The 2003 Race Car Club of America season opened under a very different back drop than 2002; it was called SUNNY and warm.
This is the clubs 23rd competitive season opener. This year the opening race was held on the 1.5 mile South Course sweeper circuit at Pocono International Raceway.
Oscar Pacheco picked up right where he left off last winning both the Pole Sprint and The Competition Points Race.
Pacheco who won the last 4 races of the 2002 season took his number 29 to a commanding lead from the start and never looked back. Dave Wollman, last seasons class champion raced Dan Clark for second. Returning to active club competition after sometime off was Billy Petersen in the number 14 Banshee. Petersen beat Glenn Kobza in his Wind Shadow number 6 for fourth position. Rounding out the top six was Rich Schweglier.
At the start Dan Cezar went straight on into the first turn in his Banshee, loosing valuable time to the leaders. Cezar could only recover to the 9th position at the end of the race, one lap back. On lap 13 Andy Graham while racing for 5th with Petersen and Kobza lost a wheel in the esses leading to turn 5. John Heckman and Jeff Zeller were having a fierce race for the 10th position until a broken sway bar link had Heckman Black Flagged. This gave Zeller the 10th position; Bob Lima in his Hawk and Dominick Vitale finished 7th & 8th respectively.
The Sportsman field was good with no fewer than 18 entries.
Formula Continental saw visitor to the RCCA Charlie Bilella cross the line ahead of Joe Staz.
Ambrose Buldo beat Arnie Levine to the black and white in the Tyro race. Buldo who overcame engine problems earlier in the day beat the Lola of Levine in the 24 lap main event. Buldo drove a mistake free race lead from start to finish.
The club was treated to a look at a car that has been under construction for about 2 years now, the car is a Ferrari powered Indy Lights chassis. The car is owned and driven by Vicenzo Dolgetta. The one of a kind car was built and engineered by long time RCCA supporter Formula Haus of New Rochelle, NY.
The next race for the RCCA is at the Pocono Mountain Speedway in St. Johns PA. The race originally scheduled for June 1st, has been moved one week back to June 8th, due to track scheduling. The track is known for close racing and finishes, with some of the closest finishes in the RCCA happening there.
