LOSS OF PROGRAM SPARKS DREAM.Byline: JILL PAINTER University Beat Chris Olney had designs on a football career at Cal State Northridge. Olney was a defensive back for Chaminade of West Hills and also was a member of the basketball team. Although the Matadors dropped their football program in 2001, Olney still went to Cal State Northridge. And somehow found a hobby in auto racing. In November, Olney went to a race with a friend and that was all it took to spark his interest. The sophomore business major has spent every second of his spare time either working on his car or testing it. He bought a 1984 Mazda RX7 and has received his Sports Car Club of America regional license. Even if he doesn't find a niche as a race-car driver, he wants to be involved in the business, just like his father, Ross, a former longtime driver. ``I've always loved auto racing and I've always wanted to get back into it,'' Olney said. ``I wanted to watch my dad more. It just seemed easier to play basketball or football than to buy a car. But in the back of my mind, I always knew I'd do it. You can't possibly know what it's like being in a car and controlling something that's out of control.'' Olney, Chaminade's defensive player of the year in 1999, has raced around the track at California Speedway The California Speedway is a two-mile, low-banked, D-shaped oval superspeedway in Fontana, California, similar to that of "sister track" Michigan International Speedway. It is located approximately 40 miles east of Los Angeles on the site of the former Kaiser Steel mill. in Fontana and Buttonwillow. He finished 11th in his first race at Buttonwillow in the PR7 class in March. ``For now, I'm just trying to do more testing,'' said Olney, 20. ``It's better to get a lot of time in. My dad is the brains of the operation. Since he did it, he knows the ins and the outs. I'm still learning. I have such a great respect for everyone that does it. I thought it would be way easier than it is. ... My goal is very dreamy. I'd love to race in NASCAR NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing), organization that sanctions American stock-car races, est. 1948. It held its first race in Daytona Beach, Fla. or Indy Lights The Indy Lights was an open-wheeled racing series that acted as a developmental circuit for CART from 1986 to 2001. Founded in 1986 as the American Racing Series (ARS), the series was renamed Indy Lights in 1991. or Atlantic, anything I can do.'' --Hairston's decision: Detroit Renaissance High star Malik Hairston Malik Hairston is an American college basketball player at the University of Oregon. The 6'6", 200 pound junior guard averaged 13 ppg and 6.1 rpg during the 2006-2007 season. High school Prior to arriving at the University of Oregon, he starred at Renaissance High School. , the top high school basketball recruit who hadn't entered the NBA Draft The NBA Draft is an annual North American event in which the National Basketball Association's (NBA) thirty teams (29 in the United States and one in Toronto, Canada) can select players who wish to join the league. or signed with a college, chose Oregon over UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX , Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Kansas. Hairston announced the decision in a news conference at the school Wednesday. ``A month ago, I was betting it was UCLA,'' said his father, Richard Hairston. ``He had a good relationship with (assistant) coach (Ernie) Zeigler. He liked coach (Ben) Howland. He used to talk about UCLA and the ballplayers he knew. He liked Jordan Farmar quite a bit.'' Hairston and his family devised a ranking system for the six schools with 12 criteria, including ability to win a championship, education and ability to leave for the NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= after two years. UCLA is ranked fourth. --UCLA notes: UCLA's football team will have fall camp at Spaulding Field on campus this season. The Bruins practiced at Cal State Fullerton last year and Cal Lutheran the year before but will return home for the first time since 2001. ... Former UCLA tennis great Larry Nagler was selected as one of four new members to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association The Intercollegiate Tennis Association is an organization of 1,500 coaches and 15,000 collegiate tennis players, encompassing more than 1,000 college tennis programs. Included in the membership are women’s and men’s head and assistant coaches at the NCAA Divisions I, Hall of Fame. --Also: CSUN CSUN California State University Northridge has been busy upgrading its facilities. The school is completing a nearly $600,000 renovation of its track in preparation for the NCAA NCAA abbr. National Collegiate Athletic Association Regional meet March 28-29. The track features a new electronic scoreboard - which costs about $150,000. Also, the pole vault pit was relocated. ... CSUN has made more than $400,000 in upgrades to the softball facility. The outfield wall was replaced and a warning track installed. A new entrance gate and third batting cage also were built. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: CHRIS OLNEY Former DB of Chaminade is now at CSUN setting his sights on auto racing. |
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