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PARTNERS
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News For April 25th, 2009
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Three Race Sweep for Co-op Racing at Road America |
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Elkhart Lake, WI – Co-op Racing officially began its 2009 racing season in the hallowed hills of Road America. Southern
Wisconsin at the end of April did not disappoint race fans and drivers with rain, fog, cold, and lightning. Not being a solely fair weather team, the first showing for the Eurosport 944
in its inaugural 944 Spec presentation was remarkable. The team was able to drive away with three first place finishes in three race starts.
When driver Andy Berberich and new team member Shawn Berberich arrived at the track on Friday, the high temperature was 83 |
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degrees. Saturday morning high was 65 degrees until a cold front
and lots of rain came through Southern Wisconsin. The Saturday morning warm up was used to feel out the car, the track, and the wet racing line. Overly ambitious drivers quickly found
themselves off the track and into the grass or sand traps. Berberich was able to pick up the wet racing line pretty quick due to hundreds of laps of experience at Road America and due
to the shake down with LAPS Inc at Autobahn Country Club in the rain. “I haven’t driven much in the rain”. Berberich commented. “I was disappointed with the LAPS Inc weather conditions,
but I used it as an opportunity to drive in the wet and learn as much as I could about the Toyo R888 tires. The one hour of driving at Autobahn in the wet paid dividends at Road America.”
After a wet qualifying session, Berberich and the Eurosport 944 qualified on the pole with regional class director Eric Kuhns in second. The race started with Berberich, Kuhns, and the rest of the 944 Spec cars leading the field up the hill to the starter. The Eurosport 944 got an excellent start and jumped out to an early lead. It didn’t take long before quicker cars further back in the field caught the front starters. With adverse weather conditions, being attentive has the larges impact on safety. Racing in the mist of leading cars created a significant challenge. As the field spread out, it was Berberich and Kuhns in contention for the first place finish. In the lead, Berberich would increase the lead coming out of the turns. Kuhns would close the gap under braking before the turns. The relentless pressure from Kuhns and the harsh weather made the win that much more rewarding. The new NASA schedule for 2009 introduced an additional Saturday race. The schedule results in three total sprint races in two days with the option of a three hour endurance race on Friday at some tracks. For the race time, it is hard to beat NASA for wheel to wheel excitement. The second sprint race on Saturday was shaping up to be just as exciting as the first. The starting field was determined by the earlier qualifying session and the rain had let up a little. Berberich and Kuhns were on the front row again approaching the starter. This time, the starter held up starting the race until the first two cars were almost under the starter. The delay in the start caught a few people off guard and it caused the Spec Miata class to already be under acceleration in anticipation of the start. This anticipation resulted in a four wide start in the middle of the front straight. Within a few turns, the field had spread out and Kuhns was pressuring Berberich just as he did in the first race. Berberich would build a lead and then Kuhns would close the gap. This went on for several laps until Kuhns retired from the race with a mechanical issue. This allowed Berberich and the Eurosport 944 to cruise to another first place finish. Sunday started the same way that Saturday ended, wet and cold. The only difference is that a slight increase in ambient temperature resulted in relentless fog. The biggest challenge of the weekend seemed to be keeping the inside of windshields from fogging up. Several different techniques were employed, but it was something that most drivers had to deal with. Sunday’s qualified session got off to a slow start after a Spec Miata ran off the track, right in front of Berberich, and deep into the sand trap outside of turn eight. This little episode brought out the full course black flag and all cars pulled into pit lane. By the time the session had resumed, there was just enough time for one flying lap to determine the starting grid. The Eurosport 944 qualified second behind Ben Anderson in the Bennington Motorsports/944 Raceworks rental 944 Spec racer. This weekend was Anderson’s first time behind the wheel of a 944 Spec racecar. He mentioned that the cars were very easy to drive and his first placed qualification was his testament. The rain had subsided for a couple hours leading up to Sunday’s 40 minute sprint race. Just as the cars were pulling up to grid, the skies opened up and the rain pursued again. As the cars took their warm up lap, lightning and thunder added to the rain. For safety reasons and for time, the race was started when the pace car passed the starter station and all cars took one more warm up lap until the black flag came out. Just before the pace car took the green flag, Anderson pulled into pit lane after his windshield wiper quit working. This moved Berberich up to first place in pit lane in the five car field. After about 10 minutes in the pit lane, the pace car took the cars back out on the track for two more pace laps as the lightning moved out of the area. Approaching the starter stand, the 944s were at the back of the field with the other classes leading to the starter. Inside pole Berberich and outside pole Ray Freundt left a gap between them and the rest of the field while approaching the starter. As they crested the top of the hill leading onto the front straight, the green flag was already flying for the rest of the field. The Eurosport 944 got off to a good start and quickly slipped into first. “I knew we wouldn’t have much time to race.” Berberich reflected. “Being up front, I also knew that I had nothing to gain by driving aggressively, but everything to lose. So, I set my sights on driving conservatively and defensively. I knew that I was able to carry more corner exit speed and that Ray could catch me under braking. As long as I could come out of the turns ahead, I knew I could hold the lead.” The race ended up being a green, white, checkered two-lap race. Berberich was able to keep Freundt at bay while Kuhns and Anderson were battling it out for third. Berberich maintained the lead into the third to last turn when Freundt made his move on the outside of Turn 12 (also known as Canada Corner). Due to the track conditions, Freundt was unable to hold the line and ended up in the sand trap outside of Canada Corner. This put Kuhns and Anderson right on the tail of the Eurosport 944. “I knew that if I made it safely through 14, that I could win the drag race to the finish.” Berberich demised. “I over slowed the car and over slowed Eric and Ben as well. I was able to go to the throttle first and beat them to the finish.” The overall group win went to Berberich and second place went to Anderson who eked Kuhns out by twenty thousandths of a second. Be sure to check the schedule for the upcoming events and races. |
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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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