2004 ISF Preview

 Going back in time we take a look at the 2004 ISF season, starting with my predictions. G.O. Odyear was my pen name back then. Enjoy!
Until next ISF season...
Steve "The Wrench" Ratchett

Rev Up The Engines!

The 2004 ISF Season Preview

By  G. O. Odyear

Engines screaming. Tires gripping. Left turns. Right turns.

Fast straights. Sharp turns. Crashes. Victory! Beer!

The slotcar racing world’s best road racers are set to step up and crush all the tracks that lay in their path!  

Here is the 2004 ISF season preview and predictions:

John Shea:

GTP Preseason Prediction: Champion

GTP Actual Finish 2003: Champion

It will be tough for anyone to dethrone John Shea.

The all-time leader in victories and laps led has long dominated this division. He has made mistakes from time to time. Usually when that happens it is a short field and he doesn’t get hurt enough in points to matter to his competition. His competition has stepped up and is tougher this year. If the fields are of decent size at all the events in 2004 so when Shea makes his mistake or two it hurts him in the points, and a strong field can step up and take the wins when that happens, maybe someone will unseat him as champion. Until that does we’re staying with him as our pick to repeat as champion.

GT Preseason Prediction: 2nd in points

GT Actual 2003: 1 Win, 3^rd in points

Shea’s GT program has gotten off the ground! Ill handling Ferraris, slow Volvos, and outclassed Chevy Cameros have been the bane of his existence in this division. He now has a car in the Corvette to challenge for wins. Look for him to mount a serious  challenge for the GT title in 2004. If I’m the defending GT champion I’m looking over my shoulder. That Vette is Shea.

F1 Preseason Prediction: 2^nd in points

F1 Actual 2003: 1 Win, 3^rd in points

Even money he will be the ISF F1 champion in 2004.

This division is too close to call.

Chad Sorce:

GTP Preseason Prediction: 8^th in points

GTP Actual Finish 2003: 7^th in points

Sorce was the ISF’s original GTP champion and could be again if he ran on a regular basis. Let’s see if the switch to Thursday nights helps this popular driver. The rest of the field needs and misses his competitive spirit.

GT Preseason Prediction: 6^th in points

GT Actual 2003: 7^th in points

A switch to a Pontiac Fierro two seasons ago looked promising.

F1 Preseason Prediction: 9th in points

F1 Actual 2003: 10^th in points

What would the title fight be like if Sorce was there for the entire championship? His Sauber is usually is good for a win or two.

Everet Kamikawa:

GTP Preseason Prediction: 5^th in points

GTP Actual Finish 2003: 4^th in points

Any race longer than 3 minutes he crashes and burns in spectacular fashion. Switching from Mercedes to Toyota didn’t improve that observation. When he was with Mercedes he last an average of 10 minutes! He used to know how to win in this division. Let’s see if he can figure out how again.

GT Preseason Prediction: Champion

GT Actual 2003: Champion

Just like Shea in GTP, Kamikawa is the all time leader in wins and laps lead in this division. The F-40 is still the car to beat, although there were cracks in their domination last year. Beware of Shea and Jim Iverson!

F1 Preseason Prediction: 3rd in points

F1 Actual 2003: Champion

Kamikawa returned to Ferrari from his exile to the Minardi F1 team to again partner Shea at Ferrari. Kamikawa won the championship by one point over Larry Rotter. The most competitive division in the ISF will be even tougher this year.

Jessie Iverson:

GT Preseason Prediction: 9^th in points

GT Actual 2003: 9^th in points

Jessie showed flashes of speed in GT qualifying but never gets a handle on the car in the races. Let’s see if another season of experience will do him good.

F1 Preseason Prediction: 1 Heat Race win, 7^th in points

F1 Actual 2003: 5^th in points

F1 is where the young driver has started to come into his own.

He is more competitive. After three years seasoning, it would not be far fetched for the lad to step up and win a heat race or pole position in 2004.

Miles Iverson:

GTP Preseason Prediction: 7^th in points

GTP Actual Finish 2003: 1 Pole, 1 Heat Win, 6^th in points

Miles showed a lot of speed in GTP taking a pole at Monza.

A couple of heat race wins allowed him to get into the final race a couple of times where he just missed a podium in fourth place. Don’t be surprised if he starts finding victory circle in some of the heat races, and if he remains calm, perhaps even a final in 2004.

GT Preseason Prediction: 0 Wins, 8^th in points

GT Actual 2003: 8^th in points

Scheduling conflicts kept the middle Iverson from showing his true potential in this division.

F1 Preseason Prediction: 0 Wins, 8^th in points

F1 Actual 2003: 6^th in points

Gaining a ride in a second McLaren, he drove fairly well, however this reporter thinks he would do better with his own car.

Jim Iverson:

GTP Preseason Prediction: 2^nd in points

GTP Actual Finish 2003: 2 Wins, 2^nd in points

“Bayside Jimmy” has brought a lot to the ISF racing community over the past several years. Finally his Porsche GTP program is starting to deliver. Two wins allowed him to take the fight to Shea in 2004, especially on the longer courses like Monza. If Shea isn’t the champion, Iverson will be.

GT Preseason Prediction: 3^rd in points

GT Actual 2003: 1 Win, 2^nd in points

He became the answer to an ISF trivia question by breaking Kamikawa’s 2002-2004 GT winning streak. He’ll take the fight to Kamikawa and Shea. A championship is possible.

F1 Preseason Prediction: 4th in points

F1 Actual 2003: 4^th in points

A switch from McLaren to Toyota took a little time getting used to, as the crew had to learn how to set up the car. He will win races in the Toyota in 2004, however he’ll just miss out on the title because of Larry Rotter.

Larry Rotter:

GTP Preseason Prediction: 3^rd in points

GTP Actual Finish 2003: 3^rd in points

A championship for Rotter in GTP would be very popular among the fans and paddock . Two wins could bring him a title in 2004 if Shea messes up. He and Iverson are being counted on to keep Shea honest in the GTP division.

GT Preseason Prediction: 4th in points

GT Actual 2003: 4^th in points

Dominant GT Champion driving a Dodge Stealth, nothing since switching to Porsche. Could a switch back to the Ram be in the cards? His ties to McLaren make that a slight possibility. He’ll find victory lane again in this division before too long. The Porsche just doesn’t have the grunt against the factory backed Porsche of Jim Iverson, or the Ferrari of Kamikawa, or the Chevrolet of Shea.

Sometimes the big buck teams don’t win the title however.

F1 Preseason Prediction: Champion

F1 Actual 2003: 1 Win, 2^nd in points

The two-time SlotCART champion is on a mission to win the F1 title. He just missed out in 2003. He’ll get it this year!

Dan Margetta:

GTP Preseason Prediction: 6^th in points

GTP Actual Finish 2003: 7^th in points

There is no doubt that Margetta is a good racer. His GTP program is unknown as he jumped rides quite often in his career. He can win, but in what car, team, and division is unknown for now. The switch to Thursday nights should help find the answers.

GT Preseason Prediction: 5^th in points

GT Actual 2003: 6^th in points

A well prepped Margetta could make him a winner in this division.

F1 Preseason Prediction: 5^th in points

F1 Actual 2003: 8^th in points

Will the Miller Lite car come back to the track?

It is the car that gave Dan his greatest success.

Amy Butler:

GTP Preseason Prediction: 4^th in points

GTP Actual Finish 2003: 5^th in points

Amy surprised everyone how fast she was out of the box. Taking a heat race win in her first start. She also led Monza for the first third of the race. That 3^rd place was her highest finish in the division. No driver should put it past her to win a race in 2004.

GT Preseason Prediction: 7^th in points

GT Actual 2003: 5^th in points

The only driver to consistently race a Dodge Viper, Butler showed good speed and potential with a 4^th her highest finish.

F1 Preseason Prediction: 6^th in points

F1 Actual 2003: 11^th in points

Finishing her second year in SlotCART, this should be her best division. Fifth being her best finish as she ran into a higher level of competition than she was used to. She’ll be a favorite when the series makes its first stops at her home track of Road America.

Other notable drivers:

Mike Fitzlaff – Rumor has him competing in a few more events in 2004 now that Hales Corners Speedway is closed. He says the summer is his off season. Will the racing itch he feels this summer be scratched? Look out in all divisions if does!

Adam Fitzlaff – 1 Slot IRL heat race win for the ARA racer. Look out! He’ll be able to drive in the GTP division this year!

Austyn Francis – maybe a start or two from this rookie this summer? He needs 10 starts to shed the rookie label.

The rules are the same. The drivers are the same.

A new track. Two new races.

Who will last? Who will crash and burn?

Stay tuned! It’s another exciting year of ISF competition.

2004 ISF Review Movie

2004 ISF Review Movie

https://youtu.be/LasJEojSdbU