The BeaveRun race in July 2003 was the third outing for Team 928Racing.net with John Veninger and Stan Shaw in attendance. This was the first race at BeaveRun for both drivers, as well as the PCA.

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Stan & John's 928 racecars patiently wait in the paddock

Both John and Stan had worked to resolve some issues since the last race. John was chasing a high rpm power loss, and had rebuilt his fuel distributor. Stan had been chasing a sudden loss of power, and had installed an internal surge tank as well as replacing a defective battery disconnect switch. Both racers were hopeful that their 928s would perform well, although intermittent thunderstorms were predicted for the weekend.

The first practice session went well, a feeling out session for Stan, as he hadn't been at BeaveRun before with his 928. John set the best time mark, but said his car was sliding quite a bit. The second practice session both Stan and John were quicker getting into the 1:06.n time range. Stan came in when they waved the meatball flag (black flag with orange circle meaning there is a problem with your car), to be told that his car was smoking. This had become a persistent problem since the 5 liter shortblock was installed. Initially thought to be caused by oil coming up through the dipstick and burning off the manifold. This time there was no oil on the engine, so the cause was oil being vented to the intake (as a stock 928 system is designed to do). The stewards agreed to accept a solution using a catchcan, and with a bit of hose, a clamp or two and a plastic bottle the car was readied for practice session three.

The third practice session went well (and still no thunderstorms or even rain). Stan did find that even with the internal surge tank in the fuel cell, he still stumbled due to lack of fuel on hard right hand turns when there was still 1/4 cell full. More research to be done there.... More importantly no smoke. John and Stan's best lap times were now under 1:06.5.

The fun race started without many of the front running cars in the grid, as a result Stan started 7th, and John started in 10th. The fun race has three practice starts, and Stan moved up 1 position in the first and the third start, but before the end of the race lost one of those places back. John has some high engine temps, and finds his car is down on coolant. John has spent much of the fun race in traffic, so he plans on looking for more clean air during the race on Sunday.

First practice on Sunday Stan tries to run with a low fuel load, but gets stumbling (guess the internal surge tank isn't doing what was hoped for. At least now the minimum fuel load required is known. John is able to keep his car cool enough to stay out for some good final practice.

Qualifying is the second session on Sunday. The track is green from the start, but protocol is that you allow a gap between your car, and the one in front, so that you get a flying start and a good run for at least the second lap. The first lap is usually used for cleaning off tires, warming tires up and warming up brakes. About halfway through the first lap, #102 (brown 911 turbo) looks to pass Stan, so he starts his qualifying run at that point. After one lap, Stan's rear view mirror is clear and there is open track ahead as well. After three laps without any traffic, Stan comes in to find his best lap of the weekend 1:05.8. John stays out longer as he is running a heavier fuel load (since his fuel gauge doesn't seem to be accurate), and gets his best lap of the weekend as well 1:06.0.

John is concerned about how hot his car will get in the race, but thinks he can manage if he can stay out of heavy traffic. Stan is content with the way his car is running and looking forward to the race. Seems like everyone got faster. John is gridded 17th and Stan is gridded 16th for the race, out of 25 in the run group. The front runners are running real close to 1:00, but that mark was never broken during the weekend.

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The new 928 OC banner is on display.....
(Stan isn't very good with the camera...where is Ernest?)

The races go off on schedule. The Allegheny region did a great job all weekend, and this is their first race at a new track. They even kept the rain away!

John and Stan are gridding for the race, when John discovers a loose tailpipe bracket. John runs out to get a strap to put on his tailpipe and gets it in place while in the grid. John is in place and ready to go when the cars are sent out on the pace lap.

The pace car goes off the track, the cars come down the front straight and the green flag is waved. We're racing!

Coming out of turn #2, Stan sees all the cars ahead go single file and track out. Since the speed is much lower than usual, Stan passes a couple of cars and John ducks right behind him picking up four places.

Stan catches and passes a 914, but John isn't able to follow. Stan starts to stretch out a bit of a lead while John is trying to get by the 914. Then #102 gets by John on a straight, and holds him up in the corners, Stan extends the lead further.

John has to back off, as his car is getting hot from being in traffic so much and he sees some overflow on the passenger side floor. John had specifically located the overflow hose, so he would know if this happened.

Stan isn't catching anyone in front, and is watching for the silver car (John) in his rear view mirror. After quite a few laps, he sees it, and gets caught by it. Fortunately it isn't John but is a silver 911 in a different class that had qualified in front of both John and Stan, but was passed on the first lap.

Meanwhile unbeknownst to Stan, John is cooling his motor until a green 944 turbo comes up on him. John had diced with this car in some of the practices, and came out ahead, so he picks the pace up and his motor stays cool enough (of course after the race he finds he lost about a gallon of coolant, so the temp reading could have been inaccurate...

After the silver 911 gets by Stan, another faster qualifier comes up and passes....#102. Stan thinks he is driving too slowly (since two cars passed him), so he picks up the pace. Stan quickly catches the 911 and can see the driver is sliding the car on most corners (perhaps because he is watching his rear view mirror too much). Stan patiently waits for the right opportunity as he knows he can't win a drag race with #102. #102 misses the entry on #7 bad (a blind apex), so Stan stays on the line and gets up next to #102, nosing just ahead. #102's turbo spools up to get him back to even. Stan knows there is plenty of room on the back stretch, so stays alongside, but after wide angle turn #8, #102 tracks out all the way to the grass. Stan thinking #102 will leave him room as they are side to side, doesn't back off until there is nowhere to go. Stan is forced off track into the grass at over 100 mph in fourth. Thinking there is still a chance to finish the race, Stan comes back on track (barely slowing) but hears a terrible scraping sound. The gauges look ok, but it turns out the splitter has folded under ending Stan's race.

John see's Stan go in, so he knows he has the class win with just a few laps to go. After the race John finds he also turned the fastest time in GT2S during the race, 1:05.6.

There is a second race offered, and it is combined for all run groups. Stan's not in the mood to try and remove the splitter in just 15 minutes. John grids 4th, just behind #102. John holds position and keeps in contact with the lead group for the first 5 laps, but then his car stumbles. John thinks his gas gauge is wrong, as it indicates 1/2 full. John finishes the race but loses position to a class G car because his car starts popping and back firing even on the straights due to the low fuel condition.

In spite of the issues (just part of racing) both John and Stan enjoyed the weekend. John was first in GT2S with Stan in second. John also won the Trailex Novice Driver Award, and he suspects it is for all the rally sliding he did in turn #10. John said he had never driven his car so loose!

Next race is Road America for David and John, Stan is sitting this one out.

Support 928Racing.net at Road America on August 30 - September 1, 2003 Contact David or John to help out!