2002 ECHC Season Starts With A Bang!

The weekend of April 20-21 has proved to the world that after months of planning and hard work, a race series totally dedicated to Honda and Acura manufactured cars can and will exist. Thanks to Co-Directors Karl Shultz and Scott Giles, the inaugural race weekend of the NASA East Coast Honda Challenge (ECHC) was completed without a glitch. Major kudos go out to those two gentlemen, series sponsors, drivers, and crews.

As a spectator only, I found myself very eager to attend the scheduled events at Carolina Motorsports Park (CMP) in Kershaw, S.C. After working out a schedule with my partner-in-crime, Frank Clark, we headed down to CMP at about lunchtime Saturday. Giggling like schoolgirls, we eyed the various and sundry cars in the paddock, wondering how the automotive gods could have blessed us so richly with he eye-candy. We parked in the ECHC designated area, next to the ECHC Rookie Chief, Matt Bookler (#33 '90 Honda CRX) and John Whitaker (#88 '87 Honda Civic Si). These two gentlemen proved invaluable in keeping me informed of the day's events, people, cars, results, etc. It was a great pleasure meeting them.

At that point, Frank and I decided to tour the paddock, taking in the sights of the ECHC competitors and their cars.

Our first driver/car combo was that of Richard Floyd and his #90 '86 Acura Integra LS. Frank, being the avid 2nd generation Integra lover was even more appreciative that a 1st generation Integra would be competing in he ECHC. After looking over Mr. Floyd's handiwork, we moved on to the next car.

Unfortunately #20 Corey Jacobs was not around to discuss his 1993 Honda Prelude VTEC with us as we dissected it. However, we were very very much appreciative to get such an up-close look at this car that would amaze us a few short hours later on the track.

Warren Wang's H2 Integra Type-R.

A Championship White Integra Type-R with ECHC decals and numbers caught my eye next, so we wandered over, videotape recording to check this straight-from-the-factory road demon. As I slowly panned around the car, I discovered the passenger rear quarter panel was severely distorted, with dents and "ripples". Looking at the name on the car, I did indeed discover this was none other than #71 Warren Wang's ITR, complete with "speed dimples". After introducing myself, and a brief chat with him and Todd Reid (#11 '95 Honda Civic DX), we decided to continue down the paddock.

A brand new 2002 Acura RSX Type-S caught my eye next, with its ECHC number assignment. I was curious if this car actually would run in the race, as I knew one of the requirements was at minimum a 6-pt. roll cage. But, as I approached, I saw the padding for the cage, and knew this would be an interesting car to watch. I talked to it's driver, #145 David Skultety, who informed me that the car had just gotten out of the shop for the cage install a week prior to the race. The car's performance over the next couple of days would determine whether he kept it or not. And so we moved along.

Underneath a tent we spied #13 Lyonel Kent's 1995 Honda Civic EX, and we approached for a look. Sweeping the camera around, we acknowledged the fact that this was one coupe not to be trifled with. The race (and a great pass in Turn #1) would later prove that.

Next I had the privilege to look over Co-Director Karl Shultz's #78 Acura Integra GSR. After loosely following this car through some of the various web sites he frequents, I was ecstatic to finally see it in person. I was not disappointed. This car screamed performance, and even the faux wood look his front strut bar was wrapped in was very intimidating (Karl has an odd sense of humor).

After a brief look at Adam Richman's #42 Honda CRX and Jon Starnes' #28 Integra Type-R we headed back to the shade. The weather was wonderful, and we enjoyed sun, a few clouds, and 80+ degree temperatures. I still have the sunburn to prove it.

ECHC Qualifying was next on the list, and it went well for many of the drivers. The Mazda MP3 Pace Car led the field through one warm-up lap, and we spectators were blessed with various pitches of Honda engines in full song. I was concerned briefly for Matt Bookler who pulled into the pits, but an after-qualifying chat with him answered my question as to what went wrong. Turns out, not a thing, just a clever ruse to get a lot of open space at the end of the pack to run as hard as possible.

Twenty cars ran the qualifying session, with no failures, mishaps or contact.

The ECHC cars take to the track for Saturday's race.

At approximately 4:45PM, the majority of the ECHC cars pulled onto the grid, prepping for the big race. I was able to get some great footage of the driver's as they prepped, and then waited for the cue to hit the grid. Tension was running high, since nobody wanted to botch the start of the first race. Due to some qualification issues, Karl Shultz just barely made it to his car in time for the race. He pulled off a minor miracle in changing into his race suit, getting into the car, getting the net fastened with some help from his crew, and strapped in, all in under two minutes.

The MP3 pace car pulled out, and quite a few of us spectators cheered with enthusiasm as the bright future for the ECHC opened up before our eyes. Car after car, from 5th Generation Civic hatchback hybrids, to Integra GSRs, to a Prelude VTEC, to CRXs, to an RSX Type-S, and others drove by in an impromptu salute to a growing sport.

Mid-field, the drivers lined up in two-by-two formation in preparation for the green-flag. With adrenaline pumping, all these guys could think about was how hard could they push that accelerator into the floorboard when the green came out.

As the pack rounded the final turn and headed onto the front straight, the pace car pulled into pit road, and we spectators who had found an excellent vantage point from the fence at Turn #1, watched the flagger, waiting for a hint at the controlled chaos that would soon unfold. What followed became surreal as I watched a figure lean out from the starter's tower whipping the green flag with a frenzy. At 4:58PM, 19 Hondas went full throttle, filling the air with a sound that is musical to the Honda enthusiast, and surging down the straight-a-way and into turn one. We spectators cheered fanatically as Jack Harris, who held the pole position in his Hybrid Civic, jumped ahead of the pack and into Turn #1. The rest of the pack arrived almost on top of each other, and we feared the worst when Lyonel Kent locked up his brakes and created a line for himself, half on the course, half off. Thankfully, no contact was made, and the pack headed off through turn 3 and into the South Carolina trees. With that, the ECHC inaugural race had begun.

The pack motoring down the front straight.

The race itself proved to be exciting, yet safe, as was the original idea. The crowd was thrilled to watch Jack Harris walk away from the rest of the crowd as lap after lap he slowly pulled further and further ahead to win H1. A mid-race Turn #1 pass by Scott Giles on Lyonel Kent ignited the spectators, as Giles went too deep into the turn and Kent passed him right back heading to turn #2. Giles eventually made the pass stick in Turn #8, and the two emerged from the trees nose to tail on the back straight. The melee with Kent didn't slow Giles down enough to allow the H3 field to catch up and he went on to take 1st in H3. Corey Jacobs put up a fantastic effort in his 1993 Honda Prelude VTEC, even though his car probably outweighed most of field. He succeeded in pulling off a 1st Place win in the hotly contested H2 class after a battle with Alex Ratcliffe's Grand-Am Spec GSR for most of the race. Lyonel Kent took the win in H4 and Matt Bookler led H5.

Saturday and Sunday's races really put the East Coast Honda Challenge on the map. We've heard nothing but positive reports from drivers, sponsors, and spectators alike. There have even been requests from our Midwest and Western NASA friends to start Honda Challenge series in their regions. We're very proud of what Karl and Scott have put together, and only good things can happen from this point on.