In the Beginning…
Rodger was born and raised in Evanston Illinois, one of nine children. He graduated high school in 1979 and began racing a year later in Solo 1—timed lapped events that he drove in his Datsun 510. Next he joined the Salt Creek Sports Car Club and Midwest Council, where he ran road races. Even though fully hooked on racing, Rodger had the discipline to return to school, where he earned a degree in Mechanical Design and HVAC Engineering and Design. For the next several years Rodger worked in the HVAC engineering field, and then formed his own HVAC design and contracting company, Thermo Heating and Cooling Co.
Climbing the Ladder…
While building up his company, Rodger continued racing and in 1988, bought an ex-IMSA Champion Sparkplug RS road-racing Mazda RX3. He rebuilt, re-bodied and updated this rotary-engine car, turning it into a competitive GT3 racer. Rodger joined the SCCA and began running in regional races. He won the Regional Continental Championship in 1990, and then began running in national races. This led to an invitation to compete in the SCCA National Runoffs for two years, 1993 and 1995.
Turning Professional…
With all this racing experience, Rodger applied and was granted an FIA Professional License in 1994. Professional international racing license in hand, Rodger then joined IMSA (International Motor Sports Association) and entered his first professional road racing event, the ultra-prestigious "Rolex 24 At Daytona" a.k.a. 'The 24-Hours of Daytona.' This race, along with the "12 Hours of Sebring," and "24 Hours of LeMans," is regarded worldwide as one of the most prestigious in endurance motor racing.
Up On the Big Wall…
Only the best drivers in the world can compete in the "Rolex 24 At Daytona" and it's become something of an annual event for Rodger. As of this date, he has completed six "Rolex 24 At Daytona," all in GT racers. In the GTO class, Rodger has driven 700+ hp Corvettes, Camaros and an Olds GTS. In GTU, he has raced 400-450 hp twin-turbo Mazda RX-7s.
A bumper sticker on Rodger's bookshelf reads - "Life Begins at 185 Miles per Hour" - which hints at the state of mind it takes to be out on that track, mixing it up with the best cars and drivers in the world. As Rodger explains, "After you've been up on the big wall at Daytona, driving by day or all through the night, pushing 190 mph, seeing the lights and glowing exhaust pipes and red-hot brake discs around you, everything else becomes very small. As if it was a million miles away. I relax and am at peace with the world. It's what I live for."
Real Racers Never Stop…
Rodger's racing career also includes the '12 Hours of Sebring ' and '6 Hours of The Glen.' To stay sharp between races, he also drives 366-cubic-inch Sprint Cars and 1200cc Mini-Sprint Dirt Cars. On occasion, he works as a professional driving instructor for private and sponsored events, and has taught at various driving academies throughout the United States.
Currently, Rodger is scheduling time to attain his stunt driver's license, so he can also work in the motion picture industry. And through it all, he keeps racing. In addition to Daytona, Rodger is driving in the professional Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series and Grand-Am Cup Racing series, piloting GS (Grand Sport) and Street Stock Series racers with various racing teams.
Point of Focus…
Rodger's ultimate goal is to become a team owner/driver with a Grand Am Rolex GT car. Currently, the Grand American Rolex Series Grand Touring division rules allow 28 different production-based racers from 19 manufacturers including Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Corvette, Chrysler, Dodge, Ferrari, Ford, Honda, Jaguar, Lexus, Lincoln, Mercedes, Maserati, Nissan, Pontiac, Porsche and Toyota. Rodger is currently assessing which make of car offers the most competitive package.