GR40 Driver Ernesto Roco Wins:
NASA American Iron Extreme National Championship.
Note: The chassis systems and components mentioned in the article below are the same off the shelf units that we sell to all our customers for street or track rides. Champion caliber wings, body panels, wheels, tires, fully engineered brake systems, drive train parts, roll cages and complete race car fabrication, construction, testing and maintenance are also available at Griggs Racing.
It seems that dreams do come true for the diligent and strong at heart. Ernesto Roco, driving his 98 GR40 WC-SLA equipped Mustang, won the American Iron Extreme (AIX) National Championship by defeating all comers this past weekend at the NASA National Championship races held at Mid Ohio. His win was dominant; however it did not come without substantial drama during the weeks prior to the event and during the weekend itself; as tests of resolve for the dedicated racer were many.
Ernesto is no wealthy gentleman racer. But he is a man that keeps his commitments to both himself and to those that support his effort. Early this year, while planning to run the National event, Ernesto realized he needed a more powerful motor. He spent all the money he had to buy an all aluminum 347cid dry sump high output power plant to run the event. Before it was even installed in the car the engine broke in a big way on the dyno, and Ernesto felt his year was over and stated so. After some words of encouragement from his supporters, he managed to get the motor repaired and in his car. He then went to the Willow Springs AIX race event in July, where it blew up again, in bigger way. With no spare motor, no time to fix what he had, and more important, no money, he felt again that he was done for the year.
But he kept thinking, "The car works so well." He stated to us "The car has such phenomenal grip and balance." His thoughts kept coming back to this, and he decided he could possibly win without all the power. So at the last minute, he "obtained" a low compression crate street engine which, according to Ernesto made "less rear wheel horsepower than an AI car." Determined to win the championship, he installed the motor just in time to get his car loaded into the trailer of Ryan Flaherty, who helped him by hauling his car (without many tools or spares) to Ohio.
Ernesto arrived at Mid Ohio without a place to stay, nor money for a room, electing to sleep in the paddock in a camper. A garage was offered in exchange for his work in setting up a fellow competitor's car which he graciously accepted. He runs practice on Thursday, but the track was wet from rain and so he still really didn't know if he was fast enough. Mid Ohio is a very technical race track, few drivers master it their first event. Ernesto had never been to Mid Ohio, but he was a quick learner; reading the track well and getting up to speed very quickly. He commented "When the chassis is perfect and the car will do everything you want it to do, all you have to think about is learning the track." Sleep under these conditions was not easy. But in his heart he knew the car worked so well that he would have a good chance. He called Griggs Racing periodically to tell them he was going to win it for them, "The car is just too good. I don't need the power." This he kept saying even though other cars would "pull 9 lengths on him by half way down the backstretch." Again and again he said it didn't matter, he would win. We at Griggs Racing had our doubts, knowing what importance power has in an unlimited power race class. Still we hoped he would do well.
During the qualifying race on Friday, the new little crate engine started blowing oil out the breathers causing him to DNF, but not before setting the fastest lap in the Friday qualifying race. Concerned, he inspected the spark plugs but they all were ok. So he rearranged the breather system and waited for the next day. All this left his supporters, as well as Ernesto wondering, and hoping his feelings were correct. While pursuing Paul Brown during Saturday's qualifying race, Paul dropped a valve which gave Ernesto the win, and again set the fastest lap of the Saturday's qualifying race.
Sunday, he walked away with the race for the championship, lapping almost the entire field and easily winning the 40 minute race. In spite of the lack of power, Ernesto Roco set the second fastest lap of the race, missing the race lap record by only 47/1000ths of a second to a car that had nearly 100 more horsepower and the same weight.
There were many who would have made the race, except for obstacles of discouragement, whereby their decision was to stay home. But Ernesto didn't succumb to the hardships of the Championship chase. He believed in himself, and he knew how good his Griggs Racing GR40 Mustang worked, so he never gave up. He never stopped expressing his faith in his steed while soliciting help. He never let himself be deterred from his goal of winning on the national stage. We bid Ernesto hearty congratulations! Ernesto Roco is a Champion in the truest sense of the word.
Other Competitors of Note at the NASA Nationals:
Former Speed World Challenge and Vintage Racer Paul Brown had the only other car capable of running with Ernesto. His is a car built with GR40 WC rear suspension, and a competitor's front suspension, although an SLA style. Having much more power than Ernesto, Paul won Friday's qualifier with Ernesto on his bumper. Later in the weekend, Paul broke his motor forcing an engine change that delayed his start in the final race on Sunday ending Ernesto's need to charge. Paul did set the fastest time in the race, but only by a scant .047 seconds (47/1000ths of a second) quicker than Ernesto. We predict Paul's efforts next year will be formidable.
Patrick Lindsey bought Ryan Flaherty's '93 Mustang AI car last spring. After one race in the car, he removed our competitor's chassis system and installed a complete GR40 WC system, w/ SLA and new Griggs Aluminum Drop Spindles and Griggs Brakes. Arriving at Mid-Ohio, he found he did not have enough ballast to make the required weight limit to meet his power to weight requirement determined by the track dyno. So, although in an out-classed car, Patrick opted to run AIX rather than work on the car, and was reported as saying he "was there just for the fun." Patrick replaced his AI required Toyos with a new set of Hoosiers, and then finished second to Ernesto in the National Championship race, turning laps within a second of the fastest AIX times. This he did in a narrower and heavier all steel bodied AI car with smaller tires. Since Patrick did not run AI but AIX, there were no current GR40 system equipped cars in the AI race that we know of. It is unfortunate that the AI championship went to a competitor's chassis system by default. However, Patrick was 6 seconds faster than the best times of the AI cars. Our experience shows Hoosiers average 1 to 2 seconds a lap quicker than the Toyos, and the 150 pounds he was down on weight worth only another 2 seconds maximum. Therefore after doing the math, with his newly rebuilt GR40 Mustang Patrick had the capability of easily winning the AI Championship race had he remained in that class. Patrick Lindsey has proven to this writer to be a very skilled driver. If he sticks to his class, he will be one to beat in the run for the 2007 AI National championship.
Final results and lap times for all the NASA National Races can be seen at:
"Simply the best, there is no better."
…Ernesto Roco
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