Our Firsts: Pole Position and a Podium Finish!
- John Santiago
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
Our driver piloted Spec Iron Sally to our first podium finish at Gingerman in the Spec Iron series with NASA Great Lakes. He then went on to his first qualifying pole (first place) at Mid-Ohio!
GINGERMAN
Alejandro worked hard through a field of very tough competitors to secure the third spot on the podium at Gingerman Raceway.
We would have podiumed earlier in the year at the first Gingerman event, but a mechanical Black Flag forced us into the pits on the last lap in one race and a dying transmission gave up the ghost at the end of another race.
Fortunately our local high school, Evanston Township High School (ETHS), stepped up with some shop space between events and we were able to get the transmission swapped out in time for our next event.
This summer has proven to be a great season to teach the boys what it takes to push through adversity and charge back to the front.
The Community Garage supported three drivers at Gingerman. Milo, Adam, and Alejandro took to the track to throw down and show what they can do.
Milo and Adam were both able to graduate from HPDE 1 (novice group) to HPDE 2 (intermediate). They grow up so quick…
MID-OHIO
In wheel-to-wheel action, we have worked hard the last year and a half to get Sally into a competitive shape. Our driver has bonded well and showed he can run at the front of a very competitive field of over 20 drivers.
At Mid-Ohio, the car and driver were strong, but the team found room to grow... Forgetting to pin the hood shut almost ended our weekend! Thankfully, the track-gods smiled upon us and we avoided smashing the windshield
Despite our foibles, Alejandro put the car on the pole by posting the fastest lap of race #2. With Big Boy looking out for us we were ready (ready-ish...).
While the race start did not go as planned, he settled into a rhythm and posted the fastest lap of race #3. Not content, he went on to beat his own lap time and posted the fasted lap of the entire field for the entire weekend – a field that contained two former national champions in the class.
Little by little, Car #26 and her driver are becoming a force to reckon with in Spec Iron.
TRAINING
Our HPDE drivers, Adam and Jason, continued to progress in developing their driving skills.
Jason once again took the wheel to our in-house car, Zsa Zsa, and Adam brought out his well-prepped BRZ.
Adam also learned more about track side maintenance...
All this work has paid off for the boys as they get closer to their goal of wheel-to-wheel racing. Coming Soon to a Track Near You!
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