So, you've made your way to my website and now you might be wondering- who even is Payton? Hi! Let me introduce myself- my name is Payton Brown, I am 25, and I have been active in the automotive industry for the past 10 years. Not too long ago, I rebranded my social media channels as "Racin' Payton" as something easier to remember and identify. For no reason at all, other than I wanted something I felt represented me better than just my first and last name and some numbers.
If you are new to who I am or what I do, for the past 5 years I have been building a street-car with full intentions of drag racing it once it is done. That car is a 1988 Ford Mustang that is receiving a built LS engine and manual transmission. But before I get too ahead of myself, let me tell you how I got here!
Growing up, my dad has owned a '55 Chevy that has forever been on the back-burner to life and family. Quite honestly, growing up- I never understood it and I can remember my mom and I making jokes to him about his "old car". Eventually, my mind changed and I started to enjoy learning about cars and found joy in working on them myself. I think the first thing I ever did car-wise was fill the rear end in his '55 with fluid, something that of course no one wants to be tasked with.. because if you know... you just know. But back then, I didn't.
My grandfather, who just recently passed in 2020 also played a major role in my development of a love for cars. He owned a '57 Chevy that was also on the back-burner that he sadly didn't get to finish. The second experience I can remember working on cars was when he taught me how to replace brakes on a car. But he taught me so much more than just that throughout the years.
On my dad's birthday in 2013, he selflessly brought home a 1997 Mustang GT for me and that was the spark that has brought me to today. Since, I have had a 2010 V6 Mustang, 2013 Mustang GT, my current 1988 LS-swap project, and another foxbody. I went from only knowing how to throw lowering springs on a Mustang to rebuilding dirt-bike engines to pulling LS engines & cam swapping them nearly alone (I also have to thank my boyfriend Christopher for the abundance of knowledge and help he has given me). I have enjoyed social media and creating content with all of these projects and showing others that just because you didn't spend every moment of your childhood in the garage growing up, doesn't mean that you can't learn or do something yourself!
For years, I have had ideas in the back of my mind of small things I would like to do that I felt represented me or other women like me. So that is why I am here today with nothing but stickers and keychains that I hope just show a small bit of representation to the women I have met in this industry and represent the people that have helped me get to where I am today.
I have never been a one-woman show and I have everyone who has ever stood behind me and supported me, gave me a hand, or given me advice/knowledge to thank for the fun things that I get to do today. So if you've read this far- thank you.
Welcome to my site (: