04.20.2009 What began as a dismal three day weekend at Pikes Peak International Raceway turned into a very successful race weekend for the FRM team in the first SCCA Double National in Colorado in 2009. Heavy rain and snow engulfed the front range, but those who braved the roads on Friday were rewarded with two days of excellent racing. The team arrived with 6 cars; 3 Van Diemen Formula Continentals driven by John Brumder, Zach Craigo, and Dwight Rider; 2 Crossle Formula Fords driven by Jerry Thompson and Denise Longwell; and a Van Diemen Formula Enterprise entry driven by Tyler Hunter.
Racing began on Saturday in less than ideal temperatures and strong winds with the Formula Continentals and the Formula Enterprise cars. Brumder, who qualified third in class, took the class and overall victory for the first time this year. Craigo led the majority of the FC race, but a late race spin dropped him into second place. Rider, who sat on the pole for the FC class, finished third after gearbox problems on the pre-grid left him 2 laps down at the start of the race. Hunter went unchallenged in his FE car, breaking the previous track record he set himself in 2005.
Saturday's Formula Ford race was nearly as exciting as the FC race as Bill Kephart and John Copple battled for top honors while Tom Klimas followed in third. Thompson and Longwell followed in fourth and fifth in their newly rebuilt Crossle chassis' while using this weekend as testing on the SCCA Regional spec American Racer tires.
The clouds receded and the sun came out on Sunday, making it a perfect day for spring racing in Colorado. Tension in the paddock heated up as well when the team had a mere hour and a half to prepare for the first race after qualifying and had a few mechanical issues to deal with. All four cars in the first group made it to the grid in one piece on their Hoosier tires with Rider on the pole, followed by Craigo and Brumder in the FC class and Hunter right behind them in his FE entry. A first lap spin by Rider left him at the back of the field, but pulling off fast lap after fast lap, managed to work his way back into the overall lead mid-way through the race and held on to victory. Craigo, who led the majority of the first half of the race developed a severe push and was not able to keep the consistent speed of teammate Rider. Brumder led the first few laps in the FC class, but suffered from tire degradation and finally finished in fourth, behind Barry Gilbert. Hunter continued his FE dominance breaking the track record again by over a second from his record in 2005.
The Formula Ford race began just as the day before, with Kephart and Copple battling up front. Copple dropped out from a mechanical problem and Kephart had a late race pit stop to change a nose leaving the door wide open for Thompson to take the lead and the overall victory. Kephart finished second while Longwell came in third in her first weekend in a formula car. The podium finishes brought the total to 9 on the weekend for the team.
Rider continues to lead the SCCA Rocky Mountain Division National Points Championship in the FC class, with Gilbert, Craigo and Brumder not that far behind. Hunter commands the FE class defending his 2008 RMD Points Championship. After a very successful race weekend, the team will prepare for the next SCCA Double Regional at the new High Plains Raceway in Byers.
Congratulations to Tyler Hunter on yet another track record!
