June 5-6 Wraps Up

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Firebird East – NASA-AZ Summer Event

NASA-AZ typically runs Firebird East only but once a year. However, the June 5-6 event would be one of two visits we’ll make to this track in 2010. Sure, we all had the option of sleeping in, relaxing inside of our air conditioned homes all weekend, maybe mow the lawn (if it hasn’t dried up already), or catch a few episodes of Dancing with the Stars that you’ve been recording on TiVo (or not). Regardless, when the track is scheduled to go hot our drivers kit-up and officials brave the heat.

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Gathering around for the early morning drivers meeting.

"Where's the coffee??" ...

Drivers and officials regroup at dawn, likely plotting "Operation-Coffee".

Firebird East is one of those tracks that rewards driver skill and handling; often closing the competition through various classes, keeping drivers and spectators on their toes. It is also one of my favorite tracks, and likewise for other momentum car drivers it is a popular pick. This would be the first of two summer events this year maintaining a condensed and (very) early schedule, avoiding the hottest temperatures of the day, which often reach over 100*F!

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Before the sun came up, David Leyvas' #997 PTA Porsche was ready to roll.

Long before any Starbucks opened in the whole of Phoenix, our drivers began entering the gates at 4am. Thanks to the organizers of NASA-AZ, this special event accommodated Big Bore and Small Bore races, Time Trial groups, HPDE, and Time Attack. Now let’s take a closer look at some of the highlights from this event.

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Race group heats up!

I was looking forward to seeing how many of our drivers in Race Group would make this event since NASA-AZ normally doesn’t offer races in the summer, let alone at this track. Since we were running a condensed schedule, Race Group followed a slightly different format; practice and qualifying took place on Saturday, followed by practice and race sessions on Sunday.

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Big Bore, Small Track.

If anyone was going to get a sub-minute lap time it was going to be in this group along with Big Bore Time Trial. The race began with a cluster of cars tight through the corners, gradually thinning out lap after lap. Mark Alger driving the fast red blur… I mean… #4 SU Dodge Viper, qualified first overall running a 59.748, followed by Victor Pfluger, Darrell Rayburn and Tage Evanson.

Big Bore, Small Track

Big Bore apex take-over!

Sunday’s race began with a 15-car field, noting most cars in their expected order with the exception of Brian Turner who missed qualifying due to mechanical issues. Starting in the back he worked his way through the pack ultimately taking fourth, just behind Matthew Seech in third. In the front of the pack was Mark Alger yet again who found a few extra tenths, beating his own qualifying lap time — also notably the fastest lap in Race Group for the weekend – a 58.932. When the checkers fell Alger took pole winning the SU class for the weekend, followed by Darrell Rayburn placing first in ST-2, David Leyvas took PT-A, and Rick Johnson won PT-B.

The chase!

Nose-to-tail chase: Ricky "Boo Boo" Johnson and John Dowling.

The chase continues...

... a few laps later ... the chase continues...

Here are the class winners from the Big Bore race on Sunday:
Mark Alger #4, SU
Darrell Rayburn #421, ST-2
David Leyvas #997, PT-A
Rick Johnson #00, PT-B

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Small Bore Race goes 944… and a Miata.

The Small Bore race was comprised of 99.99% 944 Spec, and .01% Spec Miata. Events like these make it obvious to me that the 944 Spec racers (and the Spec Miata) are committed to our racing schedule, even when weather conditions reach ‘wow-my-race-suit-really-does-smell-that-bad’ highs. An early start and 20 laps later, Austin Newmark in #47x took first overall with Rich Geisler in #03 not far behind, followed by Darren Griffith in #7. Our esteemed #8 Spec Miata driven by Charles Jackson, who also got the new Spec Miata track record, is an example to everyone who has been watching the races and contemplating to build a Spec car, that a) they should do it, and that b) all of them can be competitive together!

Top 944 racers from Sunday:
Austin Newmark #47x, 944 Spec
Rich Geisler #03, 944 Spec
Darren Griffith #7, 944 Spec

… and in Spec Miata:
Charles Jackson #8, Spec Miata

New track records:
Rich Geisler #03, 944 Spec – 1:06.452
Charles Jackson #8, Spec Miata – 1:10.416

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Time Trial Groups

Big Bore

Big Bore Time Trial was hot, and I’m not referencing the Arizona summer, or anybody’s car overheating… But in terms of speed they were all smoke’n! Throughout the weekend Wayne McKeen brought good stuff to the track in his TTR Corvette, running consistent sub-minute laps and setting the TTR track record on Saturday, then breaking his own record on Sunday with a fast 57.93.

Darrell Rayburn set the TTS record on Saturday with a 59.78, however Tage Evanson in his well-known Honda Civic (Casper) raised the bar on Sunday running 59.14. Brian Turner set a new record for this track with 1:03.39 in TTA, and Mark Alger took the lead in TTU turning 59.76

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#44 TTA Audi S4 driven by Dan Maloney

Here are the top racers on Saturday:
TTR Wayne McKeen – #7 Corvette – 58.26
TTU Mark Alger – #4 Dodge Viper – 1:00.01
TTS Darrell Rayburn – #421 Corvette – 59.78
TTA Dan Maloney – #44 Audi S4 – 1:03.97

Here are the top racers on Sunday:
TTR Wayne McKeen – #7 Corvette – 57.93
TTU Mark Alger – #4 Dodge Viper – 59.76
TTS Tage Evanson – #17 Honda Civic – 59.14
TTA Brian Turner – #524 Porsche 911 – 1:03.39

New track records:
TTR Wayne Mckeen – #7 Corvette
TTS Tage Evanson – # 17 Honda Civic
TTA Brian Turner – #524 Porsche 911

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Small Bore

The Small Bore group also enjoyed fast laps around East with a couple new track records. First up is Matt McIntyre, who obtained the TTB track record twice in one weekend; Saturday running 1:03.02, then shaving off a few tenths on Sunday running 1:02.72. Gabe Ortega and Eric Dayton battled it out in hopes to shave off those few extra tenths between each other, with Dayton ultimately taking the lead with the fastest lap in TTC on Sunday. Tage Evanson joined Small Bore yet again with his Honda Accord in TTF, also finding a new track record running 1:08.87.

Pace Car and TTC Integra driven by Eric Dayton.

Pace Car and TTC Integra driven by Eric Dayton.

Here are the top racers on Saturday:
TTB Matt McIntyre – #31 BMW M3 – 1:03.02
TTC Drew Maloney – #52 Mini Cooper S – 1:06.02
TTD Robert Rose – #16 Mazda Miata – 1:05.89
TTE Geri Amani – #34 Mazda Miata – 1:10.46
TTF Tage Evanson – #17 Honda Accord – 1:08.89

Here are the top racers on Sunday:
TTB Matt McIntyre – #31 BMW M3 – 1:02.72
TTC Eric Dayton- #21 Acura Integra – 1:07.16
TTD Robert Rose – #16 Mazda Miata – 1:06.01
TTE Geri Amani – #34 Mazda Miata – 1:08.92
TTF Tage Evanson – #17 Honda Accord – 1:08.87

New track records:
TTB Matt McIntyre – #31 BMW M3 – 1:02.72
TTF Tage Evanson – #17 Honda Accord – 1:08.87

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HPDE

Both mornings I started my day walking about the tech inspection lines snapping a few pictures a long the way. It is always great to see so many familiar faces in HPDE, and all of them eager to get on track despite how early it was or how little sleep they had the night before. Each event I like to take note which HPDE cars appear to be on the fast track towards competition in the not too distant future. With each event those cars slowly become more serious: better brakes, less interior, race seats, safety gear, tires, stickers, and more – the tell-tale signs of the “racing bug”.

Unmistakeable neon wheels, "Subie" driver Taylor Wilson.

Unmistakeable *neon* wheels... One of our "Subie" drivers, Taylor Wilson.

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.

I managed to connect with a few drivers to see how the event was coming along for them. A few of them were quite possibly some of the most enthusiastic I’ve seen in a long while. New to NASA was Ahmed Sulfab, driving his garage-built Integra Type-R. After months of reviving his car he joined us in DE1, graduating to DE2 by Sunday.

Noz Wijaya didn’t return to DE3 with his red Corolla, this time we found him with a Miata! Could this be a budding Spec Miata racer in the near future? Or a soon-to-be Time Trialer? Aside from weight reduction and safety gear, he ran the Miata almost completely stock. Noz ran both DE3 and Time Attack in a completely new platform, receiving some helpful coaching from fellow Miata driver and DE2 group leader Robert Rose.

Miata drivers stick together. Zoom-Zoom!

Robert Rose getting ready to head out with Noz in DE3 for some 1:1 coaching.

Bright and early... yellow S2k!

Bright ... and early!

One of our trusted corner workers Melanie joined us ON track; not holding a yellow flag, but driving her yellow supercharged Integra Type-R. Great to have her out there with us!

Fellow corner worker Melanie joins us in DE3 in her supercharged Acura Integra Type-R.

Fellow corner worker Melanie joins us in DE3 in her supercharged Acura Integra Type-R.

Because we can never be too prepared as drivers, NASA wants everyone to be safe when they drive with us. Make sure to be familiar with the latest safety rules and regulations. You can check out the official NASA website for the latest Club Codes and Regulations (often referred to as the CCR’s) here: http://www.drivenasa.com/rules/index.html.

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UMS Time Attack

I was pleased to see that the UMS Time Attack was scheduled in the NASA menu of run groups for this summer event, and even more pleased to see the number of participants waiting on grid hoping to turn the fastest lap. The UMS Time Attack provides drivers from run groups DE3 and up with some open track in a competition format. Other than the hot temperatures, after talking with other drivers it became obvious that TA had been a great success.

Gabe Ortega's Honda Civic, our TA-A winner.

Gabe Ortega's Honda Civic, TA-A winner.

With TA-A and TA-B as the largest of the TA run groups, with a few TA-C cars in the mix — a total of 22 cars in participation gave everyone a good dose of competition. Gabe Ortega in his Honda Civic drove away as our TA-A winner running a 1:08.061, Brian McCormick’s #727 took TA-B with his swift 1:04.376, and in TA-C Robert Smithson achieved 1:04.700.

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August Event Preview

With our brief break in July our next event takes place at Firebird West in August. Most HPDE groups were sold out in June, and despite warmer temperatures NASA-AZ expects the same turnout. An early 6AM start will kick-off the event, with HPDE1 on Saturday, also HPDE2, 3 and 4 both days. This will also be one of the last opportunities Time Trialers and Racers can accumulate the minimum points required for Nationals in September. For those of you not planning on joining us at Miller Motorsports Park, we wont have any more events in Arizona until October… Be sure to register for FIR West –the last of our summer events, and we’ll see you at the track!

Register for this event –>

https://www.drivenasa.com/event/1092
Real time event details on the NASA-AZ Forum –> http://forums.www.nasaaz.com/showthread.php?p=33472

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ritten and photographed by Geri A. Amani.