Robert Fuller of Robispec has different ideas. As his Evo comes barreling down the straight towards corner entry on the far left side, a whoosh of Carolina dirt erupts into the air and a corner marker post goes flying 100 feet forward. Fuller has squeezed every inch out of the asphalt and has decided to use some of the dirt to get the desired approach angle instead. Never lifting off, Fuller makes the car turn in and nail the gator strips on the apex across the track, sending the entire right side of the car a foot off the ground at well over 110mph. As the car finishes tracking out to the corner exit, another massive plume of dirt shoots up. Then he does it again and again. This man has gonads cast in iron.
The unlimited class is ultra competitive, despite its tiny turnout. AMS and GSC are within two-tenths of each other, both prepped to the teeth and featuring drivers that have more than a little experience on the racetrack. AMS' Jon Krolewicz and GSC's Leh Keen exhibit flowing and composed driving styles, clearly a result of baptism by fire in various Rolex series.
Leh is actually still racing in the Rolex GT series, driving a 997 Porsche GT3 Cup with Synergy Racing. At the time of writing, he is fourth in driver's points. Krolewicz made it to the 2002 24 Hours of Daytona, driving the Sezio Florida Racing Prototype. Robert Fuller, by contrast, is known for his balls-to-the-wall driving style. As you've read, he doesn't disappoint.
The GSC car suffers gearbox trouble throughout the competition, making it difficult to set a fast lap, but every time the team is knocked down by the transmission, like a scene from Fight Club, they get back up. This determination is unlike anything I've encountered. Then, when gearbox woes have finally been remedied, the engine develops a knock.
But GSC's Greg Caloudas issues a firm creed before the car's last two hot laps: "The only way this car is going to die is in battle. And if we have to pop it to get a lap time out of it, we will."
And pop it they do. Two thunderous bangs echo through the woods before the car rolls to a stop in corner two, and the crowd falls silent. It seems like even the rivals have been pulling for GSC'S black Evo. Minutes earlier, AMS' Martin Musial was racing from his camp to the GSC trailer, supplying whatever help and parts he could. The camaraderie is tear-jerking, and almost unheard-of in this competitive world of tuner cars.
While GSC was fighting battles with its transmission, AMS' Jon Krolewicz was battling with Robert Fuller for lap times. The demonic-looking, flat black, widebody Evo set the pace from the get-go, becoming faster and faster as the day goes on. Krolewicz eventually cleans up the Unlimited class with a dominating time of 1.44.38 performed with perfect, clean laps, one after the other, never breaking a sweat.
The word of the weekend for RobiSpec was tires. During the grueling 2500-mile drive to the East Coast, the team (Fuller and his dad - you've never seen a father this proud before) lost two tires and a wheel from their giant trailer. When they finally arrived, they battled with wheel clearance issues, which disallowed use of the intended wheels and tires. In the second display of ridiculous generosity I witness this weekend, Allage offers Robispec the use of his new ssIX wheels, shod with fresh Nitto NT01 tires (275/35R18). With them, Fuller goes on to post a second-place finish of 1.45.734, including the fantastic display of automotive aerobatics.
The installation of Nitto tires also allows Fuller the chance for a win in the Nitto Spec Tire class, which he takes and, as he puts it: "covered half my gas cost getting out here."
First and second place in the Street class are separated by a hair over two-tenths of a second, a testament to how competitive this class is. When the dust settles, Mark Daddio, once again from AMS in Chicago, scores victory with a time of 1.47.03. The car attached to AMS' tailpipe is driven by Clifton Ching of Pure Tuning in Ohio. The guys at Pure Tuning have performed essentially every modification possible to eke a thumbnail less than 400 wheel-hp out of a bone stock turbo.
Oh, there's a car show too.
After a long, hot Sunday full of excitement, we were all looking forward to an ice-cold beer (or maybe even two) at the dinner table. But it's then I'm reminded that, though I have a special place in my heart for South Carolina, I'm not terribly fond of the 'blue laws' that are in place, preventing the restaurant from serving alcohol to the public on Sundays.
Despite this travesty, we're still able to be the loudest mob of car nerds in the restaurant, with sodas and waters in hand. It's always a great pleasure to get back to the East Coast and meet new people with the same frustrating yet strangely rewarding hobby as all of us geeks here at Sport Compact Car. Here's looking forward to Round Two. Cheers, guys.
Unlimited1) Jon Krolewicz (AMS) 1:44.38
2) Robert Fuller (Robispec) 1:45.73
Street1) Mark Daddio (AMS) 1:47.03
2) Clifton Ching (Pure Tuning) 1:47.27
3) Cory Friedman (GSC) 1:47.93
4) Robert Fuller (Robispec) 1:49.26
5) Marty Grand (AMS) 1:50.53
6) Kyle Germanton (Driven Concepts) 1:51.15
7) Dave Ackerson (AMS) 1:52.18
8) C.J. Moses (AMS) 1:54.01
Nitto NT-01 Spec Tire Class1) Robert Fuller (Robispec) 1:45.73
2) Mark Daddio (AMS) 1:47.03
3) Robert Fuller (Robispec) 1:49.26
4) Marty Grand (AMS) 1:50.53