SCCA Jim Stark Memorial Race Report...
Southeast Division South Atlantic Road Racing Championship – SARRC
Roebling Road Raceway - Double SARRC races - April 23 & 24, 2005
Any weekend that includes two point races, like the Jim Stark Memorial event, attracts a great crowd. This is a favorite event for our team. Each of us knew Jim Stark personally and this year we were competing to defend our double wins of 2004 in his honor.
We knew that the paddock would be packed so we arrived around noon on Friday to find us a decent spot. Already the area was filled and we ended up near Turn Eight or Pit Out. Since the last time we were at RRR in November, the False Grid had been paved and more of the paddock roads were also paved. It was a nice improvement.
We set up the tarp, rolled the car out and headed up to the snack bar for a late lunch. The weather report was for severe thunderstorms overnight, so we tried to anchor everything down and went to check in at the hotel.
Around 6:30 we headed back to the track for registration. One of our crew, Michael Hooten, was in line and we joined him. While in line we got some strong wind gusts and a bit of rain. After registering and going through tech, we went to check on our tarp. The wind had tried its best to take it down, but our straps held. After a few adjustments the three of us headed for a bite to eat and to get some sleep.
It rained some during the night and Saturday morning it was wet and still sprinkling some. We were Group 7, the last to go out, so we were in pretty good shape. Each day consisted of one 20 minute qualifying session and one 17 lap race. Needing to save some $$, we were running the slicks that we used for qualifying at Sebring for all four sessions. By Sunday they would be pretty worn out.
Our son, Mark, and Casey Miller were late arriving at the track and were forced to watch our qualifying session from the "outside". The track was dry and Susan thought our best time of 1:13.143 would give us a shot at the Pole. I was surprised to find that not only did we have the Pole, but the next best time, by Dan Shaver in his SPO Corvette, was 1:15.785...better than a 2 second difference!
I think Dan was motivated by the qualifying times. Our afternoon race was a great one for drivers and spectators! There were 29 cars in the group, 8 GT-1 cars, and the V8stockcar competitors were racing each other for points in their series as well as SARRC points. There were several heated races within the race. From Start to Finish there was action all around the track.
It was a drag race from the Green Flag to Turn One with our Olds winning on the inside. The battle for the lead between Dave and Dan was fierce and they pulled an ever growing lead on the rest of the pack. Around lap 5 they ran into lap traffic on the front straight.
Dave took the inside around the Tide car who moved left to let him by. Unfortunately, at the same time, Dan was taking the outside route around and, with full throttle, put two wheels off the track. I don't think Dan ever lifted and the back end of the Vette got loose and tapped the Tide car. That put the Corvette straight again and the race continued with Dave still in the lead.
Lap Six had Dan in the lead crossing the line. Lap Seven had Dave in the lead. Lap Eight, Dan was back in the lead. There were several lead changes on the back side also. As the two wove their way through lap traffic, dust was flying and racing was tight.
I think the Olds was a little better in the corners, but the motor in Dan's Corvette was strong. We cautioned Dave not to throw away his 1st in GT-1 to take the SPO Vette for the overall win. I don't think he listened.
On the last lap we saw Dave stuff the Olds inside of the Vette in the right hand Turn Four. He was wise and backed off, so maybe he did listen! Then we saw the Vette coming onto the front straight. Right behind him, a little sideways, was Dave in the Olds and the drag race to the finish was on!
It was a photo finish with Dan winning in the Vette by .212 of a second! We still got points for First in GT-1 and the adrenalin rush of a great race. Only six cars did not go a lap down. Impound was a fun place with everyone sharing their race experiences as the rest of the pack had close racing among themselves.
Dan Shaver spins
Turn 3 at Roebling Road
Great racing!
Back at the trailer, the crew found that one of the headers had a serious crack in it. It looked like we weren't going to be able to run Sunday's race. SCCA has the best membership. Loving to compete on the track, they help each other out whenever possible.
One of Bob Mayer's (T1 Corvette) crew, who was going to the local circle track races that evening, offered to take the header along and get it welded for us. So the crew pulled it off and then we headed up to join the party for a great dinner provided by the region before returning to the hotel for some hard earned rest.
Sunday morning was windy, but sunny with temperatures in the low 70's. We headed to the track early to get the header back on the car and prepare for our qualifying session. Luckily, due to the early lunch hour, we were not due on track until noon. The crew spent the morning working on the car. The header looked good and we were ready in plenty of time.
Dan came up to the Grid to wish Dave well and said he was headed home due to other commitments. That was good news to us! With our worn tires, it would have been hard to stay with the Corvette, which most certainly, would have had better tires. Our strategy to do a few good laps and conserve the tires worked. Dave had the pole with a 1:12.156, another 2+ second lead.
Sunday's race was more 'relaxed'. Dave was not really challenged for the lead. There was some good battles for 2nd and 3rd. Someone lost their motor going into Turn One and put down a lot of oil, but we had time to radio Dave and it wasn't a problem. Another 1st first for Jim Stark!
Our race was late in the day, so we packed up and headed home. Michael and Mark with Casey, followed us in their trucks. It was a pretty uneventful trip until we were on I-295 around Jacksonville. Michael got on the FRS and said we had a trailer tire going down. Dave got slowed down before it came apart and we limped the mile or so to the next exit ramp. Mark and Casey caught up and the crew got the spare on quickly. Crew is nice!! The rest of the trip went well.
It was a great weekend! I think this was some of the closest (clean) racing we've had in a long time.
