Helder began professional auto racing in 1983, after first moving to California. By 1987, Antunes had participated multiple times in the Nevada Open Road Challenge and the Silver State Classic, considered by Guinness World Records as the fastest road race in the world.
During his early years, Antunes raced Ford Mustangs and Chevrolet Corvettes at tracks such as Sonoma Raceway (then known as Sears Point Raceway) and Laguna Seca Raceway. Over the years, Antunes placed in the Top 3 various times in the Pony Express 100.
During his time as an automotive racer, Antunes designed some of the earliest data acquisition systems for racecars. His systems pioneered the integration of a car’s computerized engine controls with real-time data acquisition and modeling, including the development of an engine “black box” aimed at converting engine data to be transmitted to a racecar’s support team.
