SEBRING RACE REPORT

[Bosco]

The V8 StockCar racers kicked off the 2010 season at Sebring International Raceway February 20 & 21, once again challenging the famous 12 hour course while running with the Central Florida Region SCCA. We had a brief respite from the cold as the temps were in the low 70's and the sky's clear for the weekend, ideal for some fast laps and great competition.

On Saturday morning Dave Machavern put his familiar Heritage Motorsports Corvette on the overall and V8 GT-1 pole with a quick 2:08.396 despite having some fuel delivery problems. "Babe" Branscombe took the second spot in the class in his ex Spirit of Daytona Corvette with Canada's Marco Cirone third in his brand new Porsche GT3 Patron Cup Car. Paul Breehne put the Rousch/Yates Performance Parts Ford Fusion on the V8 SPO pole with a 2:11.996. Kansas Tornado, Ron "Burr" Keith took out the GTA record with a blistering 2:15.305 and Doug Wilson and his Cherry Cars BMW M3 wiped
out Michael Wheeler's year old V8 GT2 class standard with a 2:19.411.

When the green dropped for Saturday's race Machavern led with the surprising Branscombe hot on his heels. Branscombe dogged Mac for the first
few laps before fading and then succumbing to mechanical issues. Breehne and 2009 V8 SPO Champ Larry Hoopaugh were waging a battle for
supremacy, trading the lead early, with Breehne getting the better of it late, taking the class win and second overall. Marco Cirone seemed to get faster as the race wore on as Porsche's often do. Marco brought his white steed home third overall and second in V8 GT-1 to Machavern.

In V8 GT2, Doug Wilson was cruising to a comfortable class win over Dell Haverland and his new C6 Corvette, built from a stock tub. Wilson was driving the wheels off the blue BMW and was enjoying terrorizing some of the GTA cars, as they would rocket away from him in a straight line, only to find him driving down the inside of them at the next corner.

In V8 GTA, Jay Marshall led early, and in the process destroyed Keith's one day old class track record with a smokin' fast 2:14.138. Burr got the
gold though as Marshall suffered a broken axle on lap nine. "Hollywood " Graham ran a great race and came home second in class to Keith with
2009 GTA Champ Randy Walker taking the final spot on the podium.

Sunday's Race featured a stirring battle between the Corvette's of Machavern and Branscombe with Branscombe turning the tables this time.
Machavern led for the first few laps, but left the door slightly ajar and the bold Branscombe drove it in there and made it stick. Despite
relentless pressure from Mac the rest of the way, the "Babe" never faltered and took home the overall win.

In V8 SPO, Hoopaugh got revenge on Breehne, grabbing the lead early and bringing home his big stock car third overall. Randy Walker returned
to 2009 form taking the V8 GTA win with Ron Keith second, Graham third, followed by Tom Boldry and Steve Wiles.

Doug Wilson got his second GT2 class win of the weekend over Ernest Wildings M3 and Terry Taylor's Z car.

All in all, a good start to the season with two new track records and a first time winner, in Branscombe. By sunday afternoon the group was already
making plans to be a part of the ARCA Tire Kingdom 150 at Palm Beach with only five days to lick their wounds and get down to PBIR.