NASA Brings HyperFest to Charlotte, NC

On Saturday, September 7th, NASA-Virginia introduced Charlotte, NC to Hyper-Fest, and boy did we have a time. With major events such as a car show, spokes model contest, drifting contest, HPDE's, Legends racing, the American Iron series, and it's marquee event, the East Coast Honda-Challenge (ECHC). Lowes Motor Speedway (LMS) was crawling with spectators and competitors, all eager to enjoy a little bit of sun and a whole lot of racing.

The events started Friday however, when NASA-VA arrived to begin setting up for the weekend's activities. Chris Cobetto, event director, brought together a great team, all working on their individual responsibilities, to ensure the weekend was success. From Timing-and-Scoring, to signage placement, to car-show prep, to establishing communication, all hands worked fervently towards making Saturday and Sunday as enjoyable as possible.

The day dawned on Saturday with a clear blue sky and a promise for sun. Spectators began arriving by the dozens, some in their daily drivers, some in their show cars, and some in trucks with cars and equipment in tow. As vendors began setting up, racers and crew began tuning cars, checking air pressure, and completing other minor adjustments for the day's events. Our Hyper-Announcer, David Teague, began directing participants around via the track?s PA system, reminding people of their classroom times, location of Tech, and other odd bits of information. Track officials began assisting us with light placement for the infield, as it was a certainty that due to event times, the ECHC would be running at twilight (or so they though). Even local ``stunnas'' registered their cars for showing, in hopes of taking home a trophy. All in all, LMS was seething with people.

LMS itself would be a different sort of track than what ECHC participants had been accustomed to before. Utilizing almost all of the NASCAR oval and all of the infield track, it's geared more towards high speed cars and insane driving techniques. Beginning at the starting line, one would drive on the outside wall for approximately 40-yards, before hitting the brakes and sweeping to the left at a 90-degree angle into the infield. A gradual banking curve to the left brought you to your second braking zone, turning right, hitting the apex, sweeping out for about a 30-yard length, then sweeping in again, apexing, and arriving at your first straightaway for the night. After probably hitting 70ish, one would brake hard, turning again the right, and fly up an incline, pulling the right hand side, to come back down on the other side, on the left hand side, preparing for exit of the infield and entrance to the oval. Sweeping gently to the left, one would climb onto NASCAR 1, clinging to the low ground with pedal to the floor. Exiting NASCAR 2, one drifts to the right hand side, next to the wall, aiming for the quickest way down the back straight. Approaching 135-140, your back is pushed into the seat as physics take over, and rocket you through NASCAR 3 and 4, on your way to the front straight and the start/finish line. Having partaken of the final Hyper-Drive on Sunday, I can attest that this track will change your life forever.

Saturday qualifying allowed me a tremendous seat in the house, in the starter stand. With Tony Politi in the official pace car, (a VW Golf provided by GMP Performance) the entire ECHC pack made their way slowly around the track, heating up their tires, preparing for their first dose of the weekends racing. As the cars rounded NASCAR 4, Politi pulled into pit road, and the green flag was thrown. A tremendous cacophony of 4-cylinder engines ignited, as all cars propelled forwards, down the front straightaway, and into Turn 1. Jack Harris took pole position, as was expected.

Due to various circumstances regarding timing, event length, and other surprises that tend to pop up during an event of this scale, the Honda-Challenge race would only be able to run at night, instead of at twilight, which was previously planned. With all of the LMS and infield lights powered up, the ECHC prepared for it's first night run under the lights. Numerous spectators gathered next to the pit road wall, anticipating the standing start, as 27 cars pulled out of Pit-Out and onto the infield course. Winding through the turns and straights, Politi led the pack, holding them back as they barked at his heels, eager to be let loose with a frenzy. As the pace car rounded NASCAR 4, it veered to the left and onto pit road. Slowly, the 27 cars crawled their way to the starting point, getting one last burst in an attempt to heat up their tires to racing temperature. As one, the group slowed, and came to a stop, a silence falling momentarily on the walls of the Speedway. As the orange flag slowly rose up from the starter stand, engines were revved to appropriate RPM's, in anticipation of the impending start. Suddenly the green flag was out, and the still peace was pierced with the sound of 108 pistons at full song, propelling cars forward in an attempt to gain the lead.

Being a night race, the ECHC did suffer it's share of casualties for the night. Lyonel Kent pulled out with an apparent suspension problem. Warren Wang suffered major front-end damage to his Integra Type-R in a collision with Tom Fowler. Robert Williams experienced a love-tap, as well as Jack Harris. A couple of car-offs also brought out a full-course yellow (FCY), but due to length of the course, a couple of drivers were not aware, and some passing was initiated. This kink was ironed out during Sunday's Driver's Meeting with Race Director Jim Politi. One of the night's more interesting surprises was a first-lap spin-out by Jack Harris in his Civic. For the remainder of the race, he fought back to regain his #1 position, taking the checkered flag, and the H1 win. Corey Jacobs ended a race with both axles intact, and took the H2 win, Scott Giles edged out Chris Brinson to retain the H3 points lead, and the win for his class. In H4, with eight cars on the field, James Evans took the win in his '89 CRX Si, and in H5, Chris Degioanni took the class win. John Whitaker finally got his wish, with a class showing of four cars.

Sunday's events were a bit more low-key, as the spokes model contest, drifting contest, and car show were Saturday only events. Sunday was a racer's day, and race they did.

The Stock Car Championship Series (SCCS) was out in full force, and put on a wonderful race. Beginning with a few sincere spoken words by Jim Politi, an invocation, the Star-Spangled Banner, and the call "Gentlemen, start your engines," spectators were entertained by some NASCAR-esque racing, utilizing the infield of course.

The ECHC's practice session turned into qualifying, to ensure daytime running for the race. Corey Jacobs was unable to make qualifying due to car problems, and would have to start at the end of the pack. Sam Lockwood in his Prelude was a no-show, as was Eric Rosen in his B18C5-equipped Civic wagon. From my vantage point in the the Control/Timing & Scoring Room atop LMS, qualifying went clean and without a hitch.

As the sun started to set, we saw the ECHC grid up for what would be their final race of the weekend. Corey Jacobs had finally gathered his car together and would start at the back of the pack. Tom Fowler and the rest of OPM Motorsports had beat out the damage in their car from the previous night's wreck and were on grid as well. With the pace car in the lead, the now-diminished group of 19 cars pulled out for their warm-up lap. From my vantage point in the starter stand, i was able to catch 90% of the action, and again, these cars and their drivers were ready to rock-and-roll.

Coming around NASCAR 4, the cars once again slowed down, inching towards the two cones that served as race-start, some getting final bursts in a last attempt to heat tires up. Again, a calm silence fell over the speedway, then an increasing roar, and finally, as the green flag was thrown, a release, and at full throttle, all cars blasted from start and down the front straightaway, into Turn 1. Excluding a couple of minor incidents of off-roading, this race started, ran, and ended as clean as John Whitaker's floor, in his '87 Civic Si. Taking the H1 win again was Jack Harris. In a surprising result however, Todd Reid took the day's fastest lap, at 1:26.465, finishing 2nd. Corey Jacobs pulled some amazing driving out of his hat and having started in last position, took the H2 win. Chris Brinson captured the H3 lead, but still shy 3 points of the H3 points lead. Tom Fowler took the H4 win in his 90 Civic Si, and Richard Floyd grabbed the H5 win in his OPM Motorsports-built Integra.

Having brought the Hyper-Fest weekend to a close, the ECHC would like to thank NASA-VA for their patience and at the same time persistence, bringing the ECHC to such a big track as Lowes Motor Speedway. Thanks as well go out to Bob Woodman Tire for track-side assistance, all corner workers, driver's, crew, and spectators. Without spectators, these events would not be what they are today, and what they will grow to be in the future. Thanks again.