who is team pada?

 Over 10 years in grassroots motorsports competing and instructing with various driving schools. Over 20 years in martial arts instruction with an educational background in teaching and psychology.

Accomplishments: 4 Series Championships, 10 Class Championships in Auto Slalom and 9 podiums

Competes In: PITL Auto Slalom Series, Ontario Time Attack, CSCS Time Attack

Claim to Fame: Ability to set hot laps in any car, often running them completely out of fuel in the process

Drives: 2019 Chevy Camaro ZL1 1LE

Over 7 years of grassroots motorsports experience competing in Auto Slalom and lapping. Representing the business side of PADA, Jay has over 20 years of professional business experience in the Technology Industry.

Accomplishments: 2018 Runner Up in Push It To The Limit C Mod Class, 2020 Ontario Time Attack SGT1 Class Winner (TMP) and SGT2 Runner Up (DDT) 

Competes In: PITL Auto Slalom Series, Ontario Time Attack

Claim to Fame: Using a "Moneypult" in the pursuit of better lap times

Drives: 2016 Porsche Cayman GT4, 2020 Honda Civic Type R

 With a passion for cars that started at a young age, Amanda has participated in grassroots motorsports for over 6 years. She also has a keen eye and creative flair which she puts to good use as our resident photographer.

Competes In: PITL Auto Slalom Series

Claim to Fame: Occasionally deploying the "Hammer" to move people out of the way during karting

Drives: 2020 Toyota GR Supra 

Known locally as simply the Auto Slalom driving god, Val has been slinging cars around for over 10 years. After a brief stint of time attack, he graduated from the AISA Race Academy and now enjoys endurance road races with ChumpCar Canada.

Accomplishments: 3 time PITL Auto Slalom Series Champion, Regional Auto Slalom Champion

Competes In: CASC-OR/PITL Auto Slalom Series, ChumpCar Canada

Claim to Fame: Put simply, he is the Auto Slalom Driving God and the "Sultan of Sideways"

Drives: 1991 Mazda Miata, 1998 BMW M3, 1991 Honda Civic

 From go-karting, autocross schools, various track day schools and eventually cracking into the echelons of Time Attack, Kevin has been actively participating in the grassroots motorsports for over 10 years. If he's not promoting, teaching or driving with his fellow PADA instructors, he can usually be found at the Ontario Time Attack Chief Timer's seat at one of the four tracks around the GTA.

Accomplishments: 2018: RaceOntario Outstanding Service as a Solo Official, 9th overall, 2nd overall GT3 class, Chief Timer with OTA Time Attack

Competes In: PITL Auto Slalom Series, Ontario Time Attack, ChumpCar Canada

Claim to Fame: Top 10 finisher in OTA in a mostly stock vehicle.

Drives: 2021 Subaru BRZ

 Part mechanical engineer and part data junkie, Joe brings over 5+ years of performance driving experience. As the resident data expert on the team, Joe is a big believer in progressive improvements backed by data. 

Competes In: PITL Auto Slalom Series, Ontario Time Attack, Twin Lakes Motor Club Auto Slalom

Claim to Fame: Modding a slow car to be slower every year

Drives: 2013 Subaru BRZ

 Ginger started performance driving after buying her dream car. Soon after she participated in only one auto slalom and was hooked. She has been competing in the Push it to the Limit series and driving in open lapping session with various groups for over 6 years.  Having competed and coached in sports such as fencing and swimming, Ginger’s emphasis in performance driving is on technique and practice.

​Competes In: PITL Auto Slalom Series

Claim to Fame: When Ginger is at the track, Yummy bake goods are usually not far behind

Drives: 2020 Porsche Cayman GT4

 Ian started his performance driving career in 2009 by joining the Push It To The Limit auto slalom series. Soon after he progressed to the track as a way to develop new skills and improve his ability to handle a car at higher speeds. Ian brings over 25 years of sports coaching experience. Professionally, Ian has an adult education certificate and has worked as an instructional designer and facilitator.

Accomplishments: 4 PITL Auto Slalom class championships and twice championship runner-up 

Competes In: PITL Auto Slalom Series

Claim to Fame: Did something no one else did in 2018, beat Val in the same car at Auto Slalom

Drives: 2020 Porsche Cayman GT4

 With 10 years grassroots motorsports experience, Adam has competed in university FSAE series, Auto Slalom, Karting and lapping events all over Ontario. 8 years of experience working as a snowboard instructor allows Adam to maintain a positive atmosphere for all. 

Accomplishments: Ontario Regional Autocross Series - 2nd overall 2017, Twin Lakes Motorclub - 1st overall STX 2017, Formula SAE - Top 15 in global competition 2013 

Competes In: Ontario Regional Auto Cross Series, Twin Lakes Motor Club

Claim to Fame: Has a side hustle as a bearded woodworker 

Drives: 2013 Subaru BRZ

 With more than 13 years in the motorsports world between Perú and Canada, Daniel has participated in Go Karts, Open lapping, Time Attack and Autocross events. As a lead Class A Mechanic at a well known Auto mechanic franchise, Daniel is constantly teaching his crew of apprentices on a daily basis.

Accomplishments: 2017 B Mod Runner up at PITL Series, 2018 2nd place at Ontario Time Attack Novice Championship, 2018 T3 2nd place at Ontario Time Attack Series.

Competes In: PITL Auto Slalom Series, Ontario Time Attack

Claim to Fame: Lets see how many cars he can beat with his stock underpowered Toyota Echo

Drives: 2005 Toyota Echo

 JT started out by participating at local track days with Team PADA and eventually graduated from the Intro to Performance Driving course. That was 4 years ago and he has quickly progressed and built his experience through auto slalom and open lapping days. He has been recently promoted to a Senior instructor after a full year as an instructor in training. 

Competes In: PITL Auto Slalom Series

Claim to Fame: Some say the hard top of his car stays on more than his shirt during the summer

Drives: 2018 Chevy Camaro ZL1 1LE, 2020 Hyundai Veloster N

Will has been teaching various hobbies since he was a teenager: Chess, martial arts, music, and most recently performance driving. Teaching is something he's always loved doing, as it lets him get other people passionate about his favorite things. Will has most recently been promoted to a Senior Instructor after a year as an instructor in training. He is now putting that knowledge to good use training the University of Guelph's Formula SAE team drivers..

Accomplishments: WOSCA Novice Champion 2017, Founded the driver development program for Gryphon Racing

Competes In: PITL Auto Slalom Series, WOSCA Auto Slalom 

Claim to Fame: Wearing his bright blue PADA hat with pride … EVERYWHERE!

Drives: 2002 Honda S2000

 John has over 25 years of race experience from karting, open wheel, time attack and autocross, John has learned his craft by competing in many different forms of motor sports.  His diverse background has built a knowledge base which is adaptable to whichever motor sport option you choose. 

Accomplishments: 1999 Graduate of the Jim Russel Racing School , 2000 Jim Russel FF2000 Champion, 2002 3rd in rookie points Quebec FF1600 , 2018 PITL Autocross C-Mod Champion, 2010 & 2013 CSCS Time Attack Street FWD Champion,

2010 SPDA ATTS Champion

Competes In:  PITL Auto Slalom Series, CSCS Time Attack

Claim to Fame: Nobody ever remembers the silver medalist. Go for the win or throw it in the weeds. 

Drives:  1991 Miata Turbo

Filisity started her performance driving career 5 years ago by taking the PADA Intro to Performance driving course. Ever since then, she has been hooked competing in auto slalom, go karting and a number of other grassroots motorsports. As one of our first graduates of the PADA Instructor Training program, Filisity brings a youthful enthusiasm and energy to the team.

 Competes In: PITL Auto Slalom Series

Drives:  2019 Chevy Camaro ZL1 1LE 

Bryan's passion started

6-7 years ago drag racing at Cayuga with his MK5 GTI, becoming a regular at the Friday night test and tune. From there the PITL Auto Slalom series was introduced to him by a co-worker and it quickly turned into his new passion.  PITL is where he got the nickname "Haldex Killer" for making my AWD System on my car commit suicide :) Bryan has rapidly expanded his experience through lapping days and working with the PADA team the last 3 years to constantly refine his craft. 

Accomplishments: Tied for 1st place in C-Mod in the PITL Auto Slalom Series 

Competes In: PITL Auto Slalom Series

Drives: MK7 VW Golf R

Desiree has always had an interest in motorsports. In 2014, she took it to the next level by competing in autocross and participating in open lapping. She was featured in the Hyundai Canada Veloster N Motorsports Experience at CTMP and autocross. Her future plans are to compete in regional autocross and time attack events in southern Ontario. She is a strong advocate for involving women in motorsport and helping others enjoy driving their car fast, but safely. She is patient, friendly and willing to share her experience in motorsport with others.    

Accomplishments: Finished 1st (PAX) at OMSC autocross event

Competes In: Push it to the Limit Auto Slalom Series, Oshawa Motor Sport Club Autocross  

Claim to Fame: The helmet matches the car.     

Drives: 2019 VW Golf R 

Christina has been participating in various motorsports for over 10 years.  She is an accomplished motorcycle track rider with race experience in the Southern Ontario Association of Racers and more recently road course driving and auto slalom. She took the Intro To Performance Driving course with PADA in 2017 and fell in love.  When she isn’t driving her car or riding her motorcycle she is driving her 2018 Volvo VNL all over North America. She now teaches and helps others get excited about all things motorsports.     

Competes in: Push It To The Limit Auto Slalom Series 

Drives: 2013 Subaru BRZ

G has 20 years of motorsports experience and has competed in Auto Slalom, Time Attack, and Ice Racing. He has taken many advanced driver training and racing courses over the years in AWD, FWD and RWD cars. He has 19 years and over 300 days of experience instructing advanced collision avoidance, track, auto slalom and winter car control school on an ice circuit.    

Accomplishments:  3rd place overall in the 2005 Canadian SoloSprint (Time Attack) Championships.   

Claim to Fame:  Catching up to a Corvette Z06 on a race track during a Time Attack competition while driving a 76 HP Honda Insight hybrid (14 year old video still on YouTube).   

Drives: 2018 Bolt EV, and many other friends’ cars.