A great weekend at LRP - have to agree that this track eats up cars and equipment. Seems like the Road Race Center of the East puts on the most wrecks. Track was pretty quick and the weather was excellent. Great to see so many folks out - lotta drivers there watching whilst their cars are getting finished/fixed.

Pro IT was a slugfest. I never drove so hard to finshish last - that'll tell ya how tough these guys are. In the true sense of competition it was a race to even get the car in line to get to grid for a decent start. Andy B won that battle and had his car in line three groups before the Pro IT qualifier. Then when it was time to grid - no Andy! Fortunately somebody moved his car for him so he was 4th and Matt, Doc and I all told Andy to blow past us down pit lane so he could grab some clean track for his ITA Miata - we all sorta wanted to see if he could take pole over all the S and R guys...he almost got it and had fourth.

Top Ten was

ITR Nimkoff - 1:00.9
ITS Henderson - 1:01.2
ITS Driscoll - 1.01.3
ITA Bettencourt - 1.01.745
ITR Phillips - 1.01.756
ITR THiele - 1.01.8
ITR Fox - 1.01.85
ITS Rooke - 1.01.9
ITR Brealt - 1.0196
SM Jessberger - 1.02.4

The Autotecnic guys proved you don't need to be at the front of the grid to grab a good time - they were mid pack for qualifiying and still started up front.

A bunch of us put on sticker tires for the race. I took off my tires and thought that they looked pretty damn good but I was worried they had about 15 heat cycles and that they'd give up after 25 laps in what looked to be a 40 lap race.

The start at the front was pretty clean but I hear there was some major pushing and shoving going into T1. Hendo got a little loose in Big Bend and I was able to get by him and Andy got pinched in the mix. Some Miatas got waxed at the uphill, think one of them was Nick Leverone, so we took four laps under caution. That put the grid at Nimkoff, Driscoll, Phillips, Henderson, Thiele, Fox, Brault, Rooke - hard to be sure - I just remember that all of these guys were all over me like dents on a Miata.

On the restart Hendo got an insane launch and was able to drive past me and Nimkoff. I did a total Banzai Ben on Nimkoff into T1 got some major air under the right tires but managed to hold on and make a clean pass (thanks Rob for not launching me into the weeds). By turn three it was Driscoll, Henderson, Phillips, Nimkoff. For about ten laps I was able to keep up with the Autotechnic BMWs but then I began to fade. Nimkoff made several attempts to pass but I was able to hold him off by driving the line but my handling problems got worse and Rob was really putting on the heat and forced me into running wide at West Bend. He then took us side by side into the downhill and I should have let him go and tucked in. Instead I ran wide into the marlbes and barely held on, watching Rob Nimkoff drive off. I dropped it back to third to get back going and found myself half a straight behind with a swarm of BMWs all over me. From there on I just dropped like a rock with really greasy tires. I was so pissed in the car wishing I had not switched to stickers and wondering why these R6s gave out so bad.

All I can say is I made every one of you dudes work to get around me! I haven't driven in my mirrors this much ever and that forces a guy into mistakes - I'll blame it on the tires. Thanks to all the drivers who ran me clean - all the passes were spot on good judgement moves - just great driving and lots of respect while pushing to the max. Fred Fox got on my bumper and then disappeared - I heard he went off and hit the wall, don't know where but I hope he and the car are OK.

There were many car parts on the track and some pretty bashed up cars. The leading SM driver, Ron Jessberger was hit in the rear under FCY so hard that it snapped the rear and he had to park it. Munroe and Thiele banged some bumpers - Rob Thiele is forever cursed to having a repaint on something after every race!

My hat has to go off to Rob Driscoll - that man is overall winner for both of the Pro IT races so far this year and he's not got a scratch on the car and looks cool as a cucumber out there. Looking like a champ buddy. Only guy I know who might ruffle you would be Kip but the talent up here in the NE has scared him off - where are you Kip? I need another Porsche to help out against all these Bimmers!!!

So I got from 5th and 2nd in class to 3d and 1st in class, then dropped to 8th and last in class. My only saving grace is second fastest time of the day. Rob Nimkoff had FTD - wonder if it was the track record for ITR. Great Run Mr. Nimkoff! Driscoll only got you by .6 secs at the line - no mistakes, well done!

Top Ten Finishers:

ITS Driscoll 1.01.3
ITR Nimkoff 1.00.8
ITS Henderson 1.01.2
ITS Rooke 1.01.077 (eight to fourth - nice)
ITR Brealt 1.01.3I (ninth to fifth - nice)
ITR Munroe 1.01.7 (11th to 6th - nice)
ITR Thiele 1.01.35
ITR Phillips 1.01.004
ITA Cefalo 1.02.18
SM Harding 1.02.69

Winner in ITB Ken Hubbard 1.04.3

This was a great event and it ran well with the National. Tons of fun and lots of spectators. The autobody economy is thriving!