Evo takes win at USTCC Opener
Mar 13, 2006, 06:34 PM
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Evo takes win at USTCC Opener
Dave Brown took the opening round at the Hankook United States Touring Car Championship (USTCC) race at Laguna Seca on March 12, 2006, but it wasn’t easy! Like the previous two days, rain played a role on race day. With the torrential rain over-night, the track was flooded in the morning, and the 8:15 a.m. race warm-up was cancelled. The Laguna Seca maintenance crew worked feverishly, and had the track clean by around 9:30. At this point, the track officials made a bold move to bump the start time up from 11:15 to 10:00 a.m. There was a mad scramble by the competitors to get the cars ready and set for the grid. At this point, it was relatively dry and the race was deemed a “dry weather” race.
On the warm-up lap, the rain started to come down once again. By the time the cars reached the start line for the standing start, the front straight was completely wet. The cars lined up, the green light flashed, and the cars were off in a monster rooster tail.
Dave Brown, driving the LeMans Karting/Works/Robispec Mitsubishi Evo 8 took the early lead with Brian Lock second in the Gruppe S/ Subaru of America/ DMS/ Canepa Design Subaru Legacy GT. Through the first part of the race, Tyler McQuarrie gave chase in third place in the Shark Energy Drink/ Spoon Sports Opak Racing Acura RSX-R, but the car was no match for the all-wheel-drive cars in the rain. A little further back, rookie Chris Lock in the Gruppe S/ Racing Brake Subaru WRX had a great battle going with Curt Simmons driving the Cornwell Tools/ Sunnyvale Dodge/ MBO Dodge SRT-4 and sixteen year-old-rookie Auston Harris in the Team Cobalt California Chevy Cobalt.
The rain never let up. At one point towards the end of the race, it even started hailing! It became a two-car race between Brown and Lock, with the two cars swapping places many times. Brown seemed to be a little faster through the turns, with B. Lock making up gobs of time under braking using his Subaru’s ABS system. As the two came across the finish line to start the last lap, Brown held a very small lead as the two disappeared into the mist. Tyler McQuarrie was running in third by himself, but there was a big battle for top rookie honors between Harris and C. Lock behind him.
At the last corner, Brown slipped a little wide, but was able to hold on for the Mitsubishi’s win by a scant half of a second. Brian Lock was second, also in a brand new car (Subaru Legacy GT), which was in its first professional race. McQuarrie finished third, while Auston Harris won out in the A’Pex Integration Rookie battle. Curt Simmons rounded out the top five.
The rain stopped, and the clouds parted for the victory ceremony, with the A1GP cars as a backdrop.
Immediately following the race, the top placing competitors had this to say;
Dave Brown: “This was a great day to have all-wheel-drive, there was no touching this Mitsubishi today! Robispec suspension built us all custom suspension, which worked beautifully today. With this race in the rain, in these cars, you need to have quick steering input, your steering has to be quick and precise. I’m glad I trained for this event with karting at LeMans Karting in Fremont. Works provided us with engine tuning and exhaust, which helped get the car to the front. The race was tough with the rain. As we started the last lap, it was my race to win or lose so I left a little on the table, just to stay on the track. I’ve also got to thank David Bongiovanni, and Goodsport Racing for putting this program together. We’re looking forward to a strong season.
Brian Lock: “As soon as the rain came down on the warm-up lap, I said to myself, ‘here we go’, because I knew we were all on slicks. During the race, I got by Dave a few times and thought I could stay in front of him, but he harassed me too much and managed to get by. But, I love the sticky champagne feel you get from being on the podium, and I’m really proud of the fact that we put the Subaru Legacy GT in second for its first professional race.”
Tyler McQuarrie: “The car was awesome all weekend. We got a little held up in qualifying and I thought we had more for the race had it been in dry conditions. In these wet conditions, it became more of racing the track, and staying on the track.”
Top Rookie, Auston Harris: “It was wet, slippery and hard to keep the car on the track with dry tires! I had a little trouble getting around Chris Lock, but then once I was around him, I was able to stay there for fourth.”
Interested Observer Mr. Tatsuru Ichishima (Ichi), President and Founder of Spoon Japan: “It was a dangerous race in the rain. Last season we won the championship. This was a good start, but we need to do more testing with our new driver. We will have another good year I’m confident.”
On the warm-up lap, the rain started to come down once again. By the time the cars reached the start line for the standing start, the front straight was completely wet. The cars lined up, the green light flashed, and the cars were off in a monster rooster tail.
Dave Brown, driving the LeMans Karting/Works/Robispec Mitsubishi Evo 8 took the early lead with Brian Lock second in the Gruppe S/ Subaru of America/ DMS/ Canepa Design Subaru Legacy GT. Through the first part of the race, Tyler McQuarrie gave chase in third place in the Shark Energy Drink/ Spoon Sports Opak Racing Acura RSX-R, but the car was no match for the all-wheel-drive cars in the rain. A little further back, rookie Chris Lock in the Gruppe S/ Racing Brake Subaru WRX had a great battle going with Curt Simmons driving the Cornwell Tools/ Sunnyvale Dodge/ MBO Dodge SRT-4 and sixteen year-old-rookie Auston Harris in the Team Cobalt California Chevy Cobalt.
The rain never let up. At one point towards the end of the race, it even started hailing! It became a two-car race between Brown and Lock, with the two cars swapping places many times. Brown seemed to be a little faster through the turns, with B. Lock making up gobs of time under braking using his Subaru’s ABS system. As the two came across the finish line to start the last lap, Brown held a very small lead as the two disappeared into the mist. Tyler McQuarrie was running in third by himself, but there was a big battle for top rookie honors between Harris and C. Lock behind him.
At the last corner, Brown slipped a little wide, but was able to hold on for the Mitsubishi’s win by a scant half of a second. Brian Lock was second, also in a brand new car (Subaru Legacy GT), which was in its first professional race. McQuarrie finished third, while Auston Harris won out in the A’Pex Integration Rookie battle. Curt Simmons rounded out the top five.
The rain stopped, and the clouds parted for the victory ceremony, with the A1GP cars as a backdrop.
Immediately following the race, the top placing competitors had this to say;
Dave Brown: “This was a great day to have all-wheel-drive, there was no touching this Mitsubishi today! Robispec suspension built us all custom suspension, which worked beautifully today. With this race in the rain, in these cars, you need to have quick steering input, your steering has to be quick and precise. I’m glad I trained for this event with karting at LeMans Karting in Fremont. Works provided us with engine tuning and exhaust, which helped get the car to the front. The race was tough with the rain. As we started the last lap, it was my race to win or lose so I left a little on the table, just to stay on the track. I’ve also got to thank David Bongiovanni, and Goodsport Racing for putting this program together. We’re looking forward to a strong season.
Brian Lock: “As soon as the rain came down on the warm-up lap, I said to myself, ‘here we go’, because I knew we were all on slicks. During the race, I got by Dave a few times and thought I could stay in front of him, but he harassed me too much and managed to get by. But, I love the sticky champagne feel you get from being on the podium, and I’m really proud of the fact that we put the Subaru Legacy GT in second for its first professional race.”
Tyler McQuarrie: “The car was awesome all weekend. We got a little held up in qualifying and I thought we had more for the race had it been in dry conditions. In these wet conditions, it became more of racing the track, and staying on the track.”
Top Rookie, Auston Harris: “It was wet, slippery and hard to keep the car on the track with dry tires! I had a little trouble getting around Chris Lock, but then once I was around him, I was able to stay there for fourth.”
Interested Observer Mr. Tatsuru Ichishima (Ichi), President and Founder of Spoon Japan: “It was a dangerous race in the rain. Last season we won the championship. This was a good start, but we need to do more testing with our new driver. We will have another good year I’m confident.”
Mar 13, 2006, 08:02 PM
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Way to go!!!!
I've been following the legacy build-up over on nasioc, sounds like it was a great race, just wish we could see some video or pics. It's not often enough that the few awd cars that race get to have an advantage of wet racing. It's great to watch them when they do!
I've been following the legacy build-up over on nasioc, sounds like it was a great race, just wish we could see some video or pics. It's not often enough that the few awd cars that race get to have an advantage of wet racing. It's great to watch them when they do!
Mar 13, 2006, 09:02 PM
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I'm very proud to be selected to work with this team. Fantastic owner, driver, and crew chief. They sure keep me on my best game Congrats from my Daughters wedding! Sorry I couldn't be there with you guys!
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Mar 14, 2006, 11:06 AM
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Originally Posted by Dave Brown
This was a great day to have all-wheel-drive, there was no touching this Mitsubishi today! Robi-Spec suspension built us all custom suspension, which worked beautifully today. With this race in the rain, in these cars, you need to have quick steering input, your steering has to be quick and precise. I’m glad I trained for this event with karting at LeMans Karting in Fremont. WORKS provided us with engine tuning and exhaust, which helped get the car to the front. The race was tough with the rain. As we started the last lap, it was my race to win or lose so I left a little on the table, just to stay on the track. I’ve also got to thank David Bongiovanni, and Goodsport Racing for putting this program together. We’re looking forward to a strong season.
Mar 14, 2006, 06:41 PM
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Originally Posted by SF-VIII-RS
.. Brown seemed to be a little faster through the turns, with B. Lock making up gobs of time under braking using his Subaru’s ABS system.
And CONGRATS!!
l8r)
Mar 15, 2006, 10:19 AM
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It's an 04 RS without ABS or ACD.
You can check out the complete car specs and a few photos at
http://www.goodsportracing.com
You can check out the complete car specs and a few photos at
http://www.goodsportracing.com
Mar 15, 2006, 10:23 AM
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wohoo.. I got to see the ride in person, although I missed the race due to being stuck at autox.. (which was totally worth it due to the rain).. It was a great day to drive an evo in monterey.. I was parked right next to the pits during the A1 grand prix event later on that day...and when they are talking about torential rains.. well here is a link to pics from the local nasa autox around 11oclock.. notice the lying water : ) http://www.sromagazine.com/home.php?op=go&id=323353
Congrats!
Congrats!
Last edited by bdking57; Mar 15, 2006 at 10:28 AM.
Mar 18, 2006, 08:54 AM
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Congratulations to both Dave Brown and Brian Lock. Both new cars, and top notch drivers.
It is going to be an exciting season in USTCC, and I am personally looking forward to the EVO / SUBARU shootout !
Who do I push for though, as both teams were running DMS shocks at the time, both cars kick butt, and both teams are top notch?
I look forward to seeing new faces in 2006, and again, congrats to the entire team at GoodSport Racing.
-mark
It is going to be an exciting season in USTCC, and I am personally looking forward to the EVO / SUBARU shootout !
Who do I push for though, as both teams were running DMS shocks at the time, both cars kick butt, and both teams are top notch?
I look forward to seeing new faces in 2006, and again, congrats to the entire team at GoodSport Racing.
-mark
Last edited by DMS_Mark; Mar 19, 2006 at 08:58 AM.