David Saddler: How A Driven Highschool Student is Changing the Motorsports Industry
Today's guest is David Saddler, founder of Velocity Racing, podcast host, and motorsport enthusiast. David is on a mission to bring a new life to the motorsport industry in America. He's already made a ton of headway, especially for being our youngest guest on the show! David is a junior at DaVinci Communications high school where he plays lacrosse, runs track, and is a member of the 100 Black Men of LA YBS entrepreneurship program. David's energy is infection so tune in for a super inspiring episode!
Show notes:
New website launch: https://linktr.ee/velocity_racing
Podcast:
https://anchor.fm/david-saddler
SUMMARY KEYWORDS
motorsports, racing, motor sports, formula, high school, big, watch, podcast, helping, school, people, carding, grand prix, david, semester, velocity, week, playing, instagram, world
Erin 00:05
Hey everyone, welcome to call me crazy. I'm here. I'm Aaron Massa Pietro here with Michael Benatar. This is the show where we interview inspiring leaders like today's guest, David Sadler, who's actually one of our youngest guests and super impressive resume. David is just junior in high school, and he has started his own company, and a podcast. So David, we're really excited to hear from you today. How you, you know, got started so quickly and what you're up to welcome to the show.
00:35
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. It's an honor.
Michael Benatar 00:38
So tell. So is this the cause of last year? Did you not go to school? Right. And 2020? You were at home?
00:46
Yeah. Yeah. So basically from like, March 2020. You know, that's when my school said, Okay, we're shutting it down. And everybody's going to be doing remote online learning. Yeah. And
Erin 00:57
they said, I'm gonna just start my businesses now.
01:00
Well, yeah, that was a thing. Because, you know, I was, you know, where originally, when I, when we went on to online school, I looked at it as Oh, I'm not going to be at school anymore. And at the time, I was playing lacrosse. So, you know, I was like, Okay, I'm going to miss out on lacrosse season. And basically, everything kind of tumbled down on me. But then, I think there was like, one week where I just kind of sat down and I was like, okay, there's got to be a way where I can make the most out of this opportunity, for sure. Then that's when, you know, I started saying, okay, I should, you know, create my own business.
Michael Benatar 01:30
And so before the show, Aaron was asking, she's like, Michael, what is motor? What are motor sports? So why don't you tell Aaron what motor sports are. So I grew up in Florida, I knew what motor sports were, I know what they are.
Erin 01:42
I'm not a big sports person, let alone Motorsports which I can't
Michael Benatar 01:45
tell her or anybody that's listening what motor sports are.
01:50
Yeah, so Motorsports is definitely it's not as popular in America, you know, I mean, we definitely have NASCAR and emsa. But Motorsports is really race cars. So it's, it's really, you know, it'd be kind of like you took a regular car, and you made it like, and you took a really high performing motor and you put it inside there and you had great suspension and and and you know, you put a spoiler so it's kind of like if you were to play this is a really terrible example of the way that I know what Motorsports is, but if you guys know Fast and Furious, right core
Michael Benatar 02:27
Yeah. Yeah.
02:28
Awesome. Furious is like the borderline to what I guess Motorsports is right. That's more or less street racing, but it's on the same realm. So yeah, definitely. Motorsports is, is definitely a fun thing to get into. And, you know, I recommend it to anybody,
Erin 02:45
how did you get into it? Are you a racer?
02:50
Or not? And the craziest thing is that, like, I actually wanted to become a racecar driver. And then my parents were like, heck, no. And I was like, why? And they're like, cuz we're not gonna have you end up in the end of a barrier because you turn the wheel around. Yeah. And then I thought about it. And I was like, you're kind of right. So so you know, I, I wanted to become a racecar driver. But the way that I got into it was one day, it was like summer of 2018. And I was just about to get ready to go into high school. And I was scrolling through YouTube and something called Formula One popped up on my feed. And I clicked on it just out of curiosity. And when I clicked on it, it just like it just grabbed my attention it really the craziest thing about it was how Formula One cars move. Right? So it usually if you watch regular race cars, like NASCAR, I know you. You grew up in Florida, but if you watch things like NASCAR, those cars are meant to really like drive around and a lot.
Michael Benatar 03:45
Yeah, it's pretty boring.
03:47
Yeah, exactly. Right. So I watch a NASCAR race. Usually it's like 200 laps or something like that. So in Formula One, the difference is these cars are probably one of the most expensive race cars you'll ever see. So they have high performing aerodynamics, their engineering is top notch, the motors that they've put in there they spend hours and hours on. And the craziest thing is when you see them in full action, and I actually recommend to anybody that's listening to this to actually go and like just watch like a couple seconds of a Formula One race. When they move, they move so swiftly and quick. And it's really because of the way that their aerodynamics are made. They have a lot of slits and cuts in the car. And what that does is it takes the air and it actually like puts it into the car and transforms it in a way to where that car can take that air and move like from left to right within milliseconds, almost. So
Michael Benatar 04:40
it is mostly like a European thing, right? Like not a lot of Americans do. f1 Racing like it's huge in like when we were in the south of France. We went to South France. We were there a week before. What's the not? Nobody's a No, no. They have the f1 Racing out there. in Monaco. Yeah, in Monaco.
04:59
Let's say Monaco.
Michael Benatar 05:01
Yeah. And that's where the track was all set up still in the city. It was like, Oh, I forgot it was called. But yeah, we were there like Grand Prix the Grand Prix. Yeah, yeah. Grand Prix. Yeah. So we were there a week after that. And it was kind of cool to see the whole, just basically, the whole city was converted into a race track. Sorry. So you love what were you gonna say?
Erin 05:21
No, I was gonna ask this. I was gonna say so you love racing. But you're you're so into the cars and everything. So how do you instead of taking racing as your career, what did you create? And how are you? How's your business now all about racing?
05:33
Yeah. So as you mentioned, you know, instead of becoming a racecar driver, I, you know, I couldn't resist the fact that I wanted to do something about racing, like, you know, when I first found when I found out about it, and I got really interested into it about the teams and the drivers and everything. I just, I was like, Okay, I gotta do something about racing. So then that's when I, you know, founded velocity racing. And basically what that is, it's basically, you know, it'd be like your, you know, your regular news platform for motor sports, right. So if you want to know anything about Motorsports what's going on, and like Formula One, or WEC, which is endurance racing, which those races are 24 hours long, sometimes they're insanely long. And, and like GT racing, and things like that. That type of news is what I report, right. So um, things like, you know, recently, Lewis Hamilton just resigned his contract with Mercedes. I report I posted about that, and you know, I'm making videos about those types of things. So that's really what I do.
Michael Benatar 06:35
And what what kind of I mean, I'm guessing you're playing a lot of racing video games. Are there any games you like? You have like a rig at home or something you're playing on?
06:42
Yeah, actually, this Christmas, because my parents bought me this really nice racing wheel that I put on my desk and everything nice. I play gt sport a lot. That one's a lot of fun. I've just recently got formed the 120 20. So that, you know, I'm spending a lot of time on that game. But yeah, it's almost like I'm addicted to racing.
Michael Benatar 07:00
Yeah. So with with your new side, velocity racing, you have a podcast right now it's on anchor FM. We'll have all the links in our description here. But what? How are you going about doing it? Because I think starting a media company is is hard. It's like you got to stay up to date, you know, you have to almost beat out these other news outlets that are doing it full time that have like 1000 people on staff or whatever, what is, what's kind of your take on it? And how are you approaching it?
07:30
Yeah, most definitely. I think when I originally like got into it, you know, I was like, Okay, I know, this is not going to be something easy. Whether you no matter what type of business you're doing, for sure, no business is, you know, hard in general. So I think originally, what I decided to do was I said, Okay, if something comes out, really what I do is actually the way when I first thought about sounds like oh, well, that's actually very creative. I'm gonna keep doing that. I bought a Canva pro account. And basically, I have all of my designs on Canva Pro, so and they're like, blank templates, almost. Right. So if anything comes out, all I do is I write the information in there, and I just post it so I'm not worrying about creating these different little graphics and everything and you know, trying to make it's it's like the the graphics are right there on Canva. And all I got to do is fill in the information.
Erin 08:20
That's smart, because I know a lot of people that get started at least when I did, I was like obsessing over how it look, you can get, you know, sucked into how the Instagram looks or your website or emails times I've
08:29
done that already.
Erin 08:31
And you don't have time for that you got you're in school, you've got a podcast, the business is up and running. How what were the first couple steps that you did to get started? Because it seems like you ramped up pretty quickly to build this community and the site, you know, and you got all your templates and everything. What were some of the first things you did that allowed you to move so quickly?
08:51
Yeah, I think one, you know, and this is for any young, aspiring entrepreneur that's out there, although I haven't learned everything. I would really say passion is a huge part of leading a business. You know, if you're not passionate about something, it's it's likely that it's not going to get done. And I think that that's something that for me that really helped out was since I'm so passionate about Motorsports, I was like, Okay, I don't care what it is. It's Motorsports, I love it, I'm going to do it, you know, and so that's what kept me going and also the fact that I would watch like all these like other different platforms like WTF one and, and donut media and drive tribe. Those are all news reporting Motorsports, like platforms, and I just got inspired by them and their work and what they do. And every single day that something comes out, I do my best to always just try and report it before. You know other people in game can get it out. And the craziest thing is that Motorsports usually comes out on the other side of the world which is like European time. Right? And That's like before us. So we wake up at the end and they're basically done with their day.
Michael Benatar 10:05
So yeah,
10:06
I post something. It's already out there. So, you know, I one day I was sitting around I was like, Okay, wait, you told me I'm gonna have to stay up till like four or five o'clock like waiting for you to get the new stories in?
Erin 10:17
Maybe that's your strategy.
Michael Benatar 10:18
Did you? Did you like hire any of your friends from school to get into this with you?
10:24
Yeah, I didn't I don't necessarily pay them. You sure?
Michael Benatar 10:28
Yeah. not hire but like, did you convince them to work with you to like, let's do this? Yeah,
10:33
yeah, I convinced a couple friends from church to come on and help me with it. And they're actually a really big help. They definitely helped me with the content. And and what's a post? Actually, if you listen to my most recent episode of The Last racing podcast, you'll hear my new co host Dr. Lumpkin is on there helping me out with it. So most definitely helping having people on board is a big help. And I mean, you know, the more people I get, it's, you know, the more is the better. And I always tell I was like, don't be afraid to like, come up to me. I'm like, probably one of the coolest people you'll ever meet. You know, and I you know, I'm like, if you ever want to help out, definitely, like, that's something I will really appreciate.
Michael Benatar 11:17
Yeah. And I kind of like the year your passion for it. Because in high school, it's hard to stay focused. It's hard to you know, you got so many things going on, you know, get your driver's license, you go on the school, you got college and few years. I think it's impressive, because I don't think in high school, I was doing anything like this, I was not, you know, I was going to school, then I go home and play video games. Let me take maybe take a nap, maybe some pizza.
Erin 11:40
And I imagine a lot of other students who you know, are also dealing with COVID. They're just like, Oh, great, you know, summer vacation starts early or whatever. When you really made a lot from nothing.
Michael Benatar 11:51
So in the next year, what is kind of the plan for velocity racing? Where do you want to see it? How do you envision kind of, you know, your platforms are going to be on social you're going to be on tik tok? What is kind of the the future of it?
12:05
Yeah, well, most definitely. Right now, the social part of it is really like 75% and care of because we were really, I basically put out all of our information and all of our posts on Instagram. So everything is going on Instagram, Twitter, I'm starting to revamp our Facebook page, again, because I recently just got on there. But Twitter and Instagram are top ones. And so the social aspect is really taken care of. The big thing for me is, I really enjoy watching videos about this type of stuff. So like, I go on YouTube, and I watch like out search, you know, recent, you know, like, you guys have Monaco Grand Prix, right. And some of these organizations will do videos on like, and give their opinion on what they thought about the Grand Prix. And that's something that I'm like, I really want to do that. Because I think what's better than, you know, yeah, reading an Instagram post is cool. But yeah, I think as humans work, we all want to hear and see things, right. Like, we don't like read an article. That's like 1000 pages, right? Yeah, we'd rather get right. We'd rather watch a YouTube video and get our information, you know, then read all these words and stuff. So I think videos and doing in different videos like that is something that's really big, and I've got some big stuff, kicking in the works right now.
Michael Benatar 13:20
That's great. So and so with the site, are you thinking about any monetization? You're gonna make some money from it? What do you how do you think about that?
13:28
Yeah, most definitely, my biggest plan for that right now is to have a merge line. So I'm, you know, I'm, I've got some really cool designs in the works. And I'm probably going to release a couple shirts, and, you know, maybe like one hoodie and stuff like that, to, like, get some cash flow coming in. But that's a really big thing that I'm really excited about. And also, I'm very excited to start my own series on YouTube. And, and igtv. So like, you know, if you go on YouTube, and it'll say, like, Season One of, you know, season one and episode. Yeah, I definitely want to do that and just constantly making videos like every week, and just, you know, having fun with with with with, with my teammates with my crew that's helping me out with, you know, taking on velocity racing, and everything I'm doing that is, you know, really like, I just have so much fun doing that.
Michael Benatar 14:23
And once you once you guys start making money, you guys should sponsor some, like esport guys that are doing some racing, because I feel like that'd be great velocity racing just plastered right inside their shirt. That'd be really cool. Because the esports right now are wild how big it is, like, huge tournament. Everything's online. You know, call whatever you want to do Call of Duty fortnight, all those games. I mean, it's just so big. And I haven't I don't know if there's any racing ones out there. Don't follow the racing as much but I imagine that's a huge opportunity for a lot of people in that in that realm.
14:58
Yeah, most definitely. That Actually, there's a lot of motor sports eSports Grand Prix is actually just happened. The Formula One eSports virtual Grand Prix just ended, was in I think it was in a virtually, and sent in South Paulo, Brazil. So they just ended the virtual Grand Prix there. But most definitely, like, you know, my mom and dad have been giving me a lots of ideas about, you know, sponsoring different things. I'm bringing in cash flow, and I've been involved in a lot of programs like, you know, 100 black men of La entrepreneurship program has definitely been helping me. And then, you know, also with taking my marketing program at school, and you know, getting involved with organizations like deca, they have definitely been helping me with the ideas and you know, like you said, sponsoring things and getting in cash flow. So,
Erin 15:48
yeah, you got marketing in high school, there's a course for marketing. Yeah, that's great. Yeah, we didn't get that. No. What what are we got that in college?
Michael Benatar 15:57
What are a few things that kind of inspired you to really keep going? Because I think it's interesting as a young kid, you know, how that motivation goes? Because it's, I don't know, like, for me, it was just like, Oh, yeah, I'm gonna go play sports, I'm gonna go do this. And it was all kind of a lot of fun. But for you, you seem so passionate and motivated, are there? Is there anything that you do read anything? Are you watching anything that's like, Damn, these guys are these guys are doing and really motivation?
16:23
Yeah, I have a lot of sources of inspiration and motivation coming in. I you know, ever since I got into high school, I've been this type of guy that's been like, you know, success is something that like, I'm, like, addicted to it, you know, like, I just want to be the most successful person I can be like, you know, if I die today, I want to make sure I'm like, the top notch of whatever I do. And that's been something that my parents have taught me. And that's something that I teach myself. And I think, you know, some sources of inspiration come from, you know, a seven time you know, a world champion, Lewis Hamilton, actually, whenever I watch him race on the track, it's like, man, like that dude is just insane. And, you know, he didn't, he didn't grow up with a silver platter in his mouth, you know, he didn't have everything. You know, when he first started carding. His dad, he said, his dad just bought a card out of the back of a magazine. And from then he's now seven time world famous, you know, Formula One World Champion. And so when I think of that, I go like, okay, so you're telling me, this guy just happened to get in a carding was good at it. And now he's like, one of the best Formula One drivers in the world. And whenever I think of that, I go, you know, I don't care who says what, it doesn't matter. If you're telling me that guy did it, then I can do it. You know, and that type of that concept right there of, it doesn't matter who you are, if we be if we bleed the same blood and you did it and you became famous, or you became the top notch in your class, or you, you know, did whatever, I can do it. And I love it on. Yeah, yeah, that concept, right there is like, Okay, I'm going to make sure that whatever I do, I do it 100%. And I don't stop until it is 100% or better.
Erin 18:07
That's so clear. And that's I think a lot of entrepreneurs struggle with getting started and the imposter syndrome. And I think the attitude you have is, is really inspiring. And a lot of people need to hear that. We got to ask, you are calling me crazy story. You're on the call me crazy podcast. So we want to hear David about a time where you, you know, made a decision or started something where people might have called you crazy. And you you know, you took your passion and went ahead and did it anyway.
18:36
Yeah.
18:37
I you know, I think one thing, really, story that I can say about that is and this isn't about motor sports, at all, but it can relate to life lessons. When I was going into the 10th grade, I actually transferred to St. JOHN Bosco High School. And I, you know, I've been playing lacrosse for about 11 to 12 years now. And, you know, and I wanted to take it to the next level. And so I went to that school. And basically, you know, from where I am right now, Da Vinci to St. JOHN Bosco was as a pretty big jump, you know, the environment, the, the type of way that those two schools teach are, you know, very different. And I knew what I was getting into, but in the also same way, I didn't know what I was getting myself into. So I you know, you know, when I went, you know, my parents were like, you know, we believe you, we believe that you can do it, but I truly have to say that semester of school right, there was probably the hardest thing I've ever had in my 17 years of life, you know, now being on this earth. You know, going from, you know, playing lacrosse at a D one high school, Trinity league level was something that I had never experienced before. And you know, my coach was like, Dude like, this is no longer your club team. That practice is two days a week, you know, and, you know, oh, they treat you not like we practice every day, two hours, and you got to keep your grades up in the classroom like scouts, like scouts from Brown University, we're coming to our practices to like, wow, fan was like, yeah, exactly right. And I was like, Oh, god, what? What I just do. And so the bar was raised? Most definitely, it really was. And so, you know, when I transferred back to the Vinci that was really because I had two years of high school left, and I said, Okay, I'm not going to spend my next year of high school wondering, am I going to do well, I'm going to go back to somewhere that I know, I'm going to do well, and I know that I'm going to achieve the grades I want to achieve, which happened last semester. And it proved correctly, you know, because last semester, I got a 4.5 GPA. Oh, wow.
20:49
Yeah. 4.5
20:51
Yeah, I mean, but you know, honestly, I gotta tell you, it was one of the hardest things ever, and I still look at my report card now. And I go, I don't know, I did that. But you know, it's there. Um, but I but but but I have to say, for anybody that goes through any type of challenges, and and, and that is, like, is this challenge too big for me? And, you know, can I do it, you know, just when the bar is raised, and time is against you, and so many things are going on, you don't know what to do. I always believe that life and God doesn't put you in situations that you can't handle. You know, that's something that I that I learned that semester, it was that, you know, you're not going to go through things that you can't handle. And everything that you do in life is to make you better. So when I left that school, and not you know, when I you know, and I, you know, came back to the Vinci I was a totally different person. And I definitely have to say, I thought I was a little bit crazy. Like, when I went over there, I was like, Oh my gosh, this is gonna be the hardest thing in the world. But, um, I stuck with it. And and I have to say, although I failed a lot while I was over there, you know, in life, you know, I had a lot of failures. I'm so glad that I did it. Because without it, I don't know where I'd be today. You know, I don't know if I'd be the person that I am today.
Michael Benatar 22:12
Well, they're awesome. Yeah. David, this is your You're amazing. I imagine you're going to be very successful. As you know, as you continue on in your career. I think you should, you know, tell all your friends Listen to this. You're You're a great inspiration. And I think you're, you're doing it right. You got the right mindset. You got the right motivation. You're doing a great job. And I'm I'm impressed. I wish I was like you I mean, I'm going to hopefully we stay in contact. So when you make a billion dollars, you can invite me over for dinner or something. I love it. You're doing great. So the website, you're renaming a boat, it is velocity racing. We'll put the link in the description. Because it's velocity racing one calm right now, but it will might change when this releases. Learn about
Erin 22:57
Motorsports
Michael Benatar 22:59
and then also your podcast. It's on anchor.fm at David Sadler, you can find it there yet also on Apple podcasts. Okay, nice
23:08
Spotify, like wherever you get your podcast. Okay.
Michael Benatar 23:11
Cool. Awesome. Well, thanks for joining the show. And we'll definitely have you back on maybe we have you back on in like six to eight months after the websites launching kind of update us on how everything's going.
23:22
I also have to say, just in case, if when the website launches, I'm gonna put the link in the description of my Instagram so I can shoot that link over to you guys. Yeah. Whoever's listening wants to go.
Michael Benatar 23:33
That'd be great. Yeah, well, we'll have everything. So just shoot us over all the links you want to share and it will be in the description for everybody to see. But David, thank you so much for coming on. This was this was great. Thank you.
23:44
Thank you. Yeah, I'd really appreciate it. It's an honor. Thanks.