Good news for Star Racing/G Squared Motorsports -
Home track advantage at Atlanta Dragway may play to team's favor
COMMERCE, GA. (May 10, 2004) - There's good news and more good news from the Americus, Ga., shop of Star/G Squared Motorsports.
The first order of business after returning from the last NHRA national event in Houston was the testing of the competition V-Twin, a collaboration of efforts between George Bryce of Star Racing, headquartered in Americus, Ga., and George Smith, part owner of S&S Cycle, Incorporated, based in Viola, Wis.
Combining Bryce's talent for building state-of-the-art motorcycles and mentoring competitive drivers capable of winning championships and Smith's knowledge and experience with the V-Twin engine, Bryce and Smith have established a new company, G Squared Motorsports [a derivative of the name George, common to both partners], to develop motorcycles and motorcycle engines with a focus on late-model hot rod V-Twins.
With testing conducted at Atlanta Dragway and Fred Collis, who rejoined Star Racing as rider at Houston, on-board both the V-Twin and the current Suzuki that is campaigned on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Bryce labeled the session a success and said that it was good news for G Squared Motorsports.
"Our testing called for running both the Suzuki and the V-Twin during the same test session. On our very first try with the V-Twin, we were very pleased to be able to take a whole new combination that's not similar to anything we've ever done and have it run within 13-hundredths of our front-running Suzuki," explained Bryce.
"A Pro Stock car team testing a new car, with a few minor improvements, against an old car may not be happy with that type of results because they expect the new car to be faster. This, to what we're doing, is like comparing apples to oranges. Other than rear tires and gasoline, the V-Twin and the Suzuki are not similar in any way.
"It was a good start and the hill, as George Smith calls it, wasn't so steep or as steep as we thought it would be. We made a list of things to change and/or improve and we're in that mode right now. There are still bugs to work out and a lot of testing still to do, but we're going to try and have the bike ready to bring to Atlanta, not to compete but to display."
This weekend the good news is that Bryce's Star Racing/G Squared Motorsports will be competing at the NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, a track that is very familiar to Bryce.
"For us the track is less than four hours from Americus (Ga.), so we don't have to leave a day early and get home a day later. That makes it easy on the crew and the Star Racing fans that live here. They can come and participate with us. We'll probably have over 100 people from Americus alone. This gives you a lot more support and the added incentive to perform better than usual. It's a lot different atmosphere than say Denver or Las Vegas," said Bryce, who, as rider/owner/crew chief, has produced 66 No. 1 qualifying efforts and 65 wins in 112 final rounds since 1987.
"For our performance, I know the track really, really well. I run there a lot. We run the HDRA Harley races there. We run the AMA Prostar races there. And, of course, the NHRA race each year there. I do most of my testing there. I know the staff. I know the weather. Conditions are so similar to home, we're tuned up for it. That gives us a little bit of an advantage.
"I'm expecting to do much better in Atlanta than we did in Houston. We made a pretty good hit, a 7.12 (second pass), at the last race in Houston. We've got a good program lined up with Fred (Collis). I expect us to qualify near the front (of the field). I don't know how close to the front but near. Of course, from that point we intend to improve run by run, just like we did in the old days rather than let it slip away from us."
Bryce's rider Fred Collis, who is making his second start of the 2004 season, feels that Bryce's knowledge of the track is a definite advantage.
"George's knowledge and experience at Atlanta Dragway definitely plays a role," said Collis. "Between Gainesville and Atlanta we've made a lot of run at both places and that gives added confidence come race day. We'll have a lot of local fans and friends that will be coming to the race. That always gives you a boost.
"For Atlanta, we've laid out a plan of action and goals we want to achieve. Our focus will be on those and we're going to go out there and apply them. I plan to have the same focus and do the same procedure each and every time throughout qualifying and eliminations. That should help with not only the reaction times but with our game plan for the remaining races this season."
MEDIA CONTACT: Mickey Schultz
STAR/G SQUARED MOTORSPORTS
Home track advantage at Atlanta Dragway may play to team's favor
COMMERCE, GA. (May 10, 2004) - There's good news and more good news from the Americus, Ga., shop of Star/G Squared Motorsports.
The first order of business after returning from the last NHRA national event in Houston was the testing of the competition V-Twin, a collaboration of efforts between George Bryce of Star Racing, headquartered in Americus, Ga., and George Smith, part owner of S&S Cycle, Incorporated, based in Viola, Wis.
Combining Bryce's talent for building state-of-the-art motorcycles and mentoring competitive drivers capable of winning championships and Smith's knowledge and experience with the V-Twin engine, Bryce and Smith have established a new company, G Squared Motorsports [a derivative of the name George, common to both partners], to develop motorcycles and motorcycle engines with a focus on late-model hot rod V-Twins.
With testing conducted at Atlanta Dragway and Fred Collis, who rejoined Star Racing as rider at Houston, on-board both the V-Twin and the current Suzuki that is campaigned on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Bryce labeled the session a success and said that it was good news for G Squared Motorsports.
"Our testing called for running both the Suzuki and the V-Twin during the same test session. On our very first try with the V-Twin, we were very pleased to be able to take a whole new combination that's not similar to anything we've ever done and have it run within 13-hundredths of our front-running Suzuki," explained Bryce.
"A Pro Stock car team testing a new car, with a few minor improvements, against an old car may not be happy with that type of results because they expect the new car to be faster. This, to what we're doing, is like comparing apples to oranges. Other than rear tires and gasoline, the V-Twin and the Suzuki are not similar in any way.
"It was a good start and the hill, as George Smith calls it, wasn't so steep or as steep as we thought it would be. We made a list of things to change and/or improve and we're in that mode right now. There are still bugs to work out and a lot of testing still to do, but we're going to try and have the bike ready to bring to Atlanta, not to compete but to display."
This weekend the good news is that Bryce's Star Racing/G Squared Motorsports will be competing at the NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, a track that is very familiar to Bryce.
"For us the track is less than four hours from Americus (Ga.), so we don't have to leave a day early and get home a day later. That makes it easy on the crew and the Star Racing fans that live here. They can come and participate with us. We'll probably have over 100 people from Americus alone. This gives you a lot more support and the added incentive to perform better than usual. It's a lot different atmosphere than say Denver or Las Vegas," said Bryce, who, as rider/owner/crew chief, has produced 66 No. 1 qualifying efforts and 65 wins in 112 final rounds since 1987.
"For our performance, I know the track really, really well. I run there a lot. We run the HDRA Harley races there. We run the AMA Prostar races there. And, of course, the NHRA race each year there. I do most of my testing there. I know the staff. I know the weather. Conditions are so similar to home, we're tuned up for it. That gives us a little bit of an advantage.
"I'm expecting to do much better in Atlanta than we did in Houston. We made a pretty good hit, a 7.12 (second pass), at the last race in Houston. We've got a good program lined up with Fred (Collis). I expect us to qualify near the front (of the field). I don't know how close to the front but near. Of course, from that point we intend to improve run by run, just like we did in the old days rather than let it slip away from us."
Bryce's rider Fred Collis, who is making his second start of the 2004 season, feels that Bryce's knowledge of the track is a definite advantage.
"George's knowledge and experience at Atlanta Dragway definitely plays a role," said Collis. "Between Gainesville and Atlanta we've made a lot of run at both places and that gives added confidence come race day. We'll have a lot of local fans and friends that will be coming to the race. That always gives you a boost.
"For Atlanta, we've laid out a plan of action and goals we want to achieve. Our focus will be on those and we're going to go out there and apply them. I plan to have the same focus and do the same procedure each and every time throughout qualifying and eliminations. That should help with not only the reaction times but with our game plan for the remaining races this season."
MEDIA CONTACT: Mickey Schultz
STAR/G SQUARED MOTORSPORTS
posted by David @ 11:36 PM
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