RPW Column: Pat Reiser Readying For The ’21 Orange County Small Block Season

Column By: MIKE TRAVERSE / RPW – HIGHLAND LAKE, NY – Pat Reiser is one of the most likeable people you will find, not only in racing, but just in general. He is always such an upbeat and easygoing person and always great to talk to.

Over the past couple of months, Pat has been putting his great people skills to good use as being the host of the bi-weekly Facebook Live podcast “Talkin’ Dirty.” He has done an outstanding job on the broadcasts and it sure looks like he has a lot of fun doing them.

But the time is coming when Pat will be setting the microphone down and getting ready for something else he enjoys. That would be getting ready to race in the H.O. Penn Small Block Modified division at OCFS in 2021.

Pat has been around racing much of his life as his father, Doug Reiser, owned the potent #33 Small Block driven to many wins by Chuck McKee over the years.

“I couldn’t start racing myself until I finished college,” Pat said.

He got his start in the Rookie Sportsman division at OCFS in 2016 and raced to two wins on the season, one of which he considers his favorite racing memory.

“I always wanted to win on Father’s Day weekend. And that was my first win. Dad doesn’t run for much, but he was running that night. I pulled my car into tech and my Dad ran around the corner. I saw him and I pointed to him. That was a cool moment.”

After the 2016 season. the Reiser Racing Team moved up to the 358 Small Block Modified division. By making that move up, it cost Pat some track time due to the team running in the less scheduled 358’s. But Pat does not think that the lesser track time has been a disadvantage.

“In terms of driving the car, I don’t think so. I think that racing is more of a mental game than people realize. Sitting on the line, waiting for the heat race or feature, a lot of things can go through your head. The mental preparation is very important.”

In the very competitive division, Pat finished 13th in the 2017 point standings. And in 2018, Pat had people taking notice during the 2018 Eastern States Weekend. Reiser posted the 5th quick in the 358 Small Block Modified time trials.

When he’s not racing, Pat and Doug have been valuable crew members for a couple of very big teams, Tommy Meier and Mat Williamson. And they have been able to celebrate some very big wins with those teams including Williamson’s 2019 $100,000 Centennial Race victory at OCFS.

“We have always parked nest to Tommy or Mat every Eastern States. Tommy has always been a contender here and Mat is Mat. Those guys are awesome. It’s been a valuable experience just being around such racers.”

Does Pat have his eyes set on possibly moving further up in the racing ladder?

“Everybody in racing is competitive. You’re not going to be satisfied until you conquer the highest peak on the highest mountain. But, this is a money game. we are going to bite off as much as we can chew and we are going to have fun doing it.”

Sponsoring the 33 in 2021 will be Jill Barnes Cabins & Canoes Real Estate (Forestburgh. NY), Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, PANELfast, Bicknell Racing Products and M.J.M. Motors of South Carolina.

Pat’s crew members are his dad, Doug and Daryl Barnes.

As the 2021 season gets underway, it’s a sure bet that Pat will be enjoying the racing. Good luck to these awesome fellows, Pat and Doug and to Reiser Racing this season.