Tuesday, October 7, 2008

OSCAAR: Tiemersma takes Oktoberfest Classic at Flamboro Speedway

Heading into the 2nd last race of the season, Tiemersma Motorsports was looking for its first win of 2008 and to get back into the points battle for the 2008 OSCAAR championship.

Arriving at the track Saturday we decided that since we were only getting one practice session we would have to treat the heat races that evening as testing session if the car was not handling properly.  After the first (and only) practice however we were not 100% happy with the handling of the #7 Wayfreight, so we would head into the first heat race lined up 3rd and finished 3rd with some minor suspension changes having been done. 

Once the first heat was completed we decided one some major changes for the 2nd heat of the night.  So as Derrick lined up 3rd once again, this time he was able to get to the lead of the race and give the crowd a good show as Derrick and the #83 of Ian Bourque battled for the lead with Derrick beating him to the line.  With heat races done for the night Tiemersma Motorsports packed up for the night and planned changes for the #7 for the next day.

Arriving Sunday the Tiemersma Motorsports crew quickly got to work on a number of changes to the suspension that were decided on and discussed the night before.  In of first of two practice sessions we knew we were on to something so for the final practice session we scuffed tires.

With the results from the night before in the heat races, Derrick would line up 2nd for the feature race of the night outside of the #70 of Jeff Hanley who had lead the field for most of the weekend and definitely the car to beat up until that point.  At the start of the race Derrick would pull in behind the #70 as the two of them would pull out a small gap over the #22 of Glenn Watson during the first 18 laps.  On lap 18 the #40p would spin bringing out the caution, then on the restart the #9 spun keeping out the caution flag; this would also be the end of the night for the #70 car when his rear end broke under caution.

On the next restart the caution would fly again for a violent wreck on the back stretch that would see the #18, #7T, #54 and the #83 involved.  Everyone was glad to see all the drivers were un-harmed; however the #83 and #7T were both damaged beyond repair for the night.  With a lengthy red flag period the drivers were now informed that the race was being shortened to 30 laps.

With 12 laps to go, Derrick had the #7 out front and was hoping for 12 green flag laps, and that is pretty much what we got as the #7 Wayfreight car got better on long runs and lap after lap started to pull out a gap over the #22 in second place. 

Tiemersma Motorsports would like to thank all of our supporters over the 2008 season, we are now back in the hunt with one race to go in the season and are hoping to return the Tiemersma name back to the Autumn Colors Classic.

From Mike Sutton  // Crew Chief  // Tiemersma Motorsports

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