If you’ve ever had a bucket list item that just wouldn’t let go, you’ll understand why our CEO, Doug Harris, keeps coming back to the Great Race. When I asked him what first inspired him to compete, his answer was simple: “It was just something I always wanted to do.” Doug’s been talking about this race for years, and after making his debut last summer, he returned in 2025—this time teaming up with his good friend and business partner Sam Mahdavi of Sam’s Garage to form Team Sam’s Garage.

When it came time to choose a car, Doug didn’t have to look far. He already owned a rare Datsun, and after chatting with a friend about the race, the idea clicked—it was time to bring that car back to life. With its solid build and high-torque engine, the Datsun was the perfect fit for a cross-country endurance rally like this.

Doug took on the role of navigator while Sam drove. Navigation in the Great Race isn’t as simple as following a GPS—it’s a highly detailed process involving timed instructions, careful attention to acceleration and deceleration, and tracking against an atomic clock. One small mistake can throw off your timing completely. Case in point: during one of the legs, the team missed a turn and found themselves several miles off course. They lost about 20 minutes and had to... shall we say, urgently rejoin the schedule. (We’ll leave it at that.)

Despite the hiccup, Team Sam’s Garage had a major highlight—they scored an Ace, a perfect leg with an exact-on-time checkpoint arrival. That was a huge milestone for the team and one of their main goals going into the race. “The mental focus has to stay consistent through the entire race,” Doug said, describing days that started around 10 a.m. and didn’t end until close to 7 p.m., with hours of high-concentration driving and navigation.

Doug also lightly reflected on the chemistry between him and Sam, mentioning how they learned each other’s patterns. “I knew when we were passing a crowd, Sam was going to rev the engine to show off a little—which meant he was accelerating faster,” Doug laughed. “And I had to scramble to adjust the timing. Again.”

Looking ahead, Doug is already planning to participate in the Great Race 2026, which will begin on the iconic Route 66 in celebration of its 100th anniversary. It’s shaping up to be a historic event—and we can’t wait to cheer him and Team Sam’s Garage on for another unforgettable adventure.

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