SCCA: Don and Bobby Sak team up at Pikes Peak

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

May 25, 2001

SAK ATTACK: For the first time since the van Overbeeks at Pikes Peak International Raceway in 1997, a father-son team will compete in the Speedvision World Challenge, with Don Sak joining son Bobby in the Grand Sport Racing Corvette C5s.

Don Sak, a 16-year Trans-Am Series veteran, will make his first-career Speedvision GT appearance in the No. 08 KB Inc./Grand Sport Racing entry. Sak initially drove the car on the Mosport test day last week, prior to primary driver Bobby Archer's arrival.

"We had so much fun on the track in testing, we thought it would be great to race together," said rookie Bobby Sak. "We think this is a great chance to enjoy the sport we love most together, and I get a chance to beat the old man."

In spite of the young Sak's enthusiasm, beating Don Sak won't be easy. Lime Rock has been where the elder Sak has posted his best finishes in the Trans-Am Series. In 1991, he was the recipient of the Champion Hard Charger Award. In 1998, he enjoyed his highest qualifying position (seventh), and best Trans-Am finish (fourth).

The team comes off of its best outing since switching to the Corvette C5 model, with top-10 finishes for both Bobby Archer (eighth) and Bobby Sak (10th) at Mosport last Sunday. The team is hoping to build on that momentum this weekend. Bobby Sak got a sneak preview of the track on Tuesday, giving media ride-arounds in wet conditions.

While both Don and Bobby have had fun kidding each other about the race, both father and son are serious in their intent to top the Speedvision GT field.

"There is no question we will have fun racing with each other," said Bobby, "but we are both focused on beating everyone else. For each of us, that is our top priority. Together on the track, we will more likely be working with each rather than against."

The only other time a father and son have competed against one another in a World Challenge race was in 1997, when Johannes and Tom van Overbeek each recorded top-10 finishes at PPIR.

Text provided by Eric Prill

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