Exhilaration, bliss, euphoria

Dusty Dean, ’09, entered his first organized go-kart race at 10 years old, and reaching rocket speeds an inch off the ground has been an exhilarating experience ever since.

Drivers lie down to reduce aerodynamic drag, steering from the waist as they careen down the track. “Imagine holding that position for 45 minutes with an engine on both sides of your shoulders … propelling the kart into a turn at 140 to 150 mph,” Dean said. “Your attention is undivided.”

Dean found the gem in racing to be something more than just “sheer speed.”

“I’ve grown to treasure the discipline that it takes to control your adrenaline … and maintain absolute focus. Closing that helmet visor gives me respite from the rest of the world in a way that no other experience has ever compared.”

Dean dreamed of the checkered flag at Daytona, a dream come true in Dec. 2022 accompanied by total “exhilaration, bliss, euphoria.”

Dean didn’t expect to win at the World Karting Association race, the largest-attended racing event of the year. “I focused on improving [and] trying to build the fastest kart I could. With patience, it ended up being fast enough to win.”

A degree in rhetoric and communications studies with a minor in business administration gave Dean the mindset to mesh the world of racing with a philosophy of financial planning.

“My experiences in karting and wealth management have shown me that long-term success depends on adaptability. You need to be able to pivot quickly … to problem-solve your way to success. At times, the path to victory isn’t going to be clear … however, if we focus on the factors that we can control … then we can ensure that we’ll run the best possible race that we’re capable of. I would encourage my fellow Spiders to find a project or hobby that they are passionate about. The quirkier, more niche, or weird, the better!”