2014 ISF Changes

As a journalist it is always critical to have sources you can trust.
This is a letter sent to ISF participants by the commissioner.
It is reprinted here.
Once again it is good to be...
In the Pits!
Steve "The Wrench" Ratchett 

Hi friends, racers, track owners,

When John and I had the idea to start the ISF in 2000 it was because we wanted to hang out with friends and have fun with a hobby we all enjoy while talking racing.
Thanks to you that mission has been accomplished over the years.
Now the ISF is facing a situation that makes continuing this tradition tough.
 
That situation is life. Stuff happens. People get families, kids, new jobs, move away, develop other interests, and just have things get in the way of what has been a Thursday night tradition for the last 13 years (or more for many of us).
As you recall just a few years ago the ISF had 8-9 full time drivers and 4-6 part time drivers.
This pool of friends resulted in fields of 10-12 on race night.
Life happens.
 
We lost several icons of the league in a short period of time, plus several of us have moved to part-time status.
Those who have joined us over the years either stopped coming after their first race (usually I heard from them that they didn't think they could ever compete with us since we've been doing this for years),
or just disappeared after several races without a trace.
This has knocked fields down to four at most races and six on a good night.
This has frustrated all of us, and some of us to the point where they didn't see the point of holding races anymore or caring if postponed races were rescheduled or not.
I can understand that feeling.

For me getting together and racing with you is something I really look forward to these days.
As life has gotten complicated with family, work, laundries, Thursday nights racing with my friends and talking racing has been sacred to me
because I'm not a business owner, sales guy, or any of the other roles I play in life. I'm just me and for a few hours I can escape into a land of play.
As Spock said in the "Shore Leave" episode of Star Trek, "the more complicated the mind, the more the simple need for play."
 
Yes, I understand these are plastic toy cars.
Hanging out with you guys and enjoying this hobby is something that my family always encouraged me to continue and they enjoy the benefits of the ISF as well.

While the league has hit a rough patch and it might be easy to just fold it into memory lane, I'm  not ready to give it and Thursday nights up yet.

What I'm proposing are some simple changes and after I explain them I'm going to ask you to answer three questions for me.

First the changes to the series:
1. season cut down from 18 races to 6-9 events with each track getting one race
(If someone wants to hold a second date that is an option depending on how many want to host)
2. races will be run the week before Indyslotcar races. This means no one has to prepare basements/tracks for several races at different times of the year.
Tracks will also have been tested for the following weeks ISC event (Thanks Fitz for this idea)
3. Clarification that no one has to provide meal. Drinks would still be great.
IF you want to provide a meal that is up to you but please make drivers aware of that before time.

All the rules the same  for racing except the following:
1. Any rookie driver gets unlimited de-slots in heat races, and B-main
(after every fourth de-slot they will serve a time penalty just like veteran drivers)
2. Floor rule stays in effect for rookies in B-main and final.
3. Rookie Drivers get 16 de-slots in final
4. At the end of their rookie season, or eighth race whichever comes later, the veteran drivers vote on if they are no longer a rookie (thanks JW for this idea)
5. Drivers that have rookie status revoked by veteran drivers receive four extra -per heat and finals for second season only
(no matter if they run once or the whole season)
6. Once a driver completes 16 races or their second season, whichever comes first, they receive the same amount of de-slots as veteran drivers
7. Drivers that return to the league but have more than 16 previous starts (i.e. Cory or Nic)
get an extra four de-slots in the heats and finals for the first eight races in the season in which they return or
total of eight races over two seasons if they are part-time racers
8. Drivers who have been away from the series for three years or more and have more than 40 starts (i.e. Chad Sorce or Jim Iverson),
receive an extra four de-slots in all heat races and finals for one-off races or for a total of five races in their first season if they are returning as full or part-time drivers

The above changes should make it easier for rookies to compete and get seat time and allow someone like Iverson to be competitive in a one off race or someone like Sorce who could decide to race a full season to make up for lost time.

We're getting to the end of this long message.

Ultimately I'd like to get back to 4-6 full time drivers and 4-6 part-time drivers so that any given race we have 6-8 drivers for this upcoming season.
If we hit those numbers and have a fun season then we can worry about the following year.
Here are the questions that I would like you to please answer for me:
1. If you are a track owner please look at the schedule and tell me if you still want to host a race and if that date works for you
2. Please tell me what your commitment is in terms of races you'll attend in the IDEAL world for this coming year only
    a. full time 6-9 races
    b. part-time 4-6 races
    c. just for fun 2-4 races
3. Is there anyone you can think of, either a rookie or former driver, that you will invite to race with the ISF this season? (thanks Mike Lack for this idea)

Please get back to me with changes, questions on the new rules, or comments on anything I've said.
You are the ones that made and make this series fun.
I look forward to hearing from you.

Option Tire to Stay in 2014 for F1

F1 Option Tire To Stay in 2014 for F1
by Steve Ratchett


The ISF Technical Working Group voted on Thursday to keep the option tire rule in the F1 division for 2014.

Drivers will again need to change tires within one minute of the halfway point of all heat races and the final.

"There were passionate people for and against the issue and it turns out that drivers were no longer split 50-50 on the issue like they were several years ago," explained ISF Commissioner Everet Kamikawa. "The one thing everyone seems to agree on is that it made a huge talking point during the season and it did factor in the outcome of several races. When we got rid of it a few years ago people actually missed it. We decided to keep it for 2014 because the F1 division is based on Formula One and since they have an option tire rule, we thought we would try it for another year."

 The top shows the height of the tires, stock Mega G, PVT-01 and PVT-02. The bottom shows the height of the sidewalls. Since all three tires provide different amounts of grip, the handling of the cars will be different for all of the drivers.

Ev Back to Penske Indycar in 2014

Penske Racing announced that the former Penske Driver has returned and will once again drive the #12 Verizon Indycar in the 2014 Indyslotcar championship.

"Having Everet back in the fold is like finding our favorite old t-shirt at the bottom of the drawer," said Timmy Cindric team manager of Penske H.O. "You forgot about it and haven't worn it for some time, but when you try it on it still fits and still makes you look cool. Everet hasn't won a championship in almost 15 years and hasn't won a race in Penske colors for 18 months, but he's still a name and someone the fans love. I'm sure he'll represent Penske well once again."


Kamikawa most recently drove for Penske for a few races during the 2011-2012 season where he took a win while splitting time with Team Spehert (where he won on the debut with at Lack Track) and his own team of Super Kamikawa, with whom he won the 2012 Indy 500.


In 2013 Kamikawa drove for Panther racing where he had best place finishes of second twice (he argues he really won the 2012 Turkey Trot in a close finish with Dan Margetta).
Kamikawa has 34 career wins and 31 pole positions and is a two time champion. He has driven for several teams in his 20 year career, most famously teamed with John Shea at Ferrari.

Kamikawa has driven for:
Mobil One Racing (two starts), Benetton (two starts), Ferrari, Miller Lite Racing (one start), Target Chip Ganassi, Wallshot/RuSport, Team Australia, Team Penske, Team Spehert, Super Kamikawa, Panther Racing

Ev Leaves Ferrari!

I saw the following interview and thought Hell had frozen over.
I couldn't believe my ears.
Everet Kamikawa not racing for Ferrari in F1 or Sportscars.
That is like Laverine without Shirley.
The Facts of Life without Mrs. Garrett and
"AfterMASH."
None of them as good as the original.
Apparently Kamikawa's disgust with Ferrari's decision to hire Fernando Alonso has led him to follow his long time teammate John Shea's lead and leave the Prancing Horse.
What is next?
Abbott leaving Costello?
Batman telling Robin to bugger off?
All I know that Ferrari losing the driver with the second most wins in team history, behind Michael Schumacher, must be a sign of trouble for Ferrari. No ISF replacement has been named. Can you blame them? What driver would want to follow Kamikawa's legacy at the team?

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

Kamikawa Turtle Trot Triumph 2013

Kamikawa Turtle Trot Triumph 2013
Fitzlaff Wins LMP
Points Race Tightens

Everet Kamikawa, driving for his own Super Kamikawa team, added his name to the winners list in the Mega G ISF era at the 2013 Turtle Trot.Kamikawa only qualified fifth on the night, however dominant wins in the heat race and B Main that some accused him of sandbagging.

"Everyone knows my cars are set up for race trim rather than qualifying. I've never been a good qualifier in this league so I have to work harder in my races. Tonight it all came together," said the charismatic driver.
 

 Kamikawa was able to turn faster laps in race trim than he did in his qualifying for long segments of the race and at one point built up a huge lead. Midway through the final segment handling disappeared and Kamikawea's lead was cut down by the fast pace and hard charging John Wiedemann, Mike Fitzlaff, and Mark Walczak.

Fitzlaff paced Kamikawa for the opening segment of the race. Some quick offs reduced his pace and allowed John Wiedemann to close the gap with Walczak off the pace. After pit stops Widemann continued his hard charge and took over second and was rapidly closing the now slowing Kamikawa. Walczak's car came to life and he charged to put pressure on Fitzlaff for third. Fitzlaff woluld turn up the wick and keep his podium spot. Widemann turned up the wick too catch Kamikawa. With nothing to lose he tried to catch the leader. Meanwhile Kamikawa took what he could from his car, which later was found to have a broken front wing, and controlled the pace to take the win.

 

 
The LMP points battle tightened and flip flopped as Mike Fitzlaff took a close win after a race long fight with Widemann, Larry Rotter, and Mark Walczak.
The heat races and final featured a lot of rough driving, which at one point lead to Dan Margetta calling the field a "bunch of hacks!" After a first half full of carnage the second half featured clean driving and Fitzlaff's speed pulled him in front to stay. Fitzlaff's win made a tight points race tighter as he, Wiedemann and Kamikawa are all knotted at the top within a few points.
The next ISF event is the Rapids Grand Prix. 

 

INTERNATIONAL SPORTSCAR FEDERATION
Official Finish, Event # 2013-05
Turtle Creek Turtle Trot
June 20, 2013
Turtle Creek RacewayPark

F1 Grand Prix Category -- 16 Minute Final
Pos. Driver Car
1. Everet Kamikawa-Super Kamikawa  F1
2. John Wiedemann-Jaguar
3. Mike Fitzlaff-Jordan Peugot
4. Mark Walczak-Red Bull Renult

5. Larry Rotter-McLaren Merceedes
6. Mike Lack-Jaguar
7. Dan Margetta-Red Bull Renult

Fastest Qualifier -- John Wiedemann
B Main --Everet Kamikawa

Heat Winners -- Everet Kamikawa

LMP Category -- 12 Minute Final
Pos. Driver Car
1. Mike Fitzlaff-Nissan LMP
2. John Wiedemann-Jaguar LMP
3. Larry Rotter-Audi R15
4. Mark Walczak-Peugot 5. Mike Lack-Jaguar LMP
6. Dan Margetta-Peugot
7. Everet Kamikawa Audi R15

Fastest Qualifier --Mike Fitzlaff
B Main --John Wiedemann

Heat Winners -- Mike Fitzlaff, Larry Rotter

Fitzlaff Sweeps 2013 Muskego GP Events

Fitzlaff Sweeps 2013 Muskego GP Events
Win in F1 first for 2013

Badgerland Raceway to be repaved

Mike Fitzlaff got a rocky 2013 season back on track with double wins at the Muskego Grand Prix.
Taking advantage of the long straights, one of the fastest drivers in ISF History snapped John Wiedemann's F1 winning streak at four, then added a win in the LMP division which has been his personal playground the last several seasons.

Badgerland Raceway has long been a favorite stop on the tour. This event was no different. 
At first it looked as if it would be John Wiedemann's night again as the runaway points leader swept to the F1 pole position and a win in the first heat. The long wait between the end of the first heat and the final race turned out to be too much as the weather came in and cooled down the track. JW's car no longer hugged the track quite as well and he would go on to finish third on the night.

Fitzlaff took advantage of the track conditions and steely nerves to avoid all trouble and take the win over the returning Red Bull of Mark Walczak. Everet Kamikawa took fourth with Dan Margaretta and Dean Strom completing the top six. John Wiedeann's points lead "shrunk" to 25 over Fitzlaff.

The LMP main event took a twist when for the second time in ISF history a driver had to withdraw from the event after making it to the final race. Ironically in both cases it was Mark Walczak. He took wins in the heat race and B-Main only to be forced to withdraw after the discovery of a broken header when the car got back to the pits and the crew didn't have enough time to fix it. 
Eliminating a tough competitor made the race interesting as first Kamikawa, then Wiedemann, and finally Fitzlaff traded turns at the top with Fitzlaff able to seal the deal in a close finish.
Kamikawa's third place finish pushed him into the points lead over Wiedemann.

A big announcement was that Badgerland would be repaved during the off season. The former swamp the track was built on has been wearing unstable causing large gaps and seems in the pavement on the straights.

This track damage was responsible for damage to the LMP cars of Dan Margetta and Dean Strom. On two separate occasions had to pit their Peugots in order to fix damage and removing each from contention for the win.

The next stop for the ISF is the popular Turtle Trot at Raven Raceway.

INTERNATIONAL SPORTSCAR FEDERATION
Official Finish, Event # 2013-04
Muskego GP
May 18, 2013
Badgerland Raceway

F1 Grand Prix Category -- 16 Minute Final
Pos. Driver Car
1. Mike Fitzlaff-Jordan Peugot
2. Mark Walczak-Red Bull Renult
3. John Wiedemann-Jaguar
4. Everet Kamikawa-Super Kamikawa  F1

5. Dan Margetta-Red Bull Renult
6. Dean Strom-Williams Renault 

Fastest Qualifier -- John Wiedemann
B Main --Everet Kamikawa

Heat Winners -- Mark Walczak

LMP Category -- 12 Minute Final
Pos. Driver Car
1. Mike Fitzlaff-Nissan LMP
2. John Wiedemann Peugot
3. Everet Kamikawa Audi R15
4. Dan Margetta-Peugot
5. Dean Strom-Audi R15
6. Mark Walczak-Peugot

Fastest Qualifier --Mike Fitzlaff
B Main --Mark Walczak

Heat Winners -- Mike Fitzlaff, Mark Walczak

Mark Walczak Interview 2013 Pt. 2

If you were to mentor a young driver, what advice would you give?
Do as I say not as I do. Not everybody can copy my driving style. They need to race the track and that's it. Keep it close for the first half of the race and see where you stand come the second half. If your car is good enough that's when you push it.  Oh that and if you see me in your mirrors you better move over cuz I'm coming through.

 
Mike Lack, Mike Fitzlaff, John Wiedemann, and John Shea are Mark's biggest rivals

Who has been your biggest rival on the track in Indyslotcar? In ISF?

Myself. With the talent that keeps stepping up in these series, I have to keep pushing myself to constantly improve my game. Granted my results in ISF haven't been up to par lately, but I also attribute that to missing alot of those events and not as much seat time with those cars. If your looking for names in Indyslotcar the last few years its been Fitzlaff, Lack and this year Wiedemann. He REALLY stepped his game up. I think he will be the guy to end my streak of titles. In ISF it was always John Shea. That guy could do just about anything in a car.  He always waited for his last lap to bump me off pole, and he knew it got to me. 

It has been noticed you win more consistently in Indyslotcar than ISF, yet you are a three time champion, any reason for more success in one league than the other?    
Its been quite a few years since I've actually put in a full season in ISF, But I've always been a threat to win at any race I've shown up to.  If I were to run a full schedule again I have no doubt in my mind I would have a few more championships.

Dan Margetta and Everet Kamikawa are two original Indyslotcar veterans
that haven't beaten Walczak to the championship

Dan Margetta, Everet Kamikawa, Tom Spehert, Chris Spehert have been racing in the series the longest. Besides beating you, what advice would you give them to win the championship? 
LOL. Like Dan Tommy Kendall said at the HO Indy 500 after my 5th title, there is a reason I drive the Target car. Because I have the Target set squarely on my back.  I really don't think there is much advice to give them. Margetta has been in the series the longest and has seen drivers come and go. He knows what he's doing. If he really set his mind to it he would win multiple titles. I think him getting robbed of one a few years back left a sour taste in his mouth.  Kamikawa is a great racer in his own right. We may not always see eye to eye when were racing, but he's won back to back titles, and you have to respect that. The Speherts unfortunately have seen dwindling starts over the last few seasons.

What music do you like to listen to while racing and why do you wear headphones?

It all really depends on the track. Some tracks you need to get pumped up and I turn on a Metallica, Nickleback or something like that. Others like Raven where you have to keep your composure I'll mellow it out a bit, and of course you can't go to Stardust Raceway with out listening to Elvis and Sinatra.  The headphones go back to something Iverson had pointed out to me. Under our old qualifying format we had 12 laps cumulative time to set the field. Well each time you came off it took between 2-3 seconds to be put back on track. I found that if I put the i-pod on and got into a zone before starting I actually ran better. My qualifying and race results greatly improved after that.

What are you most proud of accomplishing and what do you still want to accomplish in both leagues? 
Wow. Tough call. I think in the ISF it would be that I was the first driver to win back to back Rapids Invites. In Indyslotcar I would say now being the all-time leader in wins is huge.  As far as left to accomplish, in the Indy series I need the 6th title, to be the all time winningest champion would be amazing. Having won 5 to tie Cianciola is just.......... I really don't have the words to explain it.  

Is there a quality about you, your driving style, car set up, or race craft that you think you do better than others?

No I really don't think there is. I just make the most of the practice sessions were allotted and find the edge of the envelope. I know then when and where to push cars.

What is your favorite memory all time in ISF and all time in Indycar?

In ISF I would say my dominant year in LMP. I started from the pole in every race and won every race, well except the final race that year at HORA. I qualified 1st, but got a phone call and had to leave before the race started. There is no doubt in anybody mind that I would have won that race too.  The car was just so lightning quick I was way ahead of everybody even in race pace.  In Indyslotcar there are just too many, building a car for Dan Margetta to win his 1st HO Indy 500, my first win. Giving my back-up car to Iverson for him to win the Ho Indy 500 and claim his first season title. My 500 win, first title, being the first to win 3 consecutive titles, winning 5 consecutive to tie Cianciola.

 If you could choose any driver in either league that no longer participates to come back and race against for a full season who would it be and why? Who would you want for a teammate? 
Wow, that's a tough call. So many good drivers that have retired and or moved away. Iverson, Cianciola, Shea, Rotter. I really can't choose just one. I'd honestly love to race them all again.  Well they all would add their own thing to the team. Again there its hard to decide. Iverson and I dominated the series when we were together. Lets just say I'd be lucky to team up with any of them.

You also raced stock cars in the American Racing Alliance (ARA) for several seasons. Any thoughts about that series you want to share?
That was defiantly a fun series. a complete change running the tin tops. I was lucky enough to end John Shea's reign as the big dog in the heavy metal class and continue to hold that title until the series unfortunately folded, which ranks up there for me accomplishment wise. I was luck enough to win races in all four classes with multiple championships.

Anything else you want to ad?
No I think I've rambled on too long for some of your readers. LOL. I just hope it provides a small glimpse into my racing life.  Thanks for the time Steve.

Thank you Mark. Sometimes the Washington Generals beat the Harlem Globetrotters. Mark sometimes loses a race, however like that famous basketball team, his league dominance looks set to continue for a long time.

Until next time...It's not bad being in the pits!

Steve The Wrench Ratchett

Mark Walczak Interview 2013 Pt. 1

Mark Walczak recently won his fifth Indyslotcar championship, which ties him for the most championships with series founder Phil Cianciola, and more impressively he has won them all in a row. He is Indyslotcar's all time victory leader and has put together a string of dominance not seen in any racing series. With the target of being the champion square on his back for the past many seasons, other drivers have tried to knock him off his throne to no avail.

Fast. Hard charging. Never relenting. These are some of the things you have to keep in mind if you are an opposing driver and see him in your mirrors. What is the secret to his success?

I was able to ask him before the recent Indyslotcar banquet.

This is the first time I've been able to interview him in this exclusive.

I think you'll find his answers thoughtful and worthy of a champion.

It is fair to say the early years of your Indycar career were marked with lots of inconsistencies not unlike other drivers. Was there an event where it suddenly all came together for you and you haven't looked back since? 

Tough call. I can see two spots for that. The first being my rookie year. I was trailing Phil Cianciola at HORA by 10 laps at the halfway point of the race, and at that time 10 races into the season he hadn't missed a final. Well I just got into a zone and clicked off laps and knocked him out of the finals for the first time that year. It gave me the confidence to know that I could run with "the big boys". The second was the following year at the Turkey Trot.  I started from the pole and dominated in getting my first win. After that with Jim Iverson's tutelage I haven't looked back.

Phil Cianciola is the Indyslotcar series founder

So like other drivers you held Phil as the "gold standard" to try and beat and once you did that it gave you the confidence to beat anyone? 
Well it wasn't just Phil. I had

followed the series the previous season,and that was the season off "Rottertude", so I knew if I could hang with and beat those two I could do just about anything.

 Jim Iverson was Walczak's teammate and mentor

Related to the first question, was there some advice given to you by Jim Iverson or others that helped you change into the dominant force you are today?  

If I gave you the answer to that question everybody would know my secret.  LOL

Okay. Fair enough. Let me ask this way so you can give answers without revealing your secret:

1. Did Jim give you multiple pieces of advice that changed your fortunes around or was it one major point? 
Since he was able to watch what I was doing from an outside perspective for the first half of my rookie year, when he and Phil Cianciola split up and I joined the team there were multiple things we worked on.

2. Was is something with your race craft or with your mental state or just a racing philosophy? 
Honestly I feel it was a little bit of everything.  Like Jim says I was the hardest working man in the series. I always paid attention to the other drivers, and listened to what ever advice I could get from them.  Just watching the other drivers for a while I could start to see their weaknesses, and how to use it against them. 

3. Did he tell you to model or copy another drivers approach or use as an example and if so who was that driver? 
No. He always mentioned to race the track within my own abilities. You really can't copy another drivers approach, because what works for me won't necessarily work for other drivers.

Is there something about these cars that suits your driving style or have you just found the limit at where you can take these cars?

Everybody has a different driving style. With track time comes the knowledge of the tracks themselves. Where you can and can't push the car. Where I can drive it deeper into a corner or where to ease into the corner and drive hard out of it. There are places on tracks that I will go full throttle that other drivers wont even dare try it.

Walczak's GTP ISF car flying off the track. It isn't always victories... Based on that answer did the extra seat time in the ISF at the beginning of your career help you in Indyslotcar? 
Oh with out a doubt. Even though they were run using different cars, the more seat time you got at a track the better off you were. I could transfer some of the information back and forth between the F1 cars and the Indy cars.  It defiantly helped with the learning curve.

Does the fact you are younger than most competitors make a difference?

No not really.  I think it all really comes done to my driving style. You see guys out there like Iverson before he retired and Rotter a few weeks ago in semi-retirement just go out there and dominate.  There are tracks that are suited to my driving style like a Rapids or a Deckertring  and of course Walczy World, and there are a few that I've had to change my style like a Raven, the Mini-Mile, Stardust and to a smaller extent Bayside now Badger Raceway

Look for part two of my interview with Mark Walczak.

Until next time...It's not bad being in the pits!

Steve The Wrench Ratchett

Jim Iverson=Indycar Hall of Famer

Jim Iverson, the three time ISF F1 Champion and two time Indyslotcar champion was inducted into the Indyslotcar hall of fame in 2013. Dan Margetta was also the winner of the prestigious Austin Award. Congratulations Jim and Dan! 
Steve The Wrench Ratchett

Click above for a highlight of Jim's Indyslotcar career

To see Dan margetta's award winning work click above and it

starts just after the "best livery" award

Why IndySlotCar Drivers Should Try the ISF

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.

-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 Mark Walczak and Dan Margetta and Larry Rotter.
 

 Champion Jim Iverson got his HOCC start by first racing in the ISF when HOCC
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 

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. He had raced on the track 6 times before in various ISF cars and knew the circuit very well. Mark Walczak trashed the field at the Deckertring for the same reason.

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, Decketring, Bayside, Southshore Speedway, Raven Raceway, and Turtle Creek. Those tracks account for half of the HOCC schedule. A driver who knows where the tricky spots and the passing spots on these tracks has an advantage when the HOCC event at that track takes place. Since the ISF does not require drivers to commit to a full season, HOCC drivers can choose to race on just these tracks to gain experience for the HOCC season.

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

 

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.

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