BMW DNA
/NOTE: This article was written for the Fall/Winter issue of BimmerLife with a theme of Generations. Since there was not enough space to publish it with another article, we are sharing it here.
by Dan Tackett
Racing is an entire family sport for the Varcos
“The acorn never falls far from the tree.” Sometimes that’s true for nuts of the BMW type too. Parents are always happy when their children take after their best traits. But it’s especially gratifying to see a new generation of BMW CCA members following their parents and becoming active members themselves.
In 1982, a young Dave Varco learned that his dad was planning to sell their beloved Sahara Beige 2002, and he couldn’t bear to see it go. So he bought it, and within two years joined BMW CCA after seeing a Roundel magazine on a shop table. Of course, he had to make it his own, starting with a 5-speed conversion and larger wheels and tires. Before long, he was autocrossing his 2002 and taking it to the track. At Oktoberfest ’88, he and Suzanne Varco shared it at the Watkins Glen driving school. Suzanne was terrified at first and felt like she was “done” with this track stuff after one session. But she decided to try again with a second Instructor, saying, “Tell me exactly what to do; when to brake, hit the gas, and start steering.” Ultimately she loved it, and yet another BMW enthusiast was created. They also admired an instructor’s new E30 M3 at the Glen, vowing that “someday, we’ll own one!”
This E30 M3 has been in the family for 30 years.
As the Varcos began their careers, they moved to San Diego and became active in the Chapter. From 1991-94, they jointly edited the newsletter, and in 1993-95, Suzanne was elected Chapter President and Dave was the Treasurer. Suzanne bought an E21 320iS, and with both cars, they were regulars at autocross, driving school, and car show events with the Chapter. As newsletter editors, they placed a “Wanted to Buy” classified ad to find an E30 M3, and received a call from a local seller who hoped to find the right steward for his ‘88 M3. Deal struck, now they were the proud owners of three BMWs.
Austin Varco wins in his Spec Miata
Dave had the itch to go racing, so he added a bolt-in roll cage and other safety equipment to his 2002 and joined BMW CCA Club Racing. The racing bug was strong, so for Christmas one year, Suzanne secretly bought him a Spec RX-7 race car so he could measure his talents against drivers in identical cars. Before long, Suzanne went from cheering at the track to sharing the race car on alternating weekends. Inevitably, they bought a second Spec RX-7 so they could compete with each other. A family that races together…
Two generations of Varco racers
After they started a family and were building up their careers, Club involvement and racing subsided for a while. But, true to their family’s motorsport blood, both of their kids got their first track time while Suzanne was pregnant with them! Vroom vroom in the womb! Since it was hard to fit child seats in the back of an E30 M3, they bought an E34 M5 (so the kids would never be late to school!). As their son Austin and daughter Emma grew older, for several years their summer camp choice was to attend a go kart racing camp. Of course it was! Austin began autocrossing with the San Diego Chapter as a teenager, and did his first HPDE in an E39 530i. Later, after buying his own Z3 M Coupe, he considered racing in Spec Miata (SM) where his dad had been racing since 2012. While pursuing his real estate and business degree, Austin began competing against his father in SM. It took a while, but Austin’s skills were honed to the point that he’s now faster than Dave. And Dave couldn’t be more proud of his son, who earned the 2022 Rookie of the Year title for SCCA Spec Miata.
Autocrossing with the San Diego Chapter: a gateway for many members!
Following his parents’ history of service to the San Diego Chapter, Austin stepped up when the Board of Directors needed a new Autocross Director. After conducting hundreds of parking lot events for 35 years, our “home” venue was torn down, a sad ending to our program in 2019. A new locale had to be found and a new volunteer team assembled to return to our glory days of regularly hosting autocrosses. Austin stepped up, remembering his formative driving years among the cones, and brought his youthful energy and new ideas to the effort. Though he was in his final college year, coaching drivers in Formula SAE, instructing at the Porsche Experience Center, and keeping a busy SM racing schedule, Austin was the catalyst that led to a successful result.
This 2002 has spanned THREE generations of the Varco family!
With his racing success in SM, Austin earned a drive in one BRSCC MX-5 race at Silverstone in England, driving on the wrong side of the car and shifting with his left hand! He also branched out with Spec E46 races and is pursuing other opportunities to become a pro racer. To stay focused on racing and cultivating sponsorship, he moved on from being Autocross Director at the end of 2022. But there is a clear lineage from Austin’s parents passing their racing DNA along to their talented son. The Varcos still own the E30 M3, E34 M5, and E39 530i that entered their lives at important times. And how about that 2002 that Dave bought from his dad? It now has an S14 conversion, a complete nut-and-bolt restoration, and is still in the Varco garage with 308,000 miles on the chassis. First owned by Dave’s dad, and now documented in a video story produced by Austin, the Varco 2002 has spanned three generations. There’s no evidence that it’s ever going to leave the family.
Austin Varco was also featured in the Union Tribune as a “San Diegan You Should Know.” He has combined his love and talent for racing cars with bringing awareness and understanding of autism. Austin's intensity of focus on racing is explained by a diagnosis of being on the autism spectrum. Click here to read the article.
