2009
A New Season,
and a reborn...
Firestone Firehawk Endurance Racing Series (1995 Season)
PORSCHE 968
Mike Fitzgerald and Charles Mendez driving the #15 Franz Blam Racing prepared Porsche 968 in 1995 at New Orleans
Mike Fitzgerald, Charles Mendez, and David Murry in 1995 at Texas World Speedway in the Franz Blam prepared #15 porsche 968
Porsche 968 Race Car
"The #15 Firehawk"
Please rate the ride (on the left) to help us get invited to compete in the 3rd Annual Grassroots Motorsports 2009 Hankook Ultimate Track Car Challenge.
This would be the return of a 968 to the challenge after Pablo (pmcrespo) took 3rd in the Independent Junior Varsity class last year in his #68 car at California at Buttonwillow Raceway Park.
IMSA Firestone Firehawk Series Porsche 968 Car #15
The Little I know About Her
(Special thanks to Randy Pobst, Dave arnold, and Pablo Crespo for the information you have sourced and/or provided)
This is the original IMSA Street Stock / Firestone Firehawk Endurance Championship (Firehawk Series) Grand Sport Class Car #15 prepared by Franz Blam Racing and driven by Mike Fitzgerald in 1995.
Dave Arnold;
"Car #15 and Mike Fitzgerald... I know Mike very well – good guy! I think he was just starting around that time, and if my memory serves me, he won the Driver’s Championship in one of the classes later on." (Quote from e-mail)
The car was discovered effectively abandoned in an Ohio barn in 2007 by Pete Fitzpatrick, owner and operator of RS Barn. He purchased it and started the long and difficult road to restore the car. More about how it was found soon....
In 2009, as part time wrencher and driver of the car, I have continued working with Pete to develop, tune, and test #15 as we prepare to enter the car's first racing season since coming out of retirement from deep in the woods that Ohio farm (see pictures below). She will likely see action in the NASA Northeast racing circuit running the German Touring Series (GTS) or equivalent class races. PCA (Porsche Club of America) track events, races, and other appearances may also be scheduled.
The IMSA Firestone Firehawk Endurance Campionship
Short Story
(excerpts from the 1995 IMSA Yearbook)
By 1995, for more than 25 years, the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) provided a major arena for the worlds leading drivers, engineers and manufacturers to showcase their talent and technical expertise. During this time, IMSA had become synonymous with world class sports car racing, producing some of the most memorable events in motorsports history, and earning the reputation as North America's premier sports car racing governing body.
John Bishop founded IMSA in 1969. By 1995, IMSA had conducted more than 1,000 professional road races on a variaty of circuits in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
In 1985, IMSA would undergo a major rules reformat and introduce two major series; The Camel Lights, and the IMSA Street Stock / Firestone Firehawk Endurance Championship or commonly known as Firehawk Series, after the brand of Firehawk performance tires. The new Firehawk Series would be more restricted to models available in dealerships throughout the US. the series had rules and race format that were similar to the RS series, previously sponsored by Champion, being an endurance series.
Total prize purses, year-end point funds and manufacturer contingency awards in 1991 amounted up to $1 million. As required by the sponsor, all cars are required to use its own Firehawk SZ or Firehawk SV tires which could be shaved to racing depth or the all season Firehawk GTX. Bosch and Kendall Oil were also associate sponsors. Most of the drivers that competed in the series were amateurs or semi professional, with a few made their living out of competing in the series. Some of today's drivers that cut their teeth in IMSA include, Juan Pablo Montoya, Scott Pruett, Randy Pobst, Andy Pilgrim, Joe Aquilante, Peter Cunningham, and John Heinricy... just to name a few.
By 1994 Porsche had captured the most IMSA endurance series wins with 25 wins going to the 944S2 (which had been racing and was very popular since its introduction) and 5 wins compliments of the newly introduced 968. The 1994 Firehawk Series concluded with three first-time champions, each clinching their title with a season ending victory.
The Grand Sports Class (GS) featured a furious battle between Porsche and Pontiac teams for the 1994 driver and manufacturer championships. David Murry co-drove with Lloyd Hawkins in the #86 Crescent City motors Porsche 968 to the win at the season opener and took second at the next round at Road Atlanta. The main competitors were the American Motorsports Pontiac Firebird Formula team led by Stu Hayner and John Heinricy, and the Wheel to Wheel Pontiac team of Andy Pilgrim, Doug Goad, Tony George, and Larry Schumaker.
David Murry dropped down in the driver standings after a dissapointing 7th at Indianapolis Raceway Park (in a 944S2) and a 4th at Watkins Glen (in a 944S2). Starting at Laguna Seca, however, Murray was unbeatable. He won the pole and co-drove with Hawkins to the win. Then they made it two-straight with a Portland win. Murry, Hawkins and Boris teamed up to win at Phoenix, all but clinching the title for Murry.
Murry then recorded his 4th straight win of the season at the Sebring finale (his record 5th consecutive win at the historic track), finishing with a 30-point cushion over Pilgrim in the final point standings.
Porsche edged Pontiac for the manufacturer title with te help of top finishes by several teams campaigning other 968 and 944S2 race cars.
Randy Pobst
"Oh, I remember the 968s. Yes, not many ran. I did almost every Firehawk race there was, good stuff." (Quote from e-mail)
Porsche 968 IMSA Firestone Series Grand Sport (GS) Results in 1994:
Track Finish Drivers (Car Number)
Sebring International Raceway 1st Lloyd Hawkins/David Murray (#86)
Sebring International Raceway 2nd Harry Hatch/Rick Bye (#02)
Road Atlanta 2nd Lloyd Hawkins/David Murray (#86)
Indianapolis Raceway Park 17th Lloyd Hawkins (#86)
Watkins Glen International Circuit 6th Harry Hatch/Rick Bye (#02)
Laguna Seca Raceway 1st Lloyd Hawkins/David Murray (#86)
Portland International Raceway 1st Lloyd Hawkins/David Murray (#86)
Phoenix International Raceway 1st Boris Said/David Murray (#86)
Phoenix International Raceway 4th Lloyd Hawkins/Boris Said (#82)
Sebring International Raceway 1st Lloyd Hawkins/Boris Said/
John O'Steen/David Murry (#86)
Sebring International Raceway 2nd Harry Hatch/Rick Bye/
Price Cobb/Ludwig Heimrath (#07)
Sebring International Raceway 12th Ray Asberman/Ludwig Heimrath Sr.
Harry Hatch/Ludwig Heimrath Jr. (#02)
Sebring International Raceway 24th Lloyd Hawkins/Shawn Hendricks (#82)
APRIL 25, 2009
Porsche Swap Meet, Hershey PA
Pablo loaded the 968 and headed up, to mainly display it in the 968 gathering and concours area while Max and I worked the storefront in the "swap" area. The car actually took a totally unexpected 3rd Place Award in the People's Choice Category. Pretty kool....
Late 2008 - About to have the first few laps at New Jersey Motorsports Park Thunderbolt and Lightning Tracks during the track's inaugural EMRA Races and DE weekend.
Late 2008 - Ready for some initial testing and tuning
Mid 2008 - Coming Alive
2007 through 2008 - Amazing transformation with ALL credit to Pete Fitzpatrick with help from Max at RS Barn
2007 - Revival and Slooooow Restoration Process Begins
2007 - The Barn Find
Mike Fitzgerald and Charles Mendez driving the #15 Franz Blam Racing prepared Porsche 968 in 1995 at New Orleans
Mike Fitzgerald, Charles Mendez, and David Murry in 1995 at Texas World Speedway in the Franz Blam prepared #15 porsche 968
