January 8-9 Wraps Up

For the first event of 2011 NASA-AZ returned to PIR. This event not only made for a great starting point for the new year, but was also officially the first 2011 event on the calendar across all NASA regions. Arizona is certainly a great place to get track time year-round, with excellent weather and multiple tracks accessible between 1-3hrs of driving. Few regions can compete with that! In fact, we were visited by several drivers from out of state, including the Rocky Mountain and Southern California regions. It just goes to show NASA-AZ is where it’s at while the rest of the country is stuck under a snow blanket or an extended off-season.

UMS Tuning hard at work!

UMS Tuning... Hard at work!

The weekend was host to a full schedule of HPDE, Time Trial and split Race Groups, complete with the UMS Time Attack on Sunday. Let’s take a closer look at the happenings over the weekend, and why this event was such a great start for the 2011 season.
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Fresh Start for 2011

  • Dual Classing: Many of you noticed some new class designations this weekend. In an effort to attract more racers in classes with otherwise small attendance, NASA-AZ has introduced dual-classing, specifically for those interested in running a level of GTS or Honda Challenge.
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  • Chapel Service is in full effect! You won’t have to miss services on Sundays because you are at the track. Chapel services are now available on Sunday to anyone who wishes to attend.
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  • Car Numbers: Are your car numbers compliant? If you are not sure, check out the CCRs. Even HPDE cars must have compliant numbers on both sides, as it helps officials identify your car while you are on track.
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  • Cash Pro-Payouts:  NASA-AZ has offered up an incentive to bring more racers out from other classes. For details visit the forums: http://forums.www.nasaaz.com/showthread.php?t=4472
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  • Season Points begins NOW! Since there will only be three drops allowed this season, be sure to attend as many events as you can and don’t leave your points championship up to chance!
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  • Traqmate Comes to NASA: After extensive testing with multiple data systems on the market, Traqmate was selected to be the Official Data System for NASA. In addition, Traqmate will be used as a leveler for many classes, keeping competition fair for everyone who participates.
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  • Tech-Inspection Training and Annual Inspections: On the Tech-Inspection side of the story; to help Racers attain approval for the “Annual Race Tech” more efficiently, NASA-AZ was joined by the Chief Divisional Director John Lindsay in an effort to train NASA officials and local shops who were carefully elected to participate in the inspections training. Because many of our drivers already have relationships with Precision Chassis Works, Race Technik, and German Auto, NASA-AZ has enabled them to approve “tech” before you arrive at the track, simplifying processes for our racers.

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NASA-AZ BBQ: Good food, good friends, and good fun!

Our regular post-event BBQ was yet another success with a great turn out of drivers, officials, and family. From hot dogs to burgers and salad to beer, I think that more or less covers the average driver’s diet, don’t you think?
party

After a long day of driving, NASA-AZ provides all participants the opportunity to unwind at the track with a cold beer and a good meal, all while hanging out with the friends you drive with on track.

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Race Group

The 2011 Season started off with several classing changes, more specifically, the manner in which Big Bore and Small Bore groups were split. Many PT-B drivers also qualified for GTS3, moving all PT-B cars into Big Bore while maintaining 944Spec and PT-C through PT-F in Small Bore.
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Big Bore Races
The new race group split made for a very large and exiting race for Big Bore. With 23 participants on Saturday and 20 on Sunday, there was nothing short of a lot of excitement for spectators.

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Tage Evanson and Brian Turner

Saturday’s battle for the top three was on for the SU class between Kyle Foster, Brent Crosser, and Mark Alger. The race was led by Kyle Foster (after having qualified third), followed by Brent Crosser in second (who also ran the fastest lap in the race), and Mark Alger next to cross start/finish taking third.

Dave Leyvas kept his pace for the duration of the race taking the win in ST-1, followed by Steve Lisa and Tage Evanson. ST-2 enjoyed a great turn out with 9 cars in the field, making for the biggest class attendance in NASA-AZ history. Unfortunately, ST-2 fell one car short from the maximum class pro-cash payout! Spectators, however, had some great racing to watch and when the checkered flag flew Greg Dalgarn took the win, followed by CV Wells and Ron Ballard.

Taking the win in PT-A was Brian Turner, Sean Southland took second, while Terry Denton placed third. Now officially a part of Big Bore are our PT-B racers Jeremy Renshaw, Marty Saltzman, and Matt McIntyre.

PTB / GTS3 Driver Matt McIntyre

PT-B / GTS3 Driver Matt McIntyre

Introduced to race group this weekend was Matt McIntyre, who after qualifying first, held the lead until 20-laps into the race. When the white flag was set to fly overhead, his motor succumbed to the dreaded valve-death and unfortunately left him unable to finish. Despite the unlucky nature of his race, McIntyre was able to turn some quick laps with his fastest being a 1:09.830, only 3-thousandths away from setting a new PT-B race track record.

Sunday’s race enjoyed an equally large field of racers, with a spectrum of classes and good competition. Brent Crosser qualified in the front and kept his pace taking the class win in SU, with a close finish on the clock with Mark Alger taking second. For ST-1, Chad Nelson took first followed by Dave Leyvas and Steve Lisa. In ST-2, CV Wells won for the day, literally swapping podium spots from yesterday with Greg Dalgarn who placed in second, while Bryan McCormick took third.

Our big bore PT cars mixed it up a bit with some of their ST counterparts, which always makes for an interesting battle on track. PT-A was led by John Dowling, followed by Brian Turner and Sean Southland. PT-B exhibited some quick racing out there with Jeremy Renshaw taking first, Marty Saltzman coming in second, and Paul Bloomberg in finishing third.

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Top Racers from Saturday:

SU
– #23 Kyle Foster
– #206 Brent Crosser
– #4 Mark Alger

ST-1
-#56 Dave Leyvas
– #19 Steve Lisa
– #17 Tage Evanson

ST-2
– #631 Greg Dalgarn
– #24 CV Wells
– #93 Ron Ballard

PT-A
– #524 Brian Turner
– #777 Sean Southland
– #67 Terry Denton

PT-B
– #11 Jeremy Renshaw
– #30 Marty Saltzman
– #31 Matt McIntyre

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Top Racers from Sunday:

SU
– #206 Brent Crosser
– #4 Mark Alger
– #401 Chas Wirken

ST-1
– #407 Chad Nelson
– #56 Dave Leyvas
– #19 Steve Lisa

ST-2
– #24 CV Wells
– #631 Greg Dalgarn
– #727 Brian McCormick

PT-A
– #46 John Dowling
– #524 Brian Turner
– #777 Sean Southland

PT-B
– #11 Jeremy Renshaw
– #30 Marty Saltzman
– #51 Paul Bloomberg

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Small Bore Races
Due to the new race split there were fewer cars in the Small Bore race making more room for future racers who wish to join 944 Spec, Spec Miata, Honda Challenge or any of the PT-C through PT-F classes. This more or less guarantees racers a split race from the faster cars making for a more enjoyable race for everyone in their respective classes.

Saturday’s race began with 944Spec racers in the front mixed with a Honda Challenge H2 car driven by Erik Woods. The best racing action in Small Bore took place within 944Spec, with Norm Hamden taking the lead finishing first overall. Next up was Dave Hauck and Jeff Wojnar in second and third, respectively. H2 was won by Erik Woods and PT-E by Geri Amani.

On Sunday, the front of the pack was a 944Spec battle with our H2 car added in for diversity. Who says RWD cant have fun with FWD? Darren Griffith swapped places with Norm Hamden, moving to the front and taking the win for 944Spec, followed by Hamden and Dave Hauck. Erik Woods kept the pace taking second overall in Small Bore while winning H2. PT-E driver Geri Amani kept a quicker pace throughout the race, but was forced to drop out due to mechanical issues.

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Top Racers from Saturday:

944Spec
– #99 Norm Hamden
– #08 Dave Hauck
– #123 Jeff Wojnar

Honda Challenge 2
– #5 Erik Woods

PT-E
– #34 Geri Amani

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Top Racers from Sunday:

944Spec
– #7 Darren Griffith
– #99 Norm Hamden
– #08 Dave Hauck

Honda Challenge 2
– #5 Erik Woods

PT-E
– #34 Geri Amani

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Time Trial

It was a fun (and cold) weekend for both Big Bore and Small Bore Time Trialers, especially throughout the AM sessions. With such enthusiasm expressed amongst the drivers, it was clear to me that everyone was having a great time turning fast laps, taking full advantage of the cooler temperatures.

#2 Eclipse driven by #####

#2 Eclipse driven by Jake Treguboff

TT and Racers alike especially enjoy the winter months here in Phoenix…or maybe I should say their cars prefer it. Even though our drivers were on the verge of freezing (race suits only insulate so much), every finger or nose that became numb from the bite of the chilly morning air was worthwhile when lap times drop several tenths. Track-record-breaking season is officially on!

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Phil Robles and ######

Phil Robles and Jake Treguboff

Small Bore
In classes TTE through TTB, Small Bore saw some quick laps right off the bat Saturday morning and carried throughout most of the day.  TTC driver Dave Shotz claimed fastest overall in Small Bore with a 1:09.557.  Second fastest of the day was Mervin Tan who took the win in TTB with a 1:10.383. Robert Rose took the win in TTD and flew by start/finish with a 1:13.109. In TTE, Geri Amani ran a 1:16.568 for the win.

Sunday was an equally quick day with the fastest in the whole of Small Bore being TTC driver Dave Shotz, who ran a 1:09.403. Next up was Mervin Tan, who completed his weekend TTB winning streak and claiming second fastest overall with a 1:10.129. Robert Rose in TTD turned 1:12.380. In TTE was Geri Amani with her fastest lap of the day a 1:16.911.

We also have a new TT Small Bore driver joining us; JJ Garcia in his Mini Cooper, adding another TTC car to the group!

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Top Drivers on Saturday:
-TTB #45 Mervin Tan, 1:10.383
-TTC #175 Dave Shotz, 1:09.557
-TTD #3 Robert Rose, 1:13.109
-TTE #34 Geri Amani, 1:16.568

Top Drivers on Sunday:
-TTB #45 Mervin Tan, 1:10.129
-TTC #175 Dave Shotz, 1:09.403
-TTD #3 Robert Rose, 1:12.380
-TTE #34 Geri Amani, 1:16.911

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Big Bore
Wintry (if I may even use that word) Arizona weather brought some good sessions to our Big Bore Time Trial drivers. Throughout the weekend our top Big Bore drivers brought us quick times first session out, but were noticeably quicker later in the morning..

Mark Alger driving #4 Dodge Viper

Mark Alger driving #4 Dodge Viper

Our fastest lap on Saturday was run by Ritch Marziale in TTR with a blazing 1:02.381! Not far behind was Mark Alger who ran a 1:03.657 in TTU. For TTS, CV Wells took the win with a 1:06.129, and  Brian Turner in TTA, who ran a lively 1:08.301.

Sunday’s sessions exhibited more of the same patterns in regards to lap times, with slightly cooler track temperatures in the early morning and the fastest times set second session out. The top of the fast-laps roster is Mark Alger, who ran 1:03.641 in TTU. TTS was won by CV Wells with a 1:05.456. In TTA, Brian tuner turned a 1:09.632 and secured a TT class win the entire weekend.

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Top Drivers on Saturday:
-TTR
# 56 Ritch Marziale, 1:02.381
-TTU
#4 Mark Alger, 1:03.657
-TTS #24 CV Wells, 1:06.92
-TTA #524 Brian Turner, 1:08.301

Top Drivers on Sunday:
-TTU
#4 Mark Alger, 1:03.641
-TTS
#24 CV Wells, 1:05.456
-TTA
#524 Brian Turner, 1:09.632

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HPDE

NASA’s HPDE program guides new drivers further up the HPDE ladder, and our spirited group leaders are here to help. Whether you are just starting out or have been driving for awhile – NASA has a great support structure for those eager to learn. This event was no exception. With the new year and the new season just beginning, several drivers made the leap into the next HPDE run group or moved into Time Trial. Others brought new cars or new gear to the track.

HPDE4 Gridded Up!

HPDE4 Gridded Up!

Who doesn’t like the sound of a newly boosted car or the smell of race gas in the morning? Case-in-point, the paddock was full and everyone had fun making a great start for 2011!

##### drives a bosted Civic in HPDE###

Tri-Tech Motorsports boosted Civic in HPDE


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UMS Time Attack

The UMS TA series is stronger and more competitive than ever. New drivers from HPDE3-4, TT and Race Group are always welcomed to join the fun and compete for the fastest time and the most TA points throughout the season.

    "UMS Tony" in his EVO8 (Check car model)

"UMS Tony" in his EVO VIII

The 2011 TA season kickoff brought some of our regular TA participants back to the track. Among them were Tony Szirka who ran our fastest TA-C lap with a 1:06.723,  TA-B winner Robert Smithson who ran 1:12.03, and Justin Smith who made a great comeback with a TA-A win running a 1:15.165–certainly not a bad start for the new year!

Top three drivers in their class:

TA-C
– #101 UMS Tuning, 1:06.723
– #240 Travis Barnes, 1:07.550
– #15 Jeff Bawden, 1:08.648

TA-B
– #18 Robert Smithson, 1:12.03
– #2 Daniel Lynch, 1:12.511
-#16 Chris Wilson, 1:13.045

TA-A
– #13 Justin Smith, 1:15.165
– #48 Dave McCombs, 1:15.250
-#1 Leland Forbes, 1:15.309

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Next Event Preview

The February 5-6 event brings us back to Phoenix International Raceway. While we have a great track lineup this season, February will be the last time we will visit PIR until December, so don’t miss out on this exciting event!

Article Written by Geri Amani.
Photography provided by Pure Street Photo and Geri Amani.

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