TT Results from Phoenix, 9/9 - 9/10

[phoenixR34]

Here is a recap on the weekend at PIR.

 

-----------------------------------

 

Results

 

http://nasa-tt.com/Arizona_Regional_Results/p2040_articleid/15

 

New Track Records

 

http://nasa-tt.com/Arizona_Track_Records

 

Photos

 

http://www.desertimports.com/events/nasa/

 

http://www.paulhillmaniii.com/AZ240SX/2006-09-10/Grip.Session.2/index.html

 

http://www.paulhillmaniii.com/AZ240SX/2006-09-10/Grip.Session.3/index.html

 

-----------------------------------

 

September 9-10 weekend in Phoenix marked the official start of the fall racing season. Even though we consider it to be the fall season, Arizona residents know that early September is still very much summer; more specifically, event organizers usually start out their driver's meetings with "It's going to be hot, so drink plenty of water!". Well, we lucked out this weekend at PIR however. Saturday was mostly cloudy with a temperature in the low-mid 80s, with even a slight sprinkle giving us that swamp cooler effect. Sunday was a tad bit hotter, but it was decent enough so that everyone had fun and could focus on driving, rather than trying to keep cool. The great weather conditions brought along some great results from our TT entrants. At the end of Sunday, which seemed to come way too soon, here's how the results sorted out:

 

Saturday started out with 15 entrants, some of which made it through the day and others went home early with mechanical issues. This was a non-points weekend for Arizona TT, but that didn't stop many from chasing the track records which have been untouched for nearly six months. Brady Dohrmann was the lone TTE entrant for the weekend in his Nissan 240SX and managed to break the previous track record by nearly six seconds, ending up with a 1:14.51. TTD fared better and was super competitive among all entrants, but current record holder John Faulkner schooled everyone by winning every session en' route to a 1:15.33 in his 911. Jeremy Renshaw had mechanical issues with his Nissan 240SX putting him out after the 2nd sesison, but his 1:11.67 was not only a personal best, but enough to win TTC. Local Dodge fanactic and STR4 owner Gary Felton, drove his #15 TTB car to a 1:11.12 lap and was victorious on the day. TTA was interesting as Keith Broadwater and a field of Corvettes chased Porsche ace Keith Kuchler all day. Keith wasn't fooled by the fact he had two less cylinders than everyone else as he managed to win every session, while cruising past the old track record with a 1:08.97, making him the fastest TTA driver in town. Brian Schaefer was the lone driver in TTU as several others had mechnical problems, thus putting them out after the first session. Brian persevered took the TTU victory with a 1:10.27 lap. Then of course there was TTR, where the battle went on through the day between Shirl Dickey and Aussie Pete Creek, both driving Corvettes. Lap times bounced back and forth between 1:08 and 1:09, with Pete eventually coming out on top as he stormed past Shril with a 1:07.98 in the TT Shootout, setting a TTR track record in the process.

 

Just as the dust was settling from all the fast laps and new records on Saturday, Sunday rolled around. People who hadn't driven PIR in many months, were now warmed up and ready to rock. Another field of 15 entrants came to the track and put down some great laps. Still the only solider in TTE, Brady Dohrmann picked on the higher classes and broke his previous track record in the process, with a 1:13.606 lap. John Faulkner, driving in TTD, sought out to win all eight TT sessions of the weekend. He did so, beating out Eric Jacobsen and a handful of Spec 944s. His 1:15.23 was just 0.19 off the current track record! Two Nissan 350Zs battled it out in TTC, with Ed Prather coming out on top, turning in a 1:13.70 lap. TTB got interesting as Andy Schermuly ripped off a 1:11.99 lap in the second session in his 914 - dangerously close to Gary Felton's 1:11.7 from Saturday. Gary took notice and stepped up with a 1:10.99 in the TT shooout to win the class. A class which was primarily all Corvettes on Saturday, TTA had a mix of Porsche, Corvette and a Subaru STi courtesy of Marion Vance. Keith Broadwater and Marion battled it out for the day while Keith Kuchler teased them both running a 1:09.16 and going onto win the class. Bits Fajardo was the lone entrant in TTU on Sunday in his Mitsubishi EVO and came through with a very fast 1:10.50. TTR is where it gets good, as always! Just as Pete Creek broke DynoComp's track record on Saturday, local BMW hotshoe Mario Rigoli had a few things to say about that. In Mario's first session out, he drove his insane E30 BMW M3 to a 1:07.5, taking the TTR record by 0.4. It wasn't over however! SoCal Corvette driver Terry Free wanted to put in his two cents as well, and did so with a 1:07.32, taking the TTR track record away in the third session, backing it up with a 1:07.47 in the shootout.

 

Overall it was an excellent weekend, made up of superb driving and great weather. Three track records were broken, just about every class was diverse and had great competition. Look for the battles to continue in NASA-TT next month again at PIR!

 

----------------------