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
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