Winning has its perks.....
- Photo by Bob Harrington   (click to enlarge)

TEAM-LCR REPORTS

- Photo by Bob Harrington    (click to enlarge)

Pete Gulick taking care of business
 in the Edelbrock Historic Sprint Race

Our second weekend at Sebring was a real blast for all of us - for Pete Gulick, who handily won the first of SVRA's Mike Stott/PaineWebber Historic Enduros in his Chevron B23; for the new, formidable Enduro team of Medenica/Pedersen in our new Tiga, which took second in the same race (a Team LCR one-two podium finish!); and for Paul Flowers, who took second in the Edelbrock Vintage Sprint after a terrific battle, during which he posted the race's fastest lap!

Pete Gulick - after driving the wheels off
his Chevron B23 at Sebring
(click to enlarge)

As usual, Pete Gulick, piloting his '73 Chevron B23, set off on a cracking pace in the Edelbrock Historic Sprint qualifying race, bested only by Duncan Dayton's '72 B23 and Daigrepont's '71 Porsche 908, whose strengths and weaknesses were duly noted.  On race day, gridded third, Pete was was held up a bit at the start because of a late flag.  Nevertheless, he was soon making mincement out of Daigrepont in heavy traffic, and then proceeded to carve his way through the slower stuff in pursuit of Duncan's now-smoking Chevron. Alas, it was too late to overcome Duncan's lead; but Pete took a splendid second, which secured a great position on the grid for next day's one-hour Historic Enduro.

During the previous weekend at Sebring, our new Tiga (right) had experienced a throttle-cable disconnect, which we now addressed.  Bill Pedersen did the shakedown for us in the qualifying race to make sure all was well (it was), before our guest-driver Gordon Medenica took the helm for the Edelbrock Historic Sprint Race.  The car qualified 8^th in Bill's exceedingly cool and capable hands.

'Go' Medenica quickly gets comfortable in our Tiga
- Photo by Bob Harrington  (click to enlarge)

Wonder-Boy Bill puts the Tiga through its paces
- Photo by Gordon L. Jolley   (click to enlarge)

The following evening, the Edelbrock Historic Sprint Race was hard and fast.  As it was Gordon's first session in the Tiga, he had chosen to start from the back of the grid to avoid getting in anyone's way whilst becoming familiar with the car.  He then proceeded to make short work of two-thirds of the field as he deftly cut through a multitude of Porsches, Corvettes and Datsuns. He had so quickly become comfortable with both car and track that his only regret was not starting from the car's proper grid position!  He finished 13^th overall - again, a good position from which he and Bill as co-drivers would start the one-hour Historic Enduro the next day.

Gulick rips the microphone out of Levy's hand
 to relate yet another lame story about his Isetta
 (for clarification, see Levy's The Fabulous Trashwagon)
 

B.S. Levy asks guest hot-shoes 'Bill-the-Wonder-Boy' (left) & Gordon (center) how they finagled a ride
 in our new Tiga before he did.

(click photos to enlarge)

Gordon Medenica was now behind the wheel of the Tiga.  After all pitstops had been taken and the cars all shuffled back into order, he still held second spot behind Pete Gulick, until he was suddenly overwhelmed by at least one Porsche. He then found himself holding on to third position until Pete (about to lap the Tiga) realized it was the last lap coming off the last corner prior to taking the flag.  Ever the gentleman, Pete magnanimously held back (following strict team orders), not overtaking Gordon and thus allowing him another lap to retake second.  This Gordon did, with the resultant one-two! 

Medenica yields the spotlight to Bill-the-Younger,
 who takes a turn at the mike

Note:  Without the able assistance of our pit manager/timekeeper, J. R. Mitchell of GMT Racing - and our lead mechanic for this and the Vintage Enduro, Biff of Highcroft Racing - we would not have had such flawless pitstops.  Many thanks to both!

Victory was sweet as the three knuckleheads celebrated
 with their usual irrational exuberance (below).

Wonder-Boy Bill reveals another side
of his quiet nature to Pete & Gordon
on the podium

- Photo by Bob Harrington 

The hour-long Mike Stott/PaineWebber Vintage Enduro proved to be maybe the best race of the weekend.  A first-rate battle was joined between Paul, Travis Engen in his '62 Lotus 23B, and Phil Currin in his Corvette (pictured above).  Soon after the race began, Paul took a commanding lead.  Currin, however, came back; but Paul maintained superiority until his pitstop.  Although it was a flawless pitstop down to the second, Paul got back on the track only to find that Currin had pulled out a lead almost the length of the front straight (we're still trying to figure out how).  Paul did his best to close the gap, but now he had Travis on his tail, and these two battled for the remaining laps.  The race went on into almost complete darkness, with Paul in command until the chicane on the final lap, when Travis slipped through to grab second place.  All three combatants are to be congratulated for a hard-fought and immensely entertaining battle that kept everyone on the edge of their seats for the entire hour.

Paul Flowers in a spectacular effort at Sebring posts fastest lap in the Sprint Race
 in his '63 Elva Mk7S
- Photo by Bob Harrington
(click to enlarge)

The Edelbrock Vintage Sprint race on Friday had the promise of a spectacular event, as Bob Wagner in his Lotus 23C had shown up for this finale. Because of his qualifying times, Bob had pole, followed by Travis, Paul and Phil Currin.  At the drop of the flag, these four tore away from the pack into Turn 1.  At the end of lap 1, it was Bob, then Paul pulling away from Currin and Travis.  Whilst not as close as the Enduro, this race was hotter.  Paul set the fastest time, with a 2.23.1, and on the penultimate lap, was closing up on Bob's Lotus 23C gearbox.  Still, Bob hung on to his position to the checker, with Paul taking a strong second.  On a power circuit like this, we think Paul has demonstrated that he'll get by Bob yet, so stay tuned! 

After one helluva battle, Paul Flowers (in white),
Phil Currin (red) and Travis Engen (white/red)
are all smiles.  What a race!
(click photo to enlarge)

(Interesting to note that Paul chose to stay on old tires for this race, so maybe another second or so would have been gained with new rubber.  We'll see what happens at Savannah.)

A super start to the year!  On to Savannah!