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CASA
Rookies Get Feet Wet in Orientation at Altamont |
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Keeping
up with the California Asphalt Sprintcar Association |
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3-5-05
– Tracy, CA. Altamont Raceway and Arena, originally planning to have full
pre-season open track practice had to modify its schedule due to wet conditions,
however the track was made available for two of CASA’s declared rookie of the
year candidates to make some laps and get familiar with their new high powered
CASA sprint cars. CASA
Rookie Orientation began with CASA driver and board member Glenn Hopper’s
individual reviews with both teenagers Nick Green and Jessica Helberg,
discussing everything from pit and startup procedures to track and car
performance expectations. While both rookies are quite young, they have a wealth
of youth racing experience in various types of go-karts and the CASA rookie
program is in place to ensure drivers become familiar and comfortable in their
new cars and with the issues presented by the high speeds of sprint cars on a
half-mile track. CASA’s concern for safety is paramount and while both of the
rookies’ cars were purchased from a top-flight stable, an equipment safety
review was conducted before they could take to the track. As
both youngsters fired off and began warm up procedures, it was not unlike other
rites of passage into spring. The weather was bright, sunny and mild with nary a
cloud in the sky. And reminiscent of the crack of the bat and the pop of ball
against leather the first day of baseball spring training, both gleaming sprint
cars shuddered under the load of the push truck, popped, sputtered and then
rumbled to life. Both Helberg and Green took several laps under caution to gain
correct operating temperatures and practiced tire scrubbing, mindful of a few
wet spots still on the track from the recent rains. At opposite ends of the
track, each took a few opportunities to squeeze the throttle and get a feel for
the kind of power they now possessed. After a few more shakedown laps they were
called to the pits. After
a short debriefing and some idle setting adjustments to Green’s car by his
father, former NARC Driving Champion and World of Outlaw star Tim Green, Nick
and Jessica, daughter of Joe Helberg, a former Late Model competitor in the
North Bay region, took to the track again. This pattern was repeated twice more
and with the damp spots on the track rapidly diminishing in the afternoon sun,
each session allowed both rookies to throttle a little harder. Each was then
afforded an individual session. Despite the extremely “green” racetrack
conditions with all rubber washed out of the track by near biblical rains these
last several weeks, first Green and then Helberg made some fairly aggressive
runs. Stop watches clicked consistently during Green’s run and they recorded
his fast lap at 18.88 and several laps under 19 seconds. Helberg ran
consistently as well and she posted a 19.02 best lap. Both
drivers reported feeling more comfortable with each lap and pushed themselves a
little closer to their limits. Enough so that each got their career first
spinouts out of the way. Green with a three-quarter spin in turn one and later,
Helberg mirrored a similar spin in turn three. “This was a great opportunity
to feel what my car is like,” said Helberg “It was good to get the cars
sideways a few times and feel what’s needed to recover.” Green noted how
slick the surface was due to a combination of lack of rubber, used tires (both
drivers opted to save their new American Racer tires for more competitive laps)
and the significant upgrade in horsepower. “Man, when you buzz the tires down
the straights it’s hard to get them back,” he said. “I can’t wait to get
laps in when the track gets better.” Considering
the green track surface likely couldn’t hold an 18.50 lap, both drivers
performed well. Phase one of Rookie Orientation went smoothly and both drivers
were captured on camera for Comcast Sports Net’s new Altamont TV show. Comcast
conducted some preliminary interviews and experimented with camera angles need
to show the 2005 season racing from the best vantage points. Camera personnel
were seen perched on the VIP roof and several tripod positions were used as well
as some hand-held locations. More of the “California Sprint Cars” of CASA are expected at Altamont’s next scheduled open practice, Saturday March 12th. The rookies will get a chance to run with other drivers under more race-like conditions, as CASA gets closer to opening day, April 2nd. Comcast Sports Net will be present during all practices to conduct more interviews and cover all Altamont events for their season-long show. |
