Juliann Pokorny

Truly it was destined to happen, it was just a matter of time. Juliann’s Dad was a drag racer and built a car from electrical conduit and a Crosley frame. Mom did Gymkana, TSD and track days in a tiny Renault. That had all stopped before she was born, but they were always tinkering with something in the barn behind her father’s house. “Dad bought my brother and I Honda Trail 70's when we were kids and my love for the internal combustion engine began,” says Juliann of her early fascination for things mechanical.

Motorcycles were her first love, and she had dreams of taking a racing school and running AMA SuperBike. During the 90’s, she was on the other side of the Armco wearing white, with a yellow flag in hand – learning everything she could about the sport. “I crewed for friends running with the AMA and wished I could be the one gridded up waiting for the race to start, “ says Juliann about her ambitions to race motorcycles. While those plans never materialized, she joined the SCCA in 1999 and began marshalling at Road America at club racing events. "When I turned 30, I had an epiphany and joined the SCCA. I was going road racing. I had heard about Solo II from a friend whose Dad raced an ITB Miata.
Solo seemed economical and a great way to get to the goal of road racing. So in April of 2000 I was off to a parking lot for my first AutoCross with my Mazda Mx-6 on street tires. I was hooked. "She initially planned to run only on street tires, but several events later she had a brand-new AudiTT fitted with sticky racing rubber. In her first year of competition, she attended several National level Solo events for experience, including the Solo2 Nationals in Topeka, KS.

During that first Nationals week, Juliann, with friends Jason Saini and Bradley Lamont formed over6racing while lamenting their lackluster performances at the event. Soon after, a Honda S2000 was purchased and the preparation began. The next two years were filled with road trips to Places like Wendover Utah, Ft Myers Florida and Topeka Kansas. Juliann has steadily improved since beginning her competitive career, culminating in a ladies’ challenge overall win at the Topeka ProSolo in 2002, and being picked by SportsCar magazine to win the B-Stock Ladies’ championship in only her third year of racing. Juliann didn’t disappoint, missing the championship by the narrow margin of only one pylon. She had the times to do it, but a pylon cost her the title. “It’s been amazing working with such a skilled team,” said Juliann of her experiences in the Honda. “To know the car is capable of winning only makes you push yourself that much harder. I’m extremely thankful to my teammates and King Motorsports for all their support.”

Next step? Prepping a CRX for wheel-to-wheel racing. Since over6 had already acquired a Honda for ITA, and having recently pulled the plug on that effort, the CRX will now be built for track events and endurance racing. "The goal is for me to practice at track days and run the car in endurance events teamed with fellow over6 driver Jason Saini,” Juliann said of her plans for the future. "Of course I am also very committed to bringing home the BSL championship from the 2003 Solo2 Nationals as well.” If 2002’s results are any indication, that looks like a sure bet!

For more information: http://over6racing.com