SCCA Racing, Yahoooooo!!!! Options

[ChrisFoley]

I had a fantastic weekend at the track. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mueba.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mueba.gif)

To read about it go here: Press Release and scroll down to the text dated 6/8/03.

[Part Pricer]

It looks like his site is down. Here is the text of the press release for those that are interested.

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Chris Foley Wins National Race at Lime Rock Park

On June 6th and 7th the SCCA New England Region held its Flower Power National road racing event, part of the Northeast Division National Racing Championship Series. Friday’s qualifying was held under sunny skies with temperatures in the upper 70’s, optimum conditions for fast lap times. The Production and small bore GT classes were in race Group 3 of the 8 scheduled races. Chris Foley, driving the Tangerine Racing Porsche 914, posted a 1:04.9 time on the 1.53 mile circuit for 23rd overall starting position in a field of 37 entries. This was 5th fastest of the eight F Production cars entered. Not bad considering the 100hp backup engine being used for this event. The Pole position time was 59.4 seconds, set by Eric Kreuger in his higher class E Production MGB.

After suffering from brake troubles at the beginning of the morning qualifying session, the 914 had to be towed off the track. The team spent their time rebuilding the right front caliper and making sure the car would be ready. In the afternoon session Chris got faster with each lap. He made sure the car was performing as expected and he posted his best time on the final lap of qualifying.

Saturday morning the team arrived at the track in light rain conditions, which deteriorated as the day progressed. The switch to rain tires left no time to run the car in the morning warm-up. Other small adjustments were made to the handling as it became obvious that the 30 lap race would be held in steady rain.

As the field took the green flag Chris got a good start, passing several cars by the second turn. Less than halfway through the first lap, two cars just ahead made light contact, causing the red Fiat X-1/9 of Giovanni Tartaglia to spin directly in front of the tangerine 914. Chris had to stop with only inches between his front bumper and the passenger door of the Fiat. The rest of the field went by on both sides, and Chris resumed nearly in last place after Giovanni was able to move his car out of the way. By the end of two laps Chris had passed 7 of the cars which were previously behind him.

Conditions on the track were very slippery and visibility was poor not only due to the rain and mist, but the spray off the car tires as well. With each lap the Tangerine Racing Porsche made its way past competitors at a steady pace, in an effort to gain sight of the class leaders. After 17 laps a GT-4 car went off track, stopping in a dangerous location which brought out a full course caution for 4 laps. This allowed the field to tighten up behind the pace car. Chris was in 3rd place in FP by this time and could see the higher powered first and second place FP cars of Tom Burdge and Harold Flescher for the first time. There were 5 other cars in between, some of them already running a lap down.

When green flag racing resumed, Chris made his way past the back markers and closed in on the leaders. With 6 laps remaining, the Tangerine Racing Porsche 914 easily passed the maroon Austin Healey Sprite of former National Champion Harold Flescher. Chris began dogging Tom Burdge, also driving a Porsche 914, at every turn. The blue and yellow 914 of Burdge was faster on the straights, but Chris could see that he was able to brake later and go through the turns faster than Tom. In less than two laps Chris passed Burdge’s 914 going into Big Bend to take over first position in the FP class. This was the closest contest within the overall race. Two of the faster EP competitors worked their way between the two 914s as the race wound down, creating a small cushion for Chris. He couldn’t see his FP rival in the mirror until both EP cars passed by him.

With less than 2 laps remaining, the interval between the two rival Porsches dwindled rapidly. Both FP drivers set their fastest laps of the day on the final lap and the CFR Welding/D&D Auto/American Specialty Products sponsored Tangerine Racing Porsche 914 crossed the finish line only a few feet ahead of of the second place car of Tom Burdge. Chris had incredibly finished in 5th place overall at an average speed of 62.68 miles per hour, with only the top four higher classed E Production competitors ahead of him. This is the second National victory for Chris Foley, both times in wet conditions. These two wins in additon to last year’s Pole position set in the rain at the NARRC Runoffs clearly earn him the title of RainMeister. It also goes to show that more power isn’t always better. Smooth driving and a well balanced car were the key elements to Chris’ victory in some of the worst conditions encountered in SCCA road racing.

Special thanks go to sponsors CFR Welding of Manchester CT, D & D Auto of East Hartford CT, and American Specialty Products of Vernon CT for their continued support of Chris Foley’s Tangerine Racing Team. Their help has been a significant part of the team’s success.

SCCA National events offer some of the most exciting and competetive road racing in the country. Top drivers and celebrities, such as Paul Newman (who also won his race on Saturday), reigning and former National champions, and up-and-coming drivers like Chris Foley, regularly compete at these events. Lime Rock Park, in Salisbury Connecticut, is one of the most enjoyable locations for spectators and race fans to witness the action. The grassy hillsides offer excellent viewing of the races, and the paddock areas are always open to meet with the drivers and get a close-up look at the race cars.

Come and join the fun at the next SCCA National Race at Lime Rock Park on July 5th.