Rule Changes for 2009

ISF Rule Changes For 2009
by Steve Ratchett
1/30/2009

The ISF Technical Working Group met Thursday to review the rules for 2009.

No significant rule changes were made with the exception of:

1. Track owners can now decide on whether qualifying on their track will be held in one certain lane (i.e. yellow) that all drivers have to qualify in, or to let each driver decide and open up all the lanes for qualifying.

2. All four ISF divisions will continue to race on the PVT-01 tires that have been used over the last several seasons, however drivers can use stock or double flanged rims in F1, GT, and LMP. Drivers must use double flanged rims in GTP

3. The 2.4 hour endurance race will undergo some changes for 2009. Most of which are subject to further discussion however some of the changes that were approved are:
     a. Drivers can choose their own teammate before the race
     b. Two different divisions will continue to run
     c. Tyco pan chassis will continue to be used
     d. More discussion will take place as the race draws closer

4. The new megaG and the revised Tyco 440x2 Ferraris are not eligible for 2009, however with the expectation that F1 cars will be available in the next year, this could change for 2010.

5. SRT chassis are confirmed for the 2009 GT division

6. The Clevelandstone race is scheduled to be a �wet race� with more details to come

Other news bits:
1. there may be a new supplier for LMP bodies
2. resin casting is going well, however mounting the body clips is proving difficult, so other options for attaching the bodies to the chassis are going to be tried
3. The new ISF website has gotten great reviews. The TWG thanked the Devin Group and John Wiedemann for their help

ISF BIG 4 TO MEET January 29th To Finalize 2009 Rulesby Everet Kamikawa
1/29/2009

The ISF Technical Working Group will gather on January 29th to discuss rules for the 2009 ISF season.

See the discussions section for your last chance to voice ideas and opinions for the 2009 season!

Check back after the 29th to see the results of this historic meeting.

 

 

10 Wishes For 2009

10 Wishes For 2009by Steve "The Wrench" Ratchett
3/23/2009

The 2009 ISF season starts with the Rapids Invitational.
It is a historic season, the 10th one under the ISF banner.
There is a new track at Road Westallica.
Vintage racecars will make their debut on the schedule.
There is even a new website!

With the new website in mind, as my first column, here are ten things I would like to see in 2009:

10. Mark Walczak win a GTP race. He's won in everything else but can't figure out the big horsepower cars.

9. Dean Strom to win a race in any division. Anyone who has won several ARA titles needs at least one win on their ISF resume.

8. The option tire rule in F1 to cause as much consternation on the drivers as it did in 2008.

7. Corey Galbraith to win any ISF event so he can stick it in Walczak's face for all the verbal abuse heaped upon him by Walczak.

6. Another open bar at the Muskego Grand Prix.

5. Dan Margetta to win a race in GTP. Won't somebody PLEASE give him a fast car?

4. Larry Rotter win the F1 title. He's been close in several seasons. Time for fate to pay up.

3. Everet Kamikawa win the GT title. He dominated with five titles under the previous rules, and was gipped out of a 6th by rules changes. To take the first under the new rules seems like some sort of poetic justice.

2. Once. Just once. An ISF event would be attended by four Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders in their uniforms.


1. Hot nachos at both events at the Lack Track

I'm not a great prognosticator, however I'd say there is a good chance of 9 of these 10 things coming true. If hot nachos are served at Lack track events I'd be perfect!

Until later it's not bad being in the pits!
Steve "The Wrench" Ratchett

10 Wishes For the ISF in 2009

10 Wishes For the ISF in 2014
by 
Steve "The Wrench" Ratchett


The 2009 ISF season starts with the Rapids Invitational.
It is a historic season, the 10th one under the ISF banner.
There is a new track at Road Westallica.
Vintage racecars will make their debut on the schedule.
There is even a new website!

With the new website in mind, as my first column, here are ten things I would like to see in 2009:

10. Mark Walczak win a GTP race. He's won in everything else but can't figure out the big horsepower cars.

9. Dean Strom to win a race in any division. Anyone who has won several ARA titles needs at least one win on their ISF resume.

8. The option tire rule in F1 to cause as much consternation on the drivers as it did in 2008.

7. Corey Galbraith to win any ISF event so he can stick it in Walczak's face for all the verbal abuse heaped upon him by Walczak.

6. Another open bar at the Muskego Grand Prix.

5. Dan Margetta to win a race in GTP. Won't somebody PLEASE give him a fast car?

4. Larry Rotter win the F1 title. He's been close in several seasons. Time for fate to pay up.

3. Everet Kamikawa win the GT title. He dominated with five titles under the previous rules, and was gipped out of a 6th by rules changes. To take the first under the new rules seems like some sort of poetic justice.

2. Once. Just once. An ISF event would be attended by four Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders in their uniforms.


1. Hot nachos at both events at the Lack Track

I'm not a great prognosticator, however I'd say there is a good chance of 9 of these 10 things coming true. If hot nachos are served at Lack track events I'd be perfect!

Until later it's not bad being in the pits!
Steve "The Wrench" Ratchett

Deckertring Adds 2009 Official Track Mascot

Deckertring Adds Official Track Mascotby Jenna Jameson, Media Director
2/20/2009

West Allis, Wis., Feb. 20, 2009 -- While there are all kinds of critters in the forest at The Deckertring, one of the little rascals has actually made it out onto the race track itself -- "Ringo" the Raccoon, the official Deckertring track mascot.

Ringo will be entertaining children of all ages when the HO Indy Slot Car Series visits The 'Ring for the third annual running of the Deckertring Grand Prix on Thursday, March 5.

When Ringo is not roaming the race track grounds on foot entertaining fans, he jumps into his Hemi-powered buggy and hot laps out on the full race circuit!

"Ringo is a terrific addition to The Deckertring staff," said Deckertring Media Director Jenna Jameson. "We think our guests will really enjoy his crazy antics."

The Deckertring is believed to be the first HOISC Series track to have a permanent track mascot.

HOISC Series race commentator "Little" Chris Economaki said he was looking forward to meeting The 'Ring's new mascot as well.

"Raccoons are cool," Economaki stated. "I hit one with my car once though, so I hope Ringo doesn't run me over in an act of revenge. That'd be scary."

2008 ISF Season Review

ARA Turns Left And Right At 2008 Rapids 250

Kamikawa Stomps 2008 Competition At Badger

Kamikawa Stomps Competition At Badger
12/4/2008

Sweeney Stomp - Road Course at Badger Raceway
Round 7 of 16
December 4, 2008
FP QP # Driver Team Qtime Laps Status Pts TTL Pts Rnk
1 6 6 Ev Kamikawa Team Penske HO 60.148 229 1st win of the year. Heat win 53 207 4
2 5 10 Dan Margetta BMW Racing 59.375 222 Heat win, 2nd consecutive final four 43 184 7
3 11 22 Mike Kristof Vista Racing 67.164 210 Best finish of year, heat win 38 163 8
4 1 11 Mike Fitzlaff Spehert-Foyt 51.242 126 Pole, heat win, DNF death card 38 267 2
5 2 02 Mike Lack � Newman-Haas HO 54.969 113 Running, higher qualifying 30 190 6
6 3 8 Larry Rotter RS Racing Tech 55.953 113 Running 28 253 3
7 7 06 John Wiedemann � Newman-Haas HO 60.477 107 Running, Best career finish 26 156 9
8 10 27 Tom Spehert Spehert-Foyt 67.125 102 Running 24 196 5
9 9 16 Amy Butler BMW Racing 65.359 100 Running 22 132 12
10 14 9 Mark Walczak BMW Racing 84.484 99 Handling, worst finish of year 20 325 1
11 4 26 Chris Spehert Spehert-Foyt 58.719 97 Running, higher qualifying 19 155 10
12 13 5 Dean Strom RS Racing Tech 68.055 97 Running 18 123 13
13 8 20 Matt Hayek Vista Racing 63.172 94 Running 17 134 11
14 12 7 Andy Spehert Spehert-Foyt 67.633 89 Running 16 90 14

Race Information
Race Length 20 minutes
Laps/Time of Race 229 Laps
Margin Of Victory 7 Laps
Heat Winners Fitzlaff, Margetta, Kamikawa, Kristof
Fastest Lap Mike Lack - 4.055
Hard Charger Mike Kristof +8

Shea Gets 2008 Invite Tail

JOHN SHEA GETS TAIL

Wallaby Tail Trophy First for Shea Since 2004

John Shea took the win in the first F1 race to win the coveted trophy. 

It was appropriate as Shea also drives for Team Australia in HO Champ Car. 

Shea also won the GTP race.

INTERNATIONAL SPORTSCAR FEDERATION

Official Finish, Event # 2008-01-086

14th Annual Rapids Invitational

March 6, 2007

Rapids International Raceway

---

GTP Category -- 16 Minute Final
Fin. Str.
Pos. Pos. Driver Car Laps Status
 1  1 John Shea Minolta Toyota CV89 214 Running
 2 6 Larry Rotter Denso Toyota CV89 207 Running
 3 2 Everet Kamikawa Marlboro Toyota CV89 205 Running
 4 10 Dean Strom GBP Mercedes C9 104 Off
 5 3 Jim Iverson GBP Mercedes C9 120 Running
 6 5 Mike Lack Castrol Jaguar XJR9 115 Off
 7 4 Mike Fitzlaff Opus Porsche 965 112 Running
 8 9 Dan Margetta Playboy Toyota CV89 87 Off
 9 8 Nick Bartolone Toyota CV89 82 Off
 10 7 John Wiedemann Silk Cut Jaguar XJR9 77 Off
 11 11 Mark Walczak Red Bull Peugeot 905 30 Off

Fastest Qualifier -- Shea; 3.842 seconds (record).
A Main -- 1. Shea; 2. Rotter; 3. Kamikawa; 4. Strom.  
(Fastest Lap -- Shea; 3.886 seconds)
B Main -- 1. Kamikawa; 2. Strom; 3. Rotter; 4. Iverson.  
(Fastest Lap -- Iverson; 4.277 seconds)
Fast Heat -- 1. Shea; 2. Iverson; 3. Kamikawa.  
(Fastest Lap -- Shea; 3.889 seconds)
Reg. Heat -- 1. Rotter; 2. Lack; 3. Fitzlaff; 4. Wiedemann.  
(Fastest Lap -- Fitzlaff; 4.161 seconds)
Slow Heat -- 1. Strom; 2. Margetta; 3. Bartolone; 4. Walczak.  
(Fastest Lap -- Bartolone; 4.380 seconds)
Qualifying -- 1. Shea, 3.842; 2. Kamikawa, 3.864; 3. Iverson, 3.869; 4. Fitzlaff, 3.897; 
5. Lack, 3.963; 6. Rotter, 4.027; 7. Wiedemann, 4.149; 
8. Bartolone, 4.156; 9. Margetta, 4.171; 10. Strom, 4.175; 11. Walczak; No Time.

---

F1 Grand Prix Category -- 16 Minute Final
Fin. Str.
Pos. Pos. Driver Car Laps Status
 1  3 John Shea Ferrari 188 Running
 2 1 Mike Fitzlaff Jordan-Peugeot 170 Running
 3 2 Jim Iverson I-Tech-Cosworth 165 Running
 4 8 Everet Kamikawa Ferrari 127 Off
 5 5 Larry Rotter McLaren-Mercedes 46 Off
 6 4 Dean Strom I-Tech-Cosworth 105 Running
 7 9 Mike Lack Jaguar 97 Off
 8 11 Mark Walczak Williams-Toyota 67 Off
 9 10 Dan Margetta Jordan-Peugeot 58 Off
 10 7 John Wiedemann Jaguar 53 Off
 11 6 Nick Bartolone Williams-Honda 53 Off

Fastest Qualifier -- Fitzlaff; 3.933 seconds (record).
A Main -- 1. Shea; 2. Fitzlaff; 3. Iverson; 4. Kamikawa.  
(Fastest Lap -- Fitzlaff; 4.322 seconds)
B Main -- 1. Shea; 2. Iverson; 3. Kamikawa; 4. Rotter.  
(Fastest Lap -- Not Recorded)
Fast Heat -- 1. Not Contested.
Reg. Heat -- 1. Rotter; 2. Strom; 3. Wiedemann; 4. Lack.  (Fastest Lap -- Not Recorded)
Slow Heat -- 1. Kamikawa; 2. Lack; 3. Walczak; 4. Margetta.  
(Fastest Lap -- Lack; 4.607)
Qualifying -- 1. Fitzlaff, 3.933; 2. Iverson, 3.965; 3. Shea, 4.019; 4. Strom, 4.082; 
5. Rotter, 4.146; 6. Bartolone, 4.175; 7. Wiedemann, 4.176; 8. Kamikawa, 4.273; 
9. Lack, 4.278; 10. Margetta, 4.400; 11. Walczak; No Time.

 
 

ISF 2008 Preview

The Pits by Steve Ratchett
The 9th season of ISF competition starts on March 6th with the 12 annual Rapids Invitational. As the ISF comes close to celebrating it’s first decade, the competition is set to be even more competitive as rookies and veterans battle in familiar cars on familiar tracks. It is that familiarity that should be the basis of the closeness of the ISF competition.  

Will it be title number six for Shea in GTP? GTP should once again be a close race to see who can topple the Minolta machine of John Shea. I firmly believe that the king of GTP will win title number 6, however there will be two challengers who will make it tough and even steal the title away. The first is Everet Kamikawa. He won 4 GTP races and it was only a difference in speed on the fast tracks at the end of the year where he lost the title to Shea. Testing has shown that he has clawed some more speed out of his steeds, whether it is enough to keep up with Shea’s new horses is another matter. Mark Walczak is the third contender for the crown. Romping his way to the Champ Car title after winning the LMP and F1 titles in 2007, Walczak is free of the bonds of the Great Big Pictures team and now has full backing from Red Bull. Switching from the open cockpit World Sports Car body style back to closed cockpit GTP might be something to get used to and could hamper his efforts, however he will have the benefit of having his own testing facility so that problem should be negated soon into the season. The biggest hurdle for him to win the title is he has to win his first GTP race first. Jim Iverson should also provide a solid challenge for the title and is my dark horse to win. The only variable is that the Grey Fox’s schedule might keep him from more events that he intends and that could hurt him in the standings. Mike Fitzlaff will also challenge for race wins. Fast and dominate in the first half of events, he just has to finish the second half. 

I believe this will be a breakout year for Fitzlaff as the reigning GT champion he should have the confidence to raise his game. Larry Rotter had an off year in 2007 compared to his championship of 2006, however the batteries seem to be recharging after several years of domination in Champ Car and ISF competition and the winners circle should welcome him back with open arms. Rotter also seemed to be caught out a little technically by Shea and Kamikawa in 2007. That should be corrected this year. The GTP competition should also be more intense with the additions of rookies Mike Lack and Nick Bartolone for a full season. The ex-rc racers are excited to start the season. Lack will be flying the Castrol Jaguar colors and teamed with 2007 ISF rookie of the year John Wiedemann in the Silk Cut Jaguar. Lack has plenty of speed, and the understated Wiedemann has the racecraft to make some noise or at least make it tough on the others. Bartolone should also be fast as his win in the 2.4 hour endurance event showed, however what team he will be driving for is still up in the air at the moment. Dan Margetta has had two of the best looking cars (Playboy and Crown Royale) the last two years, however no wins to show for it. Will that change in 2008? Lets hope so as a Margetta win would be enjoyed by the paddock, except for maybe his rival Dean Strom. Strom was frustrated with the car prep of the Great big Pictures team and cut back to a part-time schedule. He has proven fast and the split of the GBP team may help him as the team will only be preparing two cars rather than three. Chad Sorce, Andy Spehert and Amy Butler are also expected to enter a few races in 2008 but nothing is confirmed as of press time. 

The Williams Team of Mark Walczak and Jim Iverson is no more... The F1 division is at least as popular, if not more so than the GTP division, with the ISF fans and drivers alike. The championship picture here is wide open. Mark Walczak is back with Williams to defend his championship, however his teammate will not as Jim Iverson has struck out on his own and formed his own team, of which name and colors haven’t been announced, however expect Iverson to carry on the tradition of Brabham, McLaren, and Gurney and race and win in his own car. Walczak will find it tougher to repeat in this field than other champions as the field is deep with winners. Walczak usually has a very fast car, however with the mixture of tracks in the ISF the combination of good runs on the twisty circuits and wins on the fast circuits will take him to championship two. Larry Rotter is my pick to win the F1 title this year. Rotter won 5 races in 2007 but came up short in his title quest again. Sooner or later Rotter will stop being a bridesmaid and win this division so why not this year? John Shea will again lead a two car effort for Ferrari and should get back to his winning ways, although both he and his teammate Everet Kamikawa have had their struggles in the past two years. Kamikawa has actually won more races than Shea in that time, however the consistent finishes in last place hurt him. Kamikawa claims to be more focused this year. If so that will make this division even more fun to watch. As the disastrous switch to Renault last year, Mike Fitzlaff and Dan Margetta are both firmly in the Jordan camp. Fitzlaff will rival Walczak for fastest car at any circuit and he will close out races in winners circle. 

Margetta has quietly won several F1 races over the last three years. If he runs a full schedule he should do well in the championship. Dean Strom is a driver that potentially could win a race this year. There are several circuits that he does well at, especially the Deckertring and Franklinland. It is not knows if he will be driving cars prepped by Iverson or Walczak, however the split of the Williams team should help as once again it will bring his equipment to more importance within the team. An interesting team to watch will be the Jaguar team of Mike Lack and John Wiedemann. This is the division they have the most experience in and they were able to power the Toro Roso team to several good finishes. The question is whether they can hit the set up consistently enough to win some heat races and poles. Nick Bartolone is a wild card in that people know he is fast, however he hasn’t announced what team he will be driving for at this time and with only three races under his belt he could learn really fast or become acquainted with the walls at the tracks in several instances.  

Corvette will once again be the big player in GT Even more of a cloudy championship picture is the GT class. Defending champion Mike Fitzlaff will again have fast cars and there is no doubt he will be in contention to repeat. Repeating is what Everet Kamikawa has in mind as he feels he got screwed from winning his sixth championship. With the potential retirement of the Tyco GT chassis looming in the future, Ferrari will want to go out with a bang. Red Bull has also stepped up their program with a full year sponsorship of Mark Walczak’s Ferrari F40 and they will be disappointed if he doesn’t win his share of races, although there is little chance of that. The factory Corvette program with john Shea and Jim Iverson was supposed to dominate the division in 2007. That didn’t happen. Shea claims to have found the problem to his troubles after a post season test, will it be enough to beat the others is another matter. Will Iverson running his own team be a distraction from being a part of GM’s factory team where he doesn’t have control? Dan Margetta will be back in an Opus Racing Corvette and should have the speed to win. Larry Rotter will likely be back in the Toyota camp after being with them over the last several years. They made strides in 2007 and the task will be to see if they can step it up for 2008. Other drivers have yet to announce their programs as of this writing.  

The runaway LMP champion should repeat in 2008 LMP made a splash in 2007 as a division that was racey and fun, once people accepted the fact that Mark Walczak’s Accura would blitz the field, ala Peugot in the European LeMans series. Iverson’s Dome-Judd and Larry Rotter’s Totyota LMP should challenge for the lead and wins. Strom’s Audi might make a splash here and there. KIA and Tamiya are due to be back. Beyond that there are rumors that Everet Kamikawa will actually paint his car. 

The season is close at hand! Lets race! 

Steve "The Wrench" Ratchett 

 

2007 ISF Season Review Movie

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