US FST: Rounds 5 & 6 at Blackhawk Farms

[Bill Bonow]

Rounds 5 & 6 of the US Formula First Regional Championship Series will be held at Blackhawk Farms on July 11 & 12. Registration is now up at www.dlbracing.com

This is the shortest time span between our races for '09, so don't let too much time go by before entering.

The officious type people at BVR decided to make this event a "quad" racing weekend by hosting (4) SCCA santioned regional races. Being that we are set for contingencies and awarding our series points based on a double race wekend, the US FST official races will be the second race on Saturday (Sanction # 09-R-641-S) and the second race on Sunday (Sanction # 09-R-643-S). However, being these are official SCCA races, enter all four and you've completed your license renewal requirements in one weekend.

[Matt King]

That's JULY 11-12.

[Bill Bonow]

With less than 10 days until the next two rounds or the US FST Series at Blackhawk Farms, there are only 3 FST's entered. It may be due to the short time frame between Nelson and BFR, so get to www.dlbracing.com and get registered.

Here is the list of current entrants:

Butch Deer - Campbell Evolution
Carl Middelegge - Campbell Evolution
William Bonow - Campbell Evolution

And those who thought they would be entering:

Doug Seim - RGU Mysterian M-5.1
Robert Clark - Campbell Evolution
Jim Nash - Mission FST
Randy Shinn - Mysterian M-2
Greg Schings - Campbell Evolution
Jared Timmerman - SGCC Mysterian M-5
Mark Kelly - Campbell Evolution

[rguhde]

Bill

Doug and I were going to go to Beaver Run instead but because that race was canceled we are aiming for Blackhawk. The problem is that the damage to the car was more extensive than it looked at the track. All the parts have been ordered but it will probably be Tuesday until we know for sure.

Hope to make it

[Bill Bonow]

With just 4 days til rounds 5 & 6 of the US FST series take place at Blackhawk Farms, there are still a few who have not entered. We should end up with 11 FST's for the event. Here is the list to date:

Jeff Salcedo - Campbell Evolution
Butch Deer - Campbell Evolution
Carl Middelegge - Campbell Evolution
William Bonow - Campbell Evolution
Robert Clark - Campbell Evolution
Jim Nash - Mission FST
Randy Shinn - Mysterian M-2
Jared Timmerman - SGCC Mysterian M-5

And those who thought they would be entering:

Doug Seim - RGU Mysterian M-5.1
Greg Schings - Campbell Evolution
Mark Kelly - Campbell Evolution

Get to www.dlbracing.com and get registered today.

I have talked to the event CS and they will review re-orgainizing group 2 on Friday at the track. As of today, there are 29 cars in group 2 (FF/CFF/F5/FV/FST). Add these last 3 and BFR will be very crowded. There are only 9 cars in group 4 (wings & things), so a re-grouping would be nice.

[Doug FST 5]

I just entered the race. All the parts are in the garage. I just have to get it all rebuilt and ready to go.

Doug

[Bill Bonow]

I'm not sure if Mark Kelly will make the event, but we got a solid 10 cars for this coming weekend. Here is the latest from DLB:

Jeff Salcedo - Campbell Evolution
Butch Deer - Campbell Evolution
Carl Middelegge - Campbell Evolution
William Bonow - Campbell Evolution
Robert Clark - Campbell Evolution
Jim Nash - Mission FST
Randy Shinn - Mysterian M-2
Jared Timmerman - SGCC Mysterian M-5
Doug Seim - RGU Mysterian M-5.1
Greg Schings - Campbell Evolution

There are currently (34) cars in group 2 and only (9) in group 4. It would be great if BVR will re-shuffle the race groups. We'll push for it on Friday.

[Doug FST 5]

The car got finished last night. We'll be there!

[Bill Bonow]

Doug,

Glad to hear that you were able to get all that damage fixed in a very short time frame and will make Blackhawk. Looks like it will be a good weekend for a great race. All we need to do now is get the group re-orgainized and we'll be set.

[lawyerbob]

Looking at DLB, as of 10:30 this morning Grp. 2 still has 33 cars, of which 18 are FST and FV and Grp. 4 still has only 9 cars total. Would be great to see an all VW field! Thanks for suggesting it Bill!

[Matt King]

Anything the rest of us can do to push it in that direction?

[Bill Bonow]

The CS, Bob Lybarger, said it would be reviewed on Friday at the track. I would suggest that anyone interested in seeing groups 2 & 4 reorgainized should contact Bob and let him know your suggestion. Personally, I think it should be group 2 FV(8)/FST(10) (18 cars) and group 4 CSR(1), DSR(1), FA, FC(4), FM(1), S2(1), FS, ASR, FE(1), CFC, FB, F5(3), CFF(3) and FF(9) (24 cars).

It is also notable that 40% of the weekends entries are open wheel cars.

[Doug FST 5]

The total entry can't be 40% open wheel. I read on the Spec Miata forum a year ago that open wheel racing was dead!

DougFST5

[lawyerbob]

Just looked at DLB - they officially changed the Groups! Grp. 2 is now FV, FST and F500 - 22 cars as of 10:30 this morning.

FF and CFF moved to Grp. 4

[dc]

Some photos from the racing action this afternoon...

[dc]

A few more wheel-to-wheel...

[samiam520]

Nice Pictures, any results ???

[Bill Bonow]

Doug,

Thanks for the great photos. Here are the results for the four races. The US FST Series will only count two and the points will be updated shortly. A full report will come tomorrow. In short is was a great weekend.

Race 1:

Schings
Middelegge
Seim
Bonow
Nash
Clark
Salcedo
Shinn
Timmerman

Race 2: (US FST Series Race)

Seim
Bonow
Middelegge
Nash
Clark (Fast lap 1:18.920)
Deer
Timmerman
Shinn
Schings

Race 3:

Bonow
Middelegge
Seim
Nash
Clark
Timmerman
Shinn
Deer
Schings

Race 4: (US FST Series Race)

Bonow
Middelegge
Schings (Fast Lap 1;18.088)
Seim
Clark
Timmerman
Nash
Salcedo
Shinn

[Bill Bonow]

This past weekend held rounds 5 & 6 of the US Formula First Regional Championship Series at Blackhawk Farms Raceway. The weather was perfect all weekend long for the 9 competitors that made the trip.

Being a "quad" race weekend, we decided to count the 2nd and 4th races as our official series races. The 1st and 3rd races served as qualifying.

Saturday, race 1 was a 4 way battle for the point between Schings, Salcedo, Seim and Middelegge with Schings taking the win and scoring pole position for round 5 (race 2).

Round 5 (race 2) started with a 5 car train of Seim, Middelegge, Nash, Clark and Bonow. Schings chose not to start due to handling issues. Middelegge lead most of the laps, but late race traffic allowed Seim and Bonow to pass before the checkerd flag.

On Saturday night, Carl Middelegge and Linstrand Motorsport hosted a dinner party at the track featuring flank steak and shrimp. Over 35 people partook in the festivities in which many brought a dish. This included side dishes, deserts, drinks and even fried rice. Everyone seemed to have a great time and plenty of food. Special thanks to Carl Middelegge and Cindy Lindstrand for hosting the dinner.

Sunday, race 3 started great with a 6 car train of Schings, Bonow, Seim, Middelegge, Nash and Clark, but a lost oil drain plug by Matt King in FV on lap 3 made the track a little bit difficult to navigate. Bonow seemed to make the best of the bad situation and pulled out a substantial lead while Middelegge, Seim, Nash and Clark battled. The finish put Bonow on pole for round 6 in the afternoon.

For round 6 (race 4 of the weekend), the 2 F500 guys had left for the day and we had a great start with 5 cars (Bonow, Seim, Middelegge, Nash, Clark) chasing for the point. The lead switched between Bonow, Seim and Middelegge. Schings started dead last (based on race 3 finish position) and at mid race was on the tail of the lead pack. Lap traffic played a part late in the race setting up the finishing order of Bonow, Middelegge, Schings, Seim, Clark, Timmerman, Nash.

The Hoosier Tire random draw winners were Robert Clark on Saturday and Jim Nash on Sunday.

Points will be updated at www.formula-first.org shortly, but my bet is that the series points race just got tighter.

The next event will be at the Milwaukee Mile in August and will be a very competitive race as there will be no home track advantage for anyone.

Videos and more photos will be posted shortly.

[Bill Bonow]

The US Formula First Regional Championship Series points are now updated. You can find them here: http://www.formula-first.org/html/2009_points.html The points spread is very close and I'd bet the championship will go down to the last race of the season.

Top 5 in points after 6 of 10 rounds:

Carl Middelegge - Evolution - (62)
William Bonow - Evolution - (61)
Doug Seim - Mysterian - (52)
Robert Clark - Evolution - (45)
Jared Timmerman - Mysterian - (24)

[Doug FST 5]

Here's some video of the afternoon race on Saturday.

Enjoy!

Doug FST 5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iClrJOp4HJY