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The first race
of the season started with a great turn out, many new faces. Evan’s
racing brought three cars out with Donny Edwards, driving the #1, James
and Bobby Bondurant driving the #20, and 55.
Levy Racing
brought Spenser Sharp up to run their number 9 (all the way from
Arizona)
Dave Standridge
(of Rennworks fame) was out with the beautiful blue #98,and Mike and
John Joyce were up from Southern Calif, along with Langley Kersenboon
(in the future to be called Langley K.) of LK Motorsports (building and
selling Factory Five Street and Spec. Racers). Along with all of
the new people the “regulars” were there also, Lawson Brothers, Ed
Gavin, and Rick Anderson.
A TOTAL OF TWELVE
CARS! Unfortunately the Snooks, and Keith Delaney got snowed in on the
way down to the race, and had to turn around and go home. We missed them
a lot.
Saturday morning
rolled around with everyone itching to get out and try out the new shock
package from Bilstein, which proved to b a big improvement thanks to Jim
Schenck and Factory five!
The course was
really wet from the heavy rain on Friday, so morning practice was very
slow going. By qualifying time the track was dry and everyone started
pressing the metal. Spenser Sharp (Levy Racing) was especially quick
turning in a 1:53:658, with Donny Edwards, and Dan Lawson respectively
coming on in second and third.
At impound after
qualifying ride heights were checked with everyone passing. At 2:30 we
lined up on the track for a “STANDING START” I don’t know how many of
you have done this before, but what a GAS! Twelve Challenge Cars all lined up
and revving their engines, popping the clutch, and shooting up the hill
through turn one and two! Spenser Sharp took the lead early with Donny
right behind, Dan Lawson and Lang K. fought door to door all the way to
turn three before Dan squeezed into third. After about two laps a CMC
mustang flipped in the dangerous turn 10! The fastest turn on the
course, and brought out the full course yellow! This lasted for five
laps while clearing the track, and also brought the Challenge Cars up to the
slower CMC’s for the restart (Which had been staggered) that became an
issue as the green dropped, a lot of traffic and close racing ensued.
Donny who is a master in traffic took advantage and stuck Spenser behind
a couple of slower cars taking the lead. Spenser to his credit didn’t
over react settled in and started picking people off on his way to
catching and passing Donny a few laps later, and driving flawlessly for
the win. Dan Lawson held on to the last podium spot for third. The
Official results were
1-
Spenser
Sharp 1:53:994 – fastest lap
2-
Donny Edwards
1:54:977
3-
Dan
Lawson 1:57:229
4-
Langley Kersenboon 1:59:338
5-
Bobby Bondurant
1:59:378
6-
Ed
Gavin 2:01:835
7-
John
Joyce 2:02:950
8-
Rick Anderson
2:01:554
9-
Dave Standridge 2:01:046
10-
Bob
Lawson 1:57:509
11-
James Bondurant
2:16:549
There were
battles all over the track and some really exciting racing. Afterwards
everyone sat around having beers, I think we ran the race at least five
more times!
James Bondurant’s
car lost a clutch, and bent a valve and was out for the weekend
unfortunately, this guy is a real comer. Bobby’s car was getting sorted
out all weekend, and continually got faster. Both drivers are very
capable and a pleasure to race with. As were all the new comers to the
series. Bob Lawson was fast all weekend but overheating kept him from
the podium.
Sunday morning
rolled around, another beautiful California day…and just think NO
SNOW…no Cheney…alas…
The morning
session showed Donny running a 1:56:33 +-. and Dan running right behind
at 1:56:67 or something. Levy racing did not go out in the morning
session.
Qualifying showed
that Matt Carpenter (Evan’s Racing Team Manager) had done his homework
as Donny’s times improved even more, but so did Spenser again setting
fast time with a blistering 1:52:791.
Again another
standing start, (every popular with the crowds) everyone did a great
job, as Donny took the lead Spenser right up his pipes. Dan L. was close
behind with Langley and Bob Lawson pressing him hard. Langley,
Bob, and Dan had their own little war going on, as did the two leaders!
Langley dove hard into turn 11 and slid into Dan, with Bob taking
evasive action motoring by both of them. Dan took off in pursuit of Bob,
and Langley recovered again taking up the chase. All the while these
three were battling the leaders increased their lead.
In a big
disappointment Bob’s car again overheated allowing both Dan and Langley
to pass him just before dropping out. The battle with Dan and Langley
continued on with both passing Spenser in the ailing Levy #9, (it was
unfortunate they deserved a better ending), Donny by this time had
checked out…. and was on a rail!
Dan and Langley
were going at it until Dan had brain failure and missed the apex at turn
10! The fastest turn on the track, spinning and barely stopping before
the dreaded crash wall. After cleaning his shorts he continued on but
had dropped to far behind to catch the two leaders finishing third.
As of today the
finishing order was Donny first and Langley second, but the incident at
the beginning of the race caused Langley to be disqualified by NASA. So
the official order of finish is:
1. Donny Edwards
1:52:208 –fastest lap
2. Dan Lawson
1:55:984
3. Bob
Bondurant 1:57:544
4. Ed
Gavin 1:58:265
5. Mike
Joyce 2:01:141
6. Spenser
Sharp 1:53:172
7. Dave
Standridge 2:00:808
The following we
DQ’D
Langley
Kersenboon 1:54:860
Bob
Lawson 1:55:731
Rick Anderson
2:00:810
The next race in
the series is at Phoenix International Raceway in May; check the
schedule on the spec-racing site for the exact weekend.
We hope to see
everyone there!
Dan
Lawson
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