cosm3os Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 The Midwest Region GTS Challenge season opened at Road America on April 25-6. The field was small, and made smaller when Chris Fries, Sr. wrecked during the practice session on Saturday. Joining the field was rookie, Kyle Burkhardt (yours truly) having completed comp school Saturday morning. In the first race on Saturday, Roy Lipner (GTS3) jumped to the front of the field (which included SM and Spec944) and started to run away until a full course caution was called. When the field sorted behind the pacecar, Lipner realized that the Rookie had moved up from 15 overall to 4, with two SM between them. Determined not to be the answer to the trivia question, "Who did Kyle Burkhardt beat in his first ever race?", Lipner poured it on again for the GTS3 win. Jim Peterson took first in GTS2. In the second Saturday race, Lipner won GTS3 going away, with Burkhardt finishing P2. Peterson took another uncontested, but well-driven, win. On Sunday, wicked fog added was added to the wet mix of weather. Peterson dropped out, but we were joined by a lone P-car entry of ________ in GTSU. Accidents in qualifying limited the field to 1 official lap. Burkhardt narrowed the qualifying gap with Lipner by 11 seconds (from a gap of 11.4, to a gap of 1 sec--to the .000!). In an interview, Lipner insisted that all he was trying to do was stay in front of Burkhardt and left time on the table. Whatever. The Sunday race was scheduled to start at 2:30. At about noon, the rain stopped and the wind picked up. Dry spots appeared in the paddock. At about 1:45, everyone made the decision to go to drys for the race. The TT group out in the session before the race reported that the line was dry. As the group gridded up, rain started falling again, and came down as hard as it had all weekend. The race started behind the pacecar and immediately the field was black flagged due to lightning and fog. When the field stopped in the pits, Lipner made the decision not to go out on the drys, and pulled into the paddock. Burkhardt followed suit, but made a critical rookie mistake. Rather than cross the loop in the pits for the win (Lipner pulled off before the loop), he pulled off before the loop for a second place! Later, Lipner was seen refusing his "Winner" sticker. See you all at Putnam Park! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianacole Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Thanks for the report Kyle. Sounds like it was a tough weekend, but some good racing was still found! How is Chris? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosm3os Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 Didn't talk to him, but it wasn't that bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RSCoupe Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 For Sunday's race, I did more laps than Kyle and Roy, and I was driving the pace car... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosm3os Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 If you were a real man, youda done it with the top down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RSCoupe Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 If you were a real man, youda done it with the top down! I wanted to, but Carson wouldn't let me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rlipner Posted May 9, 2009 Share Posted May 9, 2009 Kyle, Just saw your post. Nice job. Answer to Kyle's trivia question - Who did he beat at RA? Answer, any or all demons and nasty thoughts about racing at RA. An you did it in the rain. Well done. Roy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Peterson Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 Thanks for the report Kyle. Sounds like it was a tough weekend, but some good racing was still found! How is Chris? I pitted across from Chris and he is OK. RA is some tough sledding during the monsoon season especially without rain tires or intermediates. A hair too much throttle out of Canada Corner sent his tail spinning and he connected with the tires in front of the cement wall. Chris was OK although his car's bumper, hood and quarter panel looked like they were done for. Actually Chris was injured more substantially later that morning when he hit his head on the liftgate lock mechanism of his SUV...required like 6 stitches, poor guy! Tough weekend, but he said he'd be back ASAP. Hope so. Jim Peterson BMW 325i GTS2 #92 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianacole Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 Actually Chris was injured more substantially later that morning when he hit his head on the liftgate lock mechanism of his SUV...required like 6 stitches, poor guy! Tough weekend, but he said he'd be back ASAP. Hope so. Insult to injury, or the other way around? Anyone have contact information for Chris they can PM me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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