4/12/2003 - The SPC / GF Racing season began today at Indianapolis Raceway Park in grand fashion. After a long winter buildup consisting of motor, transmission, and chassis/suspension reworking, today we finally got the chance to see if all of our hard work would pay off with a good race result. Thanks to the dedicated prep work of Jon Tapp, Kevin K, Lane, Brian J, the Plaster boys (aka Security), Eric, Bryce, Kyle, Jenny, and a host of others, the car performed flawlessly in both our qualifying session and race.

With fresh tires mounted and ready, Chris Berube took the track for the practice/qualifying session. Early on he encountered heavy traffic and was repeatedly held up by a group of Spec Miatas and ITB, ITC, and IT7 cars. A full course black flag due to an accident brought the entire field in with just a few minutes left in the session. The corner workers got the wreckage cleaned up and we had just 2 laps left to post a quick time. With 6 cars ahead of him as he rolled back out, Chris put down the hammer and passed them all on the first lap. His second lap was a ripper and he secured 2nd place in the ITA field and 3rd overall in group.

After a few minor adjustments and some more fuel, we were ready for the race. Chris got a good, clean start and the first 3 cars in the field, an ITA CRX, an IT7 RX7, and Chris pretty much checked out on the rest of the field early on. After passing the RX7, Chris set his sights firmly on the CRX ahead of him. He caught up on lap 5 and the two cars were nose to tail with barely a car length between them for 9 laps. It was a nip and tuck scrap with neither side yielding. Chris got so close to the CRX that he could see the large SPC logo decal from his hood reflected on the rear window of the CRX for several laps. It was tight.

After 9 laps of pressure, the CRX driver went wide and Chris stuck his nose in to make the pass. He got by, but lost some momentum and was re-passed 3 turns later. Rapidly returning the favor yet again, Chris slid by on Turn 4 and never looked back. The SPC crew was breathlessly counting down the laps and watching Chris' lead grow. Lap 16 saw the beautiful sight of a checkered flag and the #50 Carerra Custom Products / SPC / GF Racing ITA SC2 took the honor of first in class and first in our race group at our very first event!!!

Deebs hopped, well perhaps wedged himself, into the ITA car for the victory lap.  It was a perfect start to our weekend and season after all the long hours over the winter.

The #55 ITA SC2 of John Comeskey came in a respectable 3rd in class and 4th overall and netted quickest lap of the race at 1:54.133. Our quickest was 1:54.144. Great job John!!!

4/13/2003 - Sunday started out to be another beautiful day at Indianapolis Raceway Park. The weather was a few degrees cooler, and the sun was out. The smell of exhaust and race tires filled the air. The crew set to work getting the car ready for qualifying - rotating the tires, washing the car, checking the fluids, (drinking Red Bull...)

Chris headed out for qualifying, and came back second in group, second in class, right between the #38 CRX from Saturday (now on fresh tires), and James Walker, driving John Comeskey's #55 '97 SC2.  Chris, along with the rest of the cars, found a few seconds to drop off their times from Saturday.  The track was fast.  Things were looking good.

Between Qualifying and the race, the team once again gave the car a good looking over and again marveled at how well the car was running. When the cars were called to the grid, Chris nosed the Carerra Custom Products / SPC / GF Racing #50 out of the paddock, and lined up behind the CRX. The pace car led the cars out, and Chris lined #50 up on the outside of the first row. After the parade lap, the pace car pulled off, and the race was on. The CRX took off and never looked back, and Chris and James Walker began a 16 lap dogfight for 2nd and 3rd. Once again, Chris was involved in what was the most exciting racing in the run group. Chris would pass James, James would pass Chris. Around lap 12, Chris was able to get #50 into second place, and pull away from James in the #55 car. Crew members Kevin & Brian were once again in the stands and had a great view of the race. Comments overheard in the stands once again mentioned both of the well-driven Saturns that were on the track. When the checkered flag dropped, The CRX took a well deserved 1st place, and Saturns rounded out the podium, with the SPC/ GF Racing #50, driven by Chris Berube in second, and the SPS #55, Driven for the day by James Walker, in third.  When the final results were posted, Chris had posted the fastest lap of the run group.

After the race, the team packed up the car and all the gear, said their goodbyes, and headed back home with great big smiles on their faces.

Thanks again to Deebs, Tapp, Kevin K, and Brian J for crewing, Chris Berube for great driving, and to Lane, Bryce, the Plaster brothers, and everyone else who helped make the car into the asphalt ripping monster that it is.

If you are interested in helping the SPC maintain the GF Racing SC2 or would like to help us as a crew member during this year's racing season, please contact us. We would be happy to get all the help we can!

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