By Erin Newton
Adversity is something that we all endure. Far too many people are dealing with serious challenges, such as a lack of purpose and deteriorating mental health. However, when someone experiences these adversities, they can still find the power to create incredibly important things. Transition Autosport is an example of something important built out of adversity.
This team is a prime example of how life’s battles must be fought, not avoided. Deni Short, the founder, never gave up on their dream of racing, and because they kept fighting, Transition Autosport was born. Deni has experienced struggles with gender identity and depression since they were young, but they didn’t succumb to these struggles. Instead, they found a purpose in modifying cars and racing. A love for cars helped Deni cope with depressive thoughts—and it also brought Transition Autosport to fruition.
How The Motorsport Journey Began
After following the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) on Speedvision, Deni realized their passion for road racing. Shortly after discovering the BTCC in 1995, they bought a new Saturn SW2. Although they didn’t think they would race the new car, Deni was sure they wanted to modify it.
Their ultimate goal was to have a sporty street car, so Deni got to work looking for parts. They soon connected with Saturn Performance Systems (SPS), a company that specialized in aftermarket performance parts for Saturns. SPS was generous with Deni, who was only a newbie at the time. They gave Deni parts for low prices, but the deal was as follows: Deni had to take the car to sport compact car shows to promote SPS and the parts.
The Dream Starts to Become a Reality
By the time 1999 rolled around, SPS sponsored a track day for their customers hosted at the Putnam Park Road Course in Meridian, IN. Deni attended and was paired with Mark Rushbrook, a veteran SCCA driver. Under Mark’s wing, Deni received instructions about driving lines, braking, and accelerating.
One comment stood out to Deni, giving them hope. Mark said to Deni, “Your driving is smooth. You’re going to make a great race car driver.” Over the next two years, Deni worked on the 1995 Saturn SW2, preparing it for competition. They gained experience as a driver by competing in time-trial events and track days hosted by the Eastern Motor Racing Association.
D&N Motorsports is Born
Transition Autosport isn’t Deni’s first foray into the motorsport world. Deni and their then-wife, Nicole, founded D&N Motorsports in 2001 after they met the licensing requirements for racing. The team competed in the street touring class with the Eastern Motor Racing Association (EMRA) that year, and in 2002, they also joined the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) to gain more track time. With all these successes and new adventures came challenges, though. Due to the challenges of managing the logistics and expenses of all these events, the team primarily focused on NASA events in 2003.
Stepping up to the USTCC
2004 was another big year for the D&N Motorsports team. They announced their entry into the United States Touring Car Championship (USTCC). Thanks to their hard work, they secured a couple of podium finishes, including a memorable race win at Summit Point Raceway. They did this even with an underpowered and heavy car. This win was a testament to the team’s perseverance and talent, but they knew they needed to improve their car, so they took a season off to do so.
Partnership with Hazardous Sports
By the 2006 season, the team re-entered the USTCC. This time, they partnered with Hazardous Sports, a motorsport apparel and accessory brand. This was an exciting time for the team, but it would soon come to an end. 2006 would be the final season for the East Coast races, as there was insufficient interest in the region to justify continuing USTCC races.
The End of D&N Motorsports
D&N Motorsports came to an end in 2006 as the relationship between Deni and Nicole deteriorated. However, the team has a lot to be proud of because D&N was a truly successful endeavor. Although in 2007, Deni attempted to continue the legacy of D&N Motorsports, changing the name to Menace Motorsport, they didn’t have the budget to keep the operation going. Unfortunately, that same year, Deni decided to shut the team down indefinitely.
The Plan: How Dennis Got Back Up
Deni had worked hard for nearly a decade, and by 2016, their financial situation was beginning to improve. They devised a plan to return to racing. To achieve this, Deni planned to build a track car to attend track days and hone their driving skills in the lead-up to their retirement. Once they reach retirement age, they plan to build another racecar.
The Future: What Comes Next
Retirement has not yet come for Deni, but it’s coming soon. In 2025, Deni plans to retire from a career as a firefighter and begin building a new race car. When retirement comes, Transition Autosport will reach its full potential as well. For now, Deni and the team are still a work in progress, keeping many details about Transition Autosport hush-hush.
As the team works to get Transition Autosport off the ground, they must put in long hours, hard work, and a lot of love. Deni and the team are working to emerge with a new identity, and succeeding in this will undoubtedly be a formidable journey. As we know, though, Deni is very familiar with formidable journeys.
Transition Autosport: Resilience in the Face of Adversity
After a lifetime of struggling with depression and gender identity, and now near-retirement working to get Transition Autosport up and running, Deni will not be brought down by adversity. Despite all the unique challenges, Deni worked hard to face those struggles head-on. Transition Autosport would not be what it is today if not for Deni’s resilience and hard work. It’s been nearly thirty years since the purchase of that new Saturn SW2, and although much has changed, the determination, love for cars, and dream of being a race car driver remain unchanged.