FIR Main October 2012 Recap

November 12, 2012 Travis

FIR Main Recap

Photo credit: Action Photography by Selina

The buzzing topic around Phoenix comes with the recent news that lease paperwork would not be renewed for current Firebird International Raceway management. With the future looking uncertain, NASA AZ locals came out in full force to take advantage of what could ultimately be one of the last chances to run Firebird Main, NASA configuration. Unloaded in the pro pits, NASA regulars were ready to enjoy warm weather, clear skies, and awesome track conditions a few last times.

Race Group

Photo credit: Action Photography by Selina

Saturday Small Bore

Justin Markiewicz blasted off to a quick start. Following this always fast E30 was Jim Richard and the 944 pack. Returning after a brief hiatus, Tony Lisa showed he was more than comfortable on the Firebird Main track. Within laps Lisa was on the tail of the leader and worked for position 1. Not long into the race, a battle in Honda Challenge would cause a multiple car incident putting the race under a brief full course caution. Suffering slight front end damage, Team LBR pulled off to quickly repair the fascia and jump back into the race. With a green flag waving Lisa took the lead with Justin Markiewicz and Denton following. The race would carry on from here suffering only a mild oil spill on the back section of the track but ultimately leading the racers to the checkered flag.

Saturday Small Bore Results

PT-C

1^st – Justin Markiewicz

2^nd – David Snyder

PT-D

1^st – Jim Richard

944 Spec

1^st – Pete Dimuzio

2^nd – Rob Giorgio

3^rd – Stephen Marlow

Honda Challenge H2

1^st – Tony Lisa

2^nd – Ryan Denton

3^rd – Jason Noel

PT-F

1^st – Eric Jacobsen

Photo credit: Action Photography by Selina

Sunday Big Bore

Qualifying podium, Mark Alger led the pack down the drag strip to the waiving green flag. Alger quickly jumped out to a multiple car lead, which would only grow as the race progressed. In position 2 and 3 was Lou Lupo and new to Race Group in the brilliant green Porscharu was Kent Porter. While Lupo had amazing straight line speed, Porter repeatedly found himself just behind the stock car by turn 3. Jeremy Renshaw found himself in a common position leading the PT-A field by a car length. After multiple laps, Erik Davis closed the gap on the PT-A group just in time for Matthew Seech to take the inside line on Renshaw through the Tower turn. Despite the perfect line, Renshaw repeatedly blasted out of the corner to regain position no more than a few hundred yards down the drag strip. Having maintained position, Steve Lisa made his move on the entire PT-A successfully moving up 3 positions. After numerous position changes, Renshaw found himself chasing Lupo and now PT-A leader Matthew Seech.

Sunday Big Bore Results

1^st– Mark Alger

2^nd – Lou Lupo

3^rd – Kent Porter

PT-A

1^st – Matthew Seech

2^nd – Jeremy Renshaw

3^rd – Brian Turner

STR1

1^st – Steve Lisa

GTS3

1^st – Erik Davis

Photo credit: Action Photography by Selina

Sunday Small Bore

On Sunday, Justin once again started the race from the front with Jim Richard following. Tony Lisa closed the gap on the 944 racers with more speed than the previous day. After 2 laps, Eric Dayton maintained a small distance behind Tony Lisa, with Doug Evans directly behind Dayton looking to pass. Evans persistence would pay off in a single pass through the Tower gaining position on Dayton. Further back in Honda Challenge, Team LBR was maintaining position just behind Simon Pavlick, though he would not make it easy on the stitched back together Team LBR car to make the pass. Tony Lisa continued to drive his own race maintaining the front position in Honda Challenge and looking for the race lead. Dayton and Evans continued to battle despite a consistent smoke cloud coming from Evans 95 HC racecar. Team LBR would eventually find the pass in the turn of the weekend, the tower turn.

Sunday Small Bore Results

PT-C

1^st – Justin Markiewicz

PT-D

1^st – Jim Richard

944 Spec

1^st – Pete Dimuzio

2^nd – Rob Giorgio

3^rd – Stephen Marlow

Honda Challenge H2

1^st – Tony Lisa

2^nd – Douglas Evans

3^rd – Eric Dayton

PT-F

1^st – Paul Seiferth

Photo credit: Action Photography by Selina

Time Trial Saturday

Saturday was a beautiful day and a whopping 38 drivers turned out for Time Trial competition. In TT-R Anthony Szirka came out swinging with a 1:01.269, more than 5 seconds faster than the nearest class competitor. Mark Alger going for the yearlong sweep turned out another 1^st place TT-U finish with a 1:01.677. With 10 competitors TT-D was packed to the brim with great drivers with Robert Rose leading the pack with a time of 1:07.742.

Saturday Time Trial Results

TT-R

1^st – Anthony Szirka – 1:01.269

2^nd – Jim Harris – 1:06.697

3^rd – Jim Cozzolino – 1:08.789

TT-U

1^st – Mark Alger – 1:01.677

2^nd – John Bianchi – 1:03.432

3^rd – Gary Felton – 1:03.628

TT-S

1^st – David Start – 1:06.776

2^nd – Gabe Ortega – 1:08.465

TT-A

1^st – Jeremy Renshaw – 1:03.982

2^nd – Ravi Tomerlin – 1:07.558

3^rd – Dave Evans – 1:08.886

TT-B

1^st – David Schotz – 1:05.779

2^nd – Joel Schotz – 1:08.838

3^rd – Jason Griepentrog – 1:10.115

TT-C

1^st – David Snyder – 1:09.799

2^nd – Carson Clark – 1:11.894

TT-D

1^st – Robert Rose – 1:07.742

2^nd – Dave McCombs – 1:08.703

3^rd – Jeff Abrams – 1:09.202

TT-E

1^st – Brad Lundahl – 1:11.228

2^nd – Nathan Welborne – 1:13.073

3^rd – Paul Bloomberg – 1:15.974

TT-F

1^st – Eric Jacobsen – 1:16.297

Photo credit: Action Photography by Selina

Time Trial Sunday

After a quik fix after Saturday, Tony Szirka came back out Sunday with an even faster TT-R winning lap running a 1:00.448. TT-U was packed for the second day with 9 drivers. In the end it was Mark Alger with a 1:01.029 for the second win of the weekend. This victory left Alger one event from making a clean 2012 TT-U sweep. Justin Markiewicz jumped out in TT-C to show the class how it is done with a time of 1:07.872. Robert Rose once again took the TT-D win but not by much as Dave McCombs was just behind him.

Time Trial Results Sunday

TT-R

1^st – Anthony Szirka – 1:00.448

2^nd – Jim Harris – 1:07.649

3^rd – Jim Cozzolino – 1:09.221

TT-U

1^st – Mark Alger – 1:01.029

2^nd – Ken Gerhart – 1:05.079

3^rd – John Bianchi – 1:05.088

TT-S

1^st – David Stark – 1:06.585

2^nd – Gabe Ortega – 1:09.147

TT-A

1^st – Jeremy Renshaw – 1:04.516

2^nd – Robert Smithson – 1:07.142

3^rd – Ravi Tomerlin – 1:07.297

TT-B

1^st – David Schotz – 1:04.612

2^nd – Joel Schotz – 1:08.489

3^rd – Jason Griepentrog – 1:10.146

TT-C

1^st – Justin Markiewicz – 1:07.872

2^nd – Carson Clark – 1:11.838

3^rd – Joe Cattaneo – 1:13.112

TT-D

1^st – Robert Rose – 1:07.029

2^nd – Dave McCombs – 1:08.435

3^rd – Jeff Abrams – 1:09.115

TT-E

1^st – Nathan Welbourne – 1:11.927

TT-F

2^nd – Eric Jacobsen – 1:16.638

Photo credit: Action Photography by Selina

UMS Tuning Time Attack Series

Following a number of spills, UMS Tuning TA lined up to take the track. Talking with drivers beforehand they each had their concerns about the entrance to the tower turn given the days reputation. Despite any worries, drivers attacked four laps as always. Here is how the group finished.

Photo Credit: Adina Evanson

UMS Tuning Time Attack Results

TA-C

1^st – Anthony Szirka – 1:03.906

2^nd – Markos Mylonas – 1:06.247

3^rd – Chris Doyle – 1:06.912

TA-B

1^st – Robert Rose – 1:06.493

2^nd – David Stark – 1:07.069

3^rd – Ravi Tomerlin – 1:07.763

TA-A

1^st – Jeff Abrams – 1:10.497

2^nd – Stenos Wijaya – 1:10.725

3^rd – Sergio Perez – 1:12.645

Photo credit: Action Photography by Selina

HPDE

With HPDE 3 and 4 combined, this was the perfect time to mix all levels of skill. With the eager HPDE3 drivers mixed with Time Trial prepared HPDE4 drivers, NASA AZ took advantage of the mix to focus on the basics of passing for a moment. Drivers participated in mixed class passing drills as a reminder of the proper and safest ways of both overtaking, and forfeiting a corner. In speaking with group leaders, the drills were well absorbed and added another skill to each of the HPDE drivers.

The weekend was certainly filled with a number of exciting moments for all drivers to learn from. We want to also remind all competition and HPDE participants that everyone is responsible for knowledge and adherence to all rules outlined in the NASA CCRs. While certain instances of the weekend were true accidents, there were a number of instances during competition sessions that the weekend would have been better if completely left out. While each of us are competitive by nature, competitors need to remember that over aggressive driving will not be tolerated and severe penalties per the rules will be issued to any driver found at fault. Unfortunately, this sport we all know and love so much can be extremely dangerous and good judgement must always prevail to ensure the safety of all participants.

With the mention of safety, it should be noted there were a number of incident s over the weekend which required assistance of emergency response crews. NASA AZ goes to extreme measures to be prepared should an unexpected or unavoidable incident occur. While NASA never likes to point out these kinds of things, it is critical to point out to those that may not have noticed just what an incredible job the safety crews did all weekend long. The response time was incredible to say the lease and even rivaled professional series across the globe. NASA hired fire fighters in conjunction with FIR safety and NASA Tech & Ops made for incredible rescues and without a doubt prevented serious injury to any drivers. Without the proactive measures and additional safety staff above and beyond industry standards, the same outcomes would be unlikely.

A huge shout out goes to each of these workers for staying concentrated on everyone’s safety and while we hate when we have to dispatch the emergency crews, drivers should feel confident that they are running with the best possible organization when it comes to safety should the unthinkable happen.

Photo credit: Action Photography by Selina

Chuckwalla End of Year 3 Hour Enduro Race!!!

Every year the racers of NASA AZ look forward to the various Enduro races throughout the season including the always favorite end of year race. This year, may be the best Enduro ever hosted by NASA AZ! As if Chuckwalla Valley Raceway wasn’t enough of a workout for drivers, add a 3 hour enduro race and its sure to be a great time! If it was ever said, this is the don’t miss event of the year! Racers who plan to attend, please take a moment to freshen up on the specific Enduro rules. We want to make sure every driver is fully prepared before the drop of the green flag!

NASA Pro Racing Enduro Race Rules

NASA AZ Supplemental Rules

Next Event Info

Chuckwalla Valley Raceway – December 1&2 – Desert Center, CA

Event Details

November 30 – Friday Test and Tune Day

HPDE

UMS Tuning Time Attack Series (Double Points)

Time Trial (Saturday Points Event / Sunday Double Points)

Race Group (Double Points Enduro Saturday / Regular Points Race Sunday)

Register here –> http://www.drivenasa.com/event/1425

NASA-AZ Info