2011.02.17 - CMS LMS GT Challenge - Daytona

[Kinst Vonsterga]

The 35 Darlings of Daytona!



This was a true race of attrition. Only 20 of the 35 drivers who started the race were able to endure the 2.4 hours of intense competition. Many teams decided to run with the faster 2 hr. sprint setup (rather than the more robust 4hr. endurance package), and they paid dearly for it ... as 3 of CMS' top drivers succumbed to complete brake failures by lap 50. Radio chatter was filling the airwaves as even more teams scrambled to conserve their brakes through a creative combination of downshifting and brake bias adjustments.

After 82 laps, the top finishers in each class were literally untouchable as they danced around Daytona like the Southern Bells that their Au Pairs raised them to be. After a rough start, Chris Hamilton pulled himself back into 2nd position by lap 10. Drew McLean was relentlessness with his dogged pursuit of the 2 LMPC front runners, exploiting any bobble that would hand him yet a another position up the ranks. Chris Hamilton eventually succumbed to technical issues by mid-race, losing his 3rd place position to another vulture PC that was stalking him with power of the flower. Jerry Hamilton eventually recovered from an equally rough start, finishing 4th in class. The one person who stayed ahead of the fray was LMPC 1st place finisher, Dwayne Jans, taking both pole and the fastest race lap. The reserved Jans quietly deferred any drama and suspense to those who raced in his wake!

The introduction of the LMPCs added a new dimension to CMS racing. The GTs were able to pass the LMPCs on the long straightaways ... but only to find the PCs back upon them during each turn. The GTC racers were very pleased with the overall performance of the faster cars, allowing the slower Porsches to focus on how to strategically outmaneuver each other.


The most impressive run was displayed by Kris Hudson, finishing 1st in GT class and 5th overall. After Don Fryman lost his brakes toward the last stint of the race, the final change in the GT lineup finally took hold. JT Tami dropped down to 2nd position while Vall Hoggard locked in 3rd place to wrap up his podium finish. After giving the Italians a stiff armed salute, Larry Hansen was punted by the Ferrari Team at the beginning of this race season. Team B&B Racing was quick to hire Larry and their investment paid off, as Larry finished a very respectable 4th place in his new Viper!


CMS is the gentleman's racing club, where the slower classes are treated with the utmost respect by the faster GT and new LMPC cars. Holding true to its tradition, the first race of the 2011 CMS season reasserted the confidence that the GTC racers have in their faster brethren.

The GTC drivers had a great battle amongst themselves. Even with the exceptionally talented Kevin Wood haranguing Kevin Cinnamon from behind, the "Cinnamon" was simply unbeatable. Phil Elmore eventually finished in 3rd, just behind Kevin Wood. Stuart Barge pushed through some hard laps mid-race, but was able to finish in 4th place with his Porsche GTC. Many of the GT racers were simply in awe with the speed maintained by the slower GTCs during the inner road course of Daytona's oval. The handling and placement of their cars through each apex was a true wonderment to behold.

Final Standings:

LMPC
1st: Dwayne Jans (Spotted Cow: Oreca PC #51)
2nd: Drew McLean (Uranus Racing: Oreca PC #82)
3rd: Lenny Trapp (VonSterga Love: Oreca PC #907)

GT
1st: Kris Hudson (Hudson Motorsport: Porsche GT3 #43)
2nd: JT Tami (Champion Racing: C6-RGT #97)
3rd: Val Hoggard (Val Hoggard: C6-RGT #53)

GTC
1st: Kevin Cinnamon (Uranus Racing: Porsche 997 GTC #14)
2nd: Kevin Wood (Team DDP: Porsche 997 GTC #93)
3rd: Phil Elmore (Terrapin Racing: Porsche 997 GTC #225)

Race Results: http://www.cmsracing.com/storage/CMS...lts/index.html

Season Standings: http://cmsracing.com/storage/CMS_LMS/Points/Points.htm