NASA Spec Racer Challenge Series - Nor Cal Region

Sears Point Raceway, CA

March 16-17, 2002

Sears Point is in the middle of a massive renovation.  The entire race track is being re-paved with turns added and subtracted.  Crews are working seven days a week as part of a $50M transformation of this world-class road course.  For NASA, that meant that a course had to be put together from the usable sections of the track.   With first time drivers, fresh pavement, dirt, and a course configuration that no one had ever driven, it was certain to be interesting!

NASA uses a morning qualifying session followed by an afternoon race for both Saturday and Sunday.  Saturday's qualifying race featured five Spec Racers out to learn the track for the first time.  Dave Borden and Dan Lawson were at the top of the field as they muscled their way around the course.  The Spec Racers were grouped with other cars for the start of the race.  Borden started beside a Ferrari Modena!

Before the start, the racers got a bit of news.  The track configuration had been changed again since qualifying!  This meant that everyone would begin the race having never seen the revised track layout.  When the checkered flag dropped, the field began with RX-7s bunched up in every corner and many cars rubbing due to the tight track.  Borden worked his way toward the front in an attempt to become overall leader, as Dan Elam from Virginia worked his way from the back of the pack, where he started after a disappointing qualifying session.  After only five laps, a caution came out immediately followed by a red flag to stop the race.  As a result of the mix up, by the time the track was ready again, a two lap sprint race ensued with uncertain standings.  When the dust settled, Borden had locked up a solid first place in the first NOrthern California  races for the Spec Roadster!  Elam and Lawson rounded out the podium in the bizarre race.  That Ferrari that started next to Borden finished somewhere back in the pack safely behind numerous Factory Five Spec Racers.

The forecast had been for rain all weekend, and the racers were understandably delighted with sunny skies and warm temperatures on Saturday.  Sunday, however, dawned to a cold, steady rain, adding to an already slippery track.  By the time the Spec Racers took the track for qualifying, it was raining hard.  All of the Spec Racers learned that the Kumho Victoracers make for lousy rain tires.  The cars would hydroplane without any power at all.  Cars in other classes took advantage of rain tires and were substantially faster than the Spec Racers, creating a dangerous situation on the track.  As a result, Borden decided to run less than a lap and Elam only ran a single lap to avoid starting at the back of the field.  For the afternoon race, Lawson would start from the pole.

The rain continued and Borden pronounced that he "smelled doom" and decided to put his car on the trailer.  His judgment looked smart since other races on the track had been resulting in big pile ups due to the rain, aggressive driving, and tight course.  "No sense getting your car hurt" was the general consensus among the racers.

Fortunately, the sun came out to dry the course a little.  The American Stock Car Series boys also did a good job of using their massive slicks to help dry the racing line just before the Spec Racers took the course.  Borden and the others decided to run after all and the field was nearly full when they dropped the green.  One car had dropped out due to a rare mechanical problem.

Elam took an inside line on the start and carried his speed past Lawson into turn one to take the early lead.  Borden made a good run through the twisty, off-camber carousel and passed Elam on the inside to take his turn at the lead.  The lead was short lived, however, as he clipped a tire wall, giving Elam a chance to sneak by and charge down the course.  Once again, fate stepped in to make sure that the field stayed tight.  A BMW went off course and became stuck in the mud, while still halfway on the track.  The yellow flag gave Borden a chance to catch up and he and Elam swapped the lead back and forth on the green flag portions of the track.  When the wreck was finally cleared, the Spec Racers came flying around the course at full power.  This time, Borden took the inside line and wisely used a slow moving Porsche to box Elam and take the lead for good.  When the green dropped, it was a repeat of Saturday, with Borden, Elam, and Lawson taking 1,2,and 3, respectively.

Everyone had a good time, but the weekend wasn't without some controversy.  RX-7s hit the Spec Racers at least three times during the weekend.  It didn't cause any damage, but the aggressive driving served as a warning that Spec Racers would have to be careful about people with "disposable" race cars on tight courses.

The competition was excellent and many people came up to Spec Racers commenting on how gorgeous the cars looked on the course and how nice they sounded as they powered their way around the track.  Despite a few problems, everyone was thrilled that the Spec Racer had finally made it to California!

Written by Dan Elam