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March 17, 2007

Fun with Frustration

FUN WITH FRUSTRATION – KEVIN YORK AFTER THE EIGHT HOURS
Prior winner suffers DNF with West Coast Touring Cars team

17 March 2007| Portland International Raceway, Portland, Oregon

Kevin York of YORK Motorsport lamented a mechanical failure of the West Coast Touring Car’s (WCTC) P2-classed car. The result was a non-finish at the Eight Hours of the Cascades sports car endurance race at Portland International Raceway on 17 March 2007.

York - a 2004 Eight Hours P3 class-winner - joined co-drivers from WCTC, 2005 SCCA Northwest Region ITA class champion, Rob Dunn and car owner Paul Forgey for this event.

WCTC elected York to drive the team’s first stint – planned to be approximately two-hours, forty-five minutes in length.

Kevin York, belted in the WCTC car prior to race.

"The team had three solid and fruitful practice sessions in the morning, before the event." Kevin remarked after the race. "My teammates and I were optimistic for a dependable run to the finish of the race. With many strong P2-class contenders, we knew we’d struggle to be as fast as some of them. However, we planned on running consistent laps and working any attrition or caution periods to our advantage. However, we got off to a poor start when the car would not! (start) Once underway, we chased down many of our class competitors and the car was running fairly well. Eventually an engine misfire condition presented and the engine died while on-track. Per the event rules, only the driver can work on the car – anything else, including a tow to the pits – would have disqualified us. I labored trackside for about forty-five minutes with various spare parts and tools that the team brought to me via the closest opening in the track’s fencing. I did manage to get the car running again – only to have it repeat its problems. After hours of valiant efforts from the WCTC crew – including an attempt to get back in the race when the car “acted repaired”, with Paul Forgey behind the wheel – it eventually came to pass that the engine again died on track. At that point, we had exhausted all our spares and the car was brought behind pit wall for the final time.
I would like to thank Rob, Paul, and all the WCTC team for their “never give up” attitude. Too, I’d like to thank my son, Evan for his support and insights.
While we did not finish and we did suffer a certain level of frustration, we all left the event richer from the experience and had smiles beneath the exhaustion.”

Kevin York working on the ailing WCTC car during race.

Posted by YORK Group at March 17, 2007 11:29 PM