Trans-Am Series Enlists Automotive Aerodynamics, Competition Data Systems as Consultants

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: T.E. McHale (727) 533-0503

 

TRANS-AM SERIES ENLISTS AUTOMOTIVE AERODYNAMICS, COMPETITION DATA SYSTEMS AS CONSULTANTS

 

CLEARWATER, Fla. (June 12, 2002) - As part of its ongoing effort to provide state-of-the-art technical support to its teams and officials, the Trans-Am Series has procured the services of Automotive Aerodynamics, Inc. and Competition Data Systems, Inc. to serve as consultants to the Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich Tires Cup.

 

Automotive Aerodynamics, located in Cornelius, N.C., will serve as a consultant on all aerodynamic matters pertinent to the Trans-Am Series. The firm, which specializes in wind tunnel testing, computational fluid dynamics and aerodynamics research, is being brought on board as part of the Trans-Am Series' continuing commitment to achieving aerodynamic parity between its car models.

 

A recognized authority in the field, Automotive Aerodynamics has been providing aerodynamic expertise to the automotive community since 1982, and has listed the NASCAR Winston Cup teams owned by Richard Childress and Joe Gibbs among its many clients.

 

"I have worked with this company since 1995, and they come to us with considerable expertise and credibility," said Trans-Am Series Technical Administrator Chuck Romeo. "They work in all forms of racing and they have very high credentials. 

 

"I feel very comfortable working with them," Romeo said. "We're very happy to have them on board." 

 

Dr. Bradley Duncan, aerodynamic engineer, says Automotive Aerodynamics is looking forward to establishing a successful working relationship with the Trans-Am Series and its teams.

 

"Our two goals for the series are to improve aerodynamic performance and to create close competition," Dr. Duncan noted. "We need to come up with fair standards for [aerodynamic] testing, and as an unbiased third party, I think we can offer a helpful perspective." 

 

Automotive Aerodynamics' first order of business will be a review of all wind tunnel data collected by the series in 2001 and 2002, for purposes of assessing equity in the testing. As new car models are introduced to the Trans-Am Series, Automotive Aerodynamics will play an integral role in the wind tunnel testing which is mandated prior to a car's approval for Trans-Am competition.

 














Competition Data Systems, based in Williamsville, N.Y., has supplied data acquisition needs to numerous Trans-Am Series teams since the early 1990s, and has worked informally with series officials over much of that same period. CDS products have been utilized by every Trans-Am Series driving champion over the past 10 seasons.

 

This marks the first time that an agreement for CDS to provide technical data to the series has been formalized.

 

"We were very pleased to be approached by officials of the Trans-Am Series, since we've been involved with Trans-Am teams for a number of years," says Peter Kelly, Competition Data Systems president. "Our role will be to assist in training the Trans-Am's technical personnel to operate our software and interpret our data, which, in turn, should help with their administration of the series."

 

"I really like what they are doing," Romeo says of Competition Data Systems. "Their presence will be a big help toward helping to create a more equal racing environment. Their people are going to work with our technical staff to make us all feel comfortable with their data, which will be a real asset to the series."

 

The Trans-Am Series, sanctioned by Englewood, Colorado-based Sports Car Club of America Pro Racing, is the longest-running road racing series in North America, entering its 37th year of competition in 2002. Defending and three-time series champion Paul Gentilozzi is looking to claim his fourth title against a strong field of rivals including current championship leader Boris Said, Johnny Miller, Lou Gigliotti, Michael Lewis, 2001 AmeriSuites Rookie of the Year Justin Bell and 2002 Rookie of the Year candidate Butch Leitzinger. 

 

Three of the Trans-Am's mid-season events will be televised nationally by CBS Sports, including the upcoming fourth round of the championship on June 29 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (4 p.m. ET). Other Trans-Am events are carried by SPEED Channel on either a live or tape-delayed basis. All Trans-Am drivers compete for the prestigious BFGoodrich Tires Cup, emblematic of the series driving championship.