3 Balls Racing is actually comprised of two somewhat nutty guys; one nuttier than the other.  In many ways, we couldn't be more different.  One of us is good looking, the other races bicycles.  One of us understands the meaning of torque, the other has red window tint.  However, the one thing we have in common is a love for actually getting our hands dirty, and our cars on the track.  Even then, I think one of us spends more time with dirty hands and the other more time on the track.  That is soon to change though, I bought some hand cleaner.

A little more detail about Ken (aka Head Ball): I grew up in sunny San Diego and the surrounding desert.  Legend has it that I was only 6 weeks old when my dad took me to the sand dunes in his homemade dune buggy.  I spent my entire life until the age of 18 going to the desert as often as I could to ride whatever I had at the time.  (Mostly motorcycles, but I also served as sort of a crash test dummy for the creations the family friends came up with.  Let's just say I didn't always keep things rubber side down.)  When I left San Diego for the wonderful setting of Flint, I had to find some other way to satisfy the thrill the sand dunes had brought me.  While there are sand dunes in Michigan, I didn't have anything to ride, and I didn't know anybody that went.  So, I turned to road going vehicles, and the rest...well we're making the rest up as we go.

My first car was a Ford Fiesta.  I learned a lot from that car; such as the fact that your buddies can pick it up and put it wherever they want.  That knowledge got me in a little trouble in college when we decided to "reposition" a co-ed's Fiesta in it's parking spot.  I also learned that the little "E" on the dash means you will be pushing any second now.  I think that particular Fiesta may still be running somewhere, but I can't be sure.  It was replaced by a 1987 FIAT X 1/9 that my dad was grateful enough to give me for my college days.  To this day, that was the purest sports car I have ever driven.  When you stop laughing, you should really try to get a ride in one if you can find a running example.  That car taught me the benefits of low weight, low CG, precise steering, and thick skin.  (Let's just say that some people from the Motor City didn't appreciate fine Italian machinery when they saw it.)  The FIAT got me through my college days, and more importantly, my first autocross.  It may surprise those that have been to some of our events, but the FIAT had to be towed back from the autocross when the ignition module let go.

Fast forward to today, and the FIAT has been replaced by a 1969 Corvette and a 1969 Camaro.  The getting towed home thing hasn't changed, but the power levels and cost have sure climbed.  At least now, I have my own means of getting the cars home.  This year was really my first year attending multiple events.  Even with the "issues" I had this year, I can't wait for the next series of events.  I will be spending the winter getting the Corvette to be more reliable, safer, and possible quicker.  As the project unfolds, I will be doing my best to document it here.

Well all that by Ken leads into the other half of 3 Balls Racing. That’s me, Daniele DeFranceschi. Aka Paulce everywhere else on the boards, but I'll be known as "Small Ball" here. First off, if your wondering why there’s only two founders in 3 balls racing, we’ll that’s simple... we like to say this ---- we have more balls than you. Hehehe. If you think that's funny, then you’ll like coming to our events. We try our hardest to make every event fun, fair, and of course, safe!

I started out getting into cars as young as 3 years old. My father used to set up the Detroit Grand Prix Track in Downtown Detroit for Formula 1, and then Indy cars when F1 pulled out, and later, the Belle Isle Track for Cart. So when you grow up getting pictures taken of yourself in a 1984 Ferrari F1, and begging your dad to get Michele Alboreto’s autograph because you think he’s the coolest guy ever, you can imagine how easy it is to grow up as a car nut.

My first car was a 1986 Honda accord. With no money in Highschool, but a need to go faster I had to resort to cutting off mufflers, ditching spare tires (I still do this), and installing splitfire sparkplugs. Those certainly were the early days. Next came a 1995 Ford Probe with the Mazda 2.5L KL03 engine. This is where I learned that Nitrous can easily burn exhaust valves, and having a turbo was way cooler than not having one. I built a home made turbo kit out of mandrel bent tubing and a junk yard Sabb 9000 turbo The car ran mint for several years until I put it in a wall driving to the Detroit airport, trying to make a flight to Vegas! So, RIP PGT TURBO! You'll be missed, but never forgotten!  

Overlapping the Probe era slightly, came my Redneck days. I built a 360 for an old Jeep CJ-7, found a 4-speed, lifted it about a foot, and rolled her around on 35" tires. Can you say Chick Magnet! I didn’t think so, because they all hated it! But I loved it. I ended up selling the Jeep for a Motorcycle (GSXR 600 Corona Alstare), and also bought my current car – The 2001 Supercharged Prelude which, many of you already know. What’s next after the Prelude… I have no idea, but it’s going to be fun, and fast! I know that! oh,  can't forget safe....

Then there’s my Alter ego that also races as Ken Mentioned… Races Bike – Pedal Bikes… I think this is why I’m slightly not afraid of anything… Crashing at 40mph+ countless number of times, getting road rash all over, and continuing to race must do something to your brain. But I’m not sure what…?  I do know that Cycling has treated me well though, and probably contributed to me wanting to go fast in a car all the time! With Cycling, I’ve got to race part of the World cup circuit as a Junior, and race in Two World Championships (Novo Mesto, and San Marino). I got a chance to wear the leaders Jersey in one of those world cups at the Tour de L’Abitibi in Quebec, and win 4 National Championships as well. My most recent win was winning the Tour de Via Italia Pro 1/2 Race, also known simply as, Erie Street.

But no matter what I’m racing, I’m all about going fast, enjoying every minute of every day, and trying to share that with everyone. BUT! I won't be enjoying myself if ken Builds the car he's talking about, and starts lapping me on the Track!!!  Stay tuned!....

Head Ball and Small Ball