"Even with a billion-dollar car, he’d be stuck in the slow lane."

TORRANCE—Carlos Jimenez, an amateur racer with big dreams but questionable driving skills, has regretted not building his race car “the right way” from the start. Now, he often wonders how fast he’d be if he had invested in quality parts and expert tuning, completely ignoring the fact that, even with a better car, he likely wouldn’t be much faster—and actually would be slower.

“If I’d had those $10,000 coilovers, I’d be unstoppable,” Carlos declared. “I really thought going budget was a good move, but now I realize: quality parts are everything.”

Friends, family, and fellow racers know the truth that Carlos seems blissfully unaware of: His driving sucks. “I love the guy, but his driving’s the issue,” laughs Marvin James, a track buddy. “He takes corners like he’s sightseeing. Even with a billion-dollar car, he’d be stuck in the slow lane.”

Carlos spends hours combing through forums, meticulously planning a hypothetical “perfect” setup. Yet, while others see him as stuck in fantasy, he’s convinced greatness is just one part away. “I told him he should invest in more seat time or quit,” says John Oren, a fellow racer. “Parts can only do so much and definitely not THAT much.”


For Carlos, the dream of winning continues—one upgraded part at a time—while remaining oblivious to the skill he needs to sharpen most.