MARRS IV - 2005 - Summit Point Race Report
If only a certain car had not come on the scene, we would be undefeated this season. As it is we are now one for four. A good race weekend, better than usual qualifying, and (getting) usual finish.
The first qualifying session was under perfect skies but the track was unusually greasy. We were happy with our provisional qualifying position in 3rd behind Ginsberg's Honda CRX and Bill Hollinger's Mazda Miata. The Miata of Bret DePedro had a bit of trouble and was a second off the pace in 4th. The second qualifying session took place after a long stand-down for oil clean-up on the track, on virtually all of the track. Two of the 'big bore' cars had blown engines and laid down oil on the racing line over about 70% of the course. The prospects were not strong for a better qualifying time - the best single lap time from either of the two qualifying sessions determines the grid. Hollinger's Miata pulled off the grid to play it safe. We went out and the track was surprisingly good. Both DePedro's Miata and our Nissan were able to improve times. The final starting grid would feature the major players in the Championship to date: DePedro, Dohne, Ginsberg, and Hollinger. This would be our first start from the front row in this car, a notable accomplishment but one that placed us on the outside of the track.
The Improved Touring A race was scheduled late in the day which always makes for a long wait but gives time for thought about race strategy. Talking to the occupants of the front two rows on the grid only served to indicate that we were on our own at the start... The pace lap was reasonably paced and we started out neck-and-neck with the DePedro Miata. The Ginsberg CRX gave us no room to the inside as he ran up on the bumper of the Miata. Hollinger's Miata dropped back a little. Into turn 1 and we were forced to the outside. Not wanting to give up second so easily we hang on the outside, dropping back to side-by-side with the CRX. Out of the turn 1/2 combination we were able to stay with the CRX and Miata. We yielded to the Miata into turn 3 and got inside the CRX to take 2nd. As we fought over second with Ginsberg's CRX (Hollinger's Miata close behind), the DePedro Miata crept away into a solid lead. Battling closely with the CRX for 7 laps was fun but exhausting. Ginsberg had a definitive speed advantage down the front straight and was able to draw even a few times but we always came out on top exiting turn 3. About 6 laps in, the CRX's handling started to go away and we crept away. Then the CRX pulled off line in turn 1, slowly creeping into the pit lane with a broken control arm. From there it was smooth sailing as we settled into a cruise to 2nd place. No chance to catch the Miata and no risk of being overtaken by the Hollinger Miata. Another 2nd place finish. That's three seconds for the season and one first. We are in first in the points but the points system allows for two 'drops', so we need to find some speed to keep up with the DePedro Miata.
Finishing Position Name Car Laps Fast-Lap 1 Bret DePedro Mazda Miata 16 1:28.267 2 Kirk Dohne Nissan 240sx 16 1:28.946 3 Bill Hollinger III Mazda Miata 16 1:29.166 4 Sean Christie Honda Civic 16 1:30.535 5 Larry Schiro VW Scirocco 16 1:30.754 6 Brad Barnhouse Honda Civic 16 1:30.133 7 John Cummins Mazda RX3 16 1:31.316 8 Owen Shefer Mazda RX7 16 1:31.238 9 Kez Ford Mazda RX7 16 1:30.952 10 Matthew Yip VW GTI 16 1:31.658 11 Kurt Genatowski BMW 2002 Tii 16 1:32.180 12 Jason Fields Nissan 240sx 16 1:32.767 13 David Youngren Mazda RX7 15 1:33.736 14 Robert Cage Mazda RX7 15 1:34.312 15 Art Jaso Toyota MR2 15 1:35.202 16 William Wilbern Honda CRX 15 1:36.917 17 Lauren Robison Plymouth Neon 15 1:38.170 18 Dick Hummel Toyota MR2 14 1:43.564