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ANEE� FOR S�EE� MHS ��� �raduate Andre La�ond works on his car at Oulton
�ark� aracetrack in Cheshire� En�land�
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�He was clearly passionate about racing , and the adults he worked with in the service department were impressed that such a young kid was achieving the results he did , � Montclair Bikery owner David Adornato says .
After graduating from MHS in ���� , La�ond had atryout for a spot on an American racecar team . Though ultimately it didn ’ t pan out , the owner recommended Lafond to Andy Low , owner of Ammonite . �It ended up being asilver lining , �says Lafond . �It ’ sfantastic driving for Andy . I ’ ve learned and improved so much over here , and met so many amazing people . �
Racing with a team involves a lot more than taking laps around a track , Lafond says . Drivers must research and �ne-tune everything from optimum tire pressure to the amount of fuel to use , inorder to �take away any variables , � he says . �It ’ s hectic . There ’ s alot of time on the computer . I ’ m trying to learn as much as Ican . �
A racer ’ s body must be equally �ne-tuned . ��ou have to maximize
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strength and endurance while being as light as you can , � he says . To that end , he works with a trainer and eats a low-fat , high-protein diet . Two hours are spent in the gym at least every other day doing weight training , rowing , running and cycling . The emphasis is on strengthening the core , shoulders , back and neck , all crucial for racing , says Lafond .
He ’ s a big fan of mountain biking . �It ’ sagreat way tostay sharp and a fun way to train , � he says . His bike was his �rst set of wheels , and he pushed himself to go as fast as he could . During high school , he biked to MHS from his South �nd home and back using astop watch to time his two-mile rides , which he got down to a blistering eight minutes .
Cardio-vascular endurance and upper body strength will be even more important next year , when Lafond is hoping to switch from the �ormula �ord to the British �� racecar , amachine that creates stronger �forces on the body . �It ’ s very heavy and a very physical car to drive , � he says .
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Moving up to the �� means Lafond will likely be with anew team next year , though he ’ s not sure who will be on that team , or where he ’ ll train in the off-season . ( Since cold weather affects a tire ’ s grip , racing generally goes on hiatus in winter ). �ventually he ’ d like to return to the U . S . as adriver in the Indy Car , the premier U . S . racing series in which all cars have the same chassis . �The race really comes down to how good the drivers are and how well they ’ ve set up the car . In any given race , anyone can win , � he says .
Returning to the U . S . would bring Lafond closer to his family , which includes his brother Max , a�unior at MHS , his mom Robin Hoffman , who runs a digital communications company and his dad �mile Lafond , amotorcycle instructor who also does voiceovers .
�I ’ m very fortunate that my parents supported my crazy dream , � says Lafond . �Though , to me , it ’ s never felt crazy . It feels more normal than walking . � ■
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COURTESY OF �AMES ROBERTS |