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West Coast Race at Infinion
Raceway
Race #5
Infinion Raceway
Sonoma, Calif.
August 6 - 7, 2005
Report by: Dan
Lawson
Infinion is always a
much-anticipated event. The technically challenging track makes for
great racing, and the weather is usually really nice. This weekend was
no exception as the weather was in the high eighties, to low nineties.
As usual there are
always large run groups due to everyone wanting to run the famous
racetrack. The Factory Five men showed up ready to go. The Lawson’s had
the new car out for the first time for a shakedown before the nationals.
Bob Evans only had one car there getting the others ready for the
nationals also. A total of seven cars showed up ready to go.
Saturday morning rolled
in and Donny Edwards was ready to go in the number one Evan’s car.
Starting up where he left off back in April setting the fast time.
Bob Lawson and Langley
Kersonboon showed what was to be the story of the weekend as they went
nose to tail.
Dan Lawson in the new
number 14 struggled, as there was a lot of sorting out to do.
Qualifying later in the
morning went well for most except Dan who was ran into by a super stock
car coming out of turn nine, throwing him off track, managing to save it
before hitting the concrete wall looming on the right.
Donny set a blistering
pace timing in at 1:52:39 with Langley, Bob, Dan, Rick Anderson, Ed
Gavin, and Mike Easton rounding out the field. Setting the Grid for the
standing start later in the afternoon.
Saturday’s race started
with Donny and Langley putting the hammer down going through turn one
side by side, with Bob Lawson nipping at there heals going up to the
tricky turn two, with Dan laying back with brake problems which plagued
the car all weekend.
Shooting around the
course through the esses, down through he treacherous turn 10, the three
stayed together, coming on to the front straight. But as Donny settled
in and got his rhythm he began to pull away finishing first. Langley
tried as hard as he could but just couldn’t keep up, but gave an
inspirational effort in the process. Bob Lawson came in third with room
to spare. Dan Lawson had to pull out as the shifter came loose and was
relegated to last. Rick Anderson steadily improving came in fourth with
Ed Gavin picking up fifth, and mike Easton finishing sixth.
Sunday morning rolled
up with a cool clear California clear sky, and everyone determined to
improve to give Donny a run for his money on this day.
The Lawson’s spent part
of the previous evening putting a new power steering rack in Bob’s car
that was damaged at willow springs at the last race, not allowing the
toe out to stay consistent. Dan’s 14 car was busy bleeding brakes and
fixing the shifter, and working on the chassis to improve his dismal
times from the day before (2:01’s). Langley was working on his set up to
get closer to Donny.
Morning practice showed
all the work did make a difference as Dan got into the 1:58s, Bob Lawson
got into the 54’s, and Langley got into the 53’s. After the session
everyone continued to work on improvements because although improved it
was not going to be enough to catch Donny.
Qualifying came and
finally Dan had some brakes, Bob made some changes to his set up, as did
Langley. When the green flew it was evident that Dan’s 14 car was
definitely getting much faster he and Bob ran consistent for the entire
session, with Langley pressing to catch up to them. On the last lap Bob
spun in turn six with Dan behind him cutting down to miss him coming out
of six, the car broke loose getting into the marbles on the outside of
the turn shooting across the drag strip and hitting hard against the
concrete wall on the far side of the drag strip heavily damaging the
car. Dan was ok just a little sore, but the car held up real well
protecting the driver. But definitely putting the chances of making the
nationals in jeopardy. After all was said and done Bob and Langley were
both in the mid 53’s, Donny was staying consistent at mid to high 52’s,
unfortunately Dan had finally gotten the car close and had improved by
four seconds getting into the low 54’s but obviously was out for the
day. Rick Anderson, Ed Gavin, and Mike Easton were all improving on
their times.
As race time came it
was another standing start, with Donny and Langley on the front row and
Bob and Rick on the second row. But this time Bob got a great start
going into turn one side by side with Langley up the hill with both hot
on Donny’s tail. As the race progressed Donny pulled away slightly but
more due to the fact that Bob and Langley were having concentrate on
each other running side by side, nose to tail battling hard. Around lap
four Langley dove into turn seven pinching Bob behind a slower car and
taking over second. Undaunted Bob stayed right on his tail putting
pressure on the southern call driver for another lap or two, and turning
the table on him in more traffic and getting back into second. As the
race progressed the track announcer and the spectators were loving this
battle as neither could make a mistake or get passed. Langley towards
the end of the race tried a bold move coming out of turn six cutting
hard under a lapped car to try to get by Bob but ended up spinning and
getting stuck in the mud leaving Bob to cruse home second. Although
Donny won the race he didn’t run away with it, only the second and third
place battle gave him the cushion he had at the end, being about two
seconds or so.
Again the Factory Five
crew put on the best show of the weekend, and the west coast crew is
primed and ready for the nationals. Donny will be a force to reckon with
along with Bob and Langley.
Hopefully the Lawson’s
will get the other car ready for Dan, but if not Marcus Motorsports is
there and Dan may drive one of Steve’s well prepared cars.
The laps times and
results are listed below.
Hopefully we can all
get together for a beer or two in a few weeks and enjoy the Virginia
countryside, racing, and camaraderie…. See you there.
Saturday Finishing
Order
Donny
Edwards 1:53:90 Fast time of Day Donny Edwards 1:52:69
Langley Kersenboom
1:53:87
Bob
Lawson 1:55:76
Rick Anderson
2:00:76
Ed
Gavin 2:01:25
Mike
Easton 2:15:25
Dan
Lawson 1:58:57
Sunday Finishing Order
Donny
Edwards 1:52:58 Fast time of Day – Donny Edwards 1:52:32
Bob
Lawson 1:53:79
Rick Anderson
2:01:32
Mike
Easton 2:09:13
Langley Kersenboom
1:53:04
Ed
Gavin 2:00:84
By, Dan Lawson
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