Dad Of The Month!

Todd Harris

Where do you live?
I live in Tigard, Oregon with my wife Jenny and two young sons, Calvin 8 and Taylor 5.

What is your profession?
I am a professional racecar driver and owner of Pro Drive Racing School, the official driving school of Portland International Raceway.

What do you drive?
My personal car is a 2006 Infiniti G35 Sports Coupe. It’s a great sports car for me because it has rear seats. While the rear seats aren’t big and don’t offer much leg room, it is a great bonus when you act as a taxi service for two young boys.


What are you reading?
I am currently reading “The Unfair Advantage” written by legendary racecar driver Mark Donahue in 1974. It has some great insight into the trials and tribulations he went thru during his racing career.

What music are you listening to?
My taste in music, even on a daily basis, is fairly eclectic. I may listen to some techno chill mix on the way to work and change to punk rock on the drive home. I’ve got an extensive collection of old vinyl records from the 1950’s and 60’s, like Ray Conniff, Brazil 66 and Frank Sinatra, that I love to put on the turntable in the evening to wind down after the kids have gone to bed. I think music can serve as a great way to interact with your kids. We have a PlayStation 3 game called “Rock Band” and the whole family loves to jam on the instruments and sing some seriously fun rock songs.

What's the last movie you saw?
My wife and I went to a theater in downtown Portland called Living Room Theaters, and saw a high definition version of “Casablanca”. You can have dinner and a drink while watching a movie from a comfortable love seat. The perfect night out for Mom and Dad.

How long have you been married?
I’ve been married to my wife Jenny for 12 years. We laugh and tell each other that every passing year has been better than the one before it…And it’s true.

Kids names and ages?
I have two boys. My oldest Calvin is 8. He’s a pretty smart cookie who loves science and building and creating. He puts together Lego and Bionicle creations that I would have a heck of a time completing.

My youngest son Taylor is 5. He’s a real social butterfly with kids his age. He loves anything with a motor - cars, motorcycles, ATV’s, you name it. He currently has a “pocket bike” motorcycle that he rides at up to 20 mph, which is about 15 mph faster than dad is comfortable watching him go.

Describe your favorite family vacation?
My favorite family vacation was one we took last spring to Disneyland. We had a great time escaping the real world for a few days. While we were in the Los Angeles area I took the family to a few fun destinations, such as, the real “Brady Bunch” house and the baseball field that the original “Bad News Bears” movie was filmed. The kids absolutely loved it.

Your thoughts on being a Dad?
I love being a dad. It’s been the most rewarding experience of my life. I continue to cherish it every day as I watch the boys grow older on their way to becoming men. I’ve simply tried to lead them by example. Actions definitely speak louder than words. My proudest and most terrifying moments in life have revolved around my children. It’s like the ultimate roller coaster. It may scare the heck out of me, but it’s a ride I wouldn’t miss for the world.

How do you juggle family and work?
Being a race car driver and racing school owner has its benefits and drawbacks. In some cases I can set my own schedule so that I can play an active role in the boys’ lives, such as coaching the boys’ soccer teams or taking them to school in the morning. At other times, however, I may be out of town at a race for a week at a time. They say “absence makes the heart grow fonder” and that’s certainly true with regards to my time with my family.

What's your favorite thing to do with your kids?
My favorite things revolve around the simple moments like reading a book together or playing with “Hot Wheels”. The other night we watched a silly old Godzilla movie with the lights turned down low. We had popcorn and root beer and an absolute blast just hanging out together. A perfect Saturday night.

What advice would you give to new or soon-to-be dads?
My only advice for dads is to be available for your children and wife as much as possible. Making time for your family with a full time career can be challenging some days, but the rewards are worth it.

What is your website address?
www.prodrive.net


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