Martin Lenick
10-23-2006, 09:19 AM
I found this in my inbox, Congratulations Art Kopp and Cluesless Racing.
"10-22-06
FOR IMEDIATE RELEASE
Art Kopp wins The Loooong Race!!
Clueless Racing, LLC entered a single car in The Loooong Race, a 50 lap enduro, held at Blackhawk Farms Raceway in Rockton Illinois last Saturday. Art Kopp, driver of the Clueless Racing number 51car, qualified for 4th position in a field of 14 competitors including six entrants from the ”factory” team of Elite Autosport. Kopp exhibited truly amazing racecraft, stamina, and focus for the entire one hour 15 minute race. While Kopp struggled in practice and qualifying with a motor problem that caused frequent power interruption in his 1.9 liter Ford motor he was able to eked out a 4th place starting position. Weather played a crucial roll in the outcome of the race. Rain fell steadily during practice and qualifying, but as race time approached the rain slowed and stopped. The weather forecast for the day called for rain on and off throughout the day and weather radar available to the Clueless team, via a wireless computer uplink, showed that the track was on the very edge of the storm front. With less than five minutes to race start, and a light mist falling from the sky, Kopp and his crew made the gutsy decision to start the race on slicks instead of rain tires. Kopp knew that if the racing line became wet his slicks would be useless requiring him to pit for rain tires. If that happened there would be no chance of winning. Kopp rolled onto the grid and was astonished to see that he was the only car to show up on slicks. Every other competitor had put rain tires on their car. Mark Jursik, who finished mid-pack in the Valvoline Runoffs just last weekend, started from the pole, the third place qualifier didn’t show up so Kopp started the race from P3 directly behind Jursik. During the pace lap Kopp radioed his crew to report that the motor was still cutting out. His crew’s expert advice was”, Just drive the #&%*ing car!!,”. When the green flew Kopp followed the lead car into turn one and set up a second place position that would last for the next 45 laps. It was a test of wills…… Kopp, on good tires with a declining motor, fought hard to stay right on the tail of the lead car whose rain tires slowly degraded and could not last the entire race. As the race progressed and car after car came into the pits to change from rain tires to dry tires, the Clueless team began to think they would take the lead when the leader was forced to pit for a tire change. He never did. Unbelievably, Jursik could not bring himself to pit while he held the lead. By lap 45 the two competitors had two laps on the entire field but their lap times were 5 seconds slower than cars that had fresh tires. They had been within ten yards of each other for an hour of tough battling. At lap 45 Art Kopp, who had demonstrated truly amazing restraint, made his move. In a classic dive into turn one, which Kopp had already attempted twenty-five times, he and the leader came out side by side and stayed that way thru turn two where Jursik handed the lead to a determined Kopp as they entered the Carousel. From that point Kopp, never looked back stretching his lead steadily from there to the checkered flag.
Congratulations and happy birthday to Kopp, who turned 54 on race day.
Art’s crew this week included wife Nancy, who whipped up a great lunch, as usual, with some super minestrone on a cold a and rainy day; Reed Bartuska, who’s calm and supportive radio communications helped keep Art on pace and focused; Zoë, the team dog, who is always friendly and cheerful no matter what; and Rick Bartuska – AKA, Cat"
"10-22-06
FOR IMEDIATE RELEASE
Art Kopp wins The Loooong Race!!
Clueless Racing, LLC entered a single car in The Loooong Race, a 50 lap enduro, held at Blackhawk Farms Raceway in Rockton Illinois last Saturday. Art Kopp, driver of the Clueless Racing number 51car, qualified for 4th position in a field of 14 competitors including six entrants from the ”factory” team of Elite Autosport. Kopp exhibited truly amazing racecraft, stamina, and focus for the entire one hour 15 minute race. While Kopp struggled in practice and qualifying with a motor problem that caused frequent power interruption in his 1.9 liter Ford motor he was able to eked out a 4th place starting position. Weather played a crucial roll in the outcome of the race. Rain fell steadily during practice and qualifying, but as race time approached the rain slowed and stopped. The weather forecast for the day called for rain on and off throughout the day and weather radar available to the Clueless team, via a wireless computer uplink, showed that the track was on the very edge of the storm front. With less than five minutes to race start, and a light mist falling from the sky, Kopp and his crew made the gutsy decision to start the race on slicks instead of rain tires. Kopp knew that if the racing line became wet his slicks would be useless requiring him to pit for rain tires. If that happened there would be no chance of winning. Kopp rolled onto the grid and was astonished to see that he was the only car to show up on slicks. Every other competitor had put rain tires on their car. Mark Jursik, who finished mid-pack in the Valvoline Runoffs just last weekend, started from the pole, the third place qualifier didn’t show up so Kopp started the race from P3 directly behind Jursik. During the pace lap Kopp radioed his crew to report that the motor was still cutting out. His crew’s expert advice was”, Just drive the #&%*ing car!!,”. When the green flew Kopp followed the lead car into turn one and set up a second place position that would last for the next 45 laps. It was a test of wills…… Kopp, on good tires with a declining motor, fought hard to stay right on the tail of the lead car whose rain tires slowly degraded and could not last the entire race. As the race progressed and car after car came into the pits to change from rain tires to dry tires, the Clueless team began to think they would take the lead when the leader was forced to pit for a tire change. He never did. Unbelievably, Jursik could not bring himself to pit while he held the lead. By lap 45 the two competitors had two laps on the entire field but their lap times were 5 seconds slower than cars that had fresh tires. They had been within ten yards of each other for an hour of tough battling. At lap 45 Art Kopp, who had demonstrated truly amazing restraint, made his move. In a classic dive into turn one, which Kopp had already attempted twenty-five times, he and the leader came out side by side and stayed that way thru turn two where Jursik handed the lead to a determined Kopp as they entered the Carousel. From that point Kopp, never looked back stretching his lead steadily from there to the checkered flag.
Congratulations and happy birthday to Kopp, who turned 54 on race day.
Art’s crew this week included wife Nancy, who whipped up a great lunch, as usual, with some super minestrone on a cold a and rainy day; Reed Bartuska, who’s calm and supportive radio communications helped keep Art on pace and focused; Zoë, the team dog, who is always friendly and cheerful no matter what; and Rick Bartuska – AKA, Cat"