Leadfoot Racing

Colby Hillman’s Leadfoot Racing is a sports car racing team based in Delaware, OH.

Colby Hillman started racing Go-Karts at the age of 7 and in 67 years has won countless races and championships. Currently 74 years old, Colby is still extremely competitive. In the last five years (please remember that almost all of the 2020 races were canceled for COVID 19), Colby has won the 2018 SVRA Endurance Championship, the 2017 SVRA Hawk Brake Pads Endurance Points Championship, and the 2016 West Coast VARA (Vintage Auto Racing Association) National A Production Points Champion.

History of the Name

In the late 1950’s and early 1960’s drivers’ nicknames were often used in racing. These nicknames were used to connect with fans, increase racing mystique and many times served a promotional purpose by the event’s management. Names like “Dyno Don” Garlits, Don “The Snake” Prudhomme, Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen are just a few examples. Many might remember “TV Tommy” Ivo, a moniker given to one of the original Mouseketeers, later turned racer.

The name Leadfoot originated from Colby Hillman’s go-kart racing days. For Christmas in 1959 Colby’s father, Howard, purchased for him a Dart Kart. Being somewhat younger and smaller than his fellow competitors, but usually faster, Colby earned the nickname “Little Leadfoot”. Later Colby trademarked the name and incorporated Leadfoot Racing and Leadfoot Racing Products followed by adopting the moniker “Heart of Steel, Will of Iron and Foot of Lead”.

The “Leadfoot” handle stuck as Colby worked his way up through the ranks of go-karts and into drag racing in the mid-1960’s and then into SCCA and IMSA Road Course Racing in the early 1970’s.

Colby Hillman and Future Wife Lynn Confer On Pit Strategy