the suspense is killing me

[jcmotorsports]

ok, the suspense is killing me!! how did things turn out this weekend at nhis? who won? any interesting events or races???? i am awaiting the return of my car from the body shop! i should be ready for lrp.
john costello

[Andy Bettencourt]

So early in the season that the two Autotechnic E46's were not done and Kip's new 944S wasn't either, Nick decided to race the track record!

After some VERY promising test day times, the 04 lost a motor in the school due to a cooling problem. Nick switched to Steve Ulfelder's 05 after I told him how fast I thought it was after just 3 laps checking it out.

Conditions were great and Nick qualifed at a rediculous 1:13.8xx. Set a new track record at 1:14.1xx.

As predicted , Tim Estes was FAST. He finished second without incident. Nice job!

ITA was AWESOME. I'll let a participant in that race do the details.

AB

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Andy Bettencourt
New England Region, R188967
www.flatout-motorsports.com

[This message has been edited by Andy Bettencourt (edited April 18, 2005).]

[Greg Amy]

As Andy indicated, ITA was a great race. The top 5 qualifiers were within a second of each other, and the race was a hoot. Rick Benazic (Acura Integra) won ITA with Richie Hunter (Acura Integra) 1.3 seconds behind. See my perspective in the Nissan forum ("Waiting for Greg...").

ITC was a runaway victory by Chris Johnson in a Ford Escort; car #1 was posted as a DQ for "GCR 11.6.3", which I can't seem to find in my copy of the GCR...any insights?

A big hearty congrats to my buddy Rob Breault, who drove his ITA BMW Z3 to see his first SCCA checkered flag! - GA

[benspeed]

Couldn't have asked for a better day of racing. Great conditions for both qualifying sessions and the race. The ITS start went well-Stewart in his bimmer made it from 10th to 4th or somthing. Awesome jump. Nick and Tim checked out - kudos to both. Extra kudos to Nick - jumping in a different car and breaking track record - that is one heck of a drive. Dave Maynard held third and had a minor spin about 15 laps in - lost a spot to a Larry's bimmer and then regained. I had a good run with Tisdale until a brain fade on the bowl where I went in too deep and tried passing on the outside only to put two wheels off - not a recomended line. Lost about 15 car lengths and was slowly reeling in 3,4,5 to about 5-6 car lengths when the race ended. The three bimmers were running a nice race with positions swappping cleanly. Tisdale made a late race pass and finished 4th, Larry 5th, me 6th Jeremy (?) 7th in a rX7 Greggory 8th in a Mazda. Brian Bagnal is really running fast and was in there as well as Stewart who was new to the track. Hope I had that right.

The quality of equipment is even better than last year with some very nice new cars. The field was something like 27 cars in ITS. No wrecks and no full course yellows - just great racing! Congrats to everybody on an excellent first race.

Tim - you need to give us the lowdown on ITB.

Start your engines - we're racing again!

[tims90rx7]

What a great day at the races!

The ITS/ITB race was clean and well run by all. I think Andy has a better idea of how I'm going to run then I do! (Just keep thinking that way....)

All was mostly quiet from my position. The highlight of my day was actually leading out of turn three on the first lap...I knew it wouldn't last!!

Had a good battle going with David Maynard. He was pushing hard and getting closer with each lap. A lap or so before he spun he was able to pull along the side of me as we exited 3 as I missed a shift climbing the hill. As we crested the hill I could tell that he would be able to take me as we entered six. Just before we got to five a local yellow came out. David backed off to avoid passing under the yellow. Hats off to him for smart, courteous driving. I think he could have easily made the pass in the heat of the moment and made an argument that he was already nosing past me as the flag came out. I was lucky that the flag flew after I screwed up a shift or he would have had the position. Mature move David, thanks!

I would have taken you the next lap anyway!! :-)

Other then that a pretty calm race from my spot. I was happy to still be able to see Nick at the end...

Big thanks to Matt Miskoe and Mike Carr for help with a small (ok, pretty much drained it)coolant leak after the first qualifier. Yet again it is the help of some of the great people at the track that keep me running.

Hope to see all at lrp in May.

Tim Estes
ITS RX7

[16v]

lots more to come

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Doug
NER.org webmaster
the16v.com Photography
briansgarage.com

[RacerBill]

"GCR 11.6.3"

Just checked. Online version of GCR on SCCA website only goes up to 11.4

???????????????????

[gran racing]

Same with the hard copy I have.

So what were the results in ITB?

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Dave Gran
NER ITB #13
'87 Honda Prelude si

[gran racing]

What was Anthony S. driving in ITA?

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Dave Gran
NER ITB #13
'87 Honda Prelude si

[dazzlesa]

anthony was not in ITA. He had a new integra in SPU. RICK

[TimM ITB]

Well, I probably couldn't have had a better weekend - great company, great weather, no full course yellows, and my first win. No doubt that the field was small for ITB (only 7 starters), but I've been told to "shut up" and be happy for the win. The results, I think, go like this -
Tim Mullen - VW Golf
Paul Curran - Volvo
Matt Boldoni - VW Sirrocco
Paul was a good ways ahead of me for the first 10 or so laps, but I could see that he was having trouble in 1 and 2 as his rear kept "stepping out". I give Paul a bunch of credit for keeping the car on the track as he was scaring the crap out of me behind him - I can't imagine what it felt like inside his car! Anyway, finally got him in the bowl and then held on from there with 4 laps left. Amazing the amount of new sounds you hear in the car when you realize you're leading and there's only a few more laps left! AND, all of the things you keep telling yourself NOT to do so you don't go dirt tracking, etc!!
Anyway, thanks to Paul for a clean race, and look out for Shawn Fohs in the future (who had the pole in a scarey fast Rabbit) but broke with 5 to go.
Don't know about LRP on Mother's Day weekend, but definitely going to Pocono in May.
later,
Tim Mullen

[benspeed]

Way to go Tim! Didn't know that you had your first win - congrats!

[Andy Bettencourt]

Then 11.3 should cover it.

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Andy Bettencourt
New England Region, R188967
www.flatout-motorsports.com

[racerdrew43]

Not sure about the GCR section, but the DQ involved the driver/car not stopping for impound after the race.

[Rabbit05]

CONGRATS TIM !!!

I hope to see ya at Lime Rock . I am trying to convince my Brother to do the school so he can get his license so we can run some Enduros , SO... if i can get my motor together in time ,I'll buy ya a beer!!

John VanDenburgh
ITC Rabbit 05

[gran racing]

Tim, a win is a win. Feels good, huh? Hope to see you at LRP in May.

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Dave Gran
NER ITB #13
'87 Honda Prelude si

[nlevine]

I was impressed (and moderately depressed) by the times folks were turning in ITA this early in the season! Those Acuras were honking out there, and Greg certainly showed off the potential of his Nissan in ITA (before the motor went south). The "other" Nissan - the 240sx - also showed some good speed.

It was also nice to see another glutton for punishment, I mean trend-setter, out there in a Z3 - congrats on your first race, Rob, and I hope you get your electronics woes straightened out soon.

-noam
#18 ITA BMW Z3



[This message has been edited by nlevine (edited April 19, 2005).]

[JLawton]

Originally posted by TimM ITB:
No doubt that the field was small for ITB (only 7 starters

Tim, great job! Any time you can beat some one like Paul, it doesn't matter how big the field was!! Matt did very well too. He hasn't missed a beat! Now if he and Eli can get Dick to spring for an A3...........

Besides the perfect weather, the event seemed VERY well organized. Both Tech and Registration flowed smooth. Good job to the organizers!

Now if I could only get my sh** together!!



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Jeff L
#74 ITB GTi

[67ITB]

Congratulations to Tim M on his win in the self proclaimed “grocery getter”
I was also told to “shut up” and enjoy 3rd place. Believe me I was very happy and surprised with the results after such a long break. Thanks for the kind words Jeff, other than a few new dents that Eli put in the car its still the same car. So I did feel right at home in it. Jeff did you ever figure out what was wrong with your car? Let me know if there is anything I can do for you.
As for building an A3 that would mean I would have to start my spare parts collection all over again, not to mention that we have not even finished building the new engine for this car yet.... Eli and I are still working on putting the other Scirocco back together.

Again congrats to Tim on a great win. Its great to see a VW in 1st place
See you at Limerock

Matt Bal

[Doc Bro]

Thanks to Noam and Greg for their kind words. My first racing experience was truly great because it was safe and I finished the race. I also improved on my qualifying. I am totally hooked. My car handled really well, but the "advanced" BMW electronics are putting me at war with it. I really don't care in some regards because I'd rather be last on the race track than first on the couch and I know we'll get it fixed eventually. Thanks to everyone of my competitors who raced me clean and were patient with me and my inexperience and electrical gremlins. I'm really proud to be a part of this community.

Rob
#36 BMW Z3