, and C Production using a variety of race prepared cars.

My racing passion is focused on vintage cars and events. I transitioned from regional racing events sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America to vintage racing events sanctioned by the Vintage Sports Car Drivers Association (VSCDA) and Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) in 2006. Since that time, I have built and raced a Datsun 240Z and an Austin Healey 3000 and I have raced in over 50 vintage events.

My professional life and racing interests are intertwined significantly. Professionally, I conduct research, education, and outreach activities at the largest University-based transportation research agency in the United States. The goal of this work is simple…to help drivers drive more safely (see www.mpmanser.com). Within racing, I practice and advocate for safe and respectful driving.

My racing goals are clear…continue to practice and advocate for safe and enjoyable racing here in the United States and abroad.

Photo Credit: Jessica Johnk

RACING PHILOSOPHY

My overriding philosophy is that safety is of paramount importance, and this is a direct byproduct of proper preparation of car, environment, and driver and then safe and respectful driving. It is when this philosophy drives our actions, we are rewarded with the excitement that racing offers, we model/encourage appropriate behaviors for new and seasoned drivers alike, and we create the foundation for building comradery.

EXPERIENCE OVERVIEW

YearsOrganizations, Groups, Cars
2021 – present  Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA)
– Vintage Production (Group 3), D Production, Austin Healey 3000

Vintage Sports Car Drivers Association (VSCDA)
– Vintage Production (Group 2), Class A, Austin Healey 3000
2006 – 2013  Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA)
– Historic Production (Group 8), C Production, Datsun 240Z

Vintage Sports Car Drivers Association (VSCDA)
– Historic Production GTU (Group 8), C Production, Datsun 240Z
2001 – 2008Sports Car Club of America (SCCA)
– Spec Miata (SM), Mazda Miata
– Improved Touring S (ITS), Datsun 240Z
2000 – 2003  Texas World Speedway
– High Performance Driving Course Instructor, Groups A – D
2000Bob Bondurant School of High-Performance Driving School
– Grand Prix Road Racing Course (SCCA amateur racing license course)
1998 – 2002  Texas World Speedway
– High Performance Driving Courses student, Groups A – D progression, Mazda Miata

LICENSURE HISTORY

2021 – PresentSportscar Vintage Racing Association
2000 – 2014Sports Car Club of America

EDUCATION  

1997Doctorate of Philosophy: Kinesiology/Human Factors,
University of Minnesota
1992Masters of Science: Kinesiology/Human Motor Learning and Control,
Ball State University 
1990Bachelor of Science: Kinesiology,
University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point
Photo Credit: Jessica Johnk

RACING HISTORY

2024

VSCDA Elkhart Lake Vintage Festival, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, September 16-18

Race 1 – PIC 3 (5 overall) | Qualified 6 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:53:880

Race 2 – PIC 3 (6 overall) | Qualified 6 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:48:667

Weather Tech International Challenge, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, July 12-14

Race 1 – PIC 5 (37 overall) | Qualified 12 | Best Lap 4 | Best Time 3:36:073

Race 2 – DNS | Qualified 37

SVRA Speed Tour, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, May 17-19

Race 1 – DNS | Qualified 9

Race 2 – DNS | Qualified 10

Photo Credit: Jessica Johnk. Center: Jack Rawles, Left: Scott McQueen; Right: M. Manser

2023

SVRA Speed Tour, Circuit of the Americas, Austin, TX, November 3-5

Race 1 – PIC 4 (18 overall) | Qualified 15 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:55:332

Race 2 – PIC 3 (12 overall) | Qualified 18 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:51:166

Weather Tech International Challenge, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, July 14-16

Race 1 – PIC Ukn (10 overall) | Qualified 10 | Best Lap 4 | Best Time 2:47:296

Race 2 – PIC Ukn (10 overall) | Qualified 9 | Best Lap 3 | Best Time 2:48:046

SVRA Speed Tour, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, May 19-21

Race 1 – PIC 6 (12 overall) | Qualified 15 | Best Lap 4 | Best Time 2:49:467

Race 2 – DNS | Qualified 12

Photo Credit: M. Manser

2022

VSCDA Elkhart Lake Vintage Festival, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, September 16-18

Race 1 – PIC 3 (11 overall) | Qualified 11 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:52:384

Race 2 – DNS  | Qualified 11

Race 3 – PIC 3 (7 overall) | Qualified 7 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:52:344

Weather Tech International Challenge, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, July 16-18

Race 1 – PIC 11 (17 overall) | Qualified 16 | Best Lap 4 | Best Time 2:58:184

Race 2 – PIC 10 (22 overall) | Qualified Ukn | Best Lap 5 | Best Time 2:51:701

SVRA Speed Tour, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, May 20-22

Race 1 – PIC 2 (12 overall) | Qualified 13 | Best Lap 4 | Best Time 2:52:903

Race 2 – Raced, Unknown results, Information lost

Photo Credit: Jessica Johnk

2021

SVRA Speed Tour, Circuit of the Americas, Austin, TX, November 5-7

Race 1 – PIC 4 (19 overall) | Qualified 24 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:56:519

Race 2 – PIC 5 (21 overall) | Qualified Ukn | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 3:05:499

Race 3 – PIC 5 (18 overall) | Qualified Ukn | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:59:895

Photo Credit: Jessica Johnk

2013

SVRA Speed Tour, Circuit of the Americas, Austin, TX, October 25-27

Race 1 – PIC 12 (42 overall) | Qualified Ukn | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:57:445

Race 2 – Raced, Unknown results, Information lost

VSCDA Elkhart Lake Vintage Festival, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, September 6-8

Race 1 – PIC 5 (20 overall) | Qualified Ukn | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:55:340

Race 2 – PIC 4 (19 overall) | Qualified 18 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:52:648

Race 3 – PIC 2 (7 overall) | Qualified Ukn | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:52:176

The Hawk, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, July 18-21

Race 1 – PIC 5 (44 overall) | Qualified 42 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:55:432

Race 2 – Raced, Unknown results, Information lost

SVRA Spring Vintage Festival, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, May 17-19

Race 1 – PIC 4 (19 overall) | Qualified Ukn | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:51:571

Race 2 – Raced, Unknown results, Information lost

Photo Credit: Jessica Johnk

2012

VSCDA Elkhart Lake Vintage Festival, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, September 8-10

Race 1 – DNS | Qualified 20

Race 2 – PIC 3 (22 overall) | Qualified Ukn | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:50:393

Race 3 – PIC 1 (15 overall) | Qualified Ukn | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:50:156

The Hawk, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, July 13-15

Race 1 – PIC 6 (39 overall) | Qualified Ukn | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:52:130

Race 2 – PIC 4 (34 overall) | Qualified Ukn | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:53:001

SVRA Vintage GT Challenge, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, May 18-20

Race 1 – PIC 5 (16 overall) | Qualified 19 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:50:526

Race 2 – Raced, Unknown results, Information lost

Photo Credit: Jessica Johnk

2011

VSCDA Elkhart Lake Vintage Festival, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, September 9-11

Race 1 – PIC 6 (33 overall) | Qualified Ukn | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:54:831

Race 2 – PIC 6 (25 overall) | Qualified 33 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:49:859

Race 3 – PIC 4 (28 overall) | Qualified 31 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:53:338

Kohler International Challenge, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, July 15-17

Race 1 – PIC 8 (37 overall) | Qualified 49 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:55:905

Race 2 – Unknown, Information lost

SVRA Vintage GT Challenge, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, May 13-15

Race 1 – PIC 3 (5 overall) | Qualified 8 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:58:042

Race 2 – PIC 3 (9 overall) | Qualified Ukn | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:52:841

Photo Credit: Jessica Johnk

2010

VSCDA Elkhart Lake Vintage Festival, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, September 10-12

Race 1 – PIC 6 (16 overall) | Qualified Ukn | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:53:797

Race 2 – PIC 7 (16 overall) | Qualified 16 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:58:702

Race 3 – PIC 4 (38 overall) | Qualified 22 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:58:672

2009

VSCDA Elkhart Lake Vintage Festival, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, September 11-13

Race 1 – PIC 5 (20 overall) | Qualified 22 | Best Lap 7 | Best Time 2:54:926

Race 2 – PIC 5 (21 overall) | Qualified 20 | Best Lap 7 | Best Time 2:54:253

Kohler International Challenge, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, July 17-19

Race 1 – PIC 8 (34 overall) | Qualified 34 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:54:291

Race 2 – PIC 6 (28 overall) | Qualified 34 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:51:606

SVRA Vintage GT Challenge, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, May 15-17

Race 1 – PIC 4 (14 overall) | Qualified 13 | Best Lap 5 | Best Time 2:56:826

Race 2 – PIC 5 (13 overall) | Qualified 14 | Best Lap 6 | Best Time 2:53:351

Photo Credit: Jessica Johnk

2008

SCCA Fall Sprints, Blackhawk Farms, Beloit, WI October 18-19

Race 1 – PIC 2 (17 overall) | Qualified Ukn | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 1:26:945

Race 2 – PIC 2 (17 overall) | Qualified Ukn | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 1:27:966

Kohler International Challenge, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, July 18-20

Race 1 – PIC 11 (42 overall) | Qualified 49 | Best Lap 12 | Best Time 2:57:311

Race 2 – PIC 10 (39 overall) | Qualified 46 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:57:568

SCCA Bonneau Double Regional, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, May 31-June 1

Race 1 – PIC 3 (15 overall) | Qualified 13 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:54:778

Race 2 – PIC 3 (15 overall) | Qualified 15 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:55:647

2007

SCCA Fall Sprints, Blackhawk Farms, Beloit, WI October 27-28

Race 1 – Raced, Unknown results, Information lost

Race 2 – PIC 1 (9 overall) | Qualified Ukn | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 1:27:143

VSCDA Elkhart Lake Vintage Festival, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, September 14-16

Race 1 – PIC 4 (21 overall) | Qualified Ukn | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:56:086

Race 2 – PIC Ukn (6th overall) | Qualified Ukn | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:56:664

Kohler International Challenge, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, July 20-22

Race 1 – PIC 8 (32 overall) | Qualified 46 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:56:349

Race 2 – PIC 9 (35 overall) | Qualified 32 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:55:981

SCCA Bonneau Double Regional, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, June 16-17

Race 1 – PIC 5 (30 overall) | Qualified 32 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 3:31:087

Race 2 – PIC 4 (24 overall) | Qualified 24 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 3:01:467

2006

Elkhart Lake Vintage Festival, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, September 15-17

Race 1 – PIC 10 (29 overall) | Qualified 28 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 3:01:867

Race 2 – PIC 10 (23 overall) | Qualified 28 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:58:002

Kohler International Challenge, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, July 14-20

Race 1 – PIC 12 (45 overall) | Qualified 45 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 3:02:229

Race 2 – PIC 13rd (35 overall) | Qualified 45 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:57:367

2005

SCCA Kettle Moraine Road Races, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, August 13-14

Race 1 – PIC Ukn (Ukn overall) | Qualified 30 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time Ukn

Race 2 – PIC Ukn (Ukn overall) | Qualified 22 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time Ukn

2004

SCCA Texas Shoot Out, Texas World Speedway, College Station, TX, November 20-21

Race 1 – Raced, Unknown results, Information lost

Race 2 – Raced, Unknown results, Information lost (6 hour enduro)

2003

SCCA Texas Shoot Out, Texas World Speedway, College Station, TX, November 22-23

Race 1 – PIC 3 (14 overall) | Qualified 5 | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:30:447

Race 2 – Raced, Unknown results, Information lost (6 hour enduro, co-drivers Reinhart, Manser, VanTassel)

2002

SCCA Texas Shoot Out, Texas World Speedway, College Station, TX, November 23-24

Race 1 – PIC 11 (22 overall) | Qualified 20 | Best Lap 12 | Best Time 2:10:618

Race 2 – PIC 5 (18 overall) | Qualified Ukn | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 2:03:179 (6 hour enduro, co-drivers Reinhart, Riding, Manser, VanTassel)

2001

SCCA Abilene Airport Rade, Abilene, TX, May 6-8

Race 1 – PIC 7th (21st overall) | Qualified 28th | Best Lap 10 | Best Time 1:25:669

Race 2 – PIC 7th (21st overall) | Qualified 31st | Best Lap Ukn | Best Time 1:23:046

SCCA Bluebonnet Sprints, Texas World Speedway, College Station, TX, April 8

Race 1 – PIC 6th (28th overall) | Qualified 31st | Best Lap 5 | Best Time 1:29:391

Race 2 – Raced, Unknown results, Information lost