Race Notes from FMDRS event- Chicago

ROUTE 66 HOSTS INAUGURAL PIT CREW COMPETITION

Joliet, Ill.- Route 66 Raceway and the Automobile Mechanics' Local Union
#701 hosted the first annual pit crew competition.  The event was designed
to promote Route 66 and the local union to our automobile technicians and
the technical schools of the Chicagoland area.  
        Competing in the event were seven local vocational, technical and
Community Colleges in the area.  They were: Technology Center of Dupage,
Lincoln Technical Institute in Oak Lawn, Universal Technical Institute,
Waubonsee Community College, Joliet Junior College, Lincoln Technical
Institute in Norridge and Porter Career Center. 
        The teams consisted of an instructor, four team members and an
alternate.  Each team had to successfully tear down and reassemble a 2.5
litre GM motor in less than thirty minutes.  The teams were graded on
accuracy, conduct and team work.
        According to Herb Elam, Director of Business Relations for Local
#701, "This competition was designed, with the cooperation of Route 66
Raceway and Snap-On Tools, to increase the awareness of the future
automotive technicians."
        Each team member will receive a tool kit from Snap-On tools and a
plaque for their respective school.  The winning team will have their
school name emblazoned on a traveling trophy and have bragging rights for
the year.
        Winning the inaugural event was Lincoln Technical Institute of Oak
Lawn. Automotive Technology Lead Instructor, Jim Krudl, said "This is a
fantastic honor for these kids." Adding, "We just want to thank everyone
involved; Route 66 Raceway, Local #701 and Snap-On for giving us the
opportunity to compete."
        Narrowly missing out on victory was Joliet Junior college, who
finished in second place by a mere five seconds.
  All in all, it was a phenomenal success as an estimated 10,000 spectators
were treated to a great day of racing and a very competitive pit crew
challenge.

LUNDQUIST RACING AND CLEAN NATURAL GAS ARE FOCUS OF LOCAL CABLE SHOW

        Joliet, Ill.- The Lundquist CNG Race Team was the focus of a local
cable show this weekend at Route 66 Raceway.  The NiSource sponsored team
is made up entirely of family members. Charles, and his son Chuck, are the
drivers for the team, while mom Cindy handles all the public relations and
bookkeeping.  In addition, Chuck's fiancé Nancy acts as an assistant PR
representative.  The team also employs the family pets, shelties Alex and
Hanna, to act as the family mascots.    
        The show focused on the alternative uses for clean natural gas and,
more specifically, the use of CNG for drag racing applications.  
        According to Cindy, "CNG runs the same as other fuels except it is
safe for our environment."  Adding, "both of our cars are as competitive as
the other racers in the field."
        
LOCAL RACER ADDS SON TO THE MIX

        Joliet, Ill.-Federal-Mogul Funny Car pilot Dave "The Fonz" Kovar,
has recently added a new crewmember to his team.  Kovar, and his wife Tama,
had a baby boy four months ago.  Dave Jr., nicknamed "Clutch" has already
been given a job by his father. 
 "He helps me with the clutch, that's where the name came from," said Dave
Sr.  Adding, "If you take a look, I even have his picture in there
[cockpit]."
The elder Kovar qualified his '00 Firebird in the number seven position for
Sunday's eliminations with a pass of 6.042 seconds and 230.37 miles per
hour.  
Kovar hopes to finish one place higher than he did here last year.  Kovar
lost in the finals to the eventual division champion, Chuck Cheeseman of
Galena, Ohio. "Hopefully number seven [position] will be good luck for us
tomorrow," said Kovar.
Others receiving honors were Rod Fuller from Rogers, Ark. for the Best
Engineered Car award. Next, the Best Appearing Car award went to Steve Holt
of Fort Wayne, Ind., for his 1963 Corvette.  Finally, the Best Appearing
Crew was awarded to Richard Haggard and his Heckler team of Lockport, Ill.
Taking home the Sealed Power Low Qualifier money was Bruce Bowler of
Denver, Colo., in Federal-Mogul Dragster.  In Federal-Mogul Funny Car, Marc
White of Glendale Heights, Ill., took home the $1,000 check for his pass of
5.688 seconds and 251.25 mph.  Also receiving checks from Sealed Power
were: Richard Bourke of Old Tappan, NJ in Comp Eliminator, Michael Mans of
Rogers Minn., in Super Stock, and Bruce Parson of Lewisburg, Ohio in Stock.