Kelley, Ford Capture Opening round VictoriesRosamond, Calif. (March 31, 2012) – Round 1 of the Pacific Formula F2000/Formula F Super Series Presented by Corsa Car Care was held on the fast and undulating 2.5-mile Willow Springs International Raceway near Rosamond, Calif., as part of VARA’s High Desert Challenge.
Qualifying began in the morning under sunny skies and windy conditions and when the checkered flag fell on the session, Rookie Camren Kaminsky driving the #34 PR1 Motorsports, Van Diemen, claimed the pole position for the F2000 group with a lap of 1 min. 19.358 sec. and Conner Ford, last season’s F2000 series Champion, driving 2011 Mygale/Honda for PR1 Motorsports and sponsored by JF Excavating & Grading, Western Nevada Supply and Sparco USA, set a time of 1 min. 23.702 sec. to secure the Formula F group pole. The entire F2000 group was covered by less than two seconds.
When the field set off on the pace lap for their mid-afternoon start, still in windy conditions, the pole sitter Kaminsky had spun in turn 2 and was unable to continue without assistance so the field took another lap behind the pace car as emergency crews set about getting the car moving again, now 1 lap in arrears. It was another two laps before the field was ready to take the green flag.
Bobby Kelley, another series rookie took the lead in his #21, A & B Equipment, Dave Freitas Racing, Van Diemen ahead of teammates Camden Geise and Ira Fierberg both in DFR Van Diemens. As the field entered turn 4, Fierberg spun causing avoiding action to be taken by the ensuing drivers with all getting by cleanly and at the end of the first lap it was Kelley leading Geise, Colin Wall in a PR1 Motorsports, Van Diemen and Les Phillips in his newly acquired Swiss Implants, Porterfield Racing Brakes, Van Diemen, Peter West in a third DFR sponsored by Frank Monise Motors, Van Diemen followed by Ira Fierberg, Barry I. Goldstein, CPA, Sparco, DFR, Van Diemen and Kaminsky in the
PR1, Van Diemen.
On lap three as Kaminsky had moved to challenge his teammate Wall entering turn three, there was contact between the two resulting in Wall losing his left rear suspension and wheel assembly in spectacular fashion spinning and coming to rest off course, his first race in the series now over.
Kelley continued in the lead to the end finishing 10.600 seconds ahead of Geise who had lost two positions to Phillips and West with a spin on lap 6 but recovered those positions first taking West on lap 7 and then getting by Phillips, who was looking quite racy in his new acquisition, on lap 11 to finish second. Geise also set the fastest lap of the race with a 1 min. 20.473 sec. at 111.839 mph.
Les Phillips finished a fine third and with it claimed the Masters Class win for drivers 51 and over.
In the Formula F group, Conner Ford, still acclimating himself to the new Mygale took an immediate lead at the start, which he was to never lose, finished a mere 3.873 seconds ahead of Ed Erlandson in the #8, Porter Racing, Artwork by Eli, Goodyear, Swift DB6/Ford.
Finishing in third was Michael Simpson, #7, HPD, Simpson Motorsports, High Desert Underground, DFR, Piper/Honda. Simpson was followed by Larry Bangert, #38, R&A Manufacturing, Swift DB6/Ford and Mark Keller, #66, Ivey Engine, Blackjack Racing, R&A Mfg, Keller Racing, Piper/Ford.
Qualifying for round 2 is at 9:20am and the race follows at 12:05pm.
F2000 Qualifying: 1. Camren Kaminsky (Van Diemen), 1m19.358s, 2. Bobby Kelley (Van Diemen), 1m19.483s; 3. Ira Fierberg (Van Diemen), 1m19.665s; 4. Camden Geise (Van Diemen), 1m19.726s; 5. Colin Wall (Van Diemen), 1m20.263s; 6. Les Phillips (Van Diemen), 1m20.777s; 7. Peter West (Van Diemen), 1m21.035s.
(All use Zetec/Quicksilver engines unless otherwise noted.)
F2000 Round 1 (14 laps): 1. Kelley; 2. Geise, +10.600s; 3. Phillips, +21.200s; 4. West, +32.400; 5. Kaminsky, 1 lap; 6. Fierberg, 1 lap; 7. Wall, 12 laps.
FF Qualifying: 1. Conner Ford (Mygale/Honda), 1m23.702s; 2. Ed Erlandson (Swift DB6/Ford), 1m25.229s; 3. Michael Simpson (Piper/Honda), 1m27.448s; Larry Bangert (Swift DB6/Ford), 1m32.217s; Mark Keller (Piper/Ford), 1m32.476s.
FF Round 5 (14 laps): 1. Ford; 2. Erlandson, +3.873s; 3. Simpson, 1 lap; 4. Bangert, 1 lap; Keller, 5 laps.
Margin of victory: .10.600s.
Winner’s average speed: 90.564 mph.
Fastest race lap: Geise, 1m20.473s, 111.839 mph.
Expert class winner (35-50): F2000; Fierberg.
Sierra Tire Masters class winner (over 50): F2000: Phillips.
Williams Racing Developments Hard Charger Award: Phillips.
F2000 Points: Kelley, 30; Geise, 27; Phillips, 22; West, 19; Kaminsky, 17; Fierberg, 15; Wall, 1.
FF Points: Ford, 34; Erlandson, 25; Simpson, 22; Bangert, 19; Keller, 17.
For more details go to www.pacificf2000.com or contact Les Phillips at 661-764-5333, or by email, lesrace@aol.com.
