GTS Midwest Autobahn Opener results 4/20-4/21

[cstreit911]

What a weekend!

 

If you missed the first NASA Midwest event at ABCC, you missed an opportunity to see the largest Midwest GTS field in recent memory duke it out for early supremacy in the series. Midwest weather being what it is, air temps were cold and the sun was out translating into fast times and new track records.

 

Saturday qualifying was cut short after an aspiring James Bond aka Dann Nelson oiled down the track leaving many a wide-eyed driver returning to the pits after 3 laps. The good news is that Dann's engine is okay and he will be back in the fray for Putnam. Returning driver Ryan Osiecki in the GTS4 BMW owned by Faisal Kahn qualified on the GTS pole with a 1:34.1, leaving the #312 BMW of Alpesh Amin, #15 Porsche of Chris Streit, and #712 BMW of Paul Smucker hopeful to make up some time on him. The warming temps in the afternoon worked well for Osiecki and he ran away from the pack setting a blistering track record almost 1.5 seconds faster than the previous record.

 

In the hotly contested GTS3 class, Stefan Sajic in the #18 BMW took the pole. In true racer fashion, Sajic had only finished his car at 2AM that morning and somehow convinced the dyno operator to get it done at 4AM. Apparently sleep does not impact his ability to drive fast. #705 BMW of Roy Lipner and #99 of Nobu Kamino took 2nd and third in qualifying. In the race Sajic maintained his lead untill lap 18 when he spun out handing the lead to Lipner who also set a new GTS3 track record in his attempt to catch him setting a pace 0.5 seconds faster than the rest of the GTS3 field. Kamino maintained his spot on the podium holding on 3rd place for the duration.

 

Sunday's action was definitely focused on GTS3 again. This morning Dan Huberty in the #46 BMW stepped up and grabbed the GTS3 pole from Lipner. Chris Hughes #31 BMW took the third spot , followed by Zach Hillman #58 Porsche 944 who got a 20 HP surprise on the Dyno Friday and was bumped up to GTS3 for the weekend. Hotshoe Hillman, despite being less than optimal for GTS3, was only 1/10th a second off Hughes time. At the start the field was stretched out a bit allowing Hughes to get a spectacular run on the green by turn one but a miscalculation sent him across the bow of Lipner and Huberty and he dropped 5 positions before he got back on track.

 

Huberty and Lipner ran a close race but on lap 12 Lipner passed for the lead and then proceeded to stretch the gap to almost 24 seconds by the race end. Chris Elliot, #45 BMW took 3rd today.

 

Osiecki once again took the win in GTS4 with Streit in second and Amin and 3rd. Paul Smucker found serious motivation and despite finishing 4th, passed 10 cars in the course of the race finishing only 3/10ths behind Amin setting his fastest lap near the end of the race.

 

Putnam Park is in 2.5 weeks If you're not signed up, do it now and remember...Putnam also provides the option for either a 90-minute or a 3-hour enduro. If you haven't done an enduro yet, you don't know what you're missing. It is great fun, requires some pit help (you have to put in at least 5 gallons of gas) and is a FANTASTIC way to improve your driving. Seriously. Find a co-driver (or, do the whole thing yourself) and sign up.

 

 

 

Regards,

 

Chris Streit

NASA Midwest GTS Series Director

 

 

 

Race Results

 

Saturday: GTS4

 

1. Ryan Osiecki

2. Chris Streit

3. Alpesh Amin

4. Paul Smucker

 

Saturday: GTS3

 

1. Roy Lipner

2. Dan Huberty

3. Noboru Kamino

4. Matthew Palmieri

5. Luke Perkowski

6. Chris Hughes

7. Stefan Sajic

8. Christopher Elliott

9. Greg Grabczynski

10. Zach hillmann (DNF)

 

Saturday: GTS2

1. Chris Fries Sr

 

Sunday: GTS4

 

1. Ryan Osiecki

2. Chris Streit

3. Alpesh Amin

4. Paul Smucker

 

 

Sunday: GTS3

1. Roy Lipner

2. Dan Huberty

3. Christopher Elliott

4. Mark White

5. Matthew Palmieri

6. Chris Hughes

7. Zach hillmann

8. Luke Perkowski

9. Greg Grabczynski

10. Noboru Kamino (DNF)

 

Saturday: GTS2

 

1. Chris Fries Sr

[JSG1901]

Great write-up, Chris, thanks!