Wednesday, December 26, 2007
2007 ISF Season Review - GTP
The 2007 ISF Season Review - GTP
by Steve "The Wrench" Ratchett
12/31/2007
The Train Pulls Into The Station
My congratulations to the champs and drivers of the graduating class of the 2007 ISF season. Graduating to the winners circle of champions and first time race winners (in various divisions) were: John Wiedemann, Dean Strom, Mark Walczak, and Mike Fitzlaff.
Here is a quick review of the 2007 ISF season division by division. We'll start with GTP and other divisions will be added soon. Drivers are listed in no particular order. Something a little different this year is a letter grade to go along with some comments. I got the idea from reading the end-of-the-season stories about the local baseball team. It isn't exactly an original idea, however it could cause some controversey and that will keep people talking ISF racing during the off season and that isn't a bad thing.
Jim Iverson: "The Grey Fox is going to turn golden this year. Gold in terms of a trophy color" was what I said at the beginning of the season. I was wrong. He was the only driver not named Kamikawa and Shea to win in GTP, however good race craft could not hold off the blitz that was the top two Toyotas. Third was often the best of what he could do. He knew that and didn't overdrive the car.
Grade B
Everet Kamikawa: Wins yes. Switching back to Toyota was a good thing. Medium size twisty circuits are his strong suit. Looked good early in the season to take the title, but two missed races and the steamroller of speed named John Shea were too much. It should be a good fight in 2008.
Grade A-
John Shea: His 5th championship was probably the hardest fought. Out paced in early races by Kamikawa, Iverson, and Rotter, he knew something drastic needed to be done and built a completely new car. An instant blitzkrieg of the field commenced. He said he will retire when he has 10 GTP championships. He looks good to add his sixth in 2008.
Grade A
Larry Rotter: He won last year and returned with a fast car, and Denso sponsorship. The car was quick, but like the rest of the field, couldn't keep up with Shea. Several heat race wins and another pole position are building blocks for a successful 2008.
Grade B
Mike Fitzlaff: Bloody fast but always seems to run into bad handling late in races, espicially when leading. Full time Porsche runner is too good to not be in the hunt for race wins. Taking his first ever ISF championship in the GT division, should give him the confidence to win in GTP.
Grade C
Dan Margetta: He is frustrated that his magical performances in this division in 2005 seem to have disappeared. Fast in F1, he couldn't make heads or tails of the 2007 GTP cars. He definitely can win. Is it set up? Team? Who knows. Margetta will find it though and correct it.
Grade C-
Chad Sorce: Will steal points and wins from drivers in the title hunt. He is still quick. A good guy the paddock wishes were able to race more than one or two starts a season.
Grade Incomplete
Mark Walczak: Looking for forst GTP win. He has won in everything else. Had the guts to try a modified LMP and proved it could be fast. No longer prone to meltdowns. Put some money on this guy in 2008.
Grade: B
Dean Strom: Frustrated like no other driver because of what he saw as a failure of the team to give him a decent car, Strom dropped to part-time. He has the talent and perhaps his own team, or at least running the same car within his current team, will help him avoid disappointment in 2008.
Grade Incomplete
Andy Spehert: Built a heack of a race track, but only able to make one start in 2007. The Paddock would like to see him return to more active participation as he showed speed and won heat races in 2006.
Grade Incomplete
John Wiedemann: Limited time in 2006 resulted in full time ride with Peugot in 2007. Struggled early with braking, he improved to take several heat wins in different divisions. Have two rivals in the division couldn't have hurt his motivation either. He should make finals more regularly in 2008, although a GTP win could still be a season away.
Grade C+
Mike Lack: A good addition to the league at the halfway point in the season, Lack didn't lack of speed as he quickly started to race well in the heat races. Veteran drivers respect him as he proved he is a racer and not a crasher. Don't be surprised if major improvements in qualifying and race strategy mean heat wins and finals in 2008.
Grade C
Nick Bartolone: Another good addition to the league for the final two races, Bartolone was inspired to land a full time ride with Mercedes for 2008. Lack and Wiedemann say look for big things from this driver.
Grade Incomplete
Amy Butler: A couple of races with the Denso team once again proved this racing diva's speed. More heat wins and appearances in finals are on tap for her in 2008 if she gets the seat alongside Rotter at Denso Toyota.
Grade Incomplete
by Steve "The Wrench" Ratchett
12/31/2007
The Train Pulls Into The Station
My congratulations to the champs and drivers of the graduating class of the 2007 ISF season. Graduating to the winners circle of champions and first time race winners (in various divisions) were: John Wiedemann, Dean Strom, Mark Walczak, and Mike Fitzlaff.
Here is a quick review of the 2007 ISF season division by division. We'll start with GTP and other divisions will be added soon. Drivers are listed in no particular order. Something a little different this year is a letter grade to go along with some comments. I got the idea from reading the end-of-the-season stories about the local baseball team. It isn't exactly an original idea, however it could cause some controversey and that will keep people talking ISF racing during the off season and that isn't a bad thing.
Jim Iverson: "The Grey Fox is going to turn golden this year. Gold in terms of a trophy color" was what I said at the beginning of the season. I was wrong. He was the only driver not named Kamikawa and Shea to win in GTP, however good race craft could not hold off the blitz that was the top two Toyotas. Third was often the best of what he could do. He knew that and didn't overdrive the car.
Grade B
Everet Kamikawa: Wins yes. Switching back to Toyota was a good thing. Medium size twisty circuits are his strong suit. Looked good early in the season to take the title, but two missed races and the steamroller of speed named John Shea were too much. It should be a good fight in 2008.
Grade A-
John Shea: His 5th championship was probably the hardest fought. Out paced in early races by Kamikawa, Iverson, and Rotter, he knew something drastic needed to be done and built a completely new car. An instant blitzkrieg of the field commenced. He said he will retire when he has 10 GTP championships. He looks good to add his sixth in 2008.
Grade A
Larry Rotter: He won last year and returned with a fast car, and Denso sponsorship. The car was quick, but like the rest of the field, couldn't keep up with Shea. Several heat race wins and another pole position are building blocks for a successful 2008.
Grade B
Mike Fitzlaff: Bloody fast but always seems to run into bad handling late in races, espicially when leading. Full time Porsche runner is too good to not be in the hunt for race wins. Taking his first ever ISF championship in the GT division, should give him the confidence to win in GTP.
Grade C
Dan Margetta: He is frustrated that his magical performances in this division in 2005 seem to have disappeared. Fast in F1, he couldn't make heads or tails of the 2007 GTP cars. He definitely can win. Is it set up? Team? Who knows. Margetta will find it though and correct it.
Grade C-
Chad Sorce: Will steal points and wins from drivers in the title hunt. He is still quick. A good guy the paddock wishes were able to race more than one or two starts a season.
Grade Incomplete
Mark Walczak: Looking for forst GTP win. He has won in everything else. Had the guts to try a modified LMP and proved it could be fast. No longer prone to meltdowns. Put some money on this guy in 2008.
Grade: B
Dean Strom: Frustrated like no other driver because of what he saw as a failure of the team to give him a decent car, Strom dropped to part-time. He has the talent and perhaps his own team, or at least running the same car within his current team, will help him avoid disappointment in 2008.
Grade Incomplete
Andy Spehert: Built a heack of a race track, but only able to make one start in 2007. The Paddock would like to see him return to more active participation as he showed speed and won heat races in 2006.
Grade Incomplete
John Wiedemann: Limited time in 2006 resulted in full time ride with Peugot in 2007. Struggled early with braking, he improved to take several heat wins in different divisions. Have two rivals in the division couldn't have hurt his motivation either. He should make finals more regularly in 2008, although a GTP win could still be a season away.
Grade C+
Mike Lack: A good addition to the league at the halfway point in the season, Lack didn't lack of speed as he quickly started to race well in the heat races. Veteran drivers respect him as he proved he is a racer and not a crasher. Don't be surprised if major improvements in qualifying and race strategy mean heat wins and finals in 2008.
Grade C
Nick Bartolone: Another good addition to the league for the final two races, Bartolone was inspired to land a full time ride with Mercedes for 2008. Lack and Wiedemann say look for big things from this driver.
Grade Incomplete
Amy Butler: A couple of races with the Denso team once again proved this racing diva's speed. More heat wins and appearances in finals are on tap for her in 2008 if she gets the seat alongside Rotter at Denso Toyota.
Grade Incomplete
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
2007 ISF Season Review - F1
The 2007 ISF Season Review - F1
by Steve "The Wrench" Ratchett
12/31/2007
The 2007 ISF F1 season campaign was a toughly fought contest.
Like the GTP review we continue with our grading system.
Team Renault/Jordan
Mike Fitzlaff: Fast cars. Renault never looked as good as Jordan. Switched back for the final few races and looked as if there is some glimmer of light for 2008 to get back to being a top three team. It will be a close fight for 2nd or 3rd in the championship.
Grade: C
Dan Margetta: I said in my pre-season predictions that Margetta might get "a win or two." He did. I also said he "might be a title contender if he makes all the races." He did not. Grid loves his energy and sense of humor.
Rivalries are nothing without Margetta. Ask Dean Strom, John Shea, John Wiedemann, etc. etc�..
Grade: C+
Team Ferrari
John Shea: What happened? No handling and no speed compared to the Williams is what happened. One win. Unusual for him.
Grade: B-
Everet Kamikawa: Won on the Indy track for 5th consecutive win on that track. That was the high. Getting beaten by a rookie in a Toro Roso was the low point.
Grade: C-
Williams
Jim Iverson: Wins and steady pace for the team leader. He missed defending his title, which holds to his pattern of only winning the title in even years. Took the fight down to the last two races.
Grade: A-
Mark Walczak: Two wins to start the season set the tune that the other would have to try and sing for the rest of the year. Looked shakey in the 2nd third of the season, but gathered it together to win the title. No alarm klaxxons this year for "3 Mile Mark." Even money to win the championship again in 2008.
Grade: A
Team McLaren
Larry Rotter: He won four races and was competitive at every stop. Just needed a little more luck.
Grade: A
Amy Butler: Two starts in 2007 showed that her HOCC successwasn't a fluke. The series and McLaren would still probably like to see her in the car more often.
Grade: C-
Spyker
Dean Strom: Driver in demand settled in with a new team with full support from Williams. Several early frustrations lead him to quit the series full-time when he complained his car wasn't being set up right and he was being put at a disadvantage by Williams. That conflict somehow got resolved and the now veteran ran better in the subsequent races he entered.
Grade: C-
Andy Spehert: Settled in ISF nicely and matured in 2006 and had a decent 2007 HOCC campaign. Disappeared from 2007 ISF grid for schedule conflicts.
Grade: incomplete
Red Bull
Chad Sorce: Veteran has several schedule conflicts that have kept him from all but a handful of starts the last three years. He does still have the pace though when he is in the field. Will Red Bull be moving over to Mark Walczak, or will Walczak be joining Sorce since Red Bull sponsors Walczak in other divisions?
Grade: Incomplete
Toro Roso
John Wiedemann: He got accustomed to the cars more and more and gained a teamate. Having another friend/competitor in the series helped him as well. Won a couple of heat races including one over Ferrari and seemed more confident in the car. Move to Jaguar in 2008 might be a small step back as the team gets sorted out technically, but when the smarts kick in all should be well.
Grade: C+
Mike Lack: A newcomer to the league, Lack proved that he has the speed to compete by the end of the season. Qualifying pace is not there, but pal John Wiedemann says Lack will be on the sharp end of the grid before too long.
Grade: Incomplete
Jaguar
Nick Bartolone: Another newcomer to the league who only competed in the last two events, Bartolone didn't have the seat time to prove anything, however when teamed with John Shea in the endurance race he proved his pace and car handling. That amount of time will serve him well in 2008.
Grade: Incomplete
by Steve "The Wrench" Ratchett
12/31/2007
The 2007 ISF F1 season campaign was a toughly fought contest.
Like the GTP review we continue with our grading system.
Team Renault/Jordan
Mike Fitzlaff: Fast cars. Renault never looked as good as Jordan. Switched back for the final few races and looked as if there is some glimmer of light for 2008 to get back to being a top three team. It will be a close fight for 2nd or 3rd in the championship.
Grade: C
Dan Margetta: I said in my pre-season predictions that Margetta might get "a win or two." He did. I also said he "might be a title contender if he makes all the races." He did not. Grid loves his energy and sense of humor.
Rivalries are nothing without Margetta. Ask Dean Strom, John Shea, John Wiedemann, etc. etc�..
Grade: C+
Team Ferrari
John Shea: What happened? No handling and no speed compared to the Williams is what happened. One win. Unusual for him.
Grade: B-
Everet Kamikawa: Won on the Indy track for 5th consecutive win on that track. That was the high. Getting beaten by a rookie in a Toro Roso was the low point.
Grade: C-
Williams
Jim Iverson: Wins and steady pace for the team leader. He missed defending his title, which holds to his pattern of only winning the title in even years. Took the fight down to the last two races.
Grade: A-
Mark Walczak: Two wins to start the season set the tune that the other would have to try and sing for the rest of the year. Looked shakey in the 2nd third of the season, but gathered it together to win the title. No alarm klaxxons this year for "3 Mile Mark." Even money to win the championship again in 2008.
Grade: A
Team McLaren
Larry Rotter: He won four races and was competitive at every stop. Just needed a little more luck.
Grade: A
Amy Butler: Two starts in 2007 showed that her HOCC successwasn't a fluke. The series and McLaren would still probably like to see her in the car more often.
Grade: C-
Spyker
Dean Strom: Driver in demand settled in with a new team with full support from Williams. Several early frustrations lead him to quit the series full-time when he complained his car wasn't being set up right and he was being put at a disadvantage by Williams. That conflict somehow got resolved and the now veteran ran better in the subsequent races he entered.
Grade: C-
Andy Spehert: Settled in ISF nicely and matured in 2006 and had a decent 2007 HOCC campaign. Disappeared from 2007 ISF grid for schedule conflicts.
Grade: incomplete
Red Bull
Chad Sorce: Veteran has several schedule conflicts that have kept him from all but a handful of starts the last three years. He does still have the pace though when he is in the field. Will Red Bull be moving over to Mark Walczak, or will Walczak be joining Sorce since Red Bull sponsors Walczak in other divisions?
Grade: Incomplete
Toro Roso
John Wiedemann: He got accustomed to the cars more and more and gained a teamate. Having another friend/competitor in the series helped him as well. Won a couple of heat races including one over Ferrari and seemed more confident in the car. Move to Jaguar in 2008 might be a small step back as the team gets sorted out technically, but when the smarts kick in all should be well.
Grade: C+
Mike Lack: A newcomer to the league, Lack proved that he has the speed to compete by the end of the season. Qualifying pace is not there, but pal John Wiedemann says Lack will be on the sharp end of the grid before too long.
Grade: Incomplete
Jaguar
Nick Bartolone: Another newcomer to the league who only competed in the last two events, Bartolone didn't have the seat time to prove anything, however when teamed with John Shea in the endurance race he proved his pace and car handling. That amount of time will serve him well in 2008.
Grade: Incomplete
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
2007 ISF Season Review - GT/LMP
The 2007 ISF Season Review - GT/LMPby Steve "The Wrench" Ratchett
12/31/2007
The ISF GT division was given up for dead at the end of the 2005 season with only the 2006 season being given as a sort of swan song. It turned out to be anything but! The dominance of Jim Iverson and Corvette in general, plus the struggles of Kamikawa led to four different winners and generally interesting racing. The GT cars again proved themselves when they raced the 2.4 hour endurance race in September and produced a stunning show there as well. In 2007 perenial champion Everet Kamikawa almost came back to win another championship. Iverson stumbled out of the gate and couldn't defend his title. There were several winners as this championship turned out to be one of the closest in series history.
Everet Kamikawa: His domination of the 4 race seasons almost killed this division. His stuggles early in the 2006 season (when there were 6 races) may have saved it. 2007 saw his consistency return. One win in 6 starts does not sound like the dominating Kamikawa of old, however he made the most of all the starts to get the most points his car would allow him. Only a wishy washy judge kept him from winning title number 6.
Grade: A
Jim Iverson: Concentration on the GTP and F1 titles openned this divison up to someone else. He won one race but no one was afraid of him after his switch to the factory Corvette team. Maybe Corvette should have hired all of the Great Big Pictures GT crew to work with Iverson's car?
Grade: C+
Mark Walczak: A win and a fast car! A switch from the F40 to the F50 is the rumor for 2008.
Grade: C+
Mike Fitzlaff: He didn't win in 2006 but he was quick in the three different Corvettes he ran. I wrote in my season preview: "For my money he should stay with the factory B team or move up to the A team. His talent is wasted otherwise." Fitzlaff chose to stay with his own Opus team and was fast all year long. Almost loked like his car would be banned after failing tech inspection for the first race. A weak argument of not knowing the points system and thinking he could skip the last race without consequence would have cost him the championship if not for a sympathetic judge who found a loophole in the rules. Although if he had made the last race, he probaly would've made enough points to win straight up anyway. Congratulatons on a well deserved first ISF title.
Grade: A
Larry Rotter: Toyota Celicas and Supras were more competitve. A switch away from the Tyco pan chassis in this division would be a great sign for him as he has the least expereince running that type of chasis. That might come his way�but not until 2008.
Grade: C+
John Shea: The vette was fast as off season testing solved some problems.
He had a new teammate in Jim Iverson. Still no wins and no championship.
Grade: C
Chad Sorce: Schedule conflicts cost him his seat in the factory Corvette team.
Grade: Incomplete
Dean Strom: If he gets a steady ride in the same car he could make some noise in the races he enteres.
Grade: Incomplete
Dan Margetta: No one is better in a broken car. His endurance race in 2006 proved that. He won in 2007. A steady ride in a good car would improve his championship challenge.
Grade: C+
John Wiedemann: Same as Strom in that his own car will help in 2008. He has several Ferrari F40s to choose from. He quit the factory Ferrari team after one race, then bought several F40s. Is this a sign the factory doesn't trust Kamikawa to win for them and might hire Wiedemann fort he factory team if Kamikawa can't get it done? Naaaaaaaa!
Grade: C
Andy Spehert: didn't get much seat time, if any, in the GT division.
Grade: Incomplete
Nick Bartolone: No seat time in the GT division.
Grade: Incomplete
Mike Lack: Like Wiedemann, Lack also quit the Ferrari factory team after one race (What was the Ferrari factory team thinking in trying to expand to 3 cars?!). Unlike Wiedemann, Lack's plans for the GT series are unknown at this time.
Grade: Incomplete
Amy Butler: One race in the GT division.
Grade: Incomplete
2007 saw the GT cars being joined by a second part-time division, the LMP division. Since this is a new division I thought it would be unfair to grade the drivers individually since no one knew what to expect. If I were to grade them, I would give Mark Walczak an A for winning all 5 races he started, and an F to Everet Kamikawa for not even being able to advance out of the last chance heat race most of the time. The LMP division proved to be popular with several new paint schemes and manufactures entering the challenge.
12/31/2007
The ISF GT division was given up for dead at the end of the 2005 season with only the 2006 season being given as a sort of swan song. It turned out to be anything but! The dominance of Jim Iverson and Corvette in general, plus the struggles of Kamikawa led to four different winners and generally interesting racing. The GT cars again proved themselves when they raced the 2.4 hour endurance race in September and produced a stunning show there as well. In 2007 perenial champion Everet Kamikawa almost came back to win another championship. Iverson stumbled out of the gate and couldn't defend his title. There were several winners as this championship turned out to be one of the closest in series history.
Everet Kamikawa: His domination of the 4 race seasons almost killed this division. His stuggles early in the 2006 season (when there were 6 races) may have saved it. 2007 saw his consistency return. One win in 6 starts does not sound like the dominating Kamikawa of old, however he made the most of all the starts to get the most points his car would allow him. Only a wishy washy judge kept him from winning title number 6.
Grade: A
Jim Iverson: Concentration on the GTP and F1 titles openned this divison up to someone else. He won one race but no one was afraid of him after his switch to the factory Corvette team. Maybe Corvette should have hired all of the Great Big Pictures GT crew to work with Iverson's car?
Grade: C+
Mark Walczak: A win and a fast car! A switch from the F40 to the F50 is the rumor for 2008.
Grade: C+
Mike Fitzlaff: He didn't win in 2006 but he was quick in the three different Corvettes he ran. I wrote in my season preview: "For my money he should stay with the factory B team or move up to the A team. His talent is wasted otherwise." Fitzlaff chose to stay with his own Opus team and was fast all year long. Almost loked like his car would be banned after failing tech inspection for the first race. A weak argument of not knowing the points system and thinking he could skip the last race without consequence would have cost him the championship if not for a sympathetic judge who found a loophole in the rules. Although if he had made the last race, he probaly would've made enough points to win straight up anyway. Congratulatons on a well deserved first ISF title.
Grade: A
Larry Rotter: Toyota Celicas and Supras were more competitve. A switch away from the Tyco pan chassis in this division would be a great sign for him as he has the least expereince running that type of chasis. That might come his way�but not until 2008.
Grade: C+
John Shea: The vette was fast as off season testing solved some problems.
He had a new teammate in Jim Iverson. Still no wins and no championship.
Grade: C
Chad Sorce: Schedule conflicts cost him his seat in the factory Corvette team.
Grade: Incomplete
Dean Strom: If he gets a steady ride in the same car he could make some noise in the races he enteres.
Grade: Incomplete
Dan Margetta: No one is better in a broken car. His endurance race in 2006 proved that. He won in 2007. A steady ride in a good car would improve his championship challenge.
Grade: C+
John Wiedemann: Same as Strom in that his own car will help in 2008. He has several Ferrari F40s to choose from. He quit the factory Ferrari team after one race, then bought several F40s. Is this a sign the factory doesn't trust Kamikawa to win for them and might hire Wiedemann fort he factory team if Kamikawa can't get it done? Naaaaaaaa!
Grade: C
Andy Spehert: didn't get much seat time, if any, in the GT division.
Grade: Incomplete
Nick Bartolone: No seat time in the GT division.
Grade: Incomplete
Mike Lack: Like Wiedemann, Lack also quit the Ferrari factory team after one race (What was the Ferrari factory team thinking in trying to expand to 3 cars?!). Unlike Wiedemann, Lack's plans for the GT series are unknown at this time.
Grade: Incomplete
Amy Butler: One race in the GT division.
Grade: Incomplete
2007 saw the GT cars being joined by a second part-time division, the LMP division. Since this is a new division I thought it would be unfair to grade the drivers individually since no one knew what to expect. If I were to grade them, I would give Mark Walczak an A for winning all 5 races he started, and an F to Everet Kamikawa for not even being able to advance out of the last chance heat race most of the time. The LMP division proved to be popular with several new paint schemes and manufactures entering the challenge.
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