Petaluma racing group offers corporate thrills

Whereas the statecraft of business was once performed on the golf course, a new generation of CEOs and corporate elite are now forging those relationships around the high-speed thrills of the racetrack. One Petaluma company is catering to that niche at 200 miles per hour, and showing no sign of slowing down.Backed by a suite of purpose-built race cars by British manufacturer Aston Martin, The Racer’s Group-Aston Martin Racing aims to serve what CEO Kevin Buckler said is an accelerating trend in corporate networking and recreation.On a recent morning at its headquarters off South McDowell Boulevard, TRG-AMR’s gleaming shop was packed with cars in various stages of maintenance and preparation. Most were the $225,000 Vantage GT4, used for racing and various track events. Two were the Vantage GT3, a $575,000, twelve-cylinder model that Buckler said is used only for elite racing.