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2003 NEWS ARCHIVE
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DECEMBER 5, 2003 (Phoenix, Arizona)
DARREN LAW TAPPED FOR BRUMOS PORSCHE GRAND AMERICAN
ROLEX SERIES DAYTONA PROTOTYPE RIDE
Veteran Grand American Rolex Sports Car series driver Darren Law
has been selected by the Brumos Racing team to contest the entire
2004 schedule in their #58 Red Bull sponsored, Porsche powered FABCAR
entry in the Daytona Prototype class. Phoenix resident Law will
be co-driving with David Donohue, and the team should be a force
to reckon with in the upcoming season.
Law, who has won driver's championships in the Grand American Rolex
series previously, is excited about his chances for future success
with a top echelon team like Brumos.
Said Law, "This is the type of opportunity that as a driver you
work your entire career to earn. Brumos is a high caliber race team
with top level equipment and personnel, and of course a fantastic
tradition in motor racing. I am honored to be a part of the Brumos
organization, and I'm very excited about the prospect of next year."
Darren is quick to thank those that have given him opportunities
in motorsport as he remarks," I really have to extend my thanks
to Bob Snodgrass for giving me this opportunity.Ę We had talked
on and off toward the end of the 2003 season and we were finally
able to get all the pieces of the puzzle to fit. I also want thank
Cole Scrogham who owns G & W Motorpsorts. He really took a chance
on me way back when. He gave me a great opportunity and we won the
GT championship together in 2001. He has always been supportive
of my efforts and is also very professional.
Law is also looking forward to competing against other solid race
teams, as a large number of daytona prototype cars and teams is
forecast for 2004.
"To win next year is definitely going to be tougher for everybody,"
remarked Darren. "There seem to be quite a few more cars entering
our class for 2004 and we will all have to be at the top of our
game throughout the season. I'm confident that the Brumos team and
the Porsche power will be an integral part of a competitive package
for this upcoming season. I have a feeling that the fans are in
for some great racing."
For more information on the entire Grand American Road Racing schedule
for 2004 contact them at www.grand-am.com.
Release Contact: Mike Speck JMS Motorsports Marketing (480)
225-6764
Jmsprservice@aol.com

October
20, 2003 (Phoenix, Arizona)
LAW
MAKES ACEMCO MOTORSPORTS TEAM DEBUT AT PETIT LE MANS ENDURO
Darren
Law, a veteran driver of four previous Petite Le Mans races, finished
7th in class in his debut for the ACEMCO Motorsports Team driving
a Ferrari 360 Modena in the GT category. The grueling 1,000-mile
season ending endurance race for the American Le Mans Series took
place outside Braselton, Georgia at challenging Road Atlanta.
"That
really was a great time," said Law after the race. "I got a chance
to dice with a bunch of GT cars out there, and it really made my
driving stints enjoyable. The brakes on that Ferrari were just fantastic,
and they were really easy to get used to. I've got to thank ACEMCO
for giving me the chance to drive the car, and I think we really
ended doing a good job."
Law
of Phoenix, was teamed with his good friend Terry Borcheller also
of Phoenix, and Shane Lewis of Jupiter Florida.
"It
was great having a chance to drive with Terry for once," remarked
Darren. "We have competed against one another for so many years
that it was fun to have a chance to be his teammate. We were able
to work together along with Shane to get the car setup pretty much
in the ballpark where we wanted it. We drove a consistent pace just
as the team had requested, and the car stayed solid throughout the
race."
Although
there are no plans as of yet Law enjoyed his time with ACEMCO and
would like to drive for them.
Said
Darren, "The ACEMCO guys are a terrific group, and it would great
to work with them again. We'll see what happens next year."
Darren
is proud to wear safety gear from CDOC Systemized Performance, suppliers
of top-level safety gear and vehicle enhancement products. For additional
information visit them at www.cdoc.com.
Any
questions or comments regarding this release should be directed
to Mike Speck @ (480) 225-6764

October
6 , 2003 (Phoenix, Arizona)
LAW
AND G & W MOTORSPORTS EARN DOUBLE PODIUM FINISHES iN VIR 400
Veteran
Grand American Rolex Sportscar series competitor Darren Law and
the G & W Motorsports team had two well-earned 3rd place finishes
this weekend at the VIR 400 held at their home track of Virginia
International Raceway. The two podium finishes came one each in
the Grand Am Cup and Grand American Rolex Sportscar series events.
Both endurance contests were completed under clear skies and beautiful
conditions amidst the rolling hills and thick forests around Alton,
Virginia.
Rolex
Daytona Prototype
After
a competitively driven race, Law and the G & W Motorsports team
were elated to bring the #8 USI Insurance / TheValley Group BMW
powered Picchio Daytona Prototype home to a competitive third place.
Law and his teammate Patrick Huisman kept the Picchio in the hunt
throughout the course of the event and were ready to challenge for
the lead as the race entered its final stages.
"Patrick
(Huisman) drove great, just as we expected," remarked Law. "He turned
the car over a bit before half distance, and we knew then, that
we really had a fighting chance for at least a podium. All those
yellows toward the end kept the race close, and I had a great dice
with the #59 Brumos car over the last few laps. I could really close
up under braking and through the corners, but as soon as we hit
the straights he would leave me. Obviously, it would have been nice
to get by him, but I have to admit that I'm pretty happy with the
podium."
VIR
being G & W 's home track and Darren's intimate knowledge of the
many nuances of the circuit may have contributed to the team's good
fortunes this past weekend, but Law is quick to credit the work
of the team.
Said
Law, "Without a doubt VIR is a very challenging racetrack that really
has a few speed secrets that only time on the circuit can unlock.
Add to that the fact that the Prototypes are really going quick
through some many of the sections, and you have to have a driver
that can hustle the car. Ultimately though, the car has to be there,
and I've got to thank the G & W guys for giving me a competitive
package this weekend. We've had good couple of weekends now, and
I'm hoping we can sort of ride this wave into Daytona."
Grand
Am Cup
Law's
first race of the weekend came in the Grand Am Cup endurance event,
a series held for production based street stock racecars. Law and
codriver Vinnie Faraci, both of Phoenix, Arizona piloted the #01
Porsche 993 in the GSII class to third place.
"I
got in the car right at halfway, and I think we were somewhere around
14th in class," said Law as he recapped the event. " I just put
my head down and tried to pick off as many positions as possible.
The further we came up the field the harder it was to get by people,
but it really was a fun drive. The car was great throughout my stint,
and I'm glad we could put ourselves on the podium."
The
Grand American Rolex Sportscar series next travels to Daytona International
Speedway for the Grand American Champions Weekend to be held the
weekend of October 31 through November 2. For additional information
on the upcoming 3-hour endurance contest contact the Grand American
Road Racing Association at www.grand-am.com.
Darren
is proud to wear safety gear from CDOC Systemized Performance, suppliers
of top-level safety gear and vehicle enhancement products. For additional
information visit them at www.cdoc.com.
Any
questions or comments regarding this release should be directed
to Mike Speck @ (480) 225-6764

September
14, 2003 (Phoenix, Arizona)
FAST CAR BUT BAD LUCK RULE THE DAY FOR LAW,
DYSON, AND G & W MOTORSPORTS AT MOSPORT GRAND AM CUP RACE
After
qualifying a competitive 6th for the September, 12 Grand Am Cup
event at Mosport International Raceway, the G & W Motorsports Porsche
GT3 Cup car finished 8th in the GS I class with Darren Law at the
wheel. The 3-hour Grand Am Cup race, an endurance event for stock
production racecars was the headline event of the weekend, and was
completed amid clear skies and beautiful conditions.
The
weekend started well as Law screamed to second in the timing charts
after the first practice session. Said Law after the event, "We
knew the speed in the car was there. We had been testing at VIR
over the last couple of weeks, and so the car was quick right out
off the trailer at Mosport."
The
strategy was to have Chris Dyson qualify the car, and therefore
start the race with Law jumping in at midpoint and finishing the
event. Dyson drove a steady qualifying session on Friday to ensure
the car was in the field, and the car was then prepared for the
race.
Dyson
maintained his position following the start and was running strongly
until lap five when a suspension failure caused a quick spin. Dyson
was able to continue however, and quickly made for the pits where
the car was attended to, but lost two laps in the process.
Dyson
continued with his stint and brought the car in for fuel at which
point Law climbed aboard. Darren was happy with the setup and set
out to make up time. "Even though the Grand Am Cup races are billed
as endurance events, pretty much everybody is on a sprint pace right
off the bat," said Darren. "Being two laps down pretty much takes
you out of contention, but we decided to push hard anyhow. The car
was good, and we turned consistently quick lap times that would
have kept us right with the leaders. That suspension problem was
just bad luck."
Look
for Law, Dyson and the whole G & W crew next week at Circuit Mont-Tremblant
where they will again test the GS I Grand Am Cup field in their
Porsche GT3 Cup car. The race will be another 3-hour event and will
be a support race for the Grand American Rolex Sports Car series
held the weekend of September 19-21.
Darren
is proud to wear safety gear from CDOC Systemized Performance, suppliers
of top-level safety gear and vehicle enhancement products.

July
6 , 2003 (Phoenix, Arizona)
DRIVER
LAW ON THE PACE IN GRAND AMERICAN ROLEX SERIES PAUL REVERE 250 AT
DAYTONA
Grand
American Rolex Sports Car Series driver Darren Law was up to speed
quickly on his way to a fifth place finish in class at Daytona in
the G & W prepared BMW powered Picchio Daytona Prototype sporting
sponsorship from The Valley Group and USI Insurance. The second
of three Rolex Sports Car Series events slated for Daytona for 2003
took place under the lights on the evening of July 3rd.
After
staring second in class and fourth overall, Law was able to break
away from the pack and ran a very close second overall to the Brumos
Porsche of David Donohue, and by lap five was able to move into
the overall lead. Law spent much of his stint leading the DP class
race, despite some spirited battles with Donohue and the GTS class
Mustang of Tommy Riggins.
Darren
talked us through the opening laps of the event. "Once the race
began, Donohue and I took off. We battled for a few laps and then
I took the lead. I lead almost the entire first hour. Donohue and
I were a car length apart for the entire time. It was great racing."
Law,
who was again teamed with NASCAR regular Geoffrey Bodine, was excited
about the progress the team made in setup and speed. Despite a mid
race miscue with Bodine at the wheel that damaged the car sufficiently
to end their evening, Law was quick to point out that the #8 G &
W DP had been near the top of the charts all weekend.
Said
Law after the event, "We had made some major setup changes over
the weekend, and the car was fast. We really have a good direction
on where to go with the car, and I think we made a lot of headway.
Not only was I able to lead the race, but our times were within
a couple of tenths of the fastest times for a prototype. We are
really looking forward to the next race and the rest of the season,
and are hoping for a turnaround."
The
Grand American Rolex Series has a month long break before the Bully
Hill Vineyards 250 to be held August 7-8 at Watkins Glen.
For
any information regarding this release please contact Mike Speck
at (480) 225-6764 or e-mail at jandmspeck@aol.com

JUNE 22, 2003 (Phoenix, Arizona)
DARREN
LAW AND G & W MOTORSPORTS PULL DOUBLE DUTY AT SOGGY SAHLENIS
SIX HOUR ROLEX ENDURO
Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series standout driver Darren Law
had a long and eventful weekend at the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the
Glen endurance event held at pituresque but rainy Watkins Glen,
as he finished 2nd in the Grand Am Cup event, and 4th in the Daytona
Prototype class of the Rolex race.
Grand Am Cup
Law’s first race of the weekend was in the G & W prepared Porsche
GT-3 Cup car, which he shared with Chris Dyson, for the 3 hour Grand
Am Cup event. After leading for several laps, Law finished the rain
soaked event a very close second to the winning TPC Racing Porsche
of Randy Pobst. Weather was a factor all weekend as fog had delayed
qualifying for several hours, and the race was run almost entirely
in the rain.
It was definitely slick out there, and it was important to make
as few mistakes as possible, said Law after the race. In the closing
laps I really thought I might be able to get back by Randy (Pobst),
but we couldn’t quite get it done. Great race though, especially
in the rain. I’m happy that Chris (Dyson) and I finished on the
podium, especially since we really should have won the last one
of these.
Sahlen’s Six Hour Rolex Sports Car Event
After a steady downpour that lasted for much of the weekend, conditions
began to clear for the start of the Sahlen’s Six Hour Grand American
Rolex Sports Car enduro. After failing to have their cars ready
for the pre race pace lap, the front row qualifying Brumos Porsche
was forced to start from the back of the pack allowing Law to start
the #8 G & W prepared 95.1 The Nerve/Sahlen’s BMW powered Picchio
Daytona Prototype on the front row.
The G & W Motorsports crew had worked hard to remedy the fuel pump
problems that plagued the team at the last race in Fontana. Although
there were some minor glitches during practice on Friday and Saturday,
the car showed no symptoms of the electrical related problems during
the race.
I've really got to hand it to the G & W crew guys,” said Law. “There
was a bit of a problem with engine cutout during practice, but the
guys just did anything and everything to make sure the car was right
for today. They were here until 3:30 in the morning last night,
and I just can’t thank them enough.
Law brought the car in on lap 10 to help change the handling which
had gone very loose. Darren talked us through the first few laps.
We were glad to be on the front row, and the plan was to go out
and run some consistent times and stay in the hunt. The first few
laps were pretty good, and then the car started to go really loose,
especially at turn in. It really was a handful there for awhile,
and on lap 10 we decide to pit and maybe tighten the car up a bit.
There was a problem with the clutch from pretty early on, so pit
stops were a little on the tough side for the guys. The handling
started to get a bit better, and I was able to push harder toward
the end of my stint.
NASCAR regular Geoffrey Bodine took the car over after Law’s stint,
and was able to help the team to a forth place finish in the Daytona
Prototype class.
Geoff did a really great job in the car,” said Darren about his
teammate. “He was quick and consistent and he was good to the car.
We're hoping that maybe he might be able to do some more of these
events with us. I gotta say that Andy (Lally) did a great job as
well. He's always right on the pace.
G & W and Law will be racing back to back weekends as the next event
on the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series schedule will be Mid
Ohio, the weekend of June 27-29.
For any questions regarding this release please contact Mike Speck
at (480) 225-6764

June
8 , 2003 (Phoenix, Arizona)
DARREN
LAW AND G & W MOTORSPORTS HAVE TRYING WEEKEND IN FONTANA
Grand
American Rolex Series Daytona Prototype driver Darren Law and his
G & W Motorsports team struggled through much of the California
400 weekend in Fontana, California, and ultimately could not finish
the race distance placing them 4th in class in the final race standings.
"We struggled with an electrical glitch the whole weekend," said
Law after his abbreviated stint in the race. "We had a short somewhere
that was cutting power to the fuel pump, and basically shutting
the motor down periodically. It hurt us a bit in qualifying, and
even though we thought we had it fixed, it came back during the
race and we had to just park the car. It really is a shame too,
because the G & W guys worked their tails off trying to find the
problem, in fact, I found out they were here till one in the morning
last night working on the car!"
After an impressive start by Law, the #8 G & W BMW Picchio, sponsored
by The Valley Group and USI Insurance, ran in a competitive third
place for several laps, and matched pace with the leader.
Said Law about the opening laps, "In the previous days practice
we were quite a bit quicker than in qualifying, and I think we narrowed
the gap to about a second a lap or so. I was confident about the
car as the race started, and sure enough, it was easy to hang in
there with Terry (Borchellor) and David (Donahue). The car was handling
really well, and the top end of the BMW motor was just as strong
as I expected. I guess about 12 or 15 laps in I started to feel
the fuel pump cutting out again. I just started throwing switches,
but it was pretty much done, and I had to bring the car in."
Although
the weekend did not go quite as Darren or G & W had planned, Law
was characteristically determined to fix the problem, and was optimistic
about the next race to be held in Watkins Glen the weekend of June
21st.
"We
have a couple weeks before the Glenn, and I'm sure the guys will
figure out a fix for the fuel pump electrical problem. We'll be
ready for Watkins, and I'm really looking forward to going there."
For
any questions regarding this release please contact Mike Speck (480)
225-6764

May
21, 2003 (Phoenix, Arizona)
DARREN
LAW AND G & W MOTORSPORTS EXPERIENCE UPS AND DOWNS AT BARBER
250
Darren Law was a busy driver this past weekend as he competed in
two different classes in the Barber 250 at the Park at the new and
immaculately prepared Barber Motorsports Park facility in Birmingham,
Alabama.
Grand Am Cup
The first race on Darren's slate for the weekend was the Grand Am
Cup endurance event which saw him in the cockpit of the G & W prepared
GT3 Cup Porsche in the GS I class. Law's teammate for the event
was Chris Dyson, and the pair showed competitive form throughout
the weekend.
Dyson's stint in the car ended at roughly the halfway point of the
race, and as Law took over the seat, the G crew vaulted the car
from fourth to first with some very quick pit work.
Darren had this to say about the first half of the race, "Chris
(Dyson) did a terrific job, especially considering this race was
his first time in the car, and I really can't thank the G & W guys
enough for the quick pit stop. It really put us in a good position."
Law spent the next hour in a great battle for the lead of the race
with JF Dumoulin in another Porsche. The two exchanged the lead
several times until Law was finally able to pull out a comfortable
five-second margin.
"The race for the lead with JF was great. We gave each other room
and raced side by side through several corners. I was glad to finally
be able to get some breathing room toward the end," said Law about
the battle.
Despite being in the lead, a fuel pickup problem surfaced on Law's
car with only three laps remaining, and the team had to settle for
sixth as Law was forced to stop for a "splash and go."
Rolex Daytona Prototype
The Rolex Sportscar series event was next on Law's schedule, as
he drove The Valley Group/USI Insurance G & W prepared Picchio/BMW
in the Daytona Prototype class. The team chased handling problems
on the car most of the weekend, and contact with a GT3 car early
on in the event broke the steering rack and ended Law's day.
"We're still working on figuring out just what these cars like,"
said Law. "The car was loose through a lot of the high speed transitions,
and even though we tried several spring shock and bar changes, we
just couldn't get the back end nailed down. We're planning to do
some more testing, and see what we can't find."
The next race on the schedule will be the Grand American 400 at
California Speedway in Fontana, California on the weekend of June
6-8.
For any questions regarding this release please contact Mike Speck
at (480) 225-6764

MAY
4, 2003 (Phoenix, Arizona)
DARREN LAW FINISHES THIRD IN HARD FOUGHT PHOENIX ENDURANCE EVENT
After a terrific display of racecraft and traffic management which
saw him lead the race early on, Darren Law finished third in the
Daytona Prototype class, and seventh overall in the AJ Fine Foods
250 Grand Am Rolex Sports Car endurance race at Phoenix International
Raceway. Law’s stint in The Valley Group/USI Insurance BMW powered
Picchio, prepared by G&W Motorsports, gave the fans a fantastic
show, and the Phoenix resident was happy to oblige them.
Darren had this to say about the start, “The first few laps were
pretty dicey, I had a great battle with Borcheller and Donahue.
It reminded me of my touring car days with the bumping for position,
and I was glad to get out front early.
After leading several laps Law reduced the pace to conserve the
vehicle. The car started going loose after running it hard in the
opening laps, and I had to nurse it along for awhile, he said following
the mid race pit stop for tires and fuel, as well as a driver change.
The third place finish, which took place on a windy but warm Phoenix
night, further solidifies Law’s second place in the driver standings
in the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car series, and gives the team momentum
leading into the next race at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama,
to be held the weekend of May 16.
Law was happy about the Phoenix weekend, and is looking forward.
Said Law, “All things considered, third was a solid finish. I am
a little disappointed because we really had the race won. Unfortunately
we had a problem with the headlights which forced the extra pitstop
and put us behind. But I really want to credit the G&W crew for
their quick thinking and getting us back out there. We learned a
lot about the Picchio again this weekend, and I’m confident we can
carry this momentum to the next race.
For any questions regarding this release please contact Mike Speck
(480) 225-6764
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