NorCal Round 6 Results

[MarkC]

The results from round 6 NorCal have been posted at: http://www.nasa-tt.com//Norcal_Regional_Results/p2047_articleid/115

The track records have been updated at: http://www.nasa-tt.com//Norcal_Track_Records

The season standings have been updated: http://www.nasa-tt.com//Norcal_Standings

 

This is the story of the event:

The latest NorCal Time Trial event was June 28-29, 2008 at Legendary Sears Point Raceway (Infineon). This event was the second largest group overall for NASA NorCal in history. The record was set at Sears Point earlier this year. TT alone in the first session on Saturday morning had 51 times posted by competitors. I guess the record high gas prices don’t seem to bother the true die-hard racers. I love it. The track configuration was going to be a little different this time. Since NASCAR was there the week earlier taking the handicap ramp at Turn 4, NASA decided to run the “long turn 7” that NASCAR uses. This would throw many peoples rhythm off in the esses, but TT has some great drivers that are able to adapt quickly and track records were broken. Bob Blackwood broke the TTD record in the first timed session of the day with a blistering 1:56.156. In the next session Sean Mackenzie set the TTS record with a 1:49.586. Setting his first TT track record was Anthony Zwain/SpeedTrapp Racing in TTB with a 1:56.255. Sunday Team Sutak set the TTU record with a 1:46.754 which was broken the day before by Gerry Gasber.

 

The rest of the weekend played out as follows:

 

TTR

 

Saturday saw Brian Lowrance worried after the first session as Louise pulled a faster time, but he was able to come back in his ‘75 Porsche 911 to claim a first place finish with a 1:45.626. Hot on his exhaust pipe in second place was Louise Sousoures in her ’70 Porsche 911 with a time of 1:46.856. Getting on the podium in third place was John Mulvihill in his beautiful 2007 GT3 Cup Car with a 1:49.240. In fourth place was the top finishing non-Porsche was Art Stavro in his supped up ’06 Nissan 350Z with a time of 1:50.747. Steve Frankel in his ’97 Porsche 3.8 Cup RSR was able to hold off John Ball in his ’05 GT3 RSR by only .114 seconds to claim fifth with John in sixth. Seventh through ninth was a battle of 911’s as Earl Green in his ’73 (1:55.659) beat Neil Yonk in his red ’73(1:55.720) by a mere .061 seconds. Ninth belonged to Susan Smith in her 1972 911. Fred Jackman was able to bring his ’88 BMW M3 home in 10th spot with Dennis Clark in his ’94 Miata (far cry from his Ferrari he races with in SU) in 11th. Rounding out the group in 12th was Doug Johnson in his ’89 BMW E30 325.

 

Sunday saw Brian Lowrance repeat his first place performance to sweep the weekend with a time of 1:44.422. Also repeating her performance from Saturday was Louise Sousoures in second bettering her time to a 1:46.642. Art Stavro was able to better his position to claim the bronze with a time of 1:50.786. Neil Yonk was able to pick up some valuable championship points with a fourth place time of 1:57638. Right behind him was Fred Jackman to get fifth with Susan Smith in sixth. Seventh through tenth were Dennis Clark, John Mulvihill, John Ball, and Steven Frankel respectively.

 

TTU

 

Saturday Gerry Gasber and his ’06 Z06 claimed first place with a time of 1:47.367. This was also a new track record that he held for 24 hours. Shannon Erickson made it a 1-2 finish for Corvette with a second place time of 1:52.058. Putting a stop on an all Vette podium was Stephen Jarrel in his 1969 Porsche 911 by getting third with a time of 1:52.679. Fourth place belonged to Igor Lyustin in his ’92 NSX with a time of 1:54.765. Getting fifth was Michael Bowman in his ‘07 Vette with a lap time of 1:54.956. Sixth place finisher was Boris Berman in his high powered ’05 Evo. Seventh place finisher Team Sutak in his ’04 Mustang. Eighth place was Lowell Fennie who was good to have out racing with us again after his mishap earlier in the year in his scary fast ’04 FFR Cobra.

 

Sunday started off with heartbreak for Saturday’s winner Gerry Gasber as he broke his motor on the first session and oiled his tires enough to spin at very high speed, but thankfully he did not hit anything. If that was not bad enough Team Sutak went out in the third session and took Gerry’s track record away. With the track record of 1:46.754 Team Sutak finished first. After setting that time he found out his Watt’s Link bolt was missing, later to be found in Grigg’s Racing AIX headlight. Team Sutak lost the bolt during the AIX race, so he broke the track record with a missing Watt’s Link bolt. I am thinking of taking mine out at the next event and see how much faster I can go? In second place was Lowell with a time of 1:58.313 as his confidence in himself and his car kept growing the more seat time he got. Third Place went to Gerry Gasber who I would like to thank for hanging out all day even after losing his motor early in the morning, true sportsmanship and support for the TT program – this is what makes our group so GREAT! Shannon rounded out the group in fourth place.

 

TTS

 

This may seem like a repeat of the last story as Sean Mackenzie in his ’06 Evo broke the track record and placed first with a blazing time of 1:49.586. Second place belonged to Team Smith in his ’93 Mustang with a time of 1:53.764. Third place was newcomer Evan Mironov in his AWD ’05 Subaru STI with a time of 1:55.432. Fourth place belonged to Team Evolved Performance in their ’06 Evo with a time of 1:56.507. In his 92 Mustang Team Yearbook took fifth place with a time of 1:57.190. Rounding out TTS was Tim Pinelli with a time of 1:58.164 in his ’90 Ford Mustang Coupe.

 

Sunday Sean Mackenzie was not able to better his time from Saturday but the time of 1:49.857 was good enough to repeat his first place. Team Smith was able to repeat second place while bettering his time to 1:51.628. Sean better watch out as Team Smith is closing the gap. Third Place Evan Mironov with a time of 1:53.922. Fourth place went to another newcomer of Edric Alunan in his ’06 Evo. Rounding out the group in fifth place was Team Yearbook.

 

TTA

 

With the championship trophy on the horizon Team Callaghan in his ’66 Mustang and Steve Kane in his 06 Mustang were trying to get maximum points for the weekend. Team Callaghan was able to claim first place on Saturday pulling the fast time (1:56.062) in the last session of the day to beat Steve (1:56.150) that is only a difference of .088 seconds. With Steve getting second place the final podium spot belonged to John Magnuson and his 1993 Mazda RX-7 (1:59.516) who made the trip from SoCal, where he is currently competing for SoCal honors.

 

On Sunday with Team Callaghan getting first on Saturday Steve was determined to go faster (as we all are). Unfortunately he pushed a little too hard and damaged his car, which put him out for the day. Team Callaghan was able to take advantage of the situation and sweep the weekend with a first place time of 1:56.635. John Magnuson found some extra speed on Sunday to place second with a time of 1:56.786. Steve was able to complete a lap to get on the podium in third and collect those valuable season points.

 

I would like to give Steve the sportsmanship award as even with the problem he had early Sunday morning he still hung out and was part of our TT group all day until the end. This is what grassroots racing is all about and I would like to thank him for it. I have no doubt that Steve will put his car back together and be faster than ever by the time Thunderhill rolls around at the end of August and make the championship come down to the final day of the year.

 

TTB

 

Saturday Anthony Zwain/SpeedTrapp Racing in his 87 BMW 325 got his first win of the year with a record breaking time of 1:56.255. Second place went to Ed Rogers in his gorgeous black ’02 BMW M3 with a time of 1:58.327. Getting the final podium spot was Team3S/Goodsport Racing in their ’91 Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR4.

 

Sunday Anthony was out to show that Saturday was no fluke as he swept the weekend with another first place time of 1:56.654. Second place went to Team3S/Goodsport Racing time of 2:27.516.

 

TTC

 

Saturday Jospeh Ramirez and his Honda S2000 finished in first place with a time of 1:58.012. Team Z Car Garage in his Infiniti G35 seems to be getting a handle on his brake issues and finished in second with a time of 1:59.263. Third place was a new comer this year to TT in Chuck Moreland in his ’73 Porsche 911 with a time of 1:59.405. This was the best news for Chuck as at the last session he backed his Porsche into the wall in 8A. Fourth place was Ron Valtierra in his 1993 Mazda MX6 with a time of 1:59.501. In fifth was Matt Kim in his Honda S2000 pulling a time of 2:01.524. Sixth place was Mike McDonald and his ’88 Porsche 911 with Steven Sacks and Michael Sondel, who had a mechanical problem causing him to spin, in 7th and 8th respectively.

 

Sunday Matt Kim was able to figure something out and set a lap of 1:58.887 to get his first win of the year. Coming in second was Joseph Ramirez with a 1:59.030 to make it a S2000 1-2 finish. Team Z Car Garage finished on the podium and pick up those valuable championship points with a time of 1:59.133. I am going to enjoy watching Joe Ramirez and Team Z Car Garage battle for the championship as only 85 points separates them now. Just missing the podium in fourth was Mike McDonald with a time of 2:03.695, he keeps improving his times every event and now is trying to hold on to 3rd place for the season. Rounding out the TTC group was Steve Sacks in fifth place with a time of 2:10.235.

 

TTD

 

Bob Blackwood in his 87 Porsche 944 likes to lay the gauntlet down early in the weekend and he did by breaking the track record on Saturday with a 1:56.156 to get the gold medal. Second place was Paul Geddings in his ’85 Mercedes 190e with a time of 2:02.088. Third place and finishing on the podium was Team Valley Motorworks in their Sepc E30 car with a time of 2:02.137. Fourth place was Bill Brown M.D. in his Spec Miata with a time of 2:02.987. Fifth Place was Ray Nickson in his 3 wheeled 90 VW GTI and in sixth place was Steve Russo in his ’88 BMW, good to have you back as well.

 

Again Sunday saw Bob Blackwood take home first place with a time of 1:56.804. Paul Geddings repeated his second place finish with a time of 2:03.589. Third place finisher was Doc Brown with a 2:04.977. Ray Nickson pulled a time of 2:07.752 to finish fourth and keep accumulating the championship points. Steve Russo rounds out the group with a fifth place finish with a time of 2:08.214.

 

TTE

 

Saturday Sean Trapp/SpeedTrapp Racing in his ’91 BMW 325 got the win after brushing the wall in the esses to make it more slimming with a time of 2:05.371. In second with a time of 2:06.326 was Scott Clough in his Spec E30 car. Finishing in third to claim the final podium spot was Walter Ford in his ‘87 BMW 325i. Sunday Sean was out to better his time with a time of 2:04.564 to repeat his first place performance. Walter was able to jump up a spot to second place with his time of 2:06.111.

 

I would also like to say a special thank you to Andy Sutak for his hospitality to TT competitors allowing all of us to hang out at the trailer and talk about racing under his awning. Also for sharing his energy drinks, rehydrating drinks, and Muscle Milk bars from his sponsor CYTOSPORT.