October 2-3 Wraps Up

PIR At last! After being away from this track for a handful of months, the October event at Phoenix International Raceway was welcomed by many. This was also the first event after NASA National Championships, where many of our Racers and Time Trialers placed respectably in this national event. Congratulations everyone who traveled to Miller Motorsports Park and for representing some great driving from the Arizona region!

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Doug Evans, Matt McIntyre and Ricky (Boo-Boo) Johnson take to the Podium at NASA National Champtionships / Miller Motorsports Park

Here are our podium winners!

STR1 – Mark Alger – 1st Place
Super Unlimited – Donald Uhlir – 3rd Place
Super Touring 1 – Mark Alger – 2nd Place
PTA – David Leyvas – 2nd Place
PTA – Matthew Seech – 3rd Place
TTB – Matt McIntyre – 1st Place
TTB – Ricky Johnson – 2nd Place
TTB – Douglas Evans – 3rd Place
TTF – Eric Jacobsen – 2nd Place
GTS4 – Gregory Dalgarn – 2nd Place
GTS5 – Chad Nelson (Replacement Car) – 1st Place
GTS5 – David Leyvas – 2nd Place
TTU – Mark Alger – 2nd Place
TTS – Tage Evanson – 2nd Place
PTB – Ricky Johnson – 2nd Place

Champagne celebrations commence!

Champagne celebrations commence! Doug Evans and Eric Jacobsen join the fun.

Official results for all cars can be found @ http://www.nasachampionships.com/2010results.html

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It’s the fall season in Arizona and somehow we all enjoyed (or loathed) some unseasonably warm weather.  Most of us were hoping for cooler temperatures to help with those lap times.  Surpringly enough it was HOTTER than our Summer events, with temperatures hitting 99 and 100 respectively. This event reached triple digits by late morning, keeping the ambient temperatures hot for the duration.  Saturday’s high in the garage was 108!  It appears that this was the hottest NASA event in our recent memory, or perhaps ever recorded. Through all this climate-induced suffering, I was left wondering a couple things… a) why weren’t there more people at the Summer events? and b) where in the world was that kiddie-pool Tage brought last time!?

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Instruction in the NASA-AZ Competition School

Instruction begins in the NASA-AZ Competition School.

This event was notably unique as it hosted the annual NASA-AZ Competition School taught by racing veterans Gary Felton, Mike Browning, and Norm Hamden. Drivers in HPDE4 and Time Trial signed up to learn all about the do’s and do not’s of racing. The class held 14 students driving 100hp to 600hp cars, making for “interesting” and dynamic on-track sessions as part of the curriculum.

For those of you interested in running Race Group, the Competition School is a requirement within NASA but is only offered once per year, so it is best to prepare far advance for the next time it is made available.

In the NASA Competition School, students must understand all the required rules and tactics that make racing with NASA fun and safe. Of course, there is much emphasis on the CCRs (we can’t say this enough) but everyone who runs with us (whether you are in Race Group or HPDE1) should take time to review them.

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NASA-AZ Competition School - Practice Drill, Race Start

NASA-AZ Competition School - Practice Drill, Race Start

Here are some highlights from the Competition School:

  • Safety Requirements for Race Group – What the driver needs to wear and what the car MUST have before it runs on the racing surface IN Race Group.
  • Rules – Familiarity and understanding of the Club Codes and Regulations (CCRs), including flag knowledge, safety rules, and organization protocols used within NASA. Review the CCRs if you haven’t already.
  • On-Track Drills – Side-by-side driving, passing etiquette (i.e., racing room, smart driving), practice race starts, and driving off-line.
  • Guest Speakers – Racers from our region took time to speak with students and were available for Q & A, including Chad Nelson, Mark Alger, and Paul Bloomberg.

Congratulations to all of our drivers who completed the school and who joined Race Group for the first time on Sunday!

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Safety Reminders
As always, the main concern NASA has for everyone on track is their safety. I will keep this brief but will mention some important points for everyone to remember next time they drive with us:

  • The Oval at PIR – A lot of us love the high-speed thrills PIR offers us, but lets keep in mind the oval is the most dangerous and probably least forgiving part of any track we run. If you see a skunk in the oval, don’t abruptly lift or brake.
  • Predictability and Car Control–  If you see a spinning car down the main straight, don’t abruptly lift or brake or you might spin too (get the car straight and then brake in a straight line). It’s important not to overact while driving on track, in most cases your car will overact with you.
  • When the Rules are Ignored / Forgotten – If you see a car making some drastic maneuvers, or is found exiting the track incorrectly in the middle of the oval, don’t abruptly lift or slow down, just ease up and go around them but maintain your speed!!!
  • Passing Room and Etiquette – If a slow car is in front of you, plan your passes accordingly. Don’t risk your car or the other driver’s car by dive bombing them and cutting it too close.
  • Hydrate! When weather heats up, we know you spend a lot of time making sure your car runs properly, but don’t neglect your body.  Drink plenty of liquids, especially water.

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Small Bore Race Group

The weekend was filled with some great racing, where the Small Bore field consisted of our regular attendance of 944 spec cars, along with a PT-C/H2 Integra driven by Erik Woods, and all the way from Las Vegas a Spec Miata driven by Dale Shoemaker.  Saturday brought Austin Newmark and Darren Griffith to swap places after qualifying, with Darren taking the win on Saturday’s race for 944 Spec, followed by Dave Hauck placing third. Determined Newmark changed the name of the game on Sunday, taking back the first position during Sunday’s race, followed by Darren Griffith and Rich Geisler.

Always a Father-son Pair, Austin Newmark after the Small Bore Race

Always a Father-son Pair: The Newmarks after the Small Bore Race

Small Bore Race Group

Small Bore leaving grid...

I will try to report this with as little bias as possible! Small Bore had a new addition to the racing field, Geri Amani in her #34 Miata joined on Sunday’s race resulting in an all-out Miata battle with #98 car driven by Dale Shoemaker. Many eyes moved towards the rear of the pack where the two Miata’s battled it out for the duration of the race. Perhaps this will encourage drivers who are considering race group to look at how much fun Miata’s can be despite their lack of horsepower.

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Top Racers Small Bore on Saturday:

944 Spec
1 – #7, Darren Griffit
2 – #47x, Austin Newmark
3 – #08, Dave Hauck

PT-C/H2
1 – #5 Erik Woods

SM
1 – #98, Dale Shoemaker

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Top Racers Small Bore on Sunday:

944 Spec
1 – #47x, Austin Newmark
2 – #7, Darren Griffith
3 – #03, Rich Geisler

PT-C/H2
1 – #5, Erik Woods

SM
1 – #98, Dale Shoemaker
2 – #34, Geri Amani

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Big Bore at the Impound

Big Bore at the Impound

Big Bore Race Group

Big Bore turned it up after the Small Bore sessions, with a field of fast cars from SU, ST, and PT classes.  The fastest of the races on both days were Mark Alger and Brent Crosser in SU placing first and second respectively, with Chad Nelson in ST-1 closing the lap time gap between SU and ST-2. On Saturday, ST-2 brought good stuff to the track with some sideways-action and eye-catching passes by Tage Evanson who ultimately placed third, while CV Wells and Rick Touton took first and second. Brian Turner delivered the goods in his UPS-themed Porsche taking first in PT-A, and Jeremy Renshaw winning PT-B.

On Sunday Ron Ballard joined the fun taking second, CV wells maintained first while Tage kept third. Marc McCombs was found in the mix along with Alger and Crosser in SU. McCombs, having  just completed the Competition School did a great job out there finishing third in his #9 Dodge.  For the PT-A class John Dowling and Brian Turner played a game of musical podium spots, exchanging first and second respectively.  Last but not least, our PT-B drivers maintained their wins, with Paul Bloomberg jumping in for third place.

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Paul Bloomberg's #51 ITR with a decal makeover!

Paul Bloomberg's #51 ITR with a decal makeover!

Small Bore wasn’t the only group who were joined by new racers;  Marc McCombs in the #9 Dodge, Bob Gottlieb in his white #78 stock car, and Bryan McCormick in his yellow-gold / Kronik Energy Drink BMW M3 joined in on Sunday’s race. Congratulations on your progress moving into race group!

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Top Racers Big Bore on Saturday:

Class SU
1 – #4, Mark Alger
2 – #206, Brent Crosser

Class ST-1
1 – #407, Chad Nelson

Class ST-2
1 – #240, CV Wells
2 – #961, Rick Touton
3 – #17, Tage Evanson

Class PT-A
1 – #524, Brian Turner
2 – #46, John Dowling

Class PT-B
1 – #11, Jeremy Renshaw
2 – #30, Marty Saltzman

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Top Racers Big Bore on Sunday:

Class SU
1 – #4, Mark Alger
2 – #206, Brent Crosser
3 – #9, Marc McCombs

Class ST-1
1 – #407, Chad Nelson

Class ST-2
1 – #240, CV Wells
2 – #93, Ron Ballard
3 – #17, Tage Evanson

Class PT-A
1 – #46, John Dowling
2 – #524, Brian Turner

Class PT-B
1 – #11, Jeremy Renshaw
2 – #30, Marty Saltzman
3 – #51, Paul Bloomberg

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Time Trial Groups

Drivers managed to sweat it out while turning some hot laps on a warm track, with temperatures skewing results for both Big Bore and Small Bore.  While both Time Trial groups were missing drivers due to their participation in Competition School, a few managed to squeeze in some laps after the class.  It has been said that the art of Time Trial is largely the ability to turn your fastest time in only a few laps. Despite missing nearly all of his TT sessions while running Competition School, Matt McIntyre jumped in the last session on both days turning a 1:08.67 as his fastest time for the weekend, also maintaining his lead in TTB.

For those of you who have run with NASA for several years, you might remember …

Clayton always has great looking cars. Back Then: Nissan 350z ... The Present: Nissan Sentra Spec V

Clayton Peck really knows how to present his cars, featuring "Gulf" colors and decals. Back Then: Nissan 350z ... The Present: Nissan Sentra Spec V

… Clayton Peck!

He joined us in Time Trial after a long break from racing, now driving his #35 Gulf-themed Sentra Spec V, increasing the total number of TTF competitors.  Clayton never ceases to amaze with his trend-setting color-coordination, including sunglasses and helmet that perfectly match his car. Let’s give a warm welcome back to the track for Clayton!

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Top TT Small Bore Drivers on Saturday:
TTB #31 – 1997 BMW M3,  Matt MacIntyre – 1:09.11
TTC #175 – 1989 Chevy Camaro, Dave Schotz – 1:09.53
TTD #3 – 1993 Mazda Miata, Robert Rose – 1:13.27
TTE #12 – 1995 Mazda Miata – Brad Lundahl – 1:15.95
TTF #7 – 1995 Honda Accord, Tage Evanson – 1:17.31

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Top TT Small Bore Drivers on Sunday:
TTB #31 – 1997 BMW M3, Matt McIntyre – 1:08.67
TTC #75 – 1989 Chevy Camaro, Dave Schotz – 1:09.04
TTD #3 – 1993 Mazda Miata, Robert Rose – 1:12.96
TTF #7 – 1995 Honda Accord, Tage Evanson – 1:17.30

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Big Bore Time Trial also experienced an absence of TTR cars due to the Competition School,  however they jumped in the last sessions for an end-of-day shootout. Wayne McKeen brought out some fast times running a 1:04.26 as his best for the weekend. Pete Creek was not far behind with a 1:05.71.  Tage Evanson brought good stuff to the track setting a new TTS record with a 1:05.09 — an impressive time for an unusually warm October weekend.

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Top TT Big Bore Drivers on Saturday:
TTR #455 – 2006 Z06 Corvette, Wayne McKeen – 1:05.06
TTU #4 – 2003 Viper CC, Mark Alger – 1:04.41
TTS #17 – 1995 Honda Civic, Tage Evanson – 1:05.09
TTA #524 – 1978 Porsche 911, Brian Turner – 1:10.23

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Top TT Big Bore Drivers on Sunday:
TTR #455 – 2006 Z06 Corvette, Wayne McKeen – 1:04.26
TTU #4 – 2003 Viper CC, Mark Alger – 1:05.29
TTS #17 – 1995 Honda Civic, Tage Evanson – 1:06.03
TTA #524 – 1978 Porsche 911, Brian Turner – 1:10.81

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HPDE

Hard at work between HPDE Sessions.

Hard at work between HPDE sessions.

I’m always pleased to see new HPDE drivers join the fun at our events. As it’s been said, HPDE often is the starting point for the next generation of Time Trialers and Racers. Over the past several months there has been some additional effort made by a lot of you moving up the HPDE ladder. Don’t forget to take time to meet and chat with Time Trialers and Racers, they are some of our fastest drivers and can be extremely helpful in getting some of your questions answered.

Chet Mann of SRD decided to take his own car on the track!

Chet Mann of SRD decided to take his own car on the track!

We had a new face in the HPDE1 classroom… Chet Mann from Superior Racing Development took to the track in his stock Honda del Sol running HPDE1 on Saturday, then moved up to HPDE2 on Sunday. Chet may be new as a driver but is very familiar with motorsports. He not only helps promote NASA-AZ, but also supports many local drivers in their Time Trial, Road Racing, and Drift competition efforts through his business (www.SuperiorRacing.com). I think it is safe to assume that Chet has now been bitten by the racing bug, as his enthusiasm was truly evident and inspiring. I hope to see more events with him in the driver’s seat!

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UMS Tuning Time Attack

The UMS Time Attack provides drivers from run groups DE3 and up with some open track in a competition format. After talking with other drivers it became obvious that the Time Attack session had been a great success. 22 drivers took to the track in three classes, meaning the UMS  TA series is becoming stronger and more competitive than ever. Our top line up starts with the UMS Tuning car #101 driven by Tony Szirka, taking center stage winning TA-C with a 1:06.526. Next up was Phil Robles dominating TA-B with 1:12.419, then Gabe Ortega continuing his consecutive wins in TA-A running a 1:13.648.

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Gabe Ortega takes the lead yet again in TA-A.

Gabe Ortega continues his winning streak in TA-A.

Top Three Drivers for TA-C
#101 UMS Tuning – 1:06.526
#2 Snail Performance – 1:10.471
#3 Robert Smithson – 1:12.659

Top Three Drivers for TA-B
#12 Phil Robles – 1:12.419
#1 Justin Bowie – 1:12.667
#2 Dan Lynch – 1:12.746

Top Three Drivers for TA-A
#424 Gabe Ortega – 1:13.648
#2 Leland Forbes – 1:16.640
#2 Dave McCombs – 1:17.000

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BBQ Celebrations

Good food, good times.

Good food, good times!

When the track goes cold the BBQ grill heats up, bringing everyone together after a long day of track driving. For this event, all of us loaded up on the tasty carbohydrates; plenty of breads, pasta and a healthy side of salad. Let’s not forget the great selection of beer!

Hungry, hungry drivers!

Hungry, hungry drivers!

Tower at PIR
The end of the day on Saturday presented some beautiful skies.

The end of the day on Saturday presented some beautiful skies.

Fellow driver and NASA chef extraordinaire Gordon Levy started preparations early in the week ensuring that everyone was covered for Saturday’s festivities. Many thanks to Gordon for his continued dedication and culinary expertise that provides us with such a great menu each event.

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Event Preview

After getting our fix at PIR, NASA-AZ will return for a one-day event on the East Track at Firebird International Raceway. This track is one of my personal favorites, and I’m always looking forward to days we get to run there. It is the kind of track where a mix of fast and technical corners coexist, and can be challenging for a wide variety of cars and driver skill levels.

A change in format will be in place for our event at FIR East, as there will be no Race Group sessions on Saturday, nor will the NASA-X be held on Sunday. However, the full HPDE and TT schedule will remain intact. Before you take this as disappointing news it should be noted that those who run with us at FIR East will also get the chance to run at a local track most of us have only heard stories about… Arizona Motorspors Park (AMP). Best of all it won’t cost you a dime to attend.

There’s a bit of fine print here…

While AMP is NOT (and I repeat – NOT) officially “OPEN”, there is a sound testing day being conducted open to all drivers that are registered for the FIR East event AND pass the sound meter test. Cars who register at 92db or less will be given the ‘green flag’ to run at AMP on Sunday the 17th.

This is not an official NASA event, so no timing/scoring will be in use. There is also a limit on the number of people who can be present at the facility. With the allowance is set up to 110 people  (between staff, gate workers and flaggers), it is fair to say that this will be limited to around 80-90 drivers.

With that being noted, now’s the time to get your restrictive exhaust back on your race car, or add that silencer that your girlfriend forced you to buy last year because she said your car was too annoying… then hit the track with us at FIR East October 16th and AMP October 17th! See you there!

Article written by Geri Amani
photographs by Geri Amani, Twisted Priorities, and Chet Mann.