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Page 1 of 2 Race Report PIR October 2007 October saw 944 spec returning to the ever interesting PIR circuit for rounds 16 and 17 of the Arizona regional championship. The championship is down to two drivers and a couple of the best in all of 944 spec, Norm Hamden in his 84 #99 car and Glenn Gormley in the #924 924S aka “Peace Train”. Coming in Norm had scant lead of 5 points after drops and in recent races Glenn driving the Peace Train held the edge in speed and race wins. These two races would play a large role in deciding the series champion. October Podium 
The weather dawned cool and comfortable. Unseasonably cool temperatures in the mid 80’s were on tap for Saturday. That lead to fast times. Normally track records are set at PIR in winter months as just even a bit of heat can cost the few tenths needed for optimal laps times. This time weather was on the side of drivers and times were in the 1:12 range for the top two drivers in Saturday morning practice. Camp 944 
The 5 of the 6 other 944 spec drivers in attendance also posted very nice practice times. Cliff Orbach has some difficulty in his newly prepared 87 924S on Saturday morning. Unfortunately it was a short run as his fuel pump fail just 2 laps into the first practice session. Fortunately Glenn had brought his well worn, but reliable #44 aka “War Wagon” and Cliff was able to complete the day in the War Wagon. A replacement fuel pump allowed Cliff to run the 924S on Sunday. Cliff Orbach in the War Wagon 
Saturday race started well for some and with heartbeak for others. The field was gridded by times in the entire 29 car race field and this gave Norm a gap of a couple cars to 2nd place man Glenn and a few more cars to the rest of the 944 pack. This allowed these cars some room to run good laps and quickly put distance on the rest of the 944 field. The heartbreak came when Jim Foxx developed a starting problem in grid. As he took his grid spot he shut down the engine. When the time came to restart the starter cranked, but the engine failed to fire. Jim tired in vain to start the motor, but it was to no avail as soon the field left him parked on the grid. Heartbreaking must have been the feeling has he had a real shot for finishing 3rd in the race based on a good qualifying time. Jim was able to start the car and complete the race, but had lost 9 laps in the process. Jim Foxx 
Norm and Glenn battled early in the event and ran some incredible lap times in the process. The previous lap record had been 1:12.840 set by Jon Ariano in January. Glenn broke that record turning in fast lap at 1:12.802. Norm ran even fast and set the new track record to 1:12.684 in reaching a win and stretching his point lead to 15 over Glenn. Joe Paluch claimed a lonely 3rd in class with little competition after Jim’s unfortunate starting issue. Glenn Gormley's Peace Train 
Norm Hamden 
The finishing order was Norm Hamden Glenn Gormley Joe Paluch Kent Buckley Steve Marlow Vince Vaccaro Cliff Orbach Jim Foxx Post Race Impound 
Kent Buckley, Glenn Gormley, Joe Vaccaro and Vince Vaccaro 
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