Angel Contreras, a 30-year-old veteran, has always dreamed of designing and building a car for racing. After serving in the Marine Corps, Contreras is now studying mechanical engineering at City College of San Francisco, with the goal of transferring to Purdue University’s motorsports program.
From Military Service to Motorsports
Contreras joined the Marine Corps at 18 and served for several years, including an 11-month deployment to Southeast Asia and the Middle East. After his service, he worked in construction and struggled with a drinking habit, but eventually found his way back to his passion for cars.
Contreras’ journey to building race cars was inspired by his father, who died in a car accident when Contreras was seven. His father’s phrase, ‘Todo es perfecto’ (everything is perfect), has become a guiding principle for Contreras, who believes that every setback is an opportunity for growth and learning.
Contreras’ determination to build his own car was reignited when he participated in his first motorsport race, an eight-hour endurance event in Washington state. He is now more determined than ever to pursue his dream, and is living out of a camper on his truck while he continues his studies.
Original reporting: Mission Local — read the source article.
