$10K Prize for 2006 XSR Champions

Racing Concepts is offering $5K to both the 2006 CSR & DSR National Champions at the SCCA's Topeka Runoffs in September. The prize money will be paid to each winning driver if he/she is piloting a SPEADS RS04 to the victory.

See the Racing Concepts wedsite for more information or
contact Bob Schader directly for more details.

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ALMS Announces IMSA Lites

Ten races at five venues in 2006 make up the inaugural season of IMSA Lites, the new sports racer series sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association. The schedule, announced today by IMSA COO Tim Mayer, includes stops at a selection of North America's finest, most historic venues.

IMSA Lites will feature two classes of open-top sports racer prototypes – Lites 1 and Lites 2. IMSA Lites offers a step up for those racers who would like to advance beyond the club racing level or in preparation for a career in a world-class organization like the American Le Mans Series.

The series will be managed by Formula Motorsports' Jon Baytos, who also is responsible for the highly successful Formula Ford 2000 series.

After debuting at Road Atlanta as part of the Drift Atlanta weekend May 12-13, IMSA Lites will join the American Le Mans Series four times – at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lime Rock Park, Road America and Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta – for the balance of its inaugural season.

Elan VanDiemen will supply Lites 1 chassis for IMSA Lites. The DP02 Sports Racer features a carbon-fiber monocoque, race-designed suspension and uprights, a six-speed sequential gearbox, and a full aerodynamic package that features a front splitter, diffuser and rear wing. The DP02 will be powered by 2.3-liter, four-cylinder Mazda MPZ engine that will be sealed by Elan Power Products.

Radical also will be providing a Lites 1 chassis featuring a 1500cc Powertec engine. In addition, Elan VanDiemen, West Race Cars and Radical all will provide chassis for Lites 2. The cars will be smaller and lighter (about 200 pounds) and will be equipped with 1,000-cc Suzuki GSXR engines.

The affordability of the series is further enhanced by requiring all competitors to use the highly successful Cooper Tires UHP Cooper Zeon Radial. Sunoco will be the spec fuel for the race series.

2006 IMSA LITES SCHEDULE

May 12-13, Drift Atlanta, Road Atlanta, Braselton, Ga.
May 19-21, American Le Mans at Mid-Ohio, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio
June 29-July 1, New England Grand Prix, Lime Rock Park, Lakeville, Conn.
August 18-20, Generac 500 at Road America, Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.
Sept. 27-30, Petit Le Mans, Road Atlanta, Braselton, Ga.

Read more details in the Full Press Release.

For further information about the series contact Jon Baytos at Formula Motorsports Inc., (941) 729-5706

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Two New Cars Announced In SportsCar

The February 2006 edition of SportsCar magazine's Buyers Guide lists two new groups who intent to sell sports racers in the U.S. Also, other manufactuers have made changes to their existing or recent offering and are noted.

Fusion Racing of Canada and Gloria of Italy both have plans to build and sell sports racers to customers intending to compete in SCCA C and D Sports Racing classes.

Richard S James of SportsCar says, "The number of choices continues to grow, especially in the sports racing categories. There are a couple of reasons for that. First, the track day market is growing – there are a lot of people who like to go fast, but don’t necessarily want to race. That means greater volumes of cars sold, delivering greater variety and lower prices the SCCA racers. It may also provide a well of future competitors. There’s also the new IMSA Lights series, partly based on SCCA’s C and D Sports Racing rules, that is encouraging some manufacturers to build new sports racers.”

Fusion
The new Fusion FR-C01 and FR-D01 will be sold for CSR and DSR respectively. Fusion Racing will also offer a closed cockpit version of the FR-C01, ala mini Daytona Prototype. The Fusion Racing website so far only says, "The revolutionary FSRP-06 will take sports racers on a whole new direction and will be designed to meet the stringent demands of sanctioning bodies like SCCA ASN and FIA.".

Gloria
The new Gloria B65 will be sold for DSR. The Italian manufacturer of open wheel formula cars is trying to branch out into sports racers and is currently seeking a U.S. distributor. Gloria’s concept of their car was shared with SportsCar (displayed above), but the Gloria website doesn’t show any information on the proposed sports racer.

Also shown as revised cars were the ADR, Elan/Van Diemen, Johnston, Phoenix, Stohr, and West. All of these are familiar with those that have follow SCCA sports racing during 2005.

ADR
The ADR Chassis has developed from the Sport II, to the 1000 (intended for DSR), to the ADR3. Distribution of ADR cars in the U.S. has been taken over by ADR North America and the first ADR3 chassis arrived in California in November, 2005. The ADR3 is designed for CSR and endurance racing using either a Suzuki Hayabusa motorcycle engine, or a 2.0 liter Honda K20A engine.

Elan/Van Diemen
The Elan/Van Diemen looks to be a reworked version of the car that was originally introduced in 2001 as a bodied formula car. The DP-02, for C Sports Racing, is said to be the first new product from the new Elan Motorsport empire.

Johnston
The Johnston SRP-1 first debuted at the December 2003 PRI show. Ownership of the project changed hands along the way but continued to make progress, including development work on the track in 2005. Johnston has already been fielding two cars at the early East Coast National races in 2006.

Phoenix
The Phoenix CSR-1 and DSR-1 are the cars that started life as the Merloy, then Maloy. Phoenix Race Cars, Inc. acquired the design and ownership of the cars in 2005 and has continued development. Phoenix also has offered contingency sponsorship in 2005 and 2006 for winning drivers in Phoenix cars.

Stohr
The Stohr WF1 dominated the 2005 DSR National Championship in its first outing at the hands of Mark Jaremko. Lee Stohr continues improving upon the Stohr DSR that debuted at the 2001 SCCA Runoffs. The WF1 is the next evolution of Stohr cars for those that want a leading edge design for CSR or DSR.

West
West Race Cars has taken the Stohr DSR and refined it in their own ways to produce the WR1000 and Unlimited for DSR and CSR. West formerly took over the operation of Stohr Racing Cars, and has continued to support existing customers while their own unique version of the previous cars.

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Phoenix: Carter repeats CSR, Vollom takes DSR

Report and photo by Lee Stohr

Saturday's race at Phoenix, AZ, started with a little contact in the first turn between DSR drivers Mark Bakhit and Larry Vollum. Both spun, with Friday's third place finisher , Vollum, getting going again at the back of the field.

Larry made a great charge back through the field, finally getting by Kevin Mitz for the DSR win. Kevin had his Cheetah flying, but his top speed wasn't enough for Larry's Stohr. It was believed that Harvey had engine trouble in the race. Wade Carter won CSR again, with Rick Lee not far behind.

On behalf of the sponsors of the PSR Series, I want to thank all 15 drivers who made the trip to Phoenix. With Matt's accident, and the event compressed into one day, we had a challenging start. I think all the Tow Fund checks were distributed at the event. More sponsors are coming forward, and the next race at Thunderhill will be bigger and better!

[Editors note: The second race of the Double National at Phoenix is not part of the PSR Series as previously indicated.]

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Homestead: Mucha wins CSR, Foyil DSR

Report and photo by Travis Duder

Homestead is basically the Phoenix (PIR) road course on steroids. It is about 25% longer, 50% safer, a whole lot faster, and there is not another track in the world as smooth and as well maintained. And, SCCA got to use NASCAR turns 3 & 4 for the first time, which made it really fun. Really a great place to race!

Unfortunately the Sports Racers decided not to go racing this weekend as the entire grid was 8 cars (pathetic). Sebring was down by 25%, and now Homestead doesn't even get enough D's to make the "3.5 rule". What's going on?

The track is a quick study because it's a simple configuration ("horsepower track"). I tested and got "quick" immediately and never could improve through the weekend. By the end of the test day the fuel pickup in the fuel cell was failing and it finally fell off at lap 1.5 in the race (of course.) My race ended on lap 2 with a permanent loss of fuel pressure. Roger Cook is still stuck with a terrible run of bad luck as he lost a valve during the start of the test day. He and Ben tried all weekend to get my fuel starvation issue resolved but between contaminated gas (alcohol?) and the pick up everyone was pretty frustrated by the end of the weekend. Hopefully Roger will get rid of the curse before Savannah.

Dario [Dorian] won the race and went extremely fast during the race and did a great job in his Stohr. I had hoped for a good race, but even if I had the chance to run hard, Dario was "The Man" for this race.

Race Results

DSR
1-Dorian Foyil
2-Charles Dipasquale
end of story!

CSR
1-Jacek Mucha
2-Michael Mallinen
3-William Falatick

Qualification Results

If you get a chance, you have to race this track! All the track people were very cooperative and nice.

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PSRS 1: Hill claims DSR, Carter win CSR

Report and photo by Lee Stohr

The 2004 National Championship winning cars in CSR & DSR were piloted to easy wins at the first race of the Double National at Phoenix, AZ. The race was also the first event in the 2006 Pacific Sports Racer Series. Rick Lee and Wade Carter battled together in their Swift Vikings for most of the race for the CSR and overall win. Rick had a problem and lost a couple laps in the pits. Wade won by 7 seconds ahead of John Hill in the new Stohr WF1 DSR. John and Wade lapped the entire field.

Kevin Mitz moved into second early on in his Cheetah. Kevin was flying today, he turned a 59.5. Unfortunately, some fuel pickup problems dropped him back later. A big battle ensued between Mark Bakhit and Larry Vollum. Larry is from Portland, and has a first generation Stohr updated with the latest WF1 tunnels. Mark did a good job of making his car 'wide' and Larry didn't quite make it past. They finished second and third in DSR. Paul Marciano of PM Motorsports in Phoenix, took 2nd in CSR in a Phoenix chassis. Ken Davis took 3rd in CSR in a Zetec engined Lola S2.

Provisional Race Results

2006 Pacific Sports Racer Series Round 1


CSR Podium photo


DSR Podium photo

1st CSR Wade Carter 56.8
2nd DSR John Hill 57.7
3rd DSR Mark Bakhit 1:00.3
4th DSR Larry Vollum 58.99
5th CSR Paul Marciano 1:01
6th CSR Ken Davis 1:03
7th DSR Harvey Goldman 1:02
8th DSR Kevin Mitz 59.5
9th CSR Rick Lee 56.8
10th CSR Richard Cottrill 1:05
11th CSR Michael Vellone 1:11

Qualifying Results

CSR Rick Lee Viking 55.999
CSR Wade Carter Viking 56.176
DSR John Hill 2005 Stohr WF1 56.5
DSR Mark Bakhit Stohr 58.6
CSR Paul Marciano Phoenix 1:00.8
DSR Kevin Mitz Cheetah 1:01.0
DSR Harvey Goldman Stohr 1:01.9
CSR Ken Davis Lola 1:02.1
CSR Richard Cottrill Speads 1:03
CSR Don Simons 1:09
CSR Michael Vellone Ralt 1:12
CSR Renny Damon 1:14
DSR Larry Vollum, no transponder, start at back

Read more details in this topic on the sports racer forum.

Photos from the event here and here.

The weekend started badly when Matt Conrad crashed his Phoenix coming off the banking. It was reported that his brake pedal went to the floor. It was also reported that an a-arm barely missed his legs. Matt was taken to the hospital but was fine. Matt put in a lot of effort organizing the first race of the 2006 Pacific Sports Racer Series.

Matt later reported,

"2nd session of the day and just getting a few warm-up laps in before I start to click some good one's off. Down the front straightaway in sixth gear, probably 135mph and find no brake pedal.....and I mean pedal on the floor....not good.

I know I have the oval off to my right to work with but I need to be smooth getting across the grass strip between the infield course and the main track, but a white Stohr is in front of me and he has brakes so he's slowing. I clip his right rear with my left front and it's "blue sky" time. Corner workers say many flips in the air before coming down wheels down. I only thought I went up and then came right back down on my wheels...don't know.

Once I did come down I saw blue again....the unfriendly baby blue PIR wall....and I slammed into it very hard. I even thought before the hit that it was going to hurt bad. I hit at about a 45 degree angle and then the rear slapped the wall very hard as well. I did hit in an area where the SAFER barrier was installed.

The safety workers needed about 20 minutes to get me out of the car because one of the right front a-arms penetrated the cockpit and pierced both of my pant legs, my right shoe and my right sock.....but miraculously not my legs.

I do have two minor cracks in my ankle, but otherwise feel great. I was wearing a Hans and I firmly believe that it saved me from serious injury as I hit the wall brutally hard. I'm going to try to pull the data today to find out how many g's.

The corner workers brought a pile of debris and said there were some carbon parts still imbedded in the wall.

The body, floor, wing, chassis, engine, entire right side suspension, front crush box are gone and the car is literally destroyed."

Postscipt after the weekend, Matt reports,

"Just got the data off of the car and unfortunately it looks like the power got cut off .101 seconds after impact. The highest g-force reading recorded was a -4.76. The speed at impact with the Stohr was 129.7 mph and the wall came calling 4.3 seconds later at 117 mph. The impact and the short flight didn't slow me much!

After many discussions with witnesses it appears that I was correct in that the car did not flip in the air....I was airborne (hoorah for all of us ex-paratroopers), but a PIR employee (the guy who fixes the walls) witnessed the whole thing and he said I came right back down on the wheels. He also said the impact was heavy enough to dent the SAFER barrier but not break any of the welds or displace the foam.

Another thing I learned is that the driver in the Stohr was trying to move over as he saw me coming up fast behind him. I couldn't figure out how I hit him because I thought I was clear of him. I don't hold him responsible in the least, he was trying to give me the low line into the corner....he didn't know I was in trouble.

I really look forward to getting back out there as soon as I can. Hopefully the Double National at Firebird in March. Thanks to all of you who e-mailed and called with your concerns...I truly appreciate it!

Matt Conrad
Phoenix Race Cars, Inc."

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Dorian Foyil Takes Sebring DSR Win

Report by Wes Shelton
Photo by Robert Bowe

Cold and Florida - two words that rarely belong in the same sentence. But such was the case at the 2006 SCCA Sebring Winter Nationals. The thermometer consistently showed sub 40 degree temperatures most mornings, and even a little breeze to go with it. All frostbite aside, there was much excitement and fossil fuel in the air as the Southeast region kicked off the 2006 season. Who could think of a more fitting place to do so than the historic and wickedly fast Sebring International Raceway?

Returning for the 2006 season at this event would be SE Division champion Rodger Cook in his Johnston SRP-1, top SE division runoffs finisher Steve Shelton, and Bohemian Dorian Foyil. With 14 DSR cars registered for the weekend, it was yet another solid turnout to kick off the New Year.

After three days of testing and qualifying, it was the Stohr of Dorian Foyil sitting on the pole with a pair of Steve Sheltons (Sr. and Jr.) waiting in the wings. Last year’s winner, Rodger Cook, who would complete only a few laps due to mechanical issues, sat in 12th position on the grid.

A late decision on Saturday moved the S2000 group over to join the DSRs for Sunday's race. While there were only 5 cars in the S2000 class, things became a little more interesting at the front of the field, as S2's now occupied 2 of the top 5 spots on the grid.

Sunday morning at Sebring began pretty much like every other day did that week, cold. But sitting in the pre-grid, waiting for the morning hardship to start, another element of nature reared its ugly head, fog. While the paddock area seemed to offer fairly good visibility, other parts of the track were nearly impossible to see. Word had it that a controlled burn was being conducted nearby. Much to the dismay of nearly all of this weekend’s participants, both hardships were cancelled. This would prove to be costly for many teams.

Shortly after the morning sessions were cancelled, Group 1 was called to grid, and the first green flag was dropped for the DSR/S2000 race. The weekend’s attrition began almost immediately with the start of the DSR race, as front row starter Steve Shelton dropped back immediately with engine troubles. A dangerous spin by Juan Montalvo Jr.'s Maloy ensued and sent cars through the Turn 2 dirt. As the dust settled and cars entered Turn 3, it was the pole sitter Dorian Foyil still in the lead position that he would never relinquish. A closely watching Steve Shelton Jr. spun mid-way through the race at the entrance of famous "Safety Pin" turn, leaving Foyil a clear path to the checkered. The relentless Rodger Cook charged hard through the field before retiring once again due to a mechanical failure. The Stohr of Steve Shelton Jr. held on to 2nd, while newcomer Tom Shelton Jr. took the final podium spot. Rounding out the top 6 were Juan Montalvo Jr., Jim Aid, and Craig Stafford, all finishing on the lead lap.

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