LCR Race Reports - Roebling Road, Savannah

TEAM-LCR REPORTS SVRA SPRING FLING April 1 - 4, 2004 (photo by Lori Pilati)		Ah, Savannah..... where former pro Tom Yeager finds the fountain of youth in his freshly-restored Merlyn (- the webmaster's Forsythe Fountain fantasy)
Roebling Road Raceway Savannah, GA
(click to enlarge)		We were a small group at Roebling Road. Paul Flowers came to drive his Elva Mk7S, and our newest customers, Matt Peckham and Mike Mazzola, arrived with their Mini-Cooper S and a Lotus Super 7 that we had just finished preparing for them. Finally, rejoining the LCR fold was former-pro-racer Tom Yeager, who came to try out his most recent acquisition: a Merlyn Mk6B, which had just undergone a complete restoration in our shop. Welcome back Tom!

With New England in the throes of an April artic blast, the full bloom of spring in Savannah was sounding better and better. We left Connecticut with a light load, as Matt and Mike transported their own cars to Savannah. Unfortunately, on the North/South Carolina line, they lost the tranny in their dualie. As it turned out, this was to be a bit of a harbinger for the rest of their weekend. We happened upon them on the highway just as they were hitching up a hastily-rented Ryder truck to their trailer. The ball hitch was the wrong size and the lighting plugs were incompatible, but this only stiffened their resolve and off they went down I95 with enthusiasm unabated, destination Roebling Road. The rental truck was so big it didn't even know there was a trailer behind. In hindsight, they could have just put the trailer in the back of the truck… At the end of the day, everybody made it safe and sound to Savannah and camp was set up at the track, leaving the detail stuff 'til Thursday morning.

			Tom Yeager started Thursday test day with a fitting in his new Merlyn, having seen his new car only once when it first arrived in our shop. To ensure that trackside fitting went quickly and smoothly, we had made everything as adjustable as possible; i.e., pedals, steering, seat, belts, head restraint, shifter, etc., so that Tom could get in a full afternoon of testing. He started off at an easy pace, calling for adjustments to the chassis as the afternoon wore on and his speed increased. By the end of the day, he was well-satisfied that he was "on the pace." Left: Standout Scottie in her racy red hat, as Bill attends to Yeager in the paddock. - Photo by Tom Fox (click to enlarge)

Matt and Mike were at the DOP class for the first session or two on Thursday, which gave us a chance to do seatbelt adjustments, etc. Although impressing their DOP instructor with their driving, our newcomers continued to be tested this weekend. The Super 7 handled and performed beautifully, but then gave up the ghost in the last session of the day with dramatic engine overheating terminating its race weekend then and there. Curses!		Mike Mazzola in the Team Peckham/Mazzola Lotus Super 7 - Photo by Tom Fox (click to enlarge)
		Matt fared better in the Team Peckham/Mazzola-prepared Mini, which went on to finish the day in good form, both new drivers drawing praise from chief instructor Peter Krause. Matt Peckham and the Mini-Cooper S of Team Peckham/Mazzola (click to enlarge)

			Paul took his Elva Mk7 out on Thursday afternoon, after already testing his F/Ford in the morning (run by our good friend Mike Gorley). The Elva was pronounced okay save for a little too much understeer. This was quickly rectified with sway bar and shock adjustments, and the car was parked until Friday. Flowers and Yeager on the false grid (Scottie and Bill Pedersen at Tom's side) - Photo by Tom Fox (click to enlarge)
As usual, Paul set the Group 5 pace in his Elva, lapping in the 18s and shaving off fractions of a second from his previous best last year. This was in spite of a very strong headwind up the straight, which persisted all weekend (heaven only knows what he may have got down to had the conditions been a little more favorable). As it was, both Paul's and Tom's cars were enjoying grip that seemed to elude many of our competitors (tire compound choice and chassis setup we believe).
Tom continued to increase his pace in the Merlyn, which was like a bullet up the straight — maybe the quickest group 5/7 car in a straight line. He ended up just about a second and a half off Paul's best. On Saturday, Paul elected not to endure the Enduro. But Tom was as game as ever, qualifying well up on the grid, although surrounded by Corvettes, et al. Yeager at the top of his game -- primed & ready to take on the muscle cars in the Enduro.... ( - Photo by Karen Bremer)
		It was a traditional LeMans start for the Enduro...... - Photo by Bob Harrington (click to enlarge)
Right: Scottie running for Tom in the LeMans-style sprint-start. No sooner had the fly-swatter changed hands than Tom was off, making the best start on the grid. Driving around the outside of the Corvette next to him, he was third into the first corner. What form!!! - Photo by Tom Fox (click to enlarge)

A super start for Yeager in the Enduro at Roebling Road!
Tom continued to go well, maintaining his third place. And soon, pitstops started to play a part in everyone's strategy — except Tom's.... Much to the amusement of all those in timing and scoring, not to mention our competitors on pit lane, we could not gain his attention on the pit wall to bring him in, try as we might. He was now in a commanding second place and didn't want to stop, having too much fun holding off Pat Ryan's massive Camaro and Peter McLaughlin's Ralt RT1 Atlantic car, even down the straight.
Tom Yeager, a bullet in his freshly-restored Merlyn at Roebling Road - Photo by Bob Harrington
Thankfully, Tom finally saw our "IN" board (had he forgotten our secret code? "Moss In"), and elected to stop next time around for refueling. A good thing too, since he would have had to push the car around the next lap.		Yeager ROCKS in his Merlyn at Roebling Road - Photos by Bob Harrington (click to enlarge)
At the end of his pitstop, Tom went back out, still in second place we believe. Unfortunately, however, he failed to come around — a broken DoNut had forced his retirement. This was no doubt the result of an off-course excursion the previous day, which was forced on Tom by an errant Sports 2000 moving over on him on the front straight whilst traveling about 135 mph. Tom had become airborne in a series of "yumps" across the infield, only rejoining the track after Turn 1..... So, our Enduro was done, as was Tom's weekend. The shock and the wishbone on that left rear corner were beyond redemption. Nevertheless, we had upheld our record: another fresh restoration performing well "straight out of the box." Now that we all see the potential of the Merlyn, it's back to the shop for upgrades and, we hope, a new paint job.

	Flowers gets in some reading before Sunday's Feature Race at Roebling Road Later, Bill Pedersen fires up the Elva in readiness - Photos by Tom Fox (click to enlarge)
Paul's race was at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. He had a good grid position for the combined Group 5-7 race, being the second Group 5 car. The mix of Sports 2000 and Gp5 cars was pretty interesting — the fast early sports racers dominating on the straights and then getting eaten up in the corners by the superior handling Gp 7 cars.
Paul Flowers in his '63 Elva Mk7S leading the Group 5 cars at Roebling Road, 4-4-04 - Photo by Bob Harrington
Paul soon found himself in a race-long battle with Henry Payne and his Long-Tail 907. A welcome return to the grid after a long illness, Henry was looking better than he had for some time and it was great to see him in action again. He was also driving faster each and every session. So it was Paul and Henry, nose to tail — with Henry drawing out a lead down the straight only to find Paul snapping at his heels around the back of the circuit. And this is how it finished, with Paul coming in first in class, third in Group 5, and 9th overall. If he could have gotten by Henry, it may have been a different story. Nevertheless, a terrific effort by Paul! Well done. (Maybe next time it'll be a Group 5 only race.)

Matt and Mike had gone to collect their freshly repaired dualie and so missed the Enduro. The Mini had died on its last session Saturday morning when the coil fell off and shorted out the electronic ignition. We tried to fix the problem in their absence. This went well until we set about re-timing the ignition, whereupon the ring gear on the flywheel chose to fall off. So, it's back to the drawing board to sort out the problems on both cars, the Mini joining the Super 7 at our shop this time. Not an auspicious beginning for the Peckham/Mazzola team, but next time out will be much better. Honest.
from left to right: Tom Fox, Paul Flowers, Tom Yeager, Scottie Yeager, Lee Chapman & Bill Pedersen (Matt and Mike had already split at daybreak to get home in one day)
After his race, Paul brought his car back to the paddock for loading into our waiting trailer, and we were on our way. It was so-long to the Spanish moss and back to the frozen tundra of New England. Despite the setbacks, it was a really fun weekend. Tom Fox, our new recruit, had his first outing with us in Savannah and appeared to thoroughly enjoy the trackside experience, getting to grips with its demands and thoroughly enjoying the company of our clients. He's a terrific addition to our crew. It's also great having Tom Yeager back with us, and Matt and Mike will get into the groove in no time. Thanks guys! On to the Jefferson 500 in May!