Player Magazine
by Marilyn DeMartini
A gleaming black Bentley Continental GT sits cattycorner to a sleek, silver Mercedes CLS55 AMG. Cathedral doors reach skyward from the driveway of this Mediterranean mansion, just blocks from Ft. Lauderdale Beach, but Champ Car racing star, Paul Tracy pops his shaved head out of one of the garage doors. With one ear to his cell phone, he smiles, "I'll be with you in a minute—I'm just trying to change a flight." He motions to follow into the expansive kitchen and living room that looks out through floor-to-ceiling glass at the Intracoastal Waterway.
This peaceful stretch of water is the landscape for Tracy's new 7,000 s.f. digs—a world away from the flash of Vegas, his former home. Sunshine highlights the sweeping stairs to the second story, where a group of mannequins, fully outfitted in Tracy's past race uniforms, peer over the wrought iron rail, guarding the loft office of the guy in perpetual motion below.
Biker Build-off is on the big-screen TV, surrounded by all the perfunctory family photos—beautiful wife, cute kids and Tracy riding a mountain bike—not driving a race car. Tracy is still pacing, on the phone—this time with Dave McIntyre, "Mac," a bike-riding, boat hauling trucker buddy who Tracy invites over; he is happy to come for some photo session ball-busting.
Above the small granite bar where Tracy plops on a stool, casually decked in cargo shorts, a T-shirt and flip flops, artwork showcases scenes of Monte Carlo, Tracy riding a motorcycle, and a painting titled "The Pass"—that fateful 2002 Indy race where Tracy passed Helio Castroneves for the win, only to be penalized for passing on a caution and taking second.
Tracy doesn't brag about success in racing which started in go-karts at 6 years old. He mentions he is 5th on the list of all-time Champ Car wins at 30, sharing the roster with impressive names like A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Michael Andretti and Al Unser, Jr., But he says nothing about being voted the 2003 Champ Car Champion, two time, Most Popular Driver, Racer Magazine Driver of the Year, or other kudos earned over his 20-year racing career—not bad for a 36 year-old with feet planted on his garage floor.
It seems the garage is where Tracy feels most comfortable—and where he spends a lot of time. This new, not quite "lived-in" house is like a pit stop, as he will dash from Florida to Vegas, to Australia and to Mexico City to finish the season. Then he and his wife Patty and the kids, can break in this house, pool, hot tub and 100' of dock space where he plans to put a 60' Azimut yacht. Meanwhile, you'll find Tracy in the garage.
Why the Bentley and the Benz? "I've always been a Mercedes guy," he says, "The Bentley—I don't know—I had a 4-door, ëold man's car', but I hated it, so I traded it for this (Continental GT)—it's more my style." Sure—the turbo-charged, 190 MPH, 12-cylander engine complements his 46' Skater catamaran with twin 1400 HP Sterling engines, aptly named "Lick This," which can leave most race boats in its wake.
His two garages include Snap-on tool chests, boxes of bike helmets and gear, a motocross bike, chopper, snow boards, a drill press and miscellaneous guy stuff. There's a collection of nine, mostly carbon fiber racing bikes, from an Italian company, Fondriest, whose website thanks Tracy for his signature model and friendship.
Ron Sims, one of the nation's top custom motorcycle builders, also considers Tracy more of a friend than a customer. Sims has built six bikes for Tracy including his current rigid frame with a 140 cubic inch, 160+ HP engine. "It sounds like a stock car," Tracy grins as he turns it over and the smile grows ear-to-ear. The throaty "bap, bap, bap," echoes off the walls and he roars out for a dash around the quiet residential block. "The neighbors gotta love this!" laughs Mac. Tracy sketched the bike one sleepless night at the track and Sims brought it to life, including the dirt bike handle bars and brass knuckles gear shift. The flat-black paint job features a mean-looking pin-up girl and the words "Fuck Luck."
Tracy doesn't rely on luck, rather on skill and an Irish work ethic. Mac tells how he and some friends helped Tracy install new custom cabinetry and put bumpers on the dock pilings. The guys promised to return the next day, but Tracy finished the job himself. "I just like to get things done," he laughs.
"Getting it done" starts with a 2-hour bicycle ride along the beach. "It's nicer riding in the morning in Florida," he says, "In Vegas, at 6 AM, people on the roads have been out all night." Then off to the gym, and back at home, he "works on things"—bikes, cars, computers, the house—"The things that normal people do," Tracy shrugs. Then he goes back to the gym before dinner and a little relaxation. "Most racers are small and I'm 5' 6" and 187 (pounds). Plus, I love sweets!" he adds, sheepishly admitting his only apparent weakness.
The house reflects Tracy's laid-back off-track attitude. In his full theater and trophy room, he runs some past episodes of the TV reality show "Race Car Driver" featuring family and life on the track. The first-generation Canadian son of a blue-collar Irish father and not quite proper English "Mum" (she's cussing on TV in the pits), Tracy insists the reputed volatile temper that got him into probation trouble back in 1998, is hereditary.
The house is sparsely furnished with pieces he had and some new things he and Patty picked. "I prefer simple lines and comfort; like cars, I just love the shapes," Tracy states, "My wife likes the big, heavy Italian stuff and big floral arrangements—I'm trying to convert her to like simple things too."
So typically simple, Tracy wants to have lunch at a local spot with a good chicken and vegetable plate, then have Mac help him fix a door before he leaves for Vegas. "A lot of the other drivers have places in South Florida—most of our races are east-coast," Tracy comments, "We looked at Miami, but were drawn back to this area—we like it a little quieter." Except when he starts up that motorcycle and the Intracoastal sounds like Pit Row.
Photo captions:
Well over 100 gleaming crystal and chrome trophies fill the book shelves of Tracy's trophy and theater room.
The pool room showcases guitars which he collects as art. He doesn't even play; he just chooses his collections for color and shape.
The office overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway and houses Tracy's computer work space, helmet collection and uniform displays from his former race teams.
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