[Trans-Am Jim]

1.) The Gentilozzi-Hayner deal at 3-Rivers:
On the 4th lap, Paul G tries a banzai/Hail Mary inside pass of Hayner at turn 1. Puts Stu hard into the tire barrier and continues on his way, while Stu has to get towed out. If Hayner hadn't of been there, Paul would have been toast. Stu pits to fix damage, goes a couple laps down, then starts a rather "inspired" drive up throught the field. As he passes Paul G. on the main straight, right in front of race control, he gives him a "love tap" which takes out Paul's right-rear bodywork and blows the tire. After the race, Paul's son Tony (Rocketsports' engine builder) tries to pull Stu out of the car and yours truly has to restrain the two of them. Tony ends up hurling a water bottle at Stu, which, of course, good ol' Jimbo catches a piece of.
I guess boys will be boys, but this had been building behind the scenes for a few races and finally manifested itself on track, so the Chief Steward figures its time to levy some penalties.

2.)The penalties for contact at Road America were much of the same deal. Baucom put a shot on Mike Davis coming up the front straight; violent enough that it bent Davis' 3rd link. Drissi put Bob Ruman in a gravel trap and destroyed the rear clip of Bob's car. The contact resulting in the penalties was not a bump and run sort of thing; there seemed to be malice in the hits. I saw them later on tape and they really were unwarranted and easily avoidable. Usually this kinda stuff happens on a street course, but when it takes place on a fast track like RA, it's a cause for concern. Luckily it didn't result in any injuries.


On the traction control deal, all I can say is we didn't find the rabbit, but we found some rabbit s--t, so we know TC had been used at some point. The current TC systems are really pretty neat, about the size of a Bic lighter, with a 24 guage 2-wire lead, programmable, and turned on and off with a cell phone call!. Around 25 grand, available only to previous customers.

Oh well, I'm off to Denver for a week.

Later, dudes -