Sentence:  A guy can <WSD>be</WSD> an active and successful hot rodder for years without becoming even remotely involved with mathematical problems ; however , he will have a clearer understanding of what he is doing and the chances are he will be more successful if he understands the few formulas that apply to rodding . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)