 AI Fontana report
The opening weekend for the American Iron West Championship Series took place at California Speedway in Fontana, CA on March 7-9, 2003. Despite heavy rains earlier in the week, the weather turned out perfect with highs in the mid-70’s both days. Competitors began arriving on Friday to test their machines on the 18-turn 2.8-mile configuration identical to the course used by the American Le Mans Series and other pro groups. The course included nearly a mile of the 14-degree banked oval section of the track that allowed the racers to see speeds of 165 miles per hour and beyond as they rocketed into Turn 3. Entries for the weekend included Christine Knight, Vageli Karas, Kevin Chambers, Dave Martis, Ed Varon, Keith Videtto, Bill Daffron, Bruce Griggs, John Lindsey, Tim Gilpin, Brian Murphy, Ernesto Roco, Neil Hershorin, and Chaka Milby. The event also featured a car show sponsored by the Orange County Mustang Club along with a vendor row staffed by crews from Eibach, Maximum Motorsports, Griggs Racing, Brothers Performance, and BBK. Event coverage was provided by 5.0 Mustangs and Super Fords and many other newspapers, magazines, and TV shows. The local SVTOA chapter was also in attendance to run their rides in the HPDE portion of the weekend and cheer on the American Iron racers.
Saturday’s qualifying saw Bruce Griggs out front followed by Cunningham, Karas, Milby and Chambers. The racers went out on course following a spanking new Roush Stage 3 pace car provided by Galpin Ford and driven by Galpin’s Steve McCord. The race started with Lindsey making a move from sixth position around Milby to tuck in behind the Griggs/Karas freight train that took off into the lead. Griggs and Karas battled for the lead while Chambers and Lindsey had a good scrap going on a few car lengths back. Cunningham was also right in the hunt and began a duel with Chambers when Lindsey mashed the pedal to go pursue Griggs and Karas. Both Karas and Griggs eventually had off-course excursions, which allowed Lindsey and Cunningham to take advantage of the opportunity to move into the lead in their respective classes. Griggs was mounting a strong run on Lindsey to try to retake the lead when the race was called short due to Ed Varon rolling his Mustang coupe in Turn 18 after hitting a tire wall. Ed was fine and walked away from the incident thanks to the stout cage in the car and the fast work of the safety crews. The race ended in the pits when the race was called to allow safety crews time to clear the course of debris left behind from the wreck. The final order for AIX was Lindsey in the lead, followed by Griggs and Milby. Cunningham began his bid for the 2003 championship with the AI win, with Chambers and Karas close behind in second and third.
Sunday’s qualifying had Bruce Griggs setting fast time of the weekend with a blistering 1:49 with Chambers, Lindsey, Cunningham, and Karas in hot pursuit. The race began with the pack flying into Turn 3, where a bumper rub between Milby and Lindsey sent Milby into a spin and Lindsey off course for some agricultural work. Lindsey recovered after a series of opposite lock tankslappers in the grass, but not before the entire pack thundered by him. The lead pack of Griggs, Karas, Cunningham, Chambers, and Gilpin then pulled away smartly from the field and put some distance on the other competitors while running some very fast times. Chambers eventually succumbed to electrical problems, which left Karas and Cunningham battling for the AI lead while Griggs led the pack around the course. Tim Gilpin stayed right in step behind the leaders while Lindsey had to work through the entire field to get back up in front of Gilpin but behind the lead pack of Griggs, Karas, and Cunningham. The final order for Sunday was Griggs taking the AIX win followed by Lindsey and Neil Hershorin. Karas secured the AI win with Cunningham and Gilpin in the next two spots.
The winners for the weekend all received beautiful trophies from Galpin Ford as well as shirts adorned with the Galpin logo. The lovely Elise from mustangworld.com presented all the awards to a crew of very happy racers. Cobalt Friction also provided gift certificates to Saturday’s winners and points were accrued toward the other manufacturer contingencies provided by series sponsors including Brothers Performance, BBK, Toyo Tires, Cobalt Friction, The Brakeman, Steeda, and Maximum Motorsports. We would like to thank all the racers, fans, and sponsors for making this event a tremendous success and we look forward to our next visit to the outstanding facility at California Speedway. The next round for the series will be at Thunderhill Raceway on April 5-6, 2003.
by JWL
__________________ -Peder Beckman-
Technical Director
American Iron West
www.americanironwest.com | 
