Event #3 won by Georgia Dobbs

Before getting into the nights racing, I would like to thank everyone that came out to the track to participate and support our group. A big thanks again to our sponsors!!! Without them we wouldn't even get to round 1!!! We appreciate you Roger, Darrel, and Beatriz for your dedication to our series. Once again, here is how you can reach our sponsors.

• Horsepower Sales of Pompano: Roger Preston, 954-984-8040, www.hpsalesflorida.com, 2250-2 NW 15th Ave., Pompano Beach, Fl. 33069.
• Pride Auto Body, Inc: Darrel Clark, 954-545-0819, 940 S.Dixie Hwy E, Pompano Bch, Fl. 33060.
• Elite Cake Creations: Beatriz Otero, 954-450-2685, www.elitecake.com, 9920 NW 6th Ct., Pembroke Pines, Fl. 33024.

Event 3 Winner Georgia Dobbs	Event 3 Georgia and Neil	Event 3 Runnerup Neil Ramirez

We had 23 cars in this month's event, which is the highest count this year!!! Now, I have a challenge for everyone for the next event!! I would like to ask every driver to bring at least 1, and talk to at least 1 Corvette owner about coming to the April 19th event. An additional 20 points will be given to any driver that brings in 2 or more drivers!! The more people we bring to the track, the stronger our series becomes.

Ok, let's get to the good stuff!!! I will start by saying "April Fools!!" You will not get an additional 20 points for bringing in 2 or more drivers. You will get a gift from our sponsors for every new driver that you personally bring to the event. In fact, Joe G gets a shirt and hat from this month for introducing James Thompson to the group through the Corvette Forum. Thanks Joe! So, here we go into round 1. The first race was full of horsepower!! Louis Claps lines his "charged" C5 up against Alan Slaney's beast of a Z06. Louis leaves first with a .030 R/T and runs an 11.22 on an 11.18 dial. Unfortunately, Alan was looking at more than just a red C5 after going red with a -.078!! Louis advances to round 2. Next pairing had James Thompson in his first Corvette Challenge lining up with Joe Guterez. James ran a 12.64 on a 12.50 dial taking the win over Joe's 11.91 on an 11.70 dial. Hmmm, beginners luck or do we have another champion in the making? Race 3 we had a "new guy", Neil Simon against Steven Davis. Welcome back Neil!!! It was great to see you in a Corvette again. Neil left the line first with a .268 R/T and a 14.16 dial. Steve dialed an 11.60 and cut a .107 light. As one of our best 6 speed drivers, Steve shifted his way to a win with an 11.64 E.T. Georgia comes to the line next against another great 6 speed driver Doug Masters. Georgia kills Doug on the line with a .011 R/T to his .261 R/T. At the end, Georgia was only .083 seconds off her dial to Doug's .07 second difference, but Georgia goes to round 2. Once again, you can see what a difference a good R/T can make. Great job on the tree Georgia!!! Next up was Dino Ramirez vs. Mario Cantero, another new face to the Challenge. Mario left the line first with a .504 R/T against Dino's .168. Mario continued down the track and broke out handing the win to Dino. Jamie Jamison is up next against Michael Theofel. Jamie just had a really cool article written about him in the local Coral Springs and Parkland papers. Check it out, if you can!! Jamie left the line with a .097, which put a little pressure on Michael who left next with a .382 R/T. At the end, Jamie took the win by a tenth of a second. Charlie Bosco is next paired up with our sponsor Roger Preston. Roger is another one to watch!! Those guys at Horsepower Sales know how to build a car that will run on its dial almost every time. He proved it by running an 11.611 on an 11.61 dial. Unfortunately, Roger went red with an -.153 R/T. Charlie had a .143 R/T. Very close, if you drop the minus!!! Ok, the next race was a very close one. I, Michael Clark found myself next to our 2007 overall champion Richard Mortell. I beat him on the tree with a .184 to his .204 R/T, but my 17.827 E.T. is far off my 15.00 dial. Let's just say my black beauty had a cold Saturday night!!! Next up was Tamadge Dobbs running against the third new face, Gary Cox. Talmage is another racer that you have to watch out for. He may have won a clock for the worst reaction time, but when he is on his game he is dangerous!! Talmage left the line first with a .118 R/T and proceeded to run a 12.17 on a 12.14 dial. Gary went red sending Talmage to the next round. Great run talmadge!!! Keith Hickman had to pass on his run after he burnt out his spark plugs in qualifying. Neil Ramirez drove his red C5 down the track alone and into round 2. Yes, I said C5!! Last month I mistakenly called it a C4. It's hard to keep the 3 red Ramirez cars and drivers separated when they are all so clean and competitive. Next up would be John Peters with the second broke bye in round 1. He would have raced Robert Payton. Last race was Keith Ramirez with a legitimate bye run after cutting the best light in qualifying.

Keith came back to the line first in round 2 to take on Steven Davis. Keith had a .059 R/T and ran a 14.59 on a 14.58 dial. That's a near perfect run!! Steve broke out by 1 tenth. Steve, did you hit that little button too hard to find that extra power?? James Thompson rolled up for his second pass ever in the Corvette Challenge to race Dino Ramirez. Both drivers had good reaction times, but Dino broke out by a fraction. Very rare for Dino!! James was the only new driver to advance to round 2 and then on to round 3. Charlie Bosco and Louis Claps were next. Louis went red with a -.114 and then broke out by less than a tenth. Charlie earned an "advance to round 3 card". Neil Ramirez finally had a chance to race another car, which is owned by Talmage Dobbs. Neil left first with a .067 light, but Talmadge drilled him with a .010 light!!! At the end, Talmage broke out by a mere .088 seconds giving the win to Neil. By the way, that .010 was the best R/T overall during eliminations. Great job Talmage!!! We have a hat and t-shirt for you compliments of Horsepower Sales. By the way, the second best R/T was Georgia with a .011!! I'm beginning to wonder if that R/T clock has magical powers at the Dobbs home. Talmage, I must say that you have done a great job coaching your wife and giving her great equipment to compete with. I am sure Georgia would agree as well as all the other drivers in our series. We appreciate both of you for being so supportive to our series. You have both showed great improvement over the years!!! Keep up the good work!! Next up, John Peters and Jamie Jamison! John had a .045 R/T to Jamie's .138. At the end, John beat Jamie by .118 seconds after factoring R/T, dial, and E/T. Once again, that R/T is the first thing you can do right to seal a win!! The last race of round 2 brought Georgia Dobbs and Richard Mortell side by side. This is a pairing that has happened many times before in the past, but this one ended a little differently. Richard left first with a .114 R/T and Georgia replied with a .134 R/T. Can't get too much closer!!! Georgia ran a 12.909 on a 12.83 dial, which is only .079 seconds off her dial!! Richard broke out by less than a tenth. Team Dobbs strikes again!!!!

Neil Ramirez leads the group into round 3 with a race against John Peters. Check this out, John Peters R/T was a .087 and he ran a 13.287 on a 13.20 dial. He started and ended his run with a .087, but Neil ran a little tighter to his dial to take the win. The next pairing was close. Charlie Bosco cut a .092 light and ran a 12.617 on a 12.30 dial. Great for a 6 speed!!!! Unfortunately for Charlie, Keith cut a .045 light and ran a 12.986 on a 12.92 dial. Keith took the win by .021 at the stripe advancing to the semis. Back came Georgia against James Thompson. At this point James survived against Joe G and Dino. Can he send Georgia home too?? Well, James had a .054 R/T to Georgia's .077, but Georgia and Talmadge know what numbers to put on that window. Georgia ran a 12.886 on a 12.85 dial vs. James's 12.735 on a 12.60 dial. Both ran great, but Georgia takes the finish line for the win. James, we have a hat and shirt for you from Horsepower Sales for most improved in 1 event.

Finally, the semis!!! If we keep this car count up my stories are going to be 4 pages long, which I don't mind!!! As long as the readers keep sending me positive feedback on the stories, they will continue!!! Ok, back to the racing!!! Georgia "Racer Diva" Dobbs is back on the line ready to race Keith "The Kidd" Ramirez. Keith leaves first with a .117 R/T and a 14.60 dial. Our "Racer Diva" snaps back with a .019 R/T!!! Wow, she was hot tonight on the line. Off the line too actually!! Anyway, Georgia dialed a 12.85 and ran a 12.854 to take the win. Now, let's do the math!! She ran a 12.854 minus her 12.85 dial, which equals .004 seconds. Now, add her .019 R/T!!! This pass is only .023 seconds away from a perfect run! AWESOME!!! Next run was a bye run with Neil Ramirez moving on to the finals against Georgia. Oh, one more thing!!! Neil's R/T on his bye run was 1.984 seconds. No, that is not a typo!! Talmadge, where's that clock?

Now for the round you have all been waiting for! The finals!!! To the line we have Georgia "Racer Diva" Dobbs against Neil "The Kidds Father" Ramirez. Here we have two of the cleanest cars and two of the greatest drivers in the group going for one position. Neil takes off with a .055 R/T, much better than last round!! Georgia cuts a .154 R/T. Georgia ends her run with a 12.854 on a 12.83 dial, but is it enough to take the win? Neil dialed a 12.95 and ran a 12.949 breaking out by only .001 seconds!!!! Talking about close!!!! Georgia Dobbs wins her first final round in the Horsepower Sales Corvette Challenge! Great Job Georgia!! There was a line to give a congratulatory hug to our one and only "Racing Diva" after her big win. Georgia now has a 10 point lead over second place Neil Ramirez. Go for that gold card Georgia!!

Thanks again to everyone that attended this event. Can't wait to see you all again in April!!

Congratulate the drivers and discuss this race on www.corvetteforum.com.

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modified: April 4, 2008 - 8:32 pm