#22

UNLIMITED 

Pony Car

(Team Open-Track)

 

 

Team Members
Rev. Dr. John W. Lindsey, Esq. (Pasadena, CA) Ryan Flaherty (Hermosa Beach, CA)
Owner/Driver Hired Gun
The Rev. Dr. Lindsey (a/k/a "JWL") began his driving career in the early 1990's when he and some of his colleagues at the University of Southern California organized one of the first and possibly the only autocross events to be held in the parking lot of the Los Angeles Coliseum. JWL then participated in hotlapping and other time trial events in Southern California and Northern California for nearly ten years before joining the ranks of certified competition drivers in 2000. JWL is a founding member of Open Track Motorsports, LLC which began operating in 1997 under the guidance of Ryan "Irish" Flaherty and current Dayton Indy Lights and CART pilot Townsend Bell.

After driving a series of roached-out beaters, JWL first ventured out to the track at the wheel of a 1990 Ford Mustang LX 5.0. Since then, JWL has driven a string of 5.0-liter Ford Mustangs around most of the tracks in the West and has given up on racing anything other than a son-of-Fairmont. JWL's current ride is a 1989 Mustang GT affectionately known as "White Lightning". JWL first became acquainted with Lightning in 1988 when his best buddy Dr. John M. (Stooey) Deacon's mother purchased the car brand new with the intention of passing it along to her firstborn when he graduated from high school. After surviving nearly 7 years of thrashing at the hands of numerous Deacon family pilots, JWL purchased the car from Dr. John in August 1996 with the intention of building it into a serious race car. Since then, Lightning has been completely taken apart four or five times, burned up once, and now has a full Maximum Motorsports suspension and a NASCAR-style Ford 358-inch V8 for motivation. Lightning is the prototype car for the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) American Iron Extreme class (AIX), which was started in 2001. JWL and Lightning currently lead the class standings in AIX and are online for a season win. JWL has described himself as "giddy" regarding the opportunity to take home the gold in Unlimited Pony Car and has signed pacts with various minor deities (including "Jobu" of "Major League" fame) to ensure a win.

  		Lightning's #2 pilot for the OT Challenge will be the infamous Ryan "Irish" Flaherty, one of the other principals of Open Track Motorsports, LLC. Ryan brings 3 years of competition experience to the team and has also participated in the Skip Barber school program. Ryan has competed in events such as the LA Street Race, street events in Mexico, and innumerable SCCA and NASA competition events in nearly every type of vehicle imaginable. Ryan has served as Open Track/NASA-LA's Director for 3 years and has also pulled Competition Director duty with the Classic Auto Racing Society for their Open Road Racing events. His aggressive style and remarkable off-course antics have earned him a place among the legends of Southern California motorsports. Just ask anyone about Ryan and you're sure to get a good story and a hearty chuckle or two.

Ryan currently runs a 1988 Ford Mustang known as "Blue Thunder" in NASA's American Iron class (AI). He is leading the AI points chase and is also in line for a class win if the car can hold together until the end of the season. Ryan also competes in the "Little Screamer" 1986 Toyota Corolla GT-S in Endurance and Street Course events. Between his two rides, Ryan has spent years beating around the OT Challenge tracks and is itching to open up a can of Whoop-Ass on the competition behind the wheel of White Lightning.

Team Open Track plans a decisive win in Unlimited Pony Car for the 2002 OT Challenge. As such, both JWL and Ryan have abandoned most of their material possessions and entered into an intensive monastic-based training program to mentally and physically prepare for the OT Challenge. They can be reached by Zen Messenger or e-mail at their respective addresses.

 

 

Car Information
Year/Make/Model 1989 Ford Mustang GT
Engine Displacement: 5.8 Liters 
Weight 2900 lbs
Horsepower: 420rwhp/380rwtq
Modifications: N/A

 

Sponsors and Support
Suspension package and tuning by Maximum Motorsports (San Luis Obispo, CA)

Brembo brakes from Race Technologies (Marina del Rey, CA)

Parts support from Brothers Performance (Corona, CA)

Radios by Sampson Racing (Oak Park, CA)

Engine by CFO Enterprises (Lancaster, CA) 661-943-5978

Transmission by Boston Transmission (Pico Rivera, CA)

Preparation by Mobile Lube & Service/Davis Motorsports (Atascadero, CA) 805-461-5823