Ohio / Indiana Region Spec Series

Race Reports 2004

South Haven, MI
July 17-18, 2004

This past weekend the OH/IN spec series regulars took to the 1.88 miles of Gingerman Raceway. We couldn’t have asked for better weather. The nearby lake constantly provided a cool breeze. Saturday morning practice found John McIver (Detroit, MI) still plagued by mechanical problems. This time it was the clutch cable. Joining John on the track were Lars Lattstrom (Columbus, OH) and Brian Sanders (Cincinnati, OH). All turned decent times for the first practice. Rookie driver, Ed Boothman (Orlando, Fl), started his comp school with an orientation session on the track.

Despite the mechanical problems, qualifying brought quicker times with McIver setting a new track record. This wouldn’t be the last time he bettered the record this weekend. Lattstrom and Sanders had their work cut out if they were going to catch McIver. Sanders joined rookie Boothman on the track for a little side-by-side practice. This is a drill session that Ed must complete to get his license.

Sometimes it is good to start at the back. By starting at the end of the field, Sanders was able to avoid the carnage that was Turn 1. It all started with a cloud of smoke, then the dirt, then the sound of metal to metal. Notice I said “metal to metal,” NOT a FFR involved. All of a sudden Sanders found the opening, only to have it slammed shut by Lattstrom and McIver close behind. After overtaking Sanders and Lattstrom, McIver checked out and looked for an easy win. But this was not to be. Mechanical problems caused John to slow on the track. Lattstrom passed him. And, all of a sudden, Sanders could see him. He pushed his FFR roadster hard and was able to overtake McIver on the last turn of the last lap for a second place finish.

Later in the day, Boothman competed in his comp school race with 2 other rookies and about 9 veterans. Ed was able to keep it pointed forward and all wheels on the asphalt and earned his NASA provisional license. Congratulations Ed!!!! And welcome to the fold.

Sunday was more of the same. However, McIver had worked out the bugs. Practice and qualifying finished with the same order, McIver, Lattstrom, Sanders, and Boothman.

Sundays race held battles for each competitor, although they were with competitors from other classes. The spec racer were pretty spread through the field and didn’t see much of each other. McIver got his first win of the 2004 season while setting a new track record of 1:35.975. Congratulations John on the win and record!!!

Mid-Ohio on Aug. 21-22 is the next stop for OH/IN. This will also be the final stop for the East Coast Series. We welcome the VA to our home track. Rumor even has it that some west coast racers may be there. It should be our largest field this year.

C’ya at the track

Brian Sanders

NASA OH/IN returned to BeaveRun Motorsports Complex for a weekend of racing action. Many drivers have affectionately called this track BeaveRain due to the fact that it has rained at least one day every time we have been there for the past 2-½ years.  This is the second event of this years East Coast Series. Saturday morning was a wet one, as 9 spec racers took to the track for morning practice. There was a mix of tires being used by the racers, some on Kumho’s and others on Hoosier rains. The rain picked up about half way through the session bringing those on Kumho’s back to the paddock. By qualifying the rain had stopped and the track began drying, but not enough for times to really drop. This set the starting grid for the race.

This weekend’s race was a combined Big Bore/GTS field. This was quite a mix and a large field, 37 cars, with FFR, AI, AIX, CMC, VVC, GTS1-4, and USTCC cars gridding. Below is how the spec racers started.

      Position      Name

5                    Bryan Dobyns

8          Brian Cates

10        Dave Riha

11        Jim Schenck

12        Rob Mau

17        John McIver

23        Lars Lattstrom

33        Rob McLennand

34        Brian Sanders

Many great battles took place during the race. Dobyns and Mau battled near the front of the pack, lapping the other spec racers. Sanders and McLennand raced each other hard the first 5 laps before McLennand had to drop out due to a fuel pick-up problem in the hard right-handed up-hill turns. The race ended in the following order.

       Position     Name

            6          Rob Mau

            7          Bryan Dobyns

            11        Brian Cates

            15        Jim Schenck

            17        Dave Riha

            19        Lars Lattstrom

            21        John McIver

            29        Brian Sanders

            36        Rob McLennand

Sunday brought sun and a fast track. Everyone knocked off about 5 seconds off his Saturday times. It looked as if the track had come in. Today would also see the track record fall several times. During practice, 4 drivers bested the old track record. Dobyns was the fastest of them with a new track record of 1:05.158, a full second quicker than the previous record held by McIver.

Sundays race was comprised of the same field, with a similar starting order. However, The spec racers faired a little better with a dry track. Most improved their finishing positions.

       Position     Name

            3          Dobyns

            5          Cates

            7          Riha    

            8          Schenck

            9          Mau

            15        McIver

            17        Lattstrom

            21        McLennand

            22        Sanders

Everyone had a great time. I’d like to thank all the VA drivers for coming to BeaveRun. It is always fun when we get together. The next meeting of this group will be in 2 weeks at Road Atlanta.

C’ya at the track!

Brian Sanders

Putnam Park,  Mt. Mirdian, IN

May 22-23, 2004

This past weekend, May 22/23, 2004, Lars Lattstrom and Brian Sanders took to the road course at Putnam Park. Saturday was extremely hot and sunny but a strong breeze made it bearable. The practice session was red flagged twice due to American Iron cars having trouble staying on the track. A total of 5 laps were recorded as the spec racers tried to figure out the track. Later in the qualifying session, things went better. A full session was run without incident and Lars and Brian were able to qualify within 2 seconds of one another. The afternoon brought the hottest temps of the day as Lars and Brian gridded for the Big Bore Race. Lars lined up in the 16^th position and Brian in 21^st of 24 cars. As the cars came to the line, it was a picture perfect grid, 24 cars, 2 abreast, and very close. At the drop of the green flag, Brian and Lars both were able to pick off several cars and improve their position. The race itself was pretty uneventful with cars settling in and running their own race. In the end, Lars finished in 12^th place and Brian in 15^th.

Sunday brought more of the same except for the threat of an impending storm. Today’s schedule had both a sprint race and 100 mile Enduro on the schedule. Sanders planned to run both while Lattstrom would only compete in the sprint. Both practice sessions went well with Sanders improving to run the best times he had for the weekend. Lars opted to skip practice. The same could not be said for Enduro qualifying. After besting his times on several laps, Sanders pushed a little too hard and brushed the Aarmco on the exit of turn 10. It could have been worse as Sanders was able to stand on the throttle and spin the car so he hit broad side as opposed to head on. Both car and driver were ok. Sprint race qualifying ended with Lattstrom and Sanders side by side, separated by 3 tenths of a second. Then the weather moved in. High winds and rain threatened to end the day before the races even started. Many racers chose to call it quits for the day, including Sanders. However, Lars braved the elements and lined up at the back of the grid of 12 cars. After slipping and sliding for 17 rain soaking laps, he improved his position and finished in 6^th overall.

With close lap times, it looks as if Lars and Brian will be battling each other all season. Our next race is BeaverRun on June 5-6. This will be the second event of the ECS championships. Expected drivers at this event are Bryan Dobyns, Brian Cates, Gary Cheney, Jim Schenck, Dave Riha, John McIver, and Sanders. This should prove to be as exciting as the last time these drivers were together in Nashville.

See you at the track!

Brian Sanders

This past weekend, April 2,3, &4, the OH/IN Region of NASA and FFR spec racers returned to Mid-Ohio Sprts Car Course and the unpredictable spring weather of Ohio.  Friday was a practice day for the race groups.  It started out wet and stayed that way all day.  Rain fell constantly making the concrete impossible to drive on.  Brian Sanders #49 was the only spec racer in attendance Friday.  He made several short runs, but due to track conditions and power steering issues, learned very little.

Saturday brought dry weather to the course, but it was still very cold.  Lars Lattstrom #17 showed up on Saturday to run the sprint races.  Sanders decided to be a spectator and not ruin his engine by having the serpentine belt spin off during the race.  Lars went on to qualify 15th in a 20 car Big Bore field.  The race was donimated by a GTSU porsche and VVCX Viper, both running low 1.30's.  Lars finished in 14th place and set a new track record for the spec racer at 1.45.731.

Sunday started with a wet track again, this time in the form of snow.  Many of the competitors decided to hang it up for the weekend and head home.  This cut the field size down to only 5 Big Bore competitors.  Because of scheduled 1 hour Enduro, Sunday's race was a combined Big/Small Bore race.  By race time, the track had dried out and everyone was back up to speed.  Lars finished 11th in a field of 25.  Lars described the race as "a cold Sunday cruise".  He was the only driver in an open cockpit car.

Ohio/Indiana spec racers will make their way to Putnam Park in Mt. Meridian, IN on May 22-23.  This was a very fun course last year.  Brian, Lars, and John McIver #4 will face one another at the same time for the first time this year.

Brian Sanders