No Ambulance required at the Phakisa Free State 500

There were those that said the inaugural ASA race at Phakisa would be a crash fest. It was a track with no rubber down, there would be no grip, there were too many inexperienced drivers, there was too big a difference in the times.

In a way the race may have disappointed those looking for grim results, for at the 1.5-mile oval there was no ambulance required, although official Larry Pond, did dispatch the ambulance after the race to make sure all the drivers were properly hydrated.

So what happened during the race?

Well, it started with Daytona 500 winner, Geoff Bodine on the pole, but Marc Davis quickly took that lead from him and the two would continue to swap the lead much to the delight of a very enthusiastic crowd that flowed from the grandstands to tents on the grassy knoll.  Chris Wimmer got a chance at the lead as well before Gary Lewis took it over.

But Bodine quicikly worked his way back up the front and recaptured the lead, where he stayed for most of the remainder of the race until mechanical gremlins bit him with 2 laps to go and he dove into the pits turning over the lead to Toni McCray, who could not hold off the hard-charging Englishman, Jon Mickel driving Dick Midgley's NASCAR West/ASA car.

Second to the stripe was Toni McCray, super late model driver from Orange Show Speedway.
McCray said this was the first time her and her dad, Orange Show Speedway promoter, Rick McCray, had an opportunity to race together. The two went side by side and changed positions multiple times.

Third place went to an emotional Marc Davis, whose father Harry passed away arlier this month. The race itself was  dedicated to the memory of Davis' dad.

Phew!  How is that for bad grammar and run-ons? ;)

Qualifying Day at the Phakisa Oval for the NASCAR Style ASA cars

Geoff Bodine took the pole. He had been fastest in both of the day's practices, so it did not come as too much of a surprise.  What was a surprise was Marc Davis taking 2nd. He is without a doubt one of the most charming of all the drivers at the track, offering a fresh, speak from the heart American style to an International race.

The fastest woman was Toni McCray from California.  Multiple NASCAR / ASA Champion Steve Carlson was 7th quick, his teammate, Russ Blakeley was 5th.

NASCAR/ASA champion, Gary Lewis, had a motor that went South and the team will be changing a motor. His teammate in the other Dick & Judy Midgley car, John Mickel was 4th quick.

Fastest of the South African drivers was Jaco Correia who came in 11th.

There is quite a spread between the fastest and the slower qualifiers, but Geoff Bodine felt the field would tighten up as the race went down, that the faster cars might slow down and the slower cars might find a way to pick up some time.

Tomorrow's race will be aired live on Sirrius radio. RacingWest will do either a Near Live or time elapsed Near Live.

Geoff Bodine on Pole for ASA South Africa Race the Free State 500

Geoff Bodine will start on the pole in tomorrow's ASA Transcontinental Series Free State 500 after turning the fastest lap on the Phakisa 1.5-mile oval. Marc Davis was 2nd fastest the race is dedicated to his father, Harry Davis), Chris Wimmer 3rd, The top-three were interviewed by the international press following the race. All spoke highly of both the race and South Africa.
John Mickel 4th and rounding out the top five fastest qualifiers was Russ Blakeley. Toni McCray was the fastest of the two women in the field. NASCAR/ASA Northwest Tour champion, Gary Lewis was 13th, after taking but one lap. His team is hard at work changing a motor that went sour.
1. 8 Geoff Bodine 36.015
2. 96 Marc Davis 36.282
3. 52 Chris Wimmer 36.506
4. 09 John Mickel 36.643
5. F22 Russ Blakeley 36.934
6. Toni McCray 37.094
7. f66 Steve Carlson 37.058
8. 19 Tiffany Daniels 37.086
9. 11 Jaco Correia 37.475
10. 97 Mark Ebert 37.790
11. 22 Johan Cronje 37.868
12. 98 Shaun Richardson 37.972
13 73 Gary Lewis 38.148
14. 68 Danie Correia 38.252
15. 55 Greg Barnhart
16. 80 Mark Shaffer 39.747
17. 41 Ron Norman 39.831
18. 85 Lance Fenton 40.081
19. 20 Gugu Zulu 40.295
20. 61 Tim Olson 40.977
21. 900 Johan Spies 41.332
22. 31 Dustin Dudley/Don UHlir 42.119
23. 00 Johan Coetzer 42.571
24. 08 Rick McCray No Time

25. Ron Barfield No Time

Miss Phakisa Contest -- The Ladies Meet the Judges

Several of the local beauties entered in the Miss Phakisa contest had their first chance to meet with the contest judges and explain why they would be a good Ambassador for South Africa and Phakisa. 

There was some nerves, some humor and a a lot of beauty.

Tonight they will do a mix and greet with the drivers and teams at the casino. They will be wearing some short-shorts and t-shirts and then will change to their most beautiful dress to walk the catwalk.

Practice Day at Phakisa

Wowsers! Is Africa ever cool!

I finally made it to Phakisa and it has been one of the best adventures of my life. I landed at Johannesburg, South Africa on the 22nd Jan. I was dreading that plane ride because my back is messed up, but I survived just fine and first thing went through immigration. I don't think I have ever been through a faster immigration. Collected my bags and then went to a "home" for the night.

Notice how well my 5-year old luggage matched the spread. :)

In the morning I got a flight to Hoedspruit for a visit to the Kruger area.

The room was very nice and clean. 

That evening we went out on safari and found two sister lions.

 

That alone made my trip. But it was only the start of an amazing 4 days at Kruger.

But then I was thrilled even to see the Zebra, for although they may be a common animal in South Africa, they were a rare treat to me.

 

Africa -- Wow!

3 days in Kruger--amazing. Day one it was being surrounded by 17 lions, And then there were the giraffe and zebra on day two. "Common animals" I was told. But, common as they may be here, they just aren't that common in the States. Day two also included seeing a white rhino grazing, watching a couple of cheetah resting and then in action and standing in a dry river bed staring down buffalo, the latter not exactly the highlight of my trip. Oh but come day three was a sight not soon to be forgotten.

Our guide got word of a sighting of elephants. So we quietly drove to an area the guide anticipated the elephants would be passing through. Now I had been assured from the day I arrived that there would be no elephants, the grass was too dry for them, so this was definitely a welcome surprise. Patiently we waited, we could hear the crickets, but that was it and then out from the bush walked a herd of elephants. How something so big could be so quiet was astonishing. There were ten of them in all, including the cutest little ones ever. And softly they walked trunk to tail. Magnificent!

On day four I made my way back to Johannesburg. It was an exciting day as ASA/NASCAR Northwest Tour champion, Gary Lewis, was scheduled to arrive along with many of the other drivers, Tiff Daniels, Marc Davis, Steve Carlson, etc. After all the purpose of this trip was the ASA Transcontinental race at the Phakisa 1.5-mile.

Once all the drivers changed their US dollars for South African Rand they were off for the Savannah Cheetah Reserve. Now five days of exceptionally heavy rains left the road a bit of a challenge for the large bus they were being transported on, but in a way it added to their African adventure with the bus negotiating as far as it could and then out in the middle of nowhere Dennis Huth was standing directing the bus to stop, a good thing as the bus was definitely being challenged. Huth had assembled a variety of vehicles, including Safari Land Rovers to shuttle the drivers the rest of the way.

They all wined and dined in a Boma with a large open pit fire burning in the center. They were welcomed by the owner of the Savannah Cheetah Reserve, Bobby Hartslief, who is also was instrumental in the building of the Phakisa Circuit for the Free State government. He is an intriguing man, that said he may have made a mistake building a 1.5 mile oval that in retrospect he should maybe have built a 1-mile, He then explained a little about the Savannah. He started out breeding cheetah and selling them to zoos. But as time went on, the population of the cheetah continued to decline, at which point he changed his focus from selling the cheetahs to zoos, to breeding them and releasing them in the wild. He wished everyone a successful race and then turned the "floor" over to Huth.

Huth also shared his appreciation for the efforts everyone put out in coming to South Africa for the race. He was very genuine when he stated how much he appreciated their help in the endeavor of making the Phakisa race a success, not only for this year, but for years to come. He good naturedly disagreed with Hartslief over whether the track should have been a 1.5 or 1-mile oval, saying he had built the perfect track.

The track at Las Vegas has always been a fan and driver favorite. Why if it works in America, why not Africa? But it really isn't the size of the track that counts here. It is the vision and the sincere feelings of appreciation that count. It just feels so right.
I get the impression the bar has just been raised on how drivers, fans and media will be treated in the future.

Anyway now on to the drivers first full day in Africa and it is going to be good. Can't wait to see these tough guys cuddle a cheetah. Stay tuned...will let you know how it goes.
*Just a note ... I didn't bring a working phone, I didn't bring a real camera, I didn't bring anything but a netbook with no spell or is that speel checker...so deal with it :)

On my way

Shuttle picked me up at 6am. Left LAX at 9am. Eating snacks here in Atlanta, waiting for the plane to South Africa, which leaves 6something pm.

I had packed my laptop and netbook and one of charly's nicish cameras  but I left all but the netbook at home. My back is out of whack and I couldn't carry it. 

Really looking forward to seeing the ASA Race at Welkom, to get up close and personal with animals and to discover an all new culture. I have never been anywere in Africa.

Forgot to pack anythiing dressy. So...I will have to go as pure media jeans and nerdy pocket camera in hand  guess.

From 23 to 26 jan I will have no Intenet so if you have something you need posted send it to PR @ racingwest.com.

Pretty cool way to kick off a race season, West cars racing on the prestigious Toyota Speedway and West cars racing on the Wolrd class Phakisa Speedway. in front of a whole new set of fans.

Sure would be cool if the dates were different so we could go to both, but seriously...how many fans are going to go to Phakisam from the US?  A handful I imangine...although this fans is already planning next years getaway to Africa. Guess if they don't have a race, I will still have a great vacation.

Have a few people that said they will twitter ShowDown updates. If anyone else plans to let me know, so i can steer people your way. 

PURSE ANNOUNCED FOR ASA TRANSCONTINENTAL SERIES FREE STATE 500

The first ever ASA Transcontinental Series Free State 500 event will feature some of the best drivers from the United States, South Africa, United Kingdom, and Australia.  The event will have a $300,000 US cash purse. The field will receive a cash prize based on their finish from as high as $25,000 US to the winner to as low as $9,000 US for last place. Along with the prize money, several American race product companies are also providing over $14,000 in contingency prizes for the event.  These companies will either hand out cash prizes and/or product rewards for the event. For more information about the Free State 500, please visit www.phakisa.com or www.freestate500.com.

Updated list of drivers going to Phakisa

Russ Blakeley - 2004 NASCAR Elite Touring Division, Rookie of the Year, Millennium Late Model Champion,  1993 Rookie of the Year-Pikes Peak Hill Climb-Stock Car Division, Nicknamed “Captain Spectacular” for jumping a schoolbus over a motorhome

Ron Barfield - Finished 22nd in the 1997 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway driving for Bill Elliott.  He has 29 starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series where he has two top-ten finishes and has 71 starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series where he has four top-five and 17 top-ten finishes.
Today, he owns and operates the 4/10-mile oval in Dillon, SC with many family members helping him.  It's an opportunity for him to help mentor the young drivers that compete weekly at his track. 
 
Geoff Bodine - One of NASCAR's top 50 Greatest Drivers, and then there is the Bo-Dyn Bobsleds
 
Steve Carlson - ASA Midwest Tour Champion,  four-time ARTGO Series champion (1990, 91, 94, 96),  five-time NASCAR Elite Division – Midwest Series champion (1998, 2000, 01, 02, 03). 2007 NASCAR Weekly Series National Champion and has six track championships at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway (1978, 1979, 1982, 1984, 2007, 2008).
 
Tiff Daniels - Competed in NASCAR Limited Late Model and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model Stock Car, attended the year-long Lyn St. James Driver Development Program in 2007, was one of 24 drivers selected for, selected to participate in the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine, graduated Magna Cum Laude from UNC Charlotte with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, concentration in Motorsports, and a Minor in Public Relations.  worked as an engineer for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates
Tiffany returned to Phase II of the Lyn St. James Driver Development Program in February of 2008, and was awarded the Kara Hendrick Memorial Scholarship for her spirit & talent.  She is looking forward to 2008 season, as she attempts to get her first Late Model Stock Car win and pursue other opportunities to advance her career.
 
Marc Davis - 2 years of racing experience, successfully competing on dirt, asphalt and road course tracks has competed in both NASCAR Mexico series and NASCAR Camping World East series.
 
Gary Lewis - Former NASCAR Northwest Tour champion, Current ASA Northwest Tour champion
 
Rick McCray - Former NASCAR Craftsman Truck and Winston West owner/racer, Current Promoter Orange Show Speedway
 
Toni McCray - Has managed a NASCAR Craftsman Truck team, has worked for Evernham Motorsports as well as NASCAR in Marketing role, currently racesat and helps run ASA track, Orange Show Speedway.
 
John Mickel - First SCSA (Stock Car Speed Association) champion, competed in NACAR Craftsman Truck series.

Chris Wimmer - Competed in ASA, NASCAR Busch Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series