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Firebird Main March Recap!

March 24, 2013 Travis

FIR Main Recap

That’s a wrap! The last and final NASA AZ Firebird one day night event combined with the Modified Magazine Tuner Shootout from Continental Tires has come and gone. Never without a few surprises, NASA officials really went out with a bang presenting the usual 18 hour night event over the course of two sunny days! With surprisingly pleasant weather and the highest competitor registration ever, the weekend was full of memories to speak of for years to come.

Race Group

Saturday Big Bore Results

Super Touring 1

1^st – Chris Wilson

2^nd – Dan Maloney

3^rd – Kent Porter

Super Unlimited

1^st – Lou Lupo

2^nd – Michael Papworth

3^rd Keith Gillespie

Class 944 Spec

1^st – Tyler Thompson

GTS3

1^st – Andrew Sanchez

2^nd – Martin Saltzman

3^rd – Jeremy Renshaw

Super Touring 2

1^st – Justin Stevenson

2^nd – Don Dillon

ST-2

1^st – Tim Bidwell

ST-3

1^st – Erik Davis

GTS2

1^st – Savannah Ivanitski

Saturday Small Bore

Team LBR jumped out to a quick lead in Honda Challenge. This team has come a long way in a short time and looks great on track. Following closely behind was Team FTW. Bringing up the pack was new comer to Race group and HC, Ravi Tomerlin in his Shift Fast Acura Integra. Look for quick times from this team in the future. Coming through tower turn sounding like a pack of bees, the 944 group was all over the place holding their position against the close competitors. This traffic eventually allowed Team LBR to put a small gap on Team FTW, however this lead would be short lived. Within no time Team FTW took consecutive attempts to pass LBR through the tower turn with no success as they could not match LBR’s speed out of the corner. Once again in traffic, Team LBR would suffer a blow to their right fender and door from a competitor. The race would end on a red flag with a an acrobatic accident coming up turn 9. Thanks to proper safety equipment and regulations, drivers were able to walk away unscathed.

Saturday Small Bore Results

PT-C

1^st – Justin Markiewicz

Ford Spec Racer

1^st – Elliot Freireich

944 Spec

1^st – Norm Hamden

2^nd – Rob Giorgio

3^rd – Stephen Marlow

Honda Challenge H2

1^st – Team FTW

2^nd – Team LBR

3^rd – Jason Noel

PT-D

1^st – Barry Blythe

PT-E

1^st – Simon Pavlick

2^nd – Team ArizonaPain.com

3^rd – David James

Sunday Big Bore

Big Bore had a huge turnout for the weekend. With so many drivers, in each class, the track stayed full for the duration of the race. Temperatures proved to be a challenge for everyone, as varying vehicle, tire, and track heats made every lap count. Great job goes to each of the racers for keeping it clean and entertaining.

Sunday Big Bore Results

Super Touring 1

1^st– Kent Porter

2^nd – Chris Wilson

3^rd – Dan Maloney

ST-3

1^st – Erik Davis

GTS3

1^st – Jeremy Renshaw

2^nd – Martin Saltzman

3^rd – Dave Leyvas

Super Unlimited

1^st – Michael Papworth

2^nd – Keith Gillespie

Super Touring 2

1^st – Justin Stevenson

2^nd – Don Dillon

3^rd – Tim Bidwill

Sunday Small Bore

Sunday Small Bore Results

PT-C

1^st – Justin Markiewicz

PT-D

1^st – Barry Blythe

PT-E

1^st – Simon Pavlick

2^nd – David James

944 Spec

1^st – Norm Hamden

2^nd – Rob Giorgio

3^rd – Dean Schaefer

Honda Challenge H2

1^st – Team LBR

2^nd – Eric Dayton

3^rd – Jason Noel

GTS2

1^st – Valentin Ivanitski

Time Trial Saturday

Time Trial was packed on Saturday with a combined 53 drivers! This made for huge groups which required skilled and courteous driving while pushing the limits of the vehicles. The weather was perfect for keeping cars cool with just the right amount of heat in the track keeping tires sticky. In TTU Travis Barnes jumped out in 1^st place early with a 1:03.042 which he would better throughout the day, but not without Team Boost Medical scooping that podium in the final session running a sub 1 minute time of 0:59.937 for a new TTU record. Anthony Szirka fighting suspension setup issues all weekend also challenged to beat Barnes time falling just short of Barnes 1:02.278 with a 1:02.285 in the blazing blue IROC Evo. Not wasting any time Chris Wilson from Science of Speed took the TT1 win in the first session with a 1:01.510. Wes Hanson led TT2 the entire day running consistent 1:04 times. Taylor Wilson who speaks of himself in third person managed to bump Hanson in the last session with a 1:04.159 and a TT2 record. We cannot forget Chris Doyle who pulled off a 3^rd place TT2 finish in his first Time Trial outing. The always fast Matt McIntyre took down TT3 in the first session with a 1:03.859 and a new class record. David Schotz smoked the TTB competition with a 1:04.264 in session 1. Justin Markiewicz and Robert Rose took 1^st place TTC and TTD. Stenos Wijaya challenged Simon Pavlick’s 1^st place TTE time of 1:09.075 with a very quick 1:09.445.

Saturday Time Trial Results

TT-U

1^st – Team Boost Medical – 0:59.937 – New Record!

2^nd – Travis Barnes – 1:02.278

3^rd – Anthony Szirka – 1:02.285

TT-1

1^st – Chris Wilson – 1:01.510

2^nd – Timothy Schoeppner – 1:02.129

3^rd – Ken Gerhart – 1:04.554

TT-2

1^st – Taylor Wilson – 1:04.159 – New Record!

2^nd – Wes Hanson – 1:04.682

3^rd – Chris Doyle – 1:06.234

TT-3

1^st – Matt McIntyre – 1:03.859 – New Record!

2^nd – Jeremy Renshaw – 1:05.677

3^rd – John Friesen – 1:06.017

TT-B

1^st – David Schotz – 1:04.264

2^nd – Joel Schotz – 1:07.174

3^rd – Dan Haski – 1:08.582

TT-C

1^st – Justin Markiewicz – 1:06.794

2^nd – Jeff Abrams – 1:07.629

3^rd – Chris Plumlee – 1:09.514

TT-D

1^st – Robert Rose – 1:07.297

2^nd – Jay Ronquillo – 1:10.462

3^rd – Stephen Marlow – 1:11.048

TT-E

1^st – Simon Pavlick – 1:09.075

2^nd – Stenos Wijaya – 1:09.445

3^rd – Richard Mazur – 1:10.031

Time Trial Sunday

Sunday Travis Barnes stepped it up for a class win of 1:00.356. While fast it fell short of taking Team Boost Medicals record set the previous day, but not by much. Kent Porter continues to get faster which each event and ran a 1:02.359 for the TT1 win and class record. Justin Markiewicz bettered his time on Sunday with a 1:06.486 for a TTC win and new class record. Stenos Wijaya, who’s Saturday times were already drawing attention, stomped a 1:08.212 in TTE Sunday for the win and class record.

Time Trial Results Sunday

TT-U

1^st – Travis Barnes – 1:00.356

2^nd – Team Boost Medical – 1:01.713

3^rd – Anthony Szirka – 1:02.207

TT-1

1^st – Kent Porter – 1:01.359 – New Record!

2^nd – Chris Wilson – 1:02.239

3^rd – Timothy Schoeppner – 1:02.495

TT-2

1^st – Taylor Wilson – 1:04.516

2^nd – Sean Southland – 1:04.937

3^rd – Chris Doyle – 1:06.439

TT-3

1^st – Jeremy Renshaw – 1:05.092

2^nd – John Friesen – 1:06.070

3^rd – Matt McIntyre – 1:16.148

TT-B

1^st – David Schotz – 1:04.739

2^nd – Joel Schotz – 1:07.089

3^rd – Jason Griepentrog – 1:09.399

TT-C

1^st – Justin Markiewicz – 1:06.486 – New Record!

2^nd – Jeff Abrams – 1:07.831

3^rd – Chris Plumlee – 1:08.101

TT-D

1^st – Robert Rose – 1:08.008

2^nd – Jay Ronquillo – 1:10.112

3^rd – Nathan Melbourne – 1:10.702

TT-E

1^st – Stenos Wijaya – 1:08.212 – New Record!

2^nd – Richard Mazur – 1:09.574

3^rd – Simon Pavlick – 1:09.706

UMS Tuning Time Attack Series

UMS TA drivers lined up excited to hit the track, 34 of them to be exact. Firebird Main does a great job of minimizing time differences between the big power cars down the straight and time made up by the nimble lighter cars on the back side. With a longer time slot than any other event all year, the groups were well spread out and allowed drivers all they space they could need to stomp 2 fast laps.

UMS Tuning Time Attack Results

TA-C

1^st – Travis Barnes – 1:00.827

2^nd – TImothy Schoeppner – 1:01.753

3^rd – Tony Szirka – 1:01.913

TA-B

1^st – Justin Markiewicz – 1:06.875

2^nd – Jeff Abrams – 1:08.329

3^rd – Chris Plumlee – 1:08.699

TA-A

1^st – Aaron Hiar – 1:10.507

2^nd – Dominick Langer – 1:11.474

3^rd – Jay Ronquillo – 1:11.975

HPDE

HPDE was packed over the weekend! Grid for each group saw cars between every cone ready to improve their driving skills. There were a number of extremely quick drivers showing they have the track knowledge, respect, and skill required to advance to further levels. Safety is a common subject discussed amongst the HPDE drivers, specifically questions about what safety equipment is required to move into Time Trial and Race Groups. While both groups have limited specific safety equipment requirements, we encourage each driver to equip both themselves as drivers as well as their cars with safety equipment to match their level of driving. Despite best efforts, even the most advanced and seasoned drivers can find themselves in an unexpected situation.

The following was written by a driver who wishes to remain anonymous. The intent of the message is to remind each of us to never take safety equipment lightly, and always respect the danger in the sport we love. NASA AZ does a great job of providing the best response team possible, but safety must start with the driver.

I Spent all month getting the car cleaned up, washed, and waxed. The car looked as good as it had looked in the 10 years I’ve owned it. Unfortunately it wasn’t a long lasting shine, when I had a rather unfortunate turn of events on Sunday morning. The day started off normal enough, I drove the car to the track with my trusty Hoosiers in the trunk/hatch area and was excited to hit the track with some race tires. I changed the tires when I got to the track, checked pressures, torqued the lugnuts in sequence, and headed out for my first TT session.

I had a great opportunity to get lots of heat into the Hoosiers with a series “left-rights” all the way down the straight away, followed by a couple stabs of the brake pedal to make sure that my pads would be ready haul the car back down to speed. When I came around the tower turn that feeds the straight away I floored it and got ready for what would hopefully be my fastest lap of the day…..

I passed one driver going down the straight away, and then started to identify my braking zone by series of tires/wall/tires on the right hand side of the track. I let off the throttle to start my braking zone and the car darted to the left. My car is going about 140 mph at the end of the straight away, which didn’t leave a lot of time to allow me to correct and get the car straight. The “dart” now turned into a counterclockwise spin and slide down the straightaway and eventually the car was sliding backwards down the straightaway at an angle….an angle that looked and felt like I was probably headed for the wall on the left side. I took my hands off the steering wheel to avoid breaking my thumbs and my front passenger side hit the wall, followed by the passenger rear end. The impact with the wall was enough to spin the car 180 degrees counterclockwise and put me facing the correct direction down track. I hobbled the car off the track and got behind the safety wall to wait for the tow truck.

What I remember about the accident:

As soon as my car hit the wall I felt my helmet bounce off the right side of the halo portion of my containment seat. I say bounce, but it was more of a hit. The impact was extremely hard and I think I know what a boxer must feel like when he gets clocked with a hard left hook to the head. The containment seat did an awesome job of minimizing the lateral strain on my neck. After having watched the video I would estimate that I hit the wall going close to 100mph based on the deceleration in the short slide. When you think about the amount of energy and acceleration that is transferred to the car and anything on board that’s not strapped down (like your head!) it’s pretty scary. Even though I was wearing a HANS device, I’m convinced that it would not have helped much in protecting my neck from the lateral forces that my neck would have seen had I not had a containment seat. I am so thankful that I had the best safety equipment that I could afford in the car: 6 point belts mounted at the correct angles recommended by the manufacturer, a HANs device, a full containment seat, and a roll cage from Precision Chassis Works. It scares the crap out of me to think what could have happened without some of that safety gear, particularly the containment seat.

Post-Accident:

I felt fine for the rest of the day, albeit a severely bruised ego. In 10 years of driving with NASA I had never had contact or an accident, and now my car is totaled?!? When I got home I was worried that while I felt fine that day, I would go to sleep and wake up with soreness.

I woke up the next day with very minor soreness in my neck. How minor? I’ve felt more neck pain falling asleep on the couch wrong than I did that following morning. By Tuesday all the soreness was gone. I even went for a 4 mile run that night.

It amazes me that I could hit the wall so hard, going so fast, and literally not have any injuries or real soreness to speak of. I’m so thankful that I had great safety equipment that was installed correctly, and that the man upstairs was looking out for me that Sunday morning. I’ve always been a big advocate for getting the best safety equipment you can afford. This accident definitely drives that home. I hope that by me sharing this unfortunate event, that at least one person who was on the fence about spending that next paycheck or bonus on a performance part or a piece of safety equipment, will make the right choice and invest in their safety and well being.

-Anonymous NASA TT driver

Modified Magazine Tuner Shootout

This year continued the tradition of the Modified Magazine Tuner Shootout presented by Continental Tire! As always, select drivers and teams are picked to compete in a series of competitions including Dynamometer testing, Autocross, Time Attack, and Drag Racing. Like last year, this shootout was focused towards street cars so competition also included sound level testing and emissions. A number of local drivers competed this year including Matt from MAK Auto piloting his Nissan Silvia, Gabe Ortega in his Honda Civic Hatch, Pablo Soria in his Mazdaspeed3 and Markos Mylonas in his Snail Performance Forced Air Technologies WRX. While the fans turn out to see each of the competitions, the drag racing portion proved to be a favorite among everyone. Between Shootout competitors runs, NASA drivers also lined up to enjoy what would be the shortest Drag strip lines locals had ever seen. Some drivers took as many as 10 passes with limited time between runs. Highlights from the drag runs included the annual Supra smoke show, tow rig racing, and Travis “Sauce Bauce” Barnes throwing down a 11.08 in full TA trim.

Next Event Info

Bondurant West Track – April 13 & 14 – Chandler, Arizona

Event Details

HPDE

UMS Tuning Time Attack Series ( Sunday Only )

Time Trial (points events both days

Race Group (sprint/points races both days

Register here –> https://www.drivenasa.com/event/1637

Draft schedule here –> http://forums.nasaaz.com/showthread.php?t=5789

NOTE: There were two previous “April events” announced/scheduled originally. The first one was Buttonwillow in CA as a crossover event. That one was canceled due to the fact that Bondurant took over the “West Track” and the majority of drivers would rather have a “local event”. The 2nd miscommunication was that the “April event @ West” would happen on April 6 & 7. Due to scheduling conflicts, that date will be moved to April 13 & 14 (see above details).

NASA-AZ Info

Join the NASA-AZ forms to check out the latest info on upcoming events, questions and answers, Etc.

www.nasaaz.com

Also check out our Facebook page.

NASA-AZ Facebook

Credits

Written and Edited By: Taylor “Dr. Koby D” Wilson

Photos by: Action Photography by Selina