NWFC at The Ridge Sept 19/20

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Final NWFC weekend at the Ridge

Registration:
https://www.motorsportreg.com/events...9#.VfGqiBFVhBc

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Race Preview

Possible Winners – Gavin Aitken, Russ Werner
Podium Contenders – Greg Coffin, Reny Follett, Michael Lensen

We see a showdown looming between NWFC Ridge track Record holder Gavin Aitken and last years NWFC Ridge winner Russ Werner. Gavin Aitken showed his pace a few weekends ago by taking the money race at Mission and lowering his personal best there by another tenth so we expect more of the same from him. Russ Werner has not been out with the NWFC series since Spokane but still sitting 7th in points he is a couple good finishes away from moving back up to 3rd in the #99 EZ Beer Van Diemen. Currently holding 3rd in the Championship is Michael Lensen in his ACIC 97 Van Diemen the NWFC Mission weekend winner looks to hold on to a 2015 trophy with some podiums at the Ridge. Another driver eyeing 3rd in the Championship is Brad Law sitting 7.5 points back and fresh off a solid weekend out at Mission in the Dept 9 Citation. Brad seems to have overcome the mechanical issues his car was throwing at him early this year and will be in high spirits coming off his run out at the Targa NewFoundland. James Nadolny missed out on Castrol with some gear box issues but hopefully all is resolved and we can see the #94 Hardland Chrome Van Diemen out at the Ridge next week. If we see James it’s possible we could see Keray Mcewan as well in his 1996 Van Diemen both drivers new this season and have only run out at Mission so it will be interesting to see how they adapt to the more open layout of the Ridge.

From down south we think we have a dark horse in Reny Follett if he makes it out for the event as everyone was impressed with the speed he showed in Spokane and he recently made an appearance a few weekends ago at Pacific Raceways. Dane Babkirk was caught up in the early Race 2 incident at Castrol raceway last weekend but suffered the least amount of damage and is hopeful to have the 1996 Van Diemen ready to race. With Dane’s offroad excursion through the farmers field at Castrol he might have some good experience in low traction situations so if it rains at the Ridge he could feel at home. Greg Coffin looks to have wrapped up the 2015 season by not only being fast but also making sure he finishes. With the only hiccup in his 2015 campaign being the fuel cell failure at Mission he has finished every race this season we look for more of the same out at the Ridge.

Hopefully we have a good final round in the series and avoid the rain of a couple years ago.

[drdestructo]

Unfortunately, I'm out as the Ridge conflicts to a prior commitment at the Reno Air Races this year. I'm sure there will be a great fight for first now that I won't be there running away with the thing! Cheers!

[spudrace]

For anybody interested in photo's or file downloads from the Mission Raceway round of the NWFC series, 50% of all proceeds will go to the Mission Emergency Crew fire suit fund. www.martinsactionphotography.smugmug.com

[ccoffin]

Reports from the track have been had to come by. Here's what I have so far.

Saturday quali was wet and most drivers elected to skip it.

A split start was granted with winged cars in front and ff's in second group. Saturday race saw Michael lensen jump out to a big lead over coffin. Rain started and coffin dropped further back, getting passed by james Blackwell in his f1000. He then tucked in behind blackwell and followed him back to the front. With four lamb from the end he passed lensen in the corkscrew with what he initially thought was a clean pass.looking in his mirrorhe saw lensens head getting rattled as he drove over the dragons teeth. Coffin waived lensen by on the straight to make up for the move . He then pulled even with lensen a few times but could get it done. On the last lap Coffin had a good run going into 11 and completed the pass before turn 12 to take the win on the last lap. This marks Coffin's fifth NWFC win this year and his first in a pinto.

Coffin 1:46.xx
Lensen 1:47.xx
Babkirk 1:49.xx

Pat Wildfire also completed his novice race with a 1:50 lap time and will race with the fc's today for the first time after having a rough start to the year.

Quali was wet this morning. Only lensen and babkirk went out.

[ccoffin]

Wildfire wrecked at some point in time before the group 3 race today so did not race.

Race was wet. Having already clinched the NWFC championship and need in only to take the start to win the ICSCC FC championship, Coffin took his mygale out for a Sunday drived finished third. LEnsen won his second race of the season and won the weekend overall. Dane Babkirk ran a great race and finished a season high 2nd.

More details as we hear back from the track.

[Jphoenix]

Pat ran in group 6 quali and I saw him well into the tire bundle at the base of the turn 7 station. As i was going past he was walking to the ambulance, so ok, but ended up with an injured hand. Too bad, great guy, helped out with scales yesterday. Likely some damage to the bodywork.

Hope he has some great racing next year. Fun to watch the FC crowd here at the ridge this weekend, nice group of folks, just having too much fun!

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After the final round of the NWFC the points standings are.