Meet the Man Under the Hood: Ken Coe

Ken’s early fascination for how things work was wisely channeled into cars, departing from tearing apart his family’s home appliances.

Ken had his head under the hood at an early age. Recruited by his father, an aerospace engineer on some of the early Apollo missions, Ken worked with him on tune-ups and rebuilds. He began as a retriever of tools and worked up to procedures in hard-to-reach places where only his little kid hands fit. Later he was prompted to fly solo and offered the out-of-commission 1973  Peugeot 504 that sat neglected in the garage in exchange for ownership. Ken had it up and running in six months, well before he was old enough to drive.

When Ken works on cars, his mind is clear. The problems he works through with his hands solve the problems in his head, as the processes, patience, and lessons learned on motors translate to life itself. Mechanics have always intuitively made sense to Ken, as he finds himself at his most present and creative while working. 

His passion and aptitude for engineering led Ken to an education in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University, a Master’s in systems engineering from the University of Southern California. He has a 38 year career in the aerospace industry focusing on systems engineering and large scale integration.

His master’s thesis was to architect a land speed record, putting Ken in the driver’s seat and opening the door to his racing career. From a new vantage point, Ken’s unique edge and deepening understanding of motor engineering allowed him to become immersed in the world of racing and it's like-minded need-for-speed community.

On the Flats

As an avid participant over the last 13 years at Bonneville (Wendover, UT) and El Mirage (Adelanto, CA) racing tracks, Ken has stepped into newer roles as both a volunteer and a mentor. Ken is the first person rookies meet on the flats. As a technical inspection volunteer, he always aims to create a welcoming experience as the entry place for land speed racers. He also helps with rookie orientation, providing instructions, an overview of procedures, watching drivers through their runs, and guiding team operations on and off the course. And as a fellow driver, Ken is always available to help troubleshoot engineering mysteries in the neighboring pit. 

Ken’s professional and personal breakthroughs have been discovered on the racetrack. His most meaningful moments have been found behind the wheel, whether reflected in the data or in the experience of driving itself.

Currently, Ken facilitates and collaborates with others to do the same, offering services that will take other drivers, mechanics, and builders to higher speeds! His passion for continuous learning and teaching opportunities connects Ken’s knowledge to his calling, solving problems one motor at a time. 

Ken lives half time in San Antonio, TX, and half time in San Diego, CA with his wife Mara and has two daughters Dori and Tali.