Carpenter and Kofod crowned Honda East Coast H4 Co-Champions, Zimmermann finishes the Championship in 2nd !

I really don’t know where to begin. It was a wild and woolly weekend with so many issues and obstacles.

It all started with NASA’s noise concerns two weeks ago. All three Integra’s (Kofod, Carpenter, Zimmermann) showed up at Summit with race mufflers and partially installed Supertraps.

First practice session I was shooting gas out of the driver’s side of the car. We couldn’t figure out where the gas was coming from. Then in qualifying, all three cars were doing it. This alerted some other HC folks to the possibility of too much heat near the fuel tank which was causing extreme pressure build up and forcing gas out the fuel cap.

We installed heat shields near the exhaust and then drilled holes in the gas cap hoping to relieve some pressure. The heat shields worked but the holes in the gas cap backfired on us.

Ian got pole for Saturday’s race and I got second so both cars were on the front row. After some shuffling around with Dave B.’s blazing fast H2 car and Phil Phillips H3 car in T1, by the second lap Ian and I were back front fighting for the championship.

However, fuel was gushing out of both our cars at an incredible rate. I spent the first 5 laps glued to Ian bumper but had to turn on my windshield wipers. In the carousel and T10 I couldn’t see a thing except Ian’s bumper. I made two attempts to pass in T1 but couldn’t get it done.

Finally on lap 7 I got a huge run on Ian going into T3 and we went through side by side but I got him at the exit. For the next two laps Ian spent time racing blind as my fuel shot all over his windshield. On lap 9 or so Ian started dropping back a few car lengths due to fuel starvation.

I finished 1st and Ian held on to 2nd place. After the race I realized we were lucky to be alive and that we should have been black-flagged at the start. I couldn’t see any fuel coming from my car but reports said that both cars were gushing fuel out at a rapid rate. We were at least 10 or more car lengths ahead of anyone else so possibly this played a factor in their reluctance to black flag us. The powers that be were notified of the issue and decided to let us continue to battle for the title.

Sunday we had the problem solved and Ian and I resumed our battle for the title. In practice I waited until the field went out to get clear track and ripped of my “perfect” lap to ensure I would start near the front of the grid for qualifying. The fuel issue had been solved.

If I got pole I was H4 Champion, if Ian got pole the title would be decided during the race. Whoever won the Sunday race would be H4 Champion if Ian got pole.
I was foaming at the mouth come qualifying time having ripped a 1:27.4 in practice, half a second faster than either Ian or I had ever managed at Summit. The car was hooked up and ready to go and I had clear track for qualifying.

On the second lap an incident occurred in front of Ian in T10 and he had to lift off and spun through the gravel trap, the grass and up onto the embankment where the car ended up flipping. Session was red flagged and then canceled.

Ian got out of the car and was unhurt which was a huge relief to everyone. At this stage no one quite knew what would happen about Sunday’s qualifying times and start positions for the race but that was the furthest thing from anyone’ mind at this stage.

At some point later in the morning it was decided that qualifying would be determined by the previous days qualifying. This meant Ian had pole on Sunday and the crucial 5 points putting us dead even again on points and wins (5 each).

After much deliberation, despite much advice from others that the car didn’t look bad and could be raced, Ian decided that he wouldn’t feel comfortable taking the car out given the impact from qualifying. At this stage many were congratulating me for the H4 title, which at this stage wasn’t really important having seen a close friend and competitor involved in a potentially serious accident.

Ian and I discussed various different options for more than an hour. The bottom line was that neither of us wanted the Championship to be decided in this manner. Ian’s did not go off the track due to his own doing. He was merely at the wrong place at the wrong time. Some people would say “that’s racing”.

Further discussion brought up the possibility of Ian driving another H4 car possibly Zimmermann’s. I’ll let Ian comment on what led him to decide against this course of action, but after much deliberation between Ian and I we agreed that we wanted the title to be decided on the track not through his misfortune in qualifying. I decided that I would not apply Sunday’s result to the “best 10 finishes” leaving us tied for points and wins.

Some may be scratching their heads at why I might agree to this and there are several reasons. First and foremost Andrew, Ian and I have become very close friends over the season in addition to being fierce H4 competitors.

Second of all, Ian and I both put everything we had into this championship in terms of time, money and driving. If you look over the past three East Coast race weekends. Ian and I have finished all six races in 1st or 2nd. The amazing part has been how close the racing has become. Over the past six qualifying sessions and six races, neither of us has run a fastest lap more than 2/10ths per second faster than the other in either the dry or the rain. Of the six races, the outcome in five of those races was decided on the last or next to last lap.

And third and foremost, Ian helped me get to this stage in the Championship by fixing my car on numerous occasions. Those of you who know me, know my technical and mechanical ability is about zero. I barely know a spark plug from a drain plug. At CMP first race weekend of the season, Ian fixed a crucial engine problem that allowed me to take my first two H4 wins of the season. Had he not been there to help I would not have raced, let alone won. Same thing at VIR two months later when he spent 4 hours working on my car and missed half his qualifying to get me out on the track, knowing we were both fighting for a title.

Throughout the season he fixed at least a dozen issues. Even down to the last weekend he helped fix my car along with his and Andrew’s. Ian and Andrew formed their team together before the HC season started. I didn’t know either of them and was running my Integra by myself. Two weeks before CMP my SCCA teammate and mechanic decided he could not devote any time to serving as my mechanic at HC race weekends due to SCCA commitments. I had no mechanic the entire season but Ian pitched in a helping hand to fix my problems even though I was not a part of Team Hankook in theory.

And lastly he persuaded the NASA director at Beaverun to allow me to race during the Sunday race after I punted him off the track on Saturday. Had Ian not been persistent and stressed his request to let me race on Sunday I would have been sent home under NASA rules.

Ian did not have to do any of this stuff and would have cruised to the H4 title. As stated without his help I would not have entered this weekend with the opportunity to win the Championship.

We decided that Sunday’s race would not impact the points standings (tied) or number of wins (5 each) and that Ian’s decision not to race on Sunday, would leave us tied for the title.

I think HC is a great concept and I am honored to be part of such a great group of racers and friends. Certainly there were frequent growing pains in HC, but most of these were not entirely HC specific but NASA specific.

In addition to thanking Ian and Andrew I would like to thank the following for their assistance in winning my championship:

Guident Technologies, Inc. (financial support)
HRPWorld.com (parts support)
R&D Motorsports (Chad rebuilt my top end in three days between race weekends)
JE Import Performance (Evans spent many hours tuning my car)
Hoosier Tires and Phil Phillips of Phil’s Tire Service
TheRaceSite.com
Sam Meyers and the Curpiers who helped us out over the weekend solving our fuel issues
All the H1 crowd who cheered us on during the final few race weekends from the bleachers !!!!!

This race season brings to mind the term “as good as it gets”.

Regards,

Jon P. Kofod
#40 Guident Technologies/HRPWorld.com/Flatoutracing.net Integra LS H4



Modified by FLATOUTRACING at 6:40 AM 11/8/2004

 

Some pictures of the final battles in H4





[IMG]


Can it get any closer than this shot.................Look closely at the roof antenas.....there are two cars in this picture.


All thre ex-Nonnemaker cars ! (Carpenter, Kofod and Zimmermann)



Special Thanks to Euroimage.us and Jim Rathbun




Modified by FLATOUTRACING at 6:50 AM 11/8/2004


Modified by FLATOUTRACING at 6:51 AM 11/8/2004


Modified by FLATOUTRACING at 7:48 AM 11/8/2004

 

If this isn't what honda challenge was meant to be about, I don't know what is.

It's also worth mentioning that on Satuday Dave Davis started his first honda challenge weekend ever. During practice his car was leaking oil and he had to bring it in early. By the time I got over there, there were seven ECHC racers standing around his car trying to help fix it. This was somebody who had done a total of one ECHC practice session in his life, and he had that kind of support from the other racers.

I was very sorry to see that we couldn't see the Ian and Jon show again on Sunday, but that is nothing compared to knowing that Ian was safe and doing well after the incident. Saturday's race between the two was certainly worth the price of admission for the weekend though!

ECHC was clearly alive and well this weekend, even with a low turnout.

Matt

 

You guys put on a great show thanks !!!

I'll have pictures in a few days, I used 35mm Film for the event

 

Wow, what an amazing weekend. I was there crewing for the Motorkars Audi racing team which was competing the the USTCC which ran with small bore. We were paddocked directly across from the Curpiers, Phil Phillips, and Jon, Ian, and Andrew. All I can saw is I now know what the ECHC is all about. After Lyonnel broke at the start of Saturday's race, it was getting dark and he was trying to decide what to do. 15 minutes later I walked over and no less than 7 ECHC competitors were thrashing on Lyonnel's car to get the trans out and to see if it was the clutch as Lyonnel thought or something worse. It turned out to be something worse, as the clutch fork had done something in the trans causing large chunks of the final drive to come out, thus being terminal. Unfortunately, Lyonnel didn't bring his spare trans, and with no benefit in the points, decided against an all night drive to Tennessee to go get the spare. This was just one of the many things that took place over the weekend that showed the true comradory that makes ECHC what it is. It was great to meet the Curpiers, Kevin Helms, Phil Phillips, Dave Harrison, and the rest of the ECHC crew which I had not previously met. Thanks to all for a great weekend

Sam, who is now seriously considering competing in the ECHC in 2005 instead of the MWHC. Thank goodness I have until February to make a decision.

 

NASA's new spec Integra class?



I can't wait to see all the HC racers back in action next year
Maybee, just maybee some day I will grow a set and be out there also.

 

congrats fellas... i'll throw in my few pics that i got (memory was gone, turned camera down to worst settings, sorry for the quality):













i have higher res if you want them...

 

You guys are class acts. Contrats on your championship(s)

RJ - hopes to join you one of these years...

 

Here's a standing start vid ...

http://www.we-todd-did-racing....DE%3D

 

Hey - another

You guys have had some close, consistent racing all year long. Sorry it couldn't be decided on the track but this is the next best option.

- Markus

 

Congratulations to both of you. I just wish I could have been out there more this year, hopefully next year will I can join in the battle.

 

Makes me almost want to spend some $ in the accord and play with you guys next year..

Again, ALMOST

Class Acts..

 

this seriously brings a tear to my eye and why i drive 12 plus hours to race.....

CONGRAT IAN AND JON!!!


jon in my opinion you did the right thing!!!! co champs is the way to be!!!!!

this is why i race....stories like this!!!!

congrats to:

whitaker
franza
phil
and i haven't heard who won h5.....

congrats all

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chad &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

and i haven't heard who won h5.....

congrats all</TD></TR></TABLE>

Dave Harrison 1st
Keith Edwards 2nd
Kim Ratcliffe 3rd

 

that was definantly a very upstanding thing to do!

congrats to both of you! i have seen some awesome racing from you two this season!

 

This is what racing should be like...awesome!! Sportsmanship at its best!!

[rant]Now if someone would just look at a map before naming racing series...http://www.racenasa.com/series_mwhc.htm - This is far from "Mid-West"[/rant] **pleading for a series in the middle of the country**

 

Great story! Congrats!

 

to both Jon and Ian (and all other ECHC peep's...yo!...)

 

Congrats to you both on an excellent season of racing! and the rest of the ECHC racers. I can't wait till next season!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BudMan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">This is what racing should be like...awesome!! Sportsmanship at its best!!
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Congrats!!

 

Budman, I ran in the MWHC this year and am the H5 Champion. But with no one else to race with and not many other HC competitors to attract any contingencies or series title sponsors, this is what will more than likely push me to the ECHC. In talking with Dave Harrison this weekend at Summit Point, he atleast broke even, if not finished a little on the positive at the end of the year in terms of profit. Since our H5 cars are so easy on consumables it makes it very easy for us to race all year long on a very low budget and with the contingencies that the ECHC has, almost makes a racing season "profitable". Just a little inside as the the method of my madness.

Sam

 

Good read Well done.

 

Those are nice batttle pictures!

 

How did you solve the fuel leak problem? What changes were done to the car that made the fuel come out on both cars?

So who gets the trophy? Or did you guys cut it in half! Congrats on your 2004 campaign!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Outrun &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
So who gets the trophy? Or did you guys cut it in half! Congrats on your 2004 campaign!</TD></TR></TABLE>

For sure cut it in half!