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PARTNERS
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News For April 13th, 2009
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Big Changes in 2009 for Co-op Racing |
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Peoria, IL – The 2008 racing season ended at Road America with rain and a transmission failure. Not the best way to end a season, but not the worst either. Since the end of 2008, the team has made several major changes. The first and most important change was the addition of life long team member Shawn Berberich when she married Co-op Racing driver Andy Berberich. The second notable change was that the Eurosport 944 went under a transition for its previous 944 Cup configuration into a 944 Spec configuration. The Eurosport 944 will be competing in NASA’s 944 Spec class for the 2009 race season. Co-op Racing also took the opportunity to race |
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go karts to raise money for Junior Achievement.
The most significant change in the off season occurred on October 4 when Co-op Racing driver Andy Berberich married Shawn Clary in Mt. Carmel, IL. The two met in mid 2006 through Berberich’s sister-in-law Sarah and they have been sharing adventures ever since. The first one consisted of 24 hours in a truck over three days when the two drove out to Pennsylvania to pick up a Porsche 944S that the team had purchased for parts. While in Pennsylvania, they took the time to visit former team member Brandon Fritz. “I figured if she passed the road trip test, then she was a keeper” Berberich commonly remarks. “Twenty four hours in three days in a truck and not one complaint, I knew that she was a keeper.” The two didn’t become serious until April of 2007 after the NASA Iowa Speedway race. Other races attended by Shawn were Gateway, Mid America Motorplex and Road America. In addition to being the team’s biggest supporter, she also really enjoyed riding along with Berberich at LAPS events. “The first time I road with Andy I thought he was going to kill us both” Shawn commented. “We went out on the track and as we approached the first turn, he wasn’t slowing down or braking. I thought he was showing off and that we were dead. He slammed on the brakes, turned the wheel and squealed the tires going through all the turns. After the first lap I realized that this is what it’s like in the car. This was my first time on the track and it was in his racecar. It is better than any rollercoaster I’ve ever been on”. Shawn’s involvement does not stop there. She has completed a couple track days at Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, IL. Being a race fan since the age of twelve, Shawn went from on TV, to behind the wall, to behind the wheel just recently. Shawn and Andy were engaged in February 2008. Along with getting her Masters of Health Systems Management, she planned a wedding, went to every race that she could, and worked full time at Illinois CancerCare as the Director of Diagnostic Services. The biggest surprise came to Shawn after the ceremony rehearsal Friday night before the big day. Berberich surprised her with her own 1989 Porsche 944S2. “I wanted to do something special for her and something that says it came from me.” Berberich explains. “I already had the car, but it didn’t have any engine. I found an engine online in Road Island and had it shipped in. I spent the next three weeks prepping the engine and fitting it into the car. I had it running and driving about two weeks before we got married.” Shawn can be seen driving around Peoria, IL in her white S2 with license plates that read NU BERB 1. The next big adventure the happy couple will be at Watkins Glen New York in May for the Porsche Club of America Club Race. Shawn will be a DE student in the Eurosport 944 and Berberich will be racing it in Prepared SP2. In preparation for the Glen and the 2009 race season, the Eurosport 944 transitioned from the sole entry 944 Cup to the multiple entries 944 Spec. In the pursuit of more competition, better racing, and contingency awards, the Eurosport 944 made the move. The transition included a new suspension including shocks and springs, the factory front spoiler and bumper, factory wheels with Toyo R888 spec tires, and a diet. For now, the powertrain remains virtually unchanged since last season. The premise behind the NASA 944 Spec class is this; “The Porsche 944™-924S™ spec class is a class for those individuals that wish to race a Porsche in a competitive series with limited expense and low cost of operation. The rules are intended to control costs and reduce any performance advantage from the cars so that driving ability and race setup are the greatest factors in determining winners. The spirit of the class is for all cars to be equal in weight and horsepower and be competitive with one another. The focus will be on driver ability and not dollar ability. The class is not intended to be an engine builder or innovator’s class.” Being the third year for 944 Spec in NASA Midwest, regional director Eric Kuhns has done a phenomenal job growing the class and attracting talent. Kuhns’ tenacity, hard work, and all for one attitude is a testament to the spirit of 944 Spec racing. Being the 2008 944 Spec National Champ and podium positions in other classes speaks to his ability as a driver as well. Currently there are about sixteen spec cars built or being built to compete in the NASA Midwest region. This should guarantee a decent car count with numbers into the double digits at some events. Co-op Racing and the Eurosport 944 will be one of the entries fighting for the coveted first place finish. In preparation for the first race of the season, the team took the Eurosport 944 to the LAPS Inc event on April 14 at Autobahn Country Club for its first shakedown. The weather was less than ideal for a shakedown. The early morning conditions were cold and rainy. The afternoon conditions were slightly better with cold and wet. The rain had subsided and Berberich took the Eurosport 944 to the track for its first of many laps in 2009. Even in the wet conditions, the car held together and handled well. There were no major issues or significant problems. The only thing to do was to finish up the detailed items left on the list prior to the first race at Road America on April 25 and 26. By the time this is published, the Road America race will already be completed. |
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SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR RACING PARTNERSEurosport Racing is a premiere Midwest Porsche street and race specialist. They specialize in Porsche service, track support and transport, engine design and rebuilding, dyno tuning, and suspension setup and alignment. They also offer a full line of OEM, aftermarket, and high performance parts and accessories. More information on Eurosport Racing can be found at www.midwesteurosport.comKauth and Mayeur provides the finest import services in Peoria, IL. They offer a wide range of maintenance and repair services for import cars. Specializing in high performance streetcars. Kauth and Mayeur can be reached at (309) 673-1412 or http://www.kauthmayeur.com. |
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