[News] Autosport Developments Dane Moxlow makes Saker, GTO racing debut this weekend at Mid-Ohio

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Karin Risko, Crystal Bay Communications
734 642-5712 / karinrisko@crystalbaycommunications.com

Autosport Development’s Dane Moxlow makes Saker, GTO
racing debut this weekend at Mid-Ohio

Trenton, MI – June 28, 2006 – Autosport Development’s
Dane Moxlow will take to the track July 1st and 2nd
and compete in two Sports Car Club of America (SCCA)
amateur club events at Mid-Ohio Sports Course in
Lexington, Ohio.  
Moxlow will pilot a Saker SVS GTA in the A Sport Racer
(ASR) series and a 2006 Pontiac GTO in the Improved
Touring Everything (ITE) series. Weighing less than
1700 pounds, Sakers are purpose-built, Subaru powered
sports racers similar to Daytona Prototypes and can
exceed 400 hp. Originally designed in New Zealand, the
custom built cars are manufactured in Autosport
Development’s Trenton, Michigan facility under an
agreement with Illinois based Saker Motorsports LLC.
Moxlow will be behind the wheel of the No. 20 Trenton
Forging/PR Machine Works GTO driven by Stu Hayner in
the SPEED World Challenge GT Series at Mid-Ohio last
May. Without even testing the car, Hayner managed an
impressive ninth place finish after a 20th place
start. Autosport Development is the first road racing
team ever to develop and field Pontiac GTOs. 
It’s the first time Moxlow, who turns 18 on July 1st,
competes in either car. Recently, he test drove both
cars at Mid-Ohio Sports Course.
“Dane began testing in the Saker, because he had been
around the track once before in that car,” says Chris
Trapp, AD crew chief. “It helps to go with little
changes rather than the big ones.
“Except for a high speed feeling of lightness in the
front of the car, the Saker ran and handled great, and
Dane drove with a lot of confidence.”
The real test for Moxlow and the team came when he
took out the GTO.
“It’s the highest horsepower car he’d ever been in so
we were all a little on edge,” says Trapp. “But after
only two laps his times came down one second a lap
and, after six laps, his time came down to 1.35. He
got more comfortable in the car and understood the
limits of engine braking and performance.”
“My first time in a sedan or such a large car was
something to get used to,” says Moxlow. “I had to
learn how to deal with body roll and weight transfer
like I have never felt before. In the end, I felt
great, although a little wiped out – it sure gets hot
in there! 
“I ended up running within a few seconds of some the
World Challenge drivers my first time, but with
practice, I’m sure I’ll be competitive.”
Moxlow began racing karts at age 13 and earned his
SCCA competition license at 16. In 2005 and 2006, he
competed in the Skip Barber Southern Sportsman
Regional Championship and earned seven top five
finishes with three first place wins.

“The kid truly has the talent and skill to become a
great driver,” says Trapp. “We’ll try and do at least
three regional SCCA races to get him more seat time.
Our ultimate goal is for Dane to drive in the SCCA
SPEED World Challenge pro series in 2007 and race for
rookie of the year.”

Autosport Development competes in the SPEED World
Challenge GT Series recently named “the most
competitive road racing series in the world” by Racer
magazine. In 2005, driver Stu Hayner, finished the
season seventh in points, a huge feat considering the
team had no factory support from any major automotive
manufacturers. As the first team to develop GTOs road
racers, Autosport Development’s expertise is in demand
by other teams now fielding these cars. The race shop
is also involved in prototype and racecar development,
preparation, fabrication, assembly, carbon fiber work
as well as automotive manufacturing.  For more
information, visit www.autosportdevelopment.com. 

The Sports Car Club of America is a 60,000-member
not-for-profit motorsports organization featuring over
2,000 amateur and professional motor sports events
each year. True grassroots motor sports participation
remains the backbone of the club, as 110 regional
chapters conduct the vast majority of the club's
events. For more information, visit www.scca.com.

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