James H. Martin

James earned a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Cornell University with the intention to become an Indy Car designer. Between semesters he interned with a professional Trans-Am team and a Can-Am team based in New York. The lesson learned here was that pursuing a career in professional motorsports was not compatible with a balanced life and a better path might be to pursue a career in business and approach motorsports as an intensive hobby. It was back to graduate school at Harvard Business School for an MBA.

Upon graduation in 1978 he signed up for the three-day racing school with the Skip Barber School in Connecticut. That was the hook. As a driver, from 1978 through 2000 he pursued the SCCA National Championship Series in Formula Ford, Sports 2000, Formula Atlantic, and C Sports Racer, finishing fourth on two occasions with Mike Shank Racing and Precision Motor Werks at the SCCA Run-offs at the Mid-Ohio race track.

During this period James also drove in the IMSA Camel GT Series with Essex Racing Services and the Canadian American Challenge Cup with Bobby Brown Motorsports. In 2000 James moved to Detroit to pursue a career in the Auto Industry as an independent manufacturers’ representative.