Neals’ Ferrari Honors TAC on the Racetrack

After four years on the sidelines, Rob Neal — a managing partner with Hager Pacific Properties and a recreational racecar driver — is back on the track. And prominently displayed on the side of his racecar is the Thomas Aquinas College crest and motto, Fides Quarens Intellectum. 

Rob and his wife, Berni, a member of TAC’s Board of Governors, were introduced to the College over 20 years ago. Friends of late former president Dr. Thomas E. Dillon, they soon became acquainted with TAC’s unique teaching method and faithfully Catholic community. They also became benefactors, whose steadfast generosity includes a $500,000 matching gift for the College’s recently concluded Friends Week of Giving.

“We love that the College acquaints, in a very mission-centric way, its students with faith,” says Mr. Neal. “We love that there are so many priests and religious who come out of the College, and so many faith-filled marriages. TAC produces very healthy alumni who are able to give back to their community.”

“We thought this would be a wonderful way to display our passion and perhaps begin to catechize some who otherwise might not hear the message.”

In decorating his Ferrari 488 EVO, Mr. Neal found a way to combine two things he loves: TAC and racing. In the 1980s, he served on the pit crew for his brother, the late Jim Neal Jr., who raced for NASCAR. Later in life, he started collecting Ferraris and discovered his own love for being behind the wheel.

“Racing is a hobby that brings me joy,” he says. He found that racing brought about a certain focus that he had previously found only through prayer, meditation, and the Mass. “When you’re going down a straight at a high rate of speed, you’re not thinking about anything else. That ability to quiet the mind is valuable, at least to me, because I have a tendency to be thinking about a few things at once.”

Four years ago, due to medical issues, Mr. Neal had to leave the driver’s seat. But, in April of this year, on his 65^th birthday, he returned to the track with a new car, ready to test himself at the Ferrari Challenge on the world-class Circuit of the Americas track in Austin, Texas. His return vehicle, shining bright and cherry red, featured the TAC emblem emblazoned on its side, as well as one for The Catholic University of America, where Mr. Neal chairs the Board of Trustees.

“We wanted to invite conversations,” he says, explaining the decision to place the logos on the car. “The racing world is full of passionate people, but there’s not a lot of faith there. Some of these people are hungry for something more. We thought this would be a wonderful way to display our passion and perhaps begin to catechize some who otherwise might not hear the message.”

The Ferrari Challenge is a step below professional series racing, meant for racing enthusiasts to try out their Ferraris in top-level sprint races over a three-day period. Mr. Neal spent his three days on and off the track, easing back into his favorite hobby. “Unfortunately, we crashed twice,” he admits, laughing. “The first time, I put it into a wall. My crew worked on it overnight, and I was back out the next day for a great day of running. On the final day, I never even got up to speed before another car hit me.” Mr. Neal was in no serious danger, though, thanks to the speed of his crew and safety of his vehicle. “The cars are designed to fly apart on impact, dissipating the energy from the collision. It’s a very calculated danger.” 

Despite finishing the sprints with competitive times, Mr. Neal does not consider this challenge a proper race. He intends this year to be a reintroduction to his passion, a challenge to himself to see if he can return to more serious competition. “We call it reconnaissance,” he explains. “We’ll see how it goes, then make a decision for bigger involvement next year.” 

He will be testing his car and his mettle again in the next Ferrari Challenge on the Sonoma Circuit in August. Look out for the cherry-red 488 EVO — the one sporting the TAC crest.