RSTPerformanceRacing

<center><img src="http://rstperformance.bizland.com/NARRC%20Runoffs%2003/dscn0275.jpg"></center><p>Hello all... Long time no posts We have been very very busy with work, and racing so we haven't had much time to be making posts or updating our website. I am in the process throughout this week at updating everything though I wanted to just give an update to our racing season and share with you "the Story" from the runoffs as posted on our website. As many of you probably know the NARRC Runoffs is the "Championship Race" and probably the race of all races for SCCA Improved Touring cars in the Northeast, thus we were very pleased with our results (2nd and 3rd).

This race also marked the final race of the North Atlantic Road Racing Championship (NARRC), which is arguably the hardest and most prestigious championship in SCCA Improved Touring for the Northeast. We are very pleased to announce that we finished 1st and 2nd in the championship that included about 50 different entrants throughout the season. This was a huge success for us as most people felt 4 years ago that we were crazy to build these cars because they would never be competitive. We have designed and built everything in these cars after taking advice from many different people (including many of you) and combining everything into one nice package. Next year we plan to have faster cars as we have learned a lot over this past season and we have been taking notes.

We have 1 race left of the season at Watkins Glenn on October 11-12, 2003. This is a fun weekend, and doesn't count towards points in any championships that we are running in. If anyone who has a valid SCCA competition license and would be interested in being part of a 3-driver team in a 3 hr. enduro send us an e-mail. Enduro@rstperformance.com

To all those who have supported us thank you and we will see you at the Glenn!!!

Raymond Blethen
RST Performance Racing
www.rstperformance.com (updating all week)


The Story: (from website)

"RST Performance went into this weekend with a lot of stress as a team. We knew we were ranked 1st and 2nd in Improved Touring B (ITB) in the season points and 1st in American Sedan (AS). Stephen had already secured the championship, however if Raymond didn't finish well he could easily slip to 6th or 7th in the points. Ray had secured 1st and/or 2nd but naturally we wanted first place. A lot of prep work was done on the red Audi, as it had to finish well with Raymond back behind the wheel.

After qualifying on Friday, things looked good and we knew we had a chance to reach our goals. Raymond needed to finish 5th or better to secure 2nd in the championship and Ray needed to finish ahead of his competitor, Robert Avanti. Raymond qualified in 6th place and Ray qualified 2nd ahead of Robert. Stephen, running stress free, qualified in 3rd place.

The ITB race on Saturday proved to be exciting as any championship race could be. Stephen took off with an early lead on the first lap, but an off-course on lap two put him back into second place. He chased down Scott Carlson for the next 24 laps but was unable to challenge. As Stephen and Scott "checked out" (they finished 30 seconds ahead of 3rd place), Raymond had his own battle. Raymond slipped back to 8th place on the start but before the first lap was complete he was up to 4th place behind Nat Wentworth in the white Saab. Raymond reeled him in on lap 2 and passed him going into turn 1 on lap 3. Raymond was now in third place. At lap 4 he was thinking "I can't do this," as Paul Curren in his Volvo glued himself to Raymond's rear bumper. Twenty-one laps later Raymond crossed the line with Greg Subteluy beside him and Paul still glued to his bumper - 4 tenths of a second separated the 3 cars! Stephen maintained second place to extend his lead in the 2003 NARRC Championship even more. Raymond's 3rd place was good enough to secure 2nd place in the 2003 NARRC Championship as well as a lot of smiles in the paddock!

The AS race was exciting as well. Ray started strong then slowed dramatically (about 2 seconds a lap) and the field started passing and eating up any lead that he had created on them. Soon Ray found himself as far back as 5th place, however about half way through the race, the tires finally decided to start working and Ray turned up the heat. Ray fought back up to third place and never looked back. Robert Avanti made a couple moves but Ray was able to hold him off. Ray's third place finished secured Ray the NARRC Championship for 2003!"

John/TSR

...Alfa GTV !!!!!!! (and look...there's three people trying to steal it right now !!!)

Congratulations, Raymond. Most of the people reading this board don't have any idea just how competitive the NARRC series is, and don't know the depth of talent in the ITB class (even though the class is still trying to get over my defection 5+ years ago !) , but there are a bunch of guys now running Speed Channel World Challenge GT &amp; Touring, Grand Am, Trans Am, etc. etc. etc. who cut their teeth in series like NARRC...These series are really the training grounds for the pros. If you look back at old NARRC, MARRS, SARRC etc. series class champions in the past 10-20 years, you'll recognize a lot of familiar names, even if you're just a casual roadrace fan who watches on TV.

It's even more impressive that you and your brother did it in cars that are not considered to be "main stream" in ITB. Let's face it...the class has been dominated for 20 years by 2002's, GTI's and Volvo's (from Hell...). You guys have made winners out of cars that use to cause large 'mushroom' clouds at race tracks. Very impressive.

I'll be running the 3 hour Glen enduro in our traditional enduro war-horse, the black SSC Nissan, and the sprints on Sunday in my #57 SRF (yellow&amp; black &amp; duct tape). I'll wander by and say hi during the weekend.

BTW...Greg Subtelny (Volvo guy mentioned in the race report) used to race an ITB Alfa GTV just like the one in the picture (well...it was maroon, not red) 15 years ago...and it kinda looked then like his Volvo does now ! And...I still have an ITB Golf, as ITB is still my spirtual home...it just doesn't come out and play much. Loaning it to a friend who's doing the Friday-Saturday SCCA school before the 3 Hour weekend, so he can get his license. See ya at the Glen.

RSTPerformanceRacing

John-

Thanks for the congrats It is great to see people like you suporting or encouraging our (and others) efforts!!!

FYI- Mike Feno (An SRF driver I am guessing you probably know) will be one of the drivers in the line up at the Glenn. Should be interesting!!!

Also if you know anyone who is interested in running the 3hr I think that we have 1 spot open (in the Red Audi). We are not looking to win (although the car is definatly capable) but we are looking to have fun.

e-mail us if you know anyone interested. enduro@rstperformance.com

Thanks again ans we will see you at the glen!!!

Raymond