At the recent Indyslotcar banquet, Hall of Fame inductee Jim Iverson and five time league champion Mark Walczak thanked the ISF for giving them their start. With that in mind, I thought now would be an appropriate time to republish this article from several years ago when Indyslotcar,
then called HOCC (HO Champ Car), drivers were reluctant to race in the ISF.
then called HOCC (HO Champ Car), drivers were reluctant to race in the ISF.
-Steve
Why HOCC Drivers Should Try the ISF:Congratulations to Jim Iverson on winning his first HOCC championship.
Let me be the first to predict that he will win it again in 2008 with a strong challenge from
Champion Jim Iverson got his HOCC start by first racing in the ISF when HOCC
management barred him from participating
management barred him from participating
Jim Iverson, having started two teams for rookie ISF participants, expressed disappointment at the ISF Milwaukee Grand Prix that HO Champ Car drivers that committed to running the Spyker and Toro Roso cars were nowhere to be found when the ISF season began.
"Seat time is very important in HO Champ Car," said Iverson. "In the ISF you know you are going to run at least two races each event. That is much more seat time than a rookie driver can get in any other league."
Toro Roso and Spyker were set up for HOCC drivers to be able to compete in the ISF.
So far no HOCC driver has fullfilled their contracts with the Iverson built squads to compete in several ISF races despite commitments from them
"People wonder why they don't make finals. Why no one steps up to challenge the winners. Why they haven't won. It is because they are not here!" Dan Margettta recently said at the Rapids Invitational.
"Seat time is very important," backed up Jim Iverson. "You know you are going to run at least two races and it is that much more seat time."
This isn't a rivalry.
It is not a CART vs. IRL.
It is more of a F1 vs. A1GP.
Both series share some of the same drivers and tracks, however they race during different times of the year and to different rules.
It is the same with HO Champ Car and the International Sportcar Series.
Almost all of the ISF drivers currently drive in HOCC.
Most of the tracks are shared by both leagues.
The same technology is shared by both leagues as the ISF F1 cars are the same as HOCC cars.
ISF and HOCC share the same technology so cars can be swapped between both leagues.
Drivers can run either body style
Drivers can run either body style
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Dean Strom's HOCC car shows the creativity of the paint schemes drivers mimmick of the real Champ Car series. Most cars are manufactured in F1 livery, so ISF cars are not usually hand painted in different team colors as often
HOCC gave birth to ISF stars Everet Kamikawa, John Shea, and Larry Rotter.
ISF gave birth to current HOCC studs Jim Iverson, Mark Walczak, Mike Fitzlaff, and Dean Strom.
Since the start of the ISF in 2000, all of the HOCC league champions except one has been a regular ISF participant.
There were approximately 106 HOCC races from 2000-2006 with at least 75 of them won by ISF regulars.
So why don't more HOCC drivers race in the ISF?
To paraphrase Mike Kristof, ISF drivers can get a little burned out because they race year round while he prefers to concentrate on one series.
Former HOCC Phil Cianciola would show support for new slot car ventures like the Rapids Invitational or the American Racing Alliance by attending the first event and then leaving it saying "I leave that stuff to you guys. I got my thing."
There is nothing wrong with those opinions and I know that ISF commissioner Everet Kamikawa understands and respects them, however if you look at the performances of HOCC drivers since 2000, there is no doubt that ISF drivers have a definite advantage when racing in the HOCC. Any HOCC driver who is not at the top of the field should give the ISF a try for the experience they will gain.
The first reason why ISF drivers dominate the HOCC is the simple matter of experience. An HOCC driver will run one division per race night consisting of 12 laps of qualifying and at least a 10 minute heat race. If they advance to the final race they could race for another 20 minutes or more.
An ISF driver will run in two divisions per race night consisting of 24 laps of qualifying and race in two 10 minute races. If they advance to one final that is an additional 12-16 minutes of seat time. Two finals is an additional 12-16 minutes. The second ISF division allows a HOCC driver to double the amount of seat time they would normally get on a race night. More time on the track means the driver will reach the sharp end of the grid faster. Since HOCC drivers will be competing with a lot of the same drivers they see in the HOCC season, they will be able to judge on where they stand compared to the competition and see how they are progressing.
An HOCC driver will also gain more track knowledge. Almost all of the current ISF tracks are part of the HOCC schedule. Since the HOCC races on tracks only once per year, an HOCC driver participating in the ISF will have the benefit of racing on several tracks for a second time. This doubles that drivers experience on a given track. It was no surprise that John Shea won the initial HOCC race at Red Stripe Raceway at Runaway Bay
Most of the current ISF tracks also host an HOCC event. This would give drivers one or two more races on tracks like Rapids International Raceway, Runaway Bay
Tracks like Rapids change scenery often, racing on the tracks more often allows the driver to be used to these changes when they return to the circuit with the HOCC
The side by side racing in the ISF helps HOCC drivers
gain experience against their main HOCC competition
gain experience against their main HOCC competition
John Shea's 2007 HOCC ride
The third reason is HOCC drivers will be competitive right away in the ISF, especially in the F1 division.
Another area of valuable expeiereince an HOCC driver will gain is in car set up and handling. The HOCC uses “club cars” that are randomly assigned to a driver on race night
The ISF F1 division shares the same technology as the HOCC club cars. HOCC drivers will get more seat time with the same type of cars that they race, and get a better idea of how they handle. They’ll get a better understanding of how to set up a car, which is not as important in HOCC with the introduction of club cars, however when they find the set up on their own cars in the ISF and get used to it, they will be able to tell what a good club car feels like or how to drive around a bad handling club car during the HOCC season.
The fourth reason is momentum. Drivers can enter a few ISF events over the summer. By maintaining that sharpness, they will have an advantage when the HOCC season starts because they will not have to dust off their driving skills like the drivers that sat idle over the summer.
The last reason, and the most important, is that it is fun!
HOCC drivers do not have to race the full ISF season. They can pick the tracks they want to compete on without the fear of losing a championship.
Beer and great food is served at the events.
There are some nice trophies for the winners.
Plus drivers can be themselves and make mistakes without the glare of the TV lights.
There are some nice trophies for the winners.
Plus drivers can be themselves and make mistakes without the glare of the TV lights.
Almost all of the ISF drivers currently drive in HOCC.
Most of the tracks are shared by both leagues.
The same technology is shared by both leagues as the ISF F1 cars are the same as HOCC cars.
HOCC gave birth to ISF stars Everet Kamikawa, John Shea, and Larry Rotter.
ISF gave birth to current HOCC studs Jim Iverson, Mark Walczak, Mike Fitzlaff, and Dean Strom (with all due kudos to the American Racing Alliance as well).
The stars and cars of the ISF have opened the door for their HOCC brothers and sisters and welcome them with open arms to their events.
The HOCC drivers who haven’t already done so should step through.
Steve update:
Since this article was published in 2007, several more HOCC drivers have participated in the ISF running at least three races. These drivers include: Mike Kristof, Matt Hayek, Andy Spehert, and Amy Butler. Thanks!
Steve The Wrench Ratchett
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