2005 Season Races 14 and 15
Buttonwillow Raceway Park 10/30/2005

Sixteen Sports 2000 drivers raced in the final race weekend of the 2005 4 Flight S2 Cup season at Buttonwillow Raceway Park. For this race report we'll try a different approach -- first-hand from the drivers.

Bruce Allison:

Congratulations to David Ferguson!....2005 4-Flight S2 Cup Champion!!!!

Race Report: Abridged version:

"Scully showed up, and kicked everybody's ass. That's the short report."

David easily took the 2nd podium position both days, with Littrell 3rd on Saturday and John Ostland 3rd on Sunday.

David Ferguson:

I was able to keep it on track (and protect my last painted (though barely) nose long enough to win the championship. Championships take a really long view, every race (even the ones you miss) end up being important.

Saturday's race saw me starting on the outside row for the split start S2000 group. Michael has posted a "low 1:54" that turned out to be 1:53.3! for the pole. My 1:55.0 was 1.2 seconds faster than I had been able to go on the Friday test day. Jeff Littrell and John Ostlund had the second row.

Michael set an aggresive pace, and we re rolling pretty good (and the field was still strung out) when the green flag flew. Unfortunately by leaving a gap back to the second row, he enable those guys to have a bit of a run at the flag. And it was nearly 3-wide into the first turn with Jeff on the inside. When he tried to back out, Ostund was occuping the space he was hoping to take. Michael I went exactly side-by-side through T1, and just up to T2, where I needed to slow if I was to leave room on the outside. Scully kept the hammer down and shot in front of me. I dogged him for the first couple of laps, but were into the tail end of the previous group, and he carved the traffic (along with going very fast) pulled away.

We pushed hard, running just slower than my qualifying time. The car was getting looser during the race, but I held steady for second place, with Jeff Littrell finishing third, followed by Frank Arnold and John Ostlund.

For Sunday, we made a few setup changes, and I knew right away the car was better for the extended qualifying session. My first lap was 1:55.1, but then I made a judgement error as I roared up on Jeff Anderson as we entered the "bustop" part of the course. I spun when I avoided contact as he didn't see me. My starter then decided it was done for the season. The friendly workers got me going again, and pulled back into pit lane to make sure things were still attached.

Meanwhile Scully had done a high 1:54. On my next lap, I cranked off a 1:54.2, and was sure the next one was going to be a 1:53, when I through it off the track once again at the very trickly button-hook turn. The 1:54.2 held up for the pole position as Scully couldn't get a clear lap.

For the race, I made sure the field was bunched up and we had a good start with me able to lead going into T1, I was able to pull out a bit of a gap for the first couple of laps, but then Scully's Goodyears were ready to race, and he outbraked me into the Star Mazda turn. I kept the pressure up as we circulated in the 1:56 and 1:55 range. I tried another dirt shortcut at the buttonhook, but that wasn't the fast line and Scully was about 8 seconds up the road.

My car was handling pretty good, and I looked for spots I could improve my lap times, mid 1:55's, low 1:55's, high 1:54's -- I was catching up -- traffic balked Michael at the very fast/tricky bustop kink, and I got by easily going over "lost hills". He was only a couple of seconds ahead and I was pushing very hard.

A litte too hard, and I finally ran out of grip at the bustop kink, and did the 85 mph off and on. With only a couple of laps left it wasn't possible to catch him. Finishing order was Scully, Ferguson, Ostlund, Arnold, Jeff Anderson.

Scully's blue DB-5 is wicked fast, and driven very well. It raising the level of competition in the 4/Flight series to new heights (ya think? It's undefeated in 6 races!)

Next year is going to be a barn burner -- get started now if you want to be ready!

Michael Scully:

Tested Friday on old tires which highlighted the capability to drive the new double apex/up and over the hill "A" turn loose...very loose...and generate a ton of exit speed with a "self rotating" squared up car...although all initiated/controllable/balanceable with the throttle. - was fun -- a LOT of fun. - Carl can chime in on this particular technique.

Super strong and fast through the bus stop. - FANTASTIC downforce.

Going through a set of LD65 pads every day... suspect PFC may have changed something. - Or the car might be a bit heavy... ;-)

Saturday: New GY250s were magic in qualifying. - 1:53.3 with more on tap. Race was straightforward - David had his characteristic great start, and we drove a clean side by side though turn 1, though I squirted though at the jog of the "A" turn entry... which was good for both of us, as two cars wouldn’t have made it, and one of us had a championship to think about. From there I went as quick as I needed to win, as I was hoping to use the same tires for Sunday. - Won by a lot, albeit short shifting toward the end as the race ran longer than the stated 30 minutes, and fuel was becoming a real concern.

Sunday: upon inspection, it was clear that Saturday's tires wouldn't have lasted another full qual/race distance...but the Buttonwillow tire shop was backordered on GY250s...had to run GY430s. I also changed gears significantly. These variables, and a couple poorly positioned laps/mistakes resulted in a qualifying effort which didn’t have much in common with the previous day's. I bricked it.

In between qualifying and the race I made yet another gear change. - a bit of a gamble with some particularly experimental ratios, but the race would have been truly miserable with the qualifying gears.

For the race I knew Ferg's Avons would be quick in the opening laps, and the crawling pace of the pace car really didn't help to get any heat into the 430s... patience was going to be paramount. David was first into turn one, and I had enough room in front of John O' to tuck in behind Ferg. The next couple laps were fantastic. - Not that I like following anybody, by man, he can really throw that thing around. - wonderful car control. As the 430s came in, I focused on getting a run though the bus stop...which worked despite getting two wheels off. I closed-in through Riverside, and when Ferg got a bit loose going over lost hill, I was well set-up for a pass into the hairpin. - Ferg shaded over slightly down the straight, but gave racing room. A clean pass at the hairpin's entry transpired despite a bump in the pavement on the inside line which feels as if you've run over a dead body. From there I ran a couple 54s and a bunch of 55s which created a decent margin. With that in hand I dialed it back ever so slightly, and wouldn't you know it, the purple people eater could again be spotted my mirrors...and closing. I get the 5 minutes sign from the pits, and put my head down - back into the 55s on a track which has become seriously slick in several location. Trouble was, that five minute signal actually morphed into a five LAP signal, with the race running to 37 minutes...not sure what the concept was there. Anyhow, running 5 more 55s in those conditions was a considerable effort, but the car is amazingly consistent and predictable and I was able to pedal it home with a healthy margin. A very satisfying win.

Racing with David is always intense...and clean. He's a particularly skilled competitor who's absolutely determined to win, and his level of commitment is exceptional. I congratulate him on his championship.

I'll try to be on-time to the party next year, with intentions of extending the streak...the blue streak...or maybe it'll be black by then...

David Ferrell:

I wanted to post a quick note of appreciation to the S2 competitors I spoke with at the season ending races at Buttonwillow raceway. In the middle of a busy schedule you folks took the time to talk with me about Sport 2000's past, present and future on the west coast. It made for a great weekend for me as a spectator at Buttonwillow for the first time.

Congratulations to both Michael Scully for his twin victories for the weekend and David Ferguson for the 2005 4 Flight S2 championship. As a former S2 competitor from years ago it was gratifying to see a good sized field of well turned out cars for the event. That type of turn out should lead to even larger fields for the future.

Jeff Anderson:

Congratulations
Dave Ferguson 2005 CHAMPION !
Mike Scully for finishing the season 6 for 6 wins
All Drivers - Your skills, attitudes, energy and interest are making this series a blast to be a part.
Thank You-s too
4 Flight- 4 great years
The community of S2000.... just great people
Slacker Industries (slacker Prep Guy and Spgit) - helping me turn my pumpkin into a car
Cal Club volunteers.... where else are you going to see a 200 lb hot dog run out on track and yank a car off track and run back to the worker stand. And yes.... it is a little unsettling to be driving 135 mph in a corner and seeing and Angel.

Saturday

Car No	Driver		Make	Finish
44	Mike	Scully	Swift	1
75	David	Ferguson	Van Diemen	2
1	Jeff	Littrell	Lola	3
58	Frank	Arnold	Swift	4
59	John	Ostund	Carbir	5
25	Jeff	Anderson	Swift	6
87	Bruce	Allison	Lola	7
22	Sterling	Ellsworth	Swift	8
71	Joe	Moran	Carbir	9
24	Larry	Mason	Tiga	10
94	Mike	Pettibone	Swift	11
45	Daniel	Scully	Swift	12
11	Bob	Lovenson	Swift	13
91	Jason	Choulochas	Swift	14
12	Rob	Thompson	Swift	DNF

Sunday

Car No	Driver		Make	Finish
44	Mike	Scully	Swift	1
75	David	Ferguson	Van Diemen	2
59	John	Ostund	Carbir	3
58	Frank	Arnold	Swift	4
25	Jeff	Anderson	Swift	5
22	Sterling	Ellsworth	Swift	6
91	Jason	Choulochas	Swift	7
24	Larry	Mason	Tiga	8
12	Rob	Thompson	Swift	9
45	Daniel	Scully	Swift	10
7	John	Page	Swift	11
1	Jeff	Littrell	Lola	12
11	Bob	Lovenson	Swift	13
87	Bruce	Allison	Lola	DNF
94	Mike	Pettibone	Swift	DNF
71	Joe	Moran	Carbir	DNS

Check out the final 2005 season standings and tons of great photos thanks to Dennis Baer and others.