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Challenge Cars Complete 25 Hours of Thunderhill
We're on our way home, and even after 19 hours of
hard racing on a challenging track with more than 60 cars, both
Challenge Cars
are in the trailers and race ready (alright, maybe a couple of new
rotors, some brakes, and a good wash and polish might be nice). The team
ran in the sun, the fog, the darkness, the mist, and even light rain at
times, and our incredible crew supported these cars in the daylight and
darkness flawlessly.
Here's the full race report, and we have tons and tons of pictures and
race videos that will be posted on the blog at
www.teamcobra25hours.com (Including pictures/video of Randy Probst's
drive in the #28
Challenge Car).
Monday, December 8, 2008
Team Cobra 25 Hours Final Race Report
We raced in foggy and marginal conditions until nearly noon, when the
sun began to peak through. A low cloud cover remained though, but the
remainder of the race was flawless for both
Challenge Cars. The #85 had to go
back pit for brakes (caliper/rotors/pads in the early afternoon), but
both
Challenge Cars finished the race in fine style, with Team Owner/Drivers
Karen Salvaggio and Ed Boothman behind the wheel to take the checkered
flag at 3:00 PM PST.
Final Standings
Team #28 Racing 4A Reason 1
Final Position: 12th in Class; 420 laps
Team Racing 4A Reason 2
Final Position: 11th in Class; 430 laps
Ed and Karen want to extend the biggest thanks and gratitude to the more
than 25 crewmembers who provided incredible support to the team,
including dedicating three days of their lives to this effort. When you
think about running a 25 hour race and being part of a team, it all
sounds like a ton of fun (and quite frankly it is). But when the harsh
realities of a dampness that cuts through every layer of clothing you
can don, a race postponement that means long, long nighttime hours
waiting with anticipation for the call back to service, the zeal and
excitement felt at the beginning of the race can quickly fade. But this
amazing group of people kept their spirit throughout and truly endured.
In my experience, this team delivered support that would rival the
abilities of any pro team. Fuel stops for two
Challenge Cars were regularly
completed in under two minutes, and driver changes were being
accomplished in under four minutes. These are amazing numbers and are a
credit to the fine individuals leading and working the Alpha and Omega
Teams!!! Data management was flawless, the pit was fed with hundreds of
gallons of gas in a chain that simply could not be broken, and what can
we say but "Wow!" on the food and hospitality provided by Ron Morris and
Lytle Thiessen. Very, very nice work everyone!!!!
The credit for the on track positions goes to our amazing team of
drivers. The driver lineup had been set months in advance, but
unforeseen circumstances as recent as one week before the race had team
owners Karen and Ed re-strategizing the driver line-up right down to the
green flag. It was decided that Racing 4A Reason drivers Mike Plum and
Rick Anderson would serve as lead drivers for the team, and that Jim
Schenck and John George would serve as lead drivers for the Racing 4A
Reason2 Team. Scott McKay would then share his driving time between the
cars, with back-up drivers/team owners Karen Salvaggio and Ed Boothman,
as well as
Challenge Car pilot Brian Sanders slipping into the seat to extend
rest periods for the leads.
A surprising development around 4 PM on Saturday led to the opportunity
to have pro driver and on track talent Randy Probst to slip in as
co-driver for the #28 Racing 4A Reason Team, and Randy drove one stint
into the darkness for the #28 team. It was amazing to watch him out
there on track in the red/white
Challenge Car, and his feedback on the car and
its performance was simply priceless.
As it turned out, Randy was slated to drive for the #07 BMW team, but
the car experienced mechanical issues early and retired from the race.
Karen was also driving for Team Divaspeed in the race (Pitstall #7,
Acura Integra, next to the
Challenge Cars) and as it turned out, Randy had
stopped by to check on his Divaspeed friends.....Well, one thing led to
another, and soon enough, Randy was putting his gear in Team Cobra's
motorhome and getting ready to strap in for a stint in the
Challenge Car. When
the fog call came, crewmembers and fellow drivers hunkered down in the motorhomes, and we all enjoyed Randy's company as we swapped stories for
hours of on track exploits. The team found him to be amazingly warm and
friendly, and it was a joy to spend the evening sharing his company and
watching the race tapes from his drive in the
Challenge Car (stay tuned for
future posting), as well as his critique/feedback of FFR National
Champion Scott's McKay's drive tape (Tapes coming, but we'll let Scott
tell that story ">))
I am writing this from somewhere on the I-5 headed south through the
Central Valley of California. Tomorrow, it's back to the reality of our
every day work world, but today, our team is basking in the glow of this
weekend's competition. One might ask, "Did you win?" ...And the quick
answer is no, but the adventure and experience of this weekend, and all
the weeks leading up to it were a "win" for this team. I can remember Ed
and I sitting in the garage just two weeks ago, amidst a pile of engine
parts, wiring harnesses laying on the ground, and practically every body
part on both cars laying in a heap out in the driveway. He and I crossed
that finish line yesterday in two top notch running cars, at full speed
under a waving checkered, and that my friends is a feeling that cannot
soon be matched.
We've already been hot into the discussion of improvements for next
year, including the development of a car that will be a front running
contender in class. We learned so much this year, and as we look across
the team of talented individuals we have supporting this effort, there's
no doubt we'll be a podium contender next year......
2009 25 Hours of Thunderhill here we come!
Special thanks to crew chiefs Andy Salvaggio and Mark Dougherty for
leading the highly successful in-pit effort. Thanks again to everyone
for believing in us and helping us follow this dream! We simply could
not have done this without you!
Karen and Ed
#28 & #85 Team Cobra Racing 4A Reason
*COBRA
is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company and Factory
Five Racing does not describe its products using this word. |
