South Central Spec Series Region


South Central Spec Series Region 2003 Race Reports

Aug 2-3 saw the last of the Texas NASA season races in Fort Worth Texas. Turnout consisted of Mark McKenzie and his dad as well as Leonard Conn. There were several others who had planned to attend but were unable due to various reasons. Mark was running in SUO, Leonard in FF (FFR Super Roadster), and the senior McKenzie in HPDE. Mark and Leonard ran in closed wheel which included several other classes. NASA Texas has seen several new AI cars this year so we expect a bunch of AI and FFR cars starting next season. Saturday started hot and got hotter with everybody chasing tire pressures as the air temp went past 102F. Tire temps on Leonards car were in excess of 200F and that was before the air temp peaked. First practice went well with Mark and Leonard getting a little wheel to wheel time to make it interesting. Qualifying was just after lunch with Leonard qualifying for the pole with a 1:25.37 and Mark McKenzie second with a 1:25.58. This speaks well of the basic spec racer as Marks car is a track car running Hoosiers, a hot motor, and a few other items. Both FFR's qualified on the front row ahead of 7 AIX cars in a field of 18. I will have to check the March race but I believe the 1:25.37 will be the track record for the spec series for now. A cooler track and better driver may result in some improved times but both FFR cars kicked some serious AIX butt in qualifying, something to be proud of. Mark and his Dad had to leave due to business reasons and was unable to start the race leaving Leonard to uphold FFR honor. NASA officials put a Caterham on the pole which they knew was faster and Leonard started second for the race (the Caterham is a Lotus Seven copy, weighs @950lbs and had a 240HP Zetec engine). NASA favored us with a standing start which was very unusual and entertaining as well. The race went well with Leonard waving a AIX Camaro and a Corvette by as he was having problems with heat both in the engine as well as personally. By the last lap of the race, Leonard was in 3rd when he hit some antifreeze on the last turn of the last lap at @100mph. After several 360's in the dirt, he was able to to get back on the track and finish the race in 6th with no damage to the car other than a nice coat of protective dirt. Leonards best lap in the race was a 1:25.47 which was only bettered by 3 of the cars in the 13 car field. Unfortunately, Leonard's heat problems were not over as he was soon transported by ambulance code 3 to Granbury Medical Center for heat exhaustion and dehydration where he was kept until released to light duty Sunday around lunch. This left no FFR's in Sundays race. Jay and Shannon Matus are to be greatly thanked for personally making sure that the driver was taken care of and safe at the hospital. Jay went on to race at TMS in Dallas on Sunday in the T-1 SCCA races there. There was good news from NASA Texas which will be related in another post. We look forward to the next race at Hallett in Oklahoma on September 20-21. by: Leonard Conn