Norfolk tinkerer matches up with professional race car driver

On January 14th, the Hoonigan Racing team met their match.

When Norfolk resident Brian King took his Oldsmobile to California, he left them in the dust, and very impressed.

“You know, a lot of people just kind of make their cars rear-wheel drive, big tires, it’s just kind of something that’s always done,” said Brian King, owner of his all-wheel-drive 1982 Olds Cutlass.

“It’s awesome, don’t get me wrong, but I just wanted to put a different spin on it my guess."

Owning a repair shop in Norfolk, mechanical work is in King’s blood.

“I’ve always kind of been that way since I was a kid, I guess,” King said, “Always making and modifying and just something I love to do."

His suped up 1982 Cutlass came from very humble beginnings.

“16 years old looking for a car, and basically just seen it sitting in some guy’s field at the time,”

King said, "Said he wanted $400 for it, I said ‘ok, I’ll take it,’ next thing you know I got a screaming animal when I was 16."

Since 1994, his vehicle has been a project that’s now rocking about $60,000 in equipment under the hood.

“Over the years it’s been through a few different engines, just tweaking everything out, you know,” he said.

"I want to make it as fast as I can and just have fun with it.”

While his cutlass is his tour de force, King loves to jump in on new projects and ideas. He is also handy with other woodcraft, metalworking and scientific projects.

“I’ve always liked guitars. Not very, you know, super good at playing them, but I really enjoy just sitting down for an audience of 1 or in front of the kids or whatever and just play some music.

His next project for the car: more carbon fiber and tweaks to get it even faster.

“It’s challenging, it’s fun. It’s a heck of a learning curve,” he said.