As a business owner, Julieann Billings-Riordan is used to the typical things successful business owners do, setting goals, training to learn new skills, building relationships and engaging in friendly competition.
But for the past two years, Billings-Riordan, owner of JABR Marketing Solutions, has also been putting those skills to good use and succeeding somewhere else: in the world of autocross.
On select Sunday and Saturday afternoons, you will find her and other members of the San Diego Region Porsche Club of America (SDRPCA) in the parking lot of Qualcomm Stadium, maneuvering through curvy courses set out in orange traffic cones. It's a passion that started when she and her husband bought their dream car, a Porsche 911, and a friend told them they had just become owners of a car that needed to be raced.
She and her husband took a performance driving school to learn how to drive their car on the streets and in an autocross course. Soon after receiving their certificates, they started attending autocross races at Qualcomm stadium regularly. She and her husband were Rookies of the Year in 2013, and Billings-Riordan placed first in her class.
Billings-Riordan is now an active member of the SDRPCA. She has developed many relationships at the track and enjoys constantly learning new driving skills and bettering her times.
"Years ago, if you had told me that I would be running my own business and racing autocross, I would have said no way, not in a million years," Billings-Riordan said. "But now autocross, like working out and spending time with family and friends, helps with my work/life balance. This is an especially good life balance outlet because my husband also participates (he is an instructor) and this is something we can do together at the end of the workweek."
Billings-Riordan has also introduced at least two people to the club, Keith and Marc Larochelle of Productive Computing, her fellow members in the Chamber's Pathways to Success program. The brothers started racing their Lotus Evoras at the track (the club had a class for non-Porsches) and Marc recently purchased a Mazda after learning to drive stick shift.
"I've always been competitive and this sport is all about that," said Marc Larochelle. "In addition, I wanted a social gathering where I could meet other business owners and I never really played golf. This sport is like golf in some ways but with a lot more adrenaline."
Both he and Billings-Riordan say racing has positively impacted their business.
"As brothers, when Keith and I race together (and against each other) it brings additional attention and interest to us from others in the group as well as from other business people we meet," Larochelle said. "I think people find it easier to remember us because we race cars."
Billings-Riordan added that the experience and confidence she had gained learning how to race has helped in her business, adding that the lessons she has learned from racing also apply to her business.
"In racing (and in business) your goal is to be in full control," she said. "In order to be in full control, one has to listen and learn from the experts who guide us. You also have to surround yourself with quality folks, not those who are in a rush or cut corners, or you'll spin out. Those lessons apply in the business world as well."
But for the past two years, Billings-Riordan, owner of JABR Marketing Solutions, has also been putting those skills to good use and succeeding somewhere else: in the world of autocross.
On select Sunday and Saturday afternoons, you will find her and other members of the San Diego Region Porsche Club of America (SDRPCA) in the parking lot of Qualcomm Stadium, maneuvering through curvy courses set out in orange traffic cones. It's a passion that started when she and her husband bought their dream car, a Porsche 911, and a friend told them they had just become owners of a car that needed to be raced.
She and her husband took a performance driving school to learn how to drive their car on the streets and in an autocross course. Soon after receiving their certificates, they started attending autocross races at Qualcomm stadium regularly. She and her husband were Rookies of the Year in 2013, and Billings-Riordan placed first in her class.
Billings-Riordan is now an active member of the SDRPCA. She has developed many relationships at the track and enjoys constantly learning new driving skills and bettering her times.
"Years ago, if you had told me that I would be running my own business and racing autocross, I would have said no way, not in a million years," Billings-Riordan said. "But now autocross, like working out and spending time with family and friends, helps with my work/life balance. This is an especially good life balance outlet because my husband also participates (he is an instructor) and this is something we can do together at the end of the workweek."
Billings-Riordan has also introduced at least two people to the club, Keith and Marc Larochelle of Productive Computing, her fellow members in the Chamber's Pathways to Success program. The brothers started racing their Lotus Evoras at the track (the club had a class for non-Porsches) and Marc recently purchased a Mazda after learning to drive stick shift.
"I've always been competitive and this sport is all about that," said Marc Larochelle. "In addition, I wanted a social gathering where I could meet other business owners and I never really played golf. This sport is like golf in some ways but with a lot more adrenaline."
Both he and Billings-Riordan say racing has positively impacted their business.
"As brothers, when Keith and I race together (and against each other) it brings additional attention and interest to us from others in the group as well as from other business people we meet," Larochelle said. "I think people find it easier to remember us because we race cars."
Billings-Riordan added that the experience and confidence she had gained learning how to race has helped in her business, adding that the lessons she has learned from racing also apply to her business.
"In racing (and in business) your goal is to be in full control," she said. "In order to be in full control, one has to listen and learn from the experts who guide us. You also have to surround yourself with quality folks, not those who are in a rush or cut corners, or you'll spin out. Those lessons apply in the business world as well."