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. Dennis Short, the founder, never gave up on his dream of racing, and because he kept fighting, Transition Autosport was born. Dennis has experienced struggles with gender identity and depression since childhood, but he didn’t succumb to these struggles. Instead, he found a purpose in modifying cars and racing. A love for cars helped Dennis cope with depressive thoughts, and it also brought Transition Autosport to fruition.
How The Motorsport Journey Began
Dennis discovered his passion for road racing after watching the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) on Speedvision. Shortly after learning about the BTCC in 1995, he purchased a new Saturn SW2. While racing wasn’t the original intention, Dennis was determined to modify his car to improve its performance.
The ultimate goal was to have a sporty street car, so Dennis got to work looking for parts. Saturn Performance Systems (SPS), a company that specialized in aftermarket performance parts for Saturns, was discovered during this process. SPS was generous with Dennis, who was only a newbie at the time. They provided parts for low prices, but the deal was as follows: Dennis had to take his car to sport compact car shows to promote SPS and their parts.
The Dream Starts to Become a Reality
In 1999, SPS organized a track day for its customers at the Putnam Park Road Course in Meridian, IN. Dennis attended the event and was paired with Mark Rushbrook, a veteran SCCA driver. Under Mark’s guidance, he received valuable instruction on driving lines, braking techniques, and acceleration.
One comment stood out to Dennis and filled him with hope. Mark told Dennis, “Your driving is smooth. You’re going to make a great race car driver.” Over the next two years, Dennis dedicated time to preparing his 1995 Saturn SW2 for competition. He gained driving experience by participating in time trial events and track days organized by the Eastern Motor Racing Association.
D&N Motorsports is Born
Transition Autosport isn’t Dennis’ first venture into the world of motorsport. In 2001, Dennis, with his then-wife Nicole, founded D&N Motorsports after meeting the requirements for a racing license. That same year, Dennis competed with the Eastern Motor Racing Association (EMRA) in the street touring class. In 2002, he joined the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) to gain additional track time. Despite these successes and exciting new opportunities, the team faced challenges. Managing the logistics and expenses associated with these events proved problematic, prompting the team to focus primarily on NASA events in 2003.
Stepping up to the USTCC
In 2004, the D&N Motorsports team had another big year. They announced their entry into the United States Touring Car Championship (USTCC) and, through hard work, achieved several podium finishes, including a memorable victory at Summit Point Raceway. This win was particularly impressive given that they were competing with a car that was both underpowered and overweight. It showcased the team’s perseverance and talent. However, recognizing the need for improvements, they decided to take a season off to develop their race car.
Partnership with Hazardous Sports
By the 2006 season, the team rejoined the USTCC, this time partnering with Hazardous Sports, a brand specializing in motorsport apparel and accessories. This was an exciting period for the team, but it would come to an end quickly. The 2006 season marked the final year of East Coast races, as there was insufficient interest in the region to warrant continuing USTCC events.
The End of D&N Motorsports
D&N Motorsports ended in 2006 due to Dennis and Nicole’s deteriorating relationship. Despite this, the team has much to be proud of, as D&N was a truly successful endeavor. In 2007, Dennis attempted to continue D&N Motorsports’ legacy by renaming the team Menace Motorsports. However, they lacked the budget to keep the operation running. Unfortunately, later that same year, he decided to shut the team down indefinitely.
The Plan: How Dennis Got Back Up
Dennis worked hard for nearly a decade, and by 2016, his financial situation was improving, so he devised a plan to return to racing. To achieve this, Dennis decided to build a track car to attend track days and hone driving skills in the lead-up to his retirement. After retiring, the plan was to build another racecar.
The Future: What Comes Next
Dennis is not yet retired, but that time is fast approaching. In the fall of 2025, he plans to retire from his career as a firefighter and start building a new race car. When retirement arrives, Transition Autosport will also reach its full potential. Dennis and the team are still a work in progress, keeping many details about Transition Autosport under wraps.
As the team strives to launch Transition Autosport, they are putting in long hours, hard work, and much love. Dennis and the team are working to emerge with a new identity, and accomplishing this will undoubtedly be a formidable journey. As we know, though, Dennis 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, Dennis will not be brought down by adversity. Despite all the unique challenges, he worked hard to face those struggles head-on. Transition Autosport would not be what it is today if not for Dennis’ 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 becoming a race car driver have not changed at all.