#DRIVENASA – Arizona Region | We Drive Harder!

Despite being in the middle of nowhere, one trip to Chuckwalla Valley Raceway and it is easy to understand why NASA Arizona considers this wonderful race track as our home away from home. Everyone gets access to a nicely paved paddock, pay at the pump fuel station, the nice permanent bathrooms w/private showers, a quiet classroom and a large covered area/tent for the Sat night BBQ. What more could you ask for? How about the best overall track for both HPDE, TA, TT and racing!

Perfect weather, an ample driver turnout, camping and lots of member camaraderie made this event one to remember. Sometimes just getting to the track is more than half the battle. Rod Holt, a local instructor and long time NASA member was on his way when he got a flat. This inconvenience turned into disaster when Rod realized he didn’t have a security key to access the spare! Feeling slightly under the weather, fearing the worse and seeing no resolution in sight along comes fellow NASA members Justin Markiewicz and Doug Evans who saw a fellow NASA family member in distress. Justin actually saw Holt initially too late and had to drive an additional 12 miles to the next exit to turn around and save the day (he had the proper key). Way to go NASA AZ for taking care of each other!  Another close call was Mike Pinnholster had his trailer tongue pop off the ball! Yes, those safety chains really do work as Mike can attest to. Luckily the only damage was a bend trailer tongue jack.

Friday Test & Tune

 The weekend started off on Friday with an open track “Test & Tune” day. Members really dug the open track format and value of lots of easy access to the track. We’ll do more of these at Chuckwalla but they will likely be hosted directly by the track (not by NASA AZ). About the only bad/unexpected news was how quickly the sunlight fades near sundown. According to the interwebz the sunset was predicted to be slightly past 5PM. However, once on site we learned that the track is only allowed to run car on the track from “sunrise to sunset”. The definition of “sunset” could have been a debate topic, but officials decided to keep the peace and ended the day a little early when Chuckwalla staff said we needed to end.

 

 

Race

On Saturday, we were scheduled for our annual 3 hour enduro. Due to “sunset” happening sooner than expected the race was ended around the 2 hour 40 min mark. For most of our local racers this was more than enough time already but thanks to all the drivers for being understanding in this manor. To make the most use of the track time NASA AZ schedules a sprint race within the enduro.

The way it worked was the first 45 mins of the race is regular points and a race to the (1st) checker. Sprint racers keep up the pace and immediately exit to the hot pits while the enduro racers battle it out and test the longevity of their vehicles, mind and body. Pit stop strategy becomes a critical component of the overall racecraft and results and is a blast to watch! No teams were penalized for fuel spills but several were caught excessively speeding through the hot pits and were brought in for a stop and go.

Perhaps the most entertaining thing to watch out of the enduro was the Team Truspeed Porsche GT3 Cup car piloted by Tom Haacker and Jim Slavik. This team took 2nd overall in last years NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill and it was clear to see this wasn’t these guys first rodeo! Running consistent lap times in the low 1:50s for the entire race and executing one of the most amazing pit stops NASA AZ has ever seen!  Talking to this team on Friday evening, we learned they were preparing for the 24 hours of LeMans! Woah… Talk about taking it to the next level and while they were clearly prepped beyond any of our regulars, they were still NASA members & “regulars” and certainly deserving of the overall win.  After the race, Haacker commended how much fun he had and enjoyed racing with us. He was as sincere as could be when he described all our racers as, pure gentlemen. Bravo guys!

Unfortunately HC2 had a real heart break story from this event.  Doug Evans the points leader and Series Director for Honda Challenge, simply had to finish both races to capture the season championship.  During the Sat enduro race, Evans’ motor decided to let go and Doug could do nothing but watch his season championship slip away.  🙁  Switching gears though, this allowed an amazing come from behind win for Eric Dayton who was able to demonstrate that consistent persistence, dedication and a little luck allowed him to cruise his way to the coveted season Championship for 2012.  Congrats Eric!

Acts of great sportsmanship happen at each of our events and this one was no different. One specific example were when Team LBR (Gabe Ortega & Mervin Tan) experienced a failed wheel bearing on Saturday. Direct competitor Tony Lisa gave us his own spare and master Acura tech Simon Pavlick (also an HC2 competitor) helped install it so LBR could still race on Sunday. More importantly it saved LBR a 3 hour round trip to town and instead allowed the entire HC field to enjoy some downtime at the BBQ to enjoy some food, drink and good bench racing. Great stuff guys!

Thinking about race group in 2013 but not sure what car or class you want to run? 944 Spec, HC2 and SU have been the biggest classes of 2012 but a class that will see explosive growth in 2013 will be GTS3. With a major change to the PT/ST series rules and elimination of the PTA class, nearly all of the 2012 PTA racers will be moving to GTS3 next year. Additionally, there are other GTS3 racers from other orgs that will be joining back with NASA next year. There could easily be 7+ GTS3 competitors at each event next year.

Congrats to David James, NASA Arizona’s newest racer! David ran the full 3 hours by himself and was able to stay drama free and for the duration of the race.

NASA So Cal – you guys rock! Thank you so much for coming to support our region. We hope to see you all (and more) again in January!

Overall Saturday Race Results

1	45	tom haacker	74	2:34:22.970		1:52.343	46	86.200
			151423, Porsche, 911 GT3 Cup
2	4x	Mark Alger	73	2:34:50.667	1 Lap	1:52.261	2	86.263
			127781, dodge, Viper CC
3	19	Steve  Lisa	73	2:36:02.358	1:11.691	1:55.664	31	83.725
4	78	Matthew Seech	70	2:35:30.279	4 Laps	2:00.747	67	80.201
			110394, BMW, M3
5	325	James Fluckey	68	2:35:04.463	6 Laps	2:02.218	9	79.235
			102544, BMW, 325is
6	11	Jeremy Renshaw	67	2:35:22.508	7 Laps	2:01.570	62	79.658
			117954, BMW, M3
7	44	Jim Richard	64	2:35:29.067	10 Laps	2:06.447	50	76.585
			111931, Porsche, Boxster
8	51	Harold Dunn	62	2:34:42.033	12 Laps	2:14.611	43	71.941
			127008, Ford, Mustang GT
9	019	Tony Lisa	61	2:36:09.286	13 Laps	2:04.350	39	77.877
10	21	Eric Dayton	49	2:34:15.831	25 Laps	2:08.932	27	75.109
11	70	David Snyder	47	2:36:21.233	27 Laps	2:08.637	15	75.282
			151789, Mazda, RX8
12	510	Leland Forbes	45	2:36:08.509	29 Laps	2:08.119	42	75.586
13	469	Team LBR	37	1:37:21.362	37 Laps	2:12.825	12	72.908
14	25	David James	33	2:35:49.508	41 Laps	2:27.301	29	65.743
			136436, Acura, Integra
15	58	michael papworth	22	2:06:15.148	52 Laps	2:20.738	11	68.809
			129731, Chevy, Corvette Z06
16	63	michael arnheiter	20	46:44.892	54 Laps	1:58.211	16	81.921
			149042, pontiac, grand prix
17	6	Chuck Tasker	20	46:47.898	3.006	1:59.425	10	81.089
			145769
18	10	Mike Beeler	20	46:50.419	5.527	1:59.370	6	81.126
			115254, Port City, Monte Carlo
19	524	Brian Turner	19	45:24.919	55 Laps	2:02.070	9	79.332
			132681, Porsche, 911
20	30	Martin Saltzman	19	45:28.500	3.581	2:02.069	9	79.332
			105294, BMW, M3
21	167	Erik Davis	19	45:33.907	8.988	2:01.721	16	79.559
			140817, Porsche, 911
22	288	Justin Markiewicz	19	46:05.165	40.246	2:05.464	6	77.185
			130299, BMW, E30
23	624	Simon Pavlick	19	46:29.524	1:04.605	2:06.319	13	76.663
			131108, Acura, Integra
24	99	Norm Hamden	19	47:02.025	1:37.106	2:07.495	12	75.956
			121168
25	95	Douglas Evans	19	47:11.773	1:46.854	2:10.103	12	74.433
			127415, Acura, Integra
26	512	Jim Richmond	18	45:37.097	56 Laps	2:10.057	17	74.460
			126139, Porsche, 944
27	08	Dave Hauck	18	45:40.795	3.698	2:10.406	8	74.260
			126942, porsche, 944
28	78x	john niedernhofer	18	45:44.810	7.713	2:09.684	13	74.674
			138235, porsche, 944
29	55	Rob Giorgio	18	45:52.431	15.334	2:09.884	12	74.559
			145568, porsche, 944
30	313	Jim Hicks	18	45:55.190	18.093	2:09.949	14	74.522
			131176, Porsche, 944
31	28	Dean Schaefer	18	46:38.650	1:01.553	2:14.640	8	71.925
			125738, Porsche, 944
32	17	Barry Blythe	18	46:43.094	1:05.997	2:14.221	13	72.150
33	20	Rob Davis	18	47:27.310	1:50.213	2:15.924	7	71.246
			143494, Porsche, 944
34	04	Michael Pinholster	4	45:49.056	70 Laps	2:03.983	1	78.107
			119609, Radical, Sr-3
35	47x	Stephen Marlow	2	9:52.592	72 Laps	2:16.957	1	70.708
			125339, Porsche, 944

 

Sunday “Small Bore” Race Results

Pos	No.	Name	Laps	Total time	Diff	Best time	In lap	Best speed
Class HC2
1	019	Tony Lisa	12	28:54.739		2:03.440	4	78.451
2	469	Team LBR	12	29:54.067	59.328	2:06.900	6	76.312
3	510	Leland Forbes	12	30:35.966	1:41.227	2:07.123	6	76.178
4	21	Eric Dayton	12	30:39.064	1:44.325	2:11.210	5	73.805
Class PT-C
1	288	Justin Markiewicz	12	29:07.325		2:04.731	4	77.639
			130299, BMW, E30
2	70	David Snyder	12	29:58.048	50.723	2:07.419	6	76.001
			151789, Mazda, RX8
Class PT-E
1	624	Simon Pavlick	12	29:31.549		2:04.945	6	77.506
			131108, Acura, Integra
2	25	David James	11	30:33.939	1 Lap	2:21.409	2	68.482
			136436, Acura, Integra
Class PT-D
1	44	Jim Richard	12	30:01.302		2:07.411	6	76.006
			111931, Porsche, Boxster
2	17	Barry Blythe	12	30:38.170	36.868	2:11.740	10	73.508
Class 944 Spec
1	99	Norm Hamden	12	30:26.195		2:06.445	4	76.587
			121168
2	78x	john niedernhofer	12	30:28.814	2.619	2:08.474	6	75.377
			138235, porsche, 944
3	55	Rob Giorgio	12	30:47.977	21.782	2:08.115	9	75.588
			145568, porsche, 944
4	313	Jim Hicks	12	30:50.945	24.750	2:08.827	11	75.171
			131176, Porsche, 944
5	28	Dean Schaefer	11	29:00.308	1 Lap	2:12.937	6	72.847
			125738, Porsche, 944
6	51	Harold Dunn	11	29:16.190	15.882	2:13.505	7	72.537
			127008, Ford, Mustang GT
7	20	Rob Davis	11	30:00.050	59.742	2:16.953	6	70.710
			143494, Porsche, 944
8	08	Dave Hauck	1	7:03.435	11 Laps	2:36.745	1	61.782
			126942, porsche, 944
Not classified
DQ	512	Jim Richmond	12	30:26.379		2:07.759	7	75.799

 

Sunday “Big Bore” Race Results

Pos	No.	Name	Laps	Total time	Diff	Best time	In lap	Best speed
Class SU
1	36	Clay Koevary	13	29:08.852		1:54.620	1	84.488
			112894, Porsche, GT3R
2	63	michael arnheiter	13	29:33.560	24.708	1:57.638	4	82.320
			149042, pontiac, grand prix
3	10	Mike Beeler	13	29:42.040	33.188	1:57.950	13	82.103
			115254, Port City, Monte Carlo
4	04	Michael Pinholster	13	29:59.627	50.775	2:00.457	8	80.394
			119609, Radical, Sr-3
5	6	Chuck Tasker	13	30:00.238	51.386	1:59.202	2	81.240
			145769
6	58	michael papworth	2	8:56.079	11 Laps	2:27.268	1	65.758
			129731, Chevy, Corvette Z06
Class GTS3
1	167	Erik Davis	13	29:41.327		1:58.888	3	81.455
			140817, Porsche, 911
2	30	Martin Saltzman	13	30:07.672	26.345	2:00.356	2	80.461
			105294, BMW, M3
Class PT-A
1	11	Jeremy Renshaw	13	29:50.344		1:59.676	2	80.918
			117954, BMW, M3
2	78	Matthew Seech	13	29:50.703	0.359	2:00.030	9	80.680
			110394, BMW, M3
Class PT-C
1	49	Emilio Cervantes	12	29:24.772		2:02.616	12	78.978
			139507, mazda, miata

 

Detailed Race & TT results my Mylaps here –> http://www.mylaps.com/results/showevent.jsp?id=860114

 

Time Trial

Since this was NASA Arizona’s first time at Chuckwalla in the CCW configuration, a track record was baselined in every class participated in.  If you are one of the lucky few to hold a track record, watch out in January as many will be looking to knock you off the board as we will run this configuration once again.  TT Director Jeremy Renshaw surprised competitors with the addition of “Track Record” certificates going forward.  Several were handed out for the Oct and Nov events and will start doing them for each and every event going forward.  NASA TT competitors should also look forward to awards being handed out at each and every event in 2013.

Overall Sat TT results

Pos	No.	Name	Overall BestTm
1	4	Mark Alger	01:48.8
2	36	Clay Koevary	01:49.2
3	331	Bob Blizzard	01:53.0
4	57	Ken Gerhart	01:58.7
5	34	David Schotz	01:59.1
6	36	Richard Koevary	01:59.7
7	41	Jim Harris	02:00.4
8	19	Steve Lisa	02:00.6
9	20	Wayne Oxtoby	02:01.0
10	16	Robert Rose	02:02.7
11	78	Matthew Seech	02:03.4
12	1	Ronald Graham	02:04.0
13	460	Russell Whelan	02:04.4
14	499	Ravi Tomerlin	02:04.8
15	134	Joel Schotz	02:05.0
16	26	Jim Cozzolino	02:05.8
17	447	Jon Via	02:07.3
18	420	Jeff Abrams	02:07.4
19	1	Jason   Griepentrog	02:08.2
20	2	Kevin Gay	02:09.3
21	44	Jim Richard	02:09.4
22	6	Brett Lengel	02:10.7
23	70	David Snyder	02:11.8
24	37	Arty Whitmore	02:12.3
25	363	Scott Kramer	02:12.4
26	51x	Hal Dunn	02:13.2
27	883	Aaron Hiar	02:13.3
28	14	anthony szirka	02:13.4
29	337	Nathan Welborne	02:14.4
30	21	Eric Jacobsen	02:15.9
31	51	Paul Bloomberg	02:16.4

Overall Sun TT results

Pos	No.	Name	Overall BestTm
1	4	Mark Alger	01:48.2
2	331	Bob Blizzard	01:51.7
3	34	David Schotz	01:57.8
4	57	Ken Gerhart	01:59.1
5	505	Chris Willson	01:59.2
6	20	Wayne Oxtoby	01:59.7
7	41	Jim Harris	02:00.6
8	49	Emilio Cervantes	02:00.8
9	1	Ronald Graham	02:02.3
10	16	Robert Rose	02:02.4
11	7	Fulton Haight	02:02.8
12	460	Russell Whelan	02:03.1
13	26	Jim Cozzolino	02:03.7
14	499	Ravi Tomerlin	02:03.8
15	624	Simon Pavlick	02:04.4
16	288	Justin   Markiewicz	02:04.7
17	134	Joel Schotz	02:05.8
18	544	Robert Smithson	02:06.2
19	44	Jim Richard	02:06.3
20	420	Jeff Abrams	02:06.9
21	1	Jason   Griepentrog	02:07.1
22	2	Kevin Gay	02:07.7
23	117	Patrick Orozco	02:07.8
24	447	Jon Via	02:08.0
25	70	David Snyder	02:08.2
26	66	Hugh Batt	02:09.0
27	337	Nathan Welborne	02:10.2
28	883	Aaron Hiar	02:10.7
29	363	Scott Kramer	02:10.8
30	51x	Hal Dunn	02:11.8
31	37	Arty Whitmore	02:11.8
32	388	Stenos Wijaya	02:13.7
33	36	Richard Koevary	02:14.1
34	14	anthony szirka	02:17.2

2012 Season Awards

Are you a top 3 finisher in your respective class and attended at least half of the season events for your series?  Well good news if so as you earned yourself a regional award!

Race Group Season Points –> https://nasaaz.com/results/race-results/race-group-results/

Time Trial Season Points –> http://www.nasa-tt.com/Arizona_Standings/p2040_articleid/84

We are making every effort to get these done before the January event and will distribute awards then.

Time Attack

The UMS Tuning Time Attack continue to prove to be successful and allow for advanced level HPDE drivers a place to compete in a controlled environment.  Providing an environment of traffic free “open track” allows drivers to see what time they are really capable of and makes for one data point to determine when they are ready for the NASA Time Trial series.  This was the last event of the series and double points for the TA’ers.  Congrats to all the 2012 season TA Champions (Stenos Wijaya, Robert Smithson & Jim Cozzolino) for a long hard points battle!

http://forums.nasaaz.com/showthread.php?t=4751

HPDE

The HPDE1 & 2 combined group for the whole weekend was great. Everyone loved the CCW layout and mentioned that they’ll be back for the one in Jan. Awesome! Jake Casto and Mert Ozsoyler displayed some great improvement and were promoted to HPDE3. Great job guys and welcome to HPDE3. Keep it up! HPDE3 & 4 ran as a combined group and everyone did great with awareness and traffic management. The HPDE4 group had four drivers that displayed outstanding driver skill, awareness and pure speed which earned them a NASA Time Trial License. Congratulations guys/gal!

• Souly Keonavong – Evo
• Wes Hanson – GTR
• Marissa Wright – Audi TT
• Chris Doyle – 350z

P.S. As a reminder to all HPDE drivers that have a passenger. If your passenger happens to get sick during their ride and you insist on stopping on the race track, 😮 PLEASE make sure you pull off the track into a safe area before coming to a stop. Thx! 🙂

 

Chapel Service

On Sun, Chaplain Aaron Schwartzbart provided participants with one of the most interesting and entertaining experiments highlighting the differences of facts vs faith on a bag of popcorn! Aaron was a “Rocket Scientist” for 27 years before leaving that career for a full time gig in ministry. He’s down to Earth and great to listen to regardless of your Christian denomination. He’s can also give you lots of great examples of how “Faith” and “Science” can co-exist together w/o contradicting each other. We will be trying to book him again for the January event so if you have the time or have ever been curious about Christianity, just come by and say hi. He won’t make you feel weird, we promise. 🙂
Check out one of his websites and entertaining videos here –> http://streetracermusicvideo.com/

 

Safety and Clean up

Last but certainly not least, our two regular hired Firemen have certainly transitioned from hired help to being a part of the NASA AZ family. They support our events, provide track cleanup services, tows and most importantly keep everyone SAFE when the unexpected happens (they also stay until the end and help us pack up the equipment trailer!). When you see Kyle and Mike sitting in the silver dually at our next event, take a moment and let them know you appreciate them keeping us all safe.

 

 

 

Next Event

Regardless if you missed the December event or simply want more of the same, register now for the January 12 & 13 event weekend @ https://www.drivenasa.com/event/1541

Written by:  Tage Evanson

Photos courtesy of:  Caliphotography, Stephen Busler, Norm Hamden, Krystal Wright