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2006 Sandhills Open Road Challenge |
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Arnold, NE -
Imagine Motorsports teamed up with
OPTIMA Batteries to compete in the
Sandhills Open Road Challenge in
Arnold, Nebraska this past weekend.
The OPTIMA Z06 Corvettes performed
beyond expectations and the drivers
and navigators returned unblemished.
OPTIMA sponsored two cars in the
event, both 2006 Z06 Corvettes - car
#206 with Cam Douglass as the driver
and Daryl Brockman navigating and
car #218 with Steve Kepler at the
wheel and Jimi Day providing the
direction. Team OPTIMA competed in
the SORC Shootout on Friday which is
a one mile top speed run. Car number
206 piloted by Cam was clocked at
167.1 on his first pass and car #218
with Steve at the wheel turned in a
speed of 166.9.
On Saturday, the teams competed in
the Open Road Challenge, a 55 mile
up and back open road race. Both
cars competed in the 100 MPH class
with the object being to complete
both runs on the course in the
"perfect time" for the speed class.
The course is very technical with
tight turns, blind corners and
serious elevation changes. Our start
was delayed as a competition Viper
in the unlimited class experienced a
car fire on the course. The 1000 HP
twin turbo V10 apparently overheated
the turbos, catching the body on
fire. Both driver and navigator
escaped unhurt, but the race was red
flagged for nearly 2 hours. Once the
fire was out and the course cleaned
up, the racing resumed. #206 and
#218 made admirable runs on the
first leg of the race and both were
in close competition for the final
return run. Unfortunately, due to a
rollover accident on the course, the
return run was also red flagged with
both OPTIMA cars already on the
course. Since timing and
scoring is official only from the
starting line, neither team was able
to post an official time on the
return run.
The final results had both Vettes
finishing in the middle of the
largest racing class which was
admirable for the newly formed
teams. The Z06 Corvettes performed
extremely well and with the
exception of a couple of rock chips,
returned unharmed to their daily
driver status this Monday. For more
information on the Sandhills Open
Road Challenge, visit their website
at www.sorcrace.com. For more
information on OPTIMA Batteries,
visit
www.optimabatteries.com.
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