Hide Article Text (OCR)
Genderson race team expands(Continued from Page 13)Lower said. “Even while we’re learning, we’re still able to run up at the top.”One of the reasons for the team's immediate success in the profession* al ranks is the wealth of experienced it gained on the amateur level.Although there are some differences, like the use of stronger brakes and the removal of the catalytic converter, the Firestone-Fire-hawk cars are basically the same as the ones used the SCCA’s Showroom Stock Division.“We have a lot of experience in that class,” said Bisland, who doubles as a driver and the team’s crew chief. “We’ve got the handle on a few tricks other new teams haven’t learned yet. We’ve driven the tracks a lot, we’ve got the experience and we’ve got a lot of savvy as far as how to prep the cars.”According to Lower, mechanical problems have been the only thing keeping the team out of the winner’s circle.The Genderson team’s best showing this year has been a third and a 10th place finish in a six-hour race at Road Atlanta.“After we get all those mechanical problems behind us, we should be OK,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of freak things happen to us so far.”The most frustrating of those freak” occurrences took place on June IS in a 24-hour race at Watkins Glen, N.Y.Both cars — one won the pole position in a track record-breaking time of 222.84 mph — broke while running on the lead lap.The No. 98 car of Mills, Bisland and McKeithen ran into problems with its brakes while holding down the fifth position during the fifth hour of competition.The other car — the No. 99 entry af Lower, Brown and fill-in driver Mike Baughman — succumbed to a tracked bellhousing while running third in the 20th hour of the race.“That’s racing, I guess,” Lower said of the team’s misfortune. “It’s something you just have to get used to . . . especially in endurance racing.”Even with its problems, the Gen-ierson team is already beginning to make a name for itself on the circuit.After just three Firestone-Fire-aawk races, Lower and his teammates have gained tremendous aspect from their fellow competi-tiors.“With what we did at Watkins Glen, those people know the Gender-son team is one to be reckoned with,” Brown said. W’e can win out here. We know we can We’ve already shown we can win a pole position and race in the lead for 20 hours All we need to do now is hold the thing together until the end and win one When that finally happens, there won’t be anyone more proud than Genderson — the man that made the whole operation a realityIt’s great having a major car like we do,” he said Racing is a great activity — great for employee morale tod great for businessWinning is our tradition and K continues to be our goal,” be added. 'There's a spirit of fun tied up in the chaDeoge ... and that makes win- i ting races • real good time
Newspaper Details
Capital Gazette
Annapolis, Maryland, US
Sat, Jul 19, 1986
Page 16
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
MD, USA 07 Feb 2025
Other Publications Near Annapolis, Maryland
Capital Gazette
Annapolis Maryland Republican And State Capital Advertiser
Annapolis Maryland Republican
Annapolis Capital Gazette
Maryland Gazette
