Full Speed Ahead

If Glenn DeWeirdt ’84 DDS is not in his Woodridge, Ill., dental office, he’s probably on a racetrack. From April through October, DeWeirdt moonlights as a high-performance vehicle driving instructor, an avocation that involves “hours of boredom tempered by moments of sheer terror.” In 2025 DeWeirdt received a Motorsports Safety Foundation Level 3 certification, a distinction earned by fewer than 200 instructors. We asked him what drove him to the track and what it’s like to trust your life to an inexperienced lead foot. 

LIFELONG GEARHEAD 

“For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved cars. About 15 years ago, my son and I started doing kart racing. From there, I took some race driving courses at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. We were driving Mazda Miatas that were track prepared. And I just fell in love with racing.”  

THE CLIENTELE 

“Many of these people have no driving experience other than on the street, so it’s essential that someone sits in the car and tells them what to do and what not to do. And nowadays, some cars produce between 600 and 700 horsepower and can reach speeds of 160 miles an hour very easily. It’s kind of scary to think that somebody can purchase that kind of car … and potentially go out on a racetrack with no experience.” 

IN THE ZONE 

“This is going to sound really strange. But for me, the speed is very calming, because when you’re on the racetrack and you’re going 130, 140 miles an hour, you have to give that car 100% of your attention. It becomes almost zen-like. Any of your day-to-day activities, any stresses, must take a backseat, quite literally. That, for me, is very freeing.” 

NEED FOR SPEED 

“The fastest I’ve gone was about 160 miles an hour at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  

“Frankly if you’re driving and in control, you don’t even know you’re going that fast. Every bit of your attention as a driver is focused 200, 300 or 400 feet ahead of you. Because if you’re looking at the speedometer, it means you’re not looking at the track. And things can happen very quickly. 

“We have a saying in instruction that the passenger seat goes 20 miles an hour faster than the driver’s seat. It definitely feels like that when I’m not the one driving.” 

LIFE ON THE HIGHWAY 

“I get very upset when I’m on the interstate, and I see people weaving back and forth, because I know how dangerous it is.  I drive consistently about five miles an hour over the speed limit. I’m a very predictable and safe driver. Now, my wife might disagree with that, but I know what I know.”