Southern California Region of NASA

Round 2 of the SoCal Spec E30 race series at Buttonwillow Race Park
would start off on a sad note. Car owner Erick Strong and his
co-driver were testing the #111 car for the Saturday night enduro.
With Eric's co-driver behind the wheel, the car lost control coming
out of Sunset and had a heavy impact into the tire wall; the car was
destroyed.  Luckily, the driver walked away uninjured.

Within an hour of the crash, one of the other SoCal Spec E30 drivers
had heard about the wreck and immediately offered him a car he had
recently bought and was about to start building.  By Monday morning,
Erick already had a replacement car and is now ready to swap all the
usable parts and get back to the track. Meanwhile, he is looking for a
rental car to finish the 2012 season out in or until his replacement
car is ready for competition.  Our hearts go out to Erick because he
has a very limited schedule to work on his car and he had just
completely gone thru the car taking care of every maintenance item
needed. That's the sad truth of motorsports in that sometimes the plan
changes.

Soaring temperatures turn up the wick on the Spec Miata field at Buttonwillow

 

When the Spec Miata field took to the track for the second event of the 2012 season at Buttonwillow Raceway Park, battling the blistering heat was nearly as important as beating the guy gridded next to you.

            Tires warmed past the point of usefulness early. Engine power waned. Drivers wilted. Rising mercury notwithstandting, Rob Burgoon started on pole with a qualifying time of 2:07.571, followed by Jeremy Barnes with a 2:08.299 and Arizona region's Scott Phillips with a 2:08.995.

            "I spent some time in the test day and had found a couple of things that helped the car a little better through the middle of the corner, and come Saturday I was a little surprised to have qualified second," Barnes said. "The car didn't feel as strong Saturday as it had on Friday, but the weather was already getting warmer at that point."

            At the start, Burgoon jumped out to an early lead he would never relinquish. Ramon Niebla and Jordon Butler attempted bold moves into Turn 1 from their starting positions, but couldn't make them stick and blended back in with the pack. Dust clouds billowed at track-out. Five laps in, Dave Varco overtook Barnes to claim the second spot.

            "I didn't really have my head about me early enough in the race, it seemed, and it took me a couple of laps to get up to speed," Barnes said. "It was, unfortunately, after Dave went by me that I got into a rhythm in the race."

            When the checkered flag flew, it was Burgoon crossing start-finish seven seconds ahead of Varco, who was just one tick ahead of Barnes.

April in Buttonwillow was hot.  But 944 Spec Racing was even hotter.  There was impressive competitiveness throughout the group, with tight racing for all.  We were also joined by four 944s in HPDE who are eager to join the Spec race group in the near future.

 

Some of the weekend was "enjoyed" without power, due to a freak accident just outside the main gates involving a passing pickup truck taking out a power pole, causing explosions and a fire.  Fortunately this occurred on the checkered lap of the enduro, so the NASA fire crew were able to race out themselves and save the driver in the burning pickup.

 

This weekend we were visited by two former regular racers, Charlie Buzzetti and Dave Hirsch.  Charlie was in Tom Atteberry's car, #805, and Dave was there as a spectator and with his son who was experiencing the karting track.

 

The 944 Spec racers were grouped with Spec E30's, which had a strong showing with about a dozen cars, along with the BMWCCA cars, many of which were also there for the Saturday night enduro

The second weekend of the SoCal HPD Honda Challenge series came with a gentlemen's agreement of the rules by using the national horsepower cap. With a diverse field of 8 entries for H2, and 7 entries in H4, it was some of the closest racing we've seen in a long time. Saturday's Qualifying had the top 3 drivers in H2 within .5/sec of each other: Sam Rothschild posted a 2.01.7, Jeremy Croiset secured a 2.02.1, with Manny Coats at 2.02.2. H4 was even closer with Patrick Heavy at 2.08.2, followed by Joeffrey Ngo at 2.08.433, and Tom "Big Money" Paule at 2.08.478.

 

The grid was set, and drivers were ready for battle. With a rolling start, Rothschild took the H2 lead from the get go. The race continued with Coats, Adelberg, and Pecqueur in hot pursuit. Final results for H2 were Ken Adelberg taking 3^rd place, Manny Coats - 2^nd place, and the win going to Sam Rothschild. H4 final results were David Kim - 3rd place, Jeoffrey Ngo - 2^nd place, and Joe Barile with the win.

After 4 long months of being away from the track, the Southern California NASA Region returns to California Speedway to being the 2012 racing season! 13 Teams arrived for the season opener and it was very clear that everyone was ready to get back behind the wheel. If this race is any indication of what the season will turn out like, Spec E30 promises to be one of the tightest race series NASA has to offer. All 13 Teams discovered a blustery wind that would welcome them to the track; one that would surely have some effect on everyone's weekend. However, warm weather and clear skies would prevail, regardless of what the wind would do. Like all race weekends, the track record of 2:03.216 which was set at this event last year and held by Rius Billing, would be under attack almost immediately.

Sometimes it all just comes together, and that's what happened at Auto Club Speedway in early March.  The pros might be racing in Fontana later this month, but they are not likely to match the fun had by 944 Spec drivers this past weekend.  The weekend started out well, with 18 entries from as far away as the Midwest Region lined up in their garages and ready to race.  Saturday morning was so windy you could feel the wind pushing against your car on the front straight, yet times were still very competitive.  By race time the wind had died down, and the large class was lined up and ready to take the green flag.  The battles throughout the race were competitive.  By the last lap, it was Tyler Palmer, last year's National champion, in first, Norm Hamden, visiting from Arizona region, in second, Eric Kuhns, National 944 Spec Director, in third, and Everett DeLano, So Cal's own 944 Spec Series Leader, in fourth place.  As they approached turn 3, the sharp left hander at the end of the banked oval, both Norm and Eric went into it too hot.  Eric spun out and Everett slipped into third place.  Everett gave Norm a good run for his money and the two were in a tight race to the finish line, with Tyler finishing in first, Norm in second, and Everett in third.  That night the bench racing was fierce and fun.  Sunday's weather was warmer and expectations were high for another good day of racing.  In practice, Tyler ran a lap time just over 2:00, very fast at this track.  At race time, the top four qualifiers decided to add a little spice to the race, starting in the back of the pack.  Once again, the battles on the track were fierce as those qualifiers made their way through the group of outstanding drivers.  There was considerable passing and re-passing as the cars jockeyed for position throughout the event.  At the checkered flag, it was Tyler in first, Norm in second, and Eric in third place.  As the drivers packed up and headed on their ways, it was clear this had been one spectacular weekend and plans were already being made for more great racing in the months ahead.
 
 

At Auto Club Speedway, it's draft or perish.

Saturday's qualifying and race at the March event in Fontana were marked with high winds howling across the track, so when the field entered Turn 1, it was greeted with a punishing headwind. If you didn't have someone drafting right behind you, or blowing a hole in the air mass directly ahead, you were toast.

Ken Saward snared pole position with a smoking 2:03.878 lap time in qualifying, followed by David Varco and Jeremy Barnes. Spec Miata national director bested Rob Burgoon who qualified fifth.  

The start revealed the field's butterflies and rust from the offseason, with a loose pack crossing start/finish at the green flag. Barnes, who qualified third, lost the exhaust pipe from his 1.6 liter engine and had to drop out of the race for a DNF. The only good news is that he reported back to his pits having found the derelict pipe.

Barnes' exit bumped Mueller and Burgoon forward in the order. Mueller locked up going into turn three and lost his position, leaving Burgoon open to lock on to Saward. Burgoon got close enough to Saward after the hairpin, and eventually made the pass only to lose it to the draft on the oval. Saward lost the position to Burgoon again in Turn 5, leaving Burgoon to focus his sights on Varco, whom he passes to take the lead.

Then the double yellow flew. View image

Effective immediately these rules will be enforced in SoCal region. These supersede the CCR when the rules conflict.

2012SoCalSuppsv1.pdf

February 25 2012 -- The National Auto Sport Association (NASA) is pleased to announce that Benoit Pecqueur will take over the responsibilities of Southern California HPD Honda Challenge Series Leader from Jeremy Croiset. Mr. Pecqueur, a long time NASA racer and Honda challenge participant will now utilize the experience he's gained competing in the HPD Honda Challenge series over the past 6 years, including 5 visits to the National Championships in the HPD Honda Challenge class to focus his attention and passion toward rules enforcement as well as increasing participation. Jeremy Croiset said "Mr. Pecqueur's passion for racing and "Joe de vivre" at each track event should provide a positive influence on the series." Mr. Croiset will remain the National Series director for the HPD Honda Challenge series.