Michael Pettiford’s passion for speed goes as far back as he can remember. Michael recalls doing some pretty silly things with vehicles for fun while growing up in Indiana, and it didn’t take long for him to realize that racing on the track would be a more positive way to pursue his passion.
Michael’s racing journey began in 1974, and he won the first race he entered, driving a Chevy Vega in an autocross event. His motorcycle road-racing era began a bit later, when he powered to a F1 Class victory in an MRA event at Continental Divide Raceway. By 1988, he was back on four wheels in Sports Car Club of America competition, where his relentless drive to compete fueled his road racing career.
Michael has said, “I started racing with SCCA, and when they started to pay contingencies, I found out that if I won two classes a day with the right car and sponsors, I could make money racing! After that, it was a quest to see how many championships I could win.” Michael’s career highlights are remarkable. He has won 57 Rocky Mountain Division National/Mid-States Conference Championships, more than any other driver in SCCA history. He has won the SCCA Touring 1 Class for the last 20 years in a row and currently holds lap records in the class at High Plains, Pueblo, and La Junta Road Courses. He was also the first to win the “hat trick” of 3 RMD National Class Championships in the same year, a feat he has now accomplished six times.
Michael has also raced to multiple podium finishes in SCCA Pro Racing’s Pirelli World Challenge, rode to a 4th place finish in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb’s Pro Motorcycle class as the event’s first black competitor, scored victories at the Central City Hill Climb in all three years of its existence, and served as a pace car driver at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He’s been recognized with the Colorado Motorcycle Dealers Association’s Outstanding Motorcyclist Award for Rider Safety, the SCCA Colorado Region’s Sid Langsam Award, and has twice been named Rocky Mountain Division Driver of the Year.
As a student of the sport, Michael credits mentors like Bruce Foss, David Schardt, Scott McMorris, and racing legend Kenny Roberts for shaping his career. As an instructor, he’s trained countless drivers, from new enthusiasts to championship contenders, through GO 4 IT Services. Michael started GO 4 IT Services in 1985, saying he was not satisfied with the level of driver training available to the public. He found that he loved helping people improve their technique for safety reasons or get their road-racing license so they could start racing toward their first championship.
Throughout his career, Michael has taken pride in racing hard, racing fair, and showing up ready to compete. And, in over 40 years of competition, he has yet to break a bone while racing. His career is a testament to skill, perseverance, and a love of going fast. Michael Pettiford, a fierce competitor, passionate teacher, and trailblazer in Colorado motorsports, was inducted into the Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2025.
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