This weekend was the first race weekend for the 2007 season. We here at OCR have been very busy in the off season getting things tidy for our run at this years championship in the Spec Miata Touring class. The roll call for this year has quite a few new names on the roster, but some of the good ole boys are also present. This should make for a very interesting weekend. We had a total of 67 entrants for the Group 7 SMT race and a total of 63 cars start the main event.

Friday was an open test day at the famed Northern California road circuit, Infineon Raceway at Sears Point. This allowed the OCR team to test out the new gear that was installed over the off season months. The weather was not too much of a factor as it can be on these March/April months. The morning was cold and overcast but the skies quickly opened up to reveal a bright sunny spring day. The only factor was the wind. It was a predominately North to South wind around 15mph. The only problem the wind posed was a slower than normal lap time due to the car having to fight the wind resistance on the main and back straight. Testing went off with out a hitch, but did reveal some problems for the OCR team.

Saturday's weather was a carbon copy of Friday. No rain in sight, temperate, with an afternoon wind that could stop a bullet. This was an unusually light Saturday for OCR and other SMT competitors. We were on the schedule with only a single practice event around mid morning. Due to the huge field, practice was held for even and then odd numbered cars. This kept the amount of on track carnage to a minimum. There are quite a few new license holders out for this event, as was evident by the number of orange plates (N) on the track. Saturday's session did not go much better than the testing series on Friday. It was evident that OCR would be using the remaining hours on Saturday to solve some mechanical and setup problems that just would not go away.

Sunday was an action filled day for Dave, Jeremy and Rick. We were scheduled for early morning qualifying and an afternoon race. The weather was again the same as it had been the past few days. The morning was ripe for good lap times. Cool dense air and none of that pesky North/South wind to speak of. Dave was lucky enough to get the OCR cars out of the stable and onto grid before most people woke for their morning coffee. This ensured that OCR would get a nice open track in an attempt to lay down some hot laps. We took the track shortly after the even numbered cars made their way off. Their qualifying had left some cars on track with mechanicals and thus tows were necessary to clear the track. When we got the go ahead, Rick was first out with Dave and Jeremy in tow. Upon the first lap, I noticed a distinct problem with the brakes on the Orange #13 car. The problem was it had none. The gremlin that I had been chasing was not gone. The brake peddle went to the floor multiple times when attempting to brake for turn 4, Dave and Jeremy were able to continue on. I let thing sit for a moment and somehow, the brakes came back. I found an open gap in traffic and was able to turn some very nice laps. When the session was over, I had clicked off a time of 1:55.411 and that was good enough for the pole. Eric Vaughn was in P2 with a 1.55.474, followed by Mark Drennan in 3rd with a 1:56.043. Dave was 5th with a 1:56.279 and Jeremy was 9th with a 1:56.748. We had done what we set out to accomplish, all OCR team members in the top 10.

With the main event looming at 2pm that same day, things in the OCR tent were anything but calm. I was attempting to figure out the problems with the #13 brakes. Dave and Jeremy were also busy fine tuning their machines in an effort to make this a 1,2,3 for OCR. A huge thanks goes out to the entire OCR crew and their main wrench Nic for jumping in and getting all the cars ready for the main event.

The race was underway before anyone knew it. The cars were ushered out onto the hot pits and split into the standard double file line. The warm up lap was kept to a slow pace and the cars came up to temp with little effort. When the pace car pulled off, it was time. The pace was kept to a slow 2nd gear start, and the green flag flew right on time. I was able to get a nice run on the field which allowed the #13 car to slot in to the lead position. Eric V was not far behind, followed by Mark D. This made it an all orange 1,2,3 at the start. Wonder if that has ever happened in SMT history???

The race from my vantage point was mainly in the rear view mirror. Given the brake problems in the #13, it was still possible to turn some good laps. I was able to gap Eric V and watch much of the awesome race craft going on behind me.

Dave McAnaney in the #45 machine started in 5th but did not stay there for long. Soon after Lap 4, Dave was up to 3rd and gunning for Eric V. Hot on Dave's heals was Jack Arluck in the #20 machine. Dave and Jack would battle for 2nd and 3rd until the yellow flag came out in lap 11. Meanwhile in the back of the lead pack, Jeremy Hittle in the #7 machine was hard at work in the rear view mirror of Tommy O's #10 Spec Miata. Tommy and Jeremy spent most of the race battling for position. All the while, Tommy was trying to gain a position on Doug M's #60 car. The 3 drivers were constantly passing into and out of corners, but all the while keeping it clean. In the end, Doug was able to stay off Tommy's attack and in turn Tommy was able to keep it in front of Jeremy with the full course yellow flew.

The race did not have a dramatic end, as the green flag would not be flown. The race ended under a full course yellow with Rick's #13 car in the front, followed by teammate Dave's #45 machine. Jeremy rounded out OCR's attack on the top10 with a solid 8th place finish.

In all, it was a great weekend. We would like to thank the entire OCR crew and families for supporting us in this regional racing series. A huge thanks goes out to our main mechanic Nic, who went above and beyond. OCR would also like to thank Dave Rebello from Rebello Racing for his track side support and engine program. Ron at AIM Tires always comes thru with thebest shoes for the best cars and Tony at TC Design for the zero intrusion safety cages that all OCR cars run with.

Written by Rick Ramondo, Driver OCR SM13
Photos courtesy Kendra (Rick's honey sweetie). Used by permission.