Bruce Beachman (Seattle, WA) - Driver

An auto enthusiast since childhood, Bruce earned his stripes on the track as a stock-car driver at Riverhead Raceway in Riverhead, N.Y.  Piloting a 4200lb/550HP car around a 1/4mi. banked asphalt track every Saturday night, Bruce learned the hard way how to “make room” and race close.  The utter joy of beating out fenders and changing radiators/bumpers lasted for 3 full seasons.

After a 6-year hiatus, Bruce returned to the track in a more civilized fashion, attending the Skip Barber Competition school and earning his SCCA regional license qualification.  The son of a GM autoworker and a die-hard Chevy guy, Bruce fulfilled a life-long dream of owning a new Corvette.  He quickly began to open-track the car, and participated in the 2000 Silver State Classic Challenge.

Not content with the point-by on the straightaway, Bruce returns to full racing competition this year, campaigning a BMW e30 325I racecar in both ICSCC and SCCA regional events in the Northwest.  At his first race event in Portland, Bruce placed 5^th in EIP (E - improved production) and 1^st in PRO3 (e30 BMW spec class).

Pete Kelly (Dearborn Heights, MI) – Crew Chief

Pete is the professional driver of the duo, since he regularly pilots a variety of trucks for DHL.  While he has not spent much time on the track, Pete can out-maneuver most vehicles on the highways of the Detroit Metropolitan Area (which you know is quite a feat if you have ever driven with the speed demons in the Motor City).  If he can’t beat you fair and square on the track, his hockey skills will come in handy in the pits (just kidding!).

Pete also has nerves of steel - he navigated for Bruce in the 2000 Silver State Classic.  This means that he willingly strapped himself (and a laptop) into the passenger seat of Bruce’s Corvette and guided Bruce on way-points and conditions while travelling at over 165 miles per hour.  Despite a computer glitch and some difficulties at the end of that race, Pete hung in there and is back this year for more.

Car Information:

Year/Make/Model  – 2000 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe

Weight – 3346lb.

Horsepower – 569 RWHP; 568 RWTQ

Modification Highlights:

                Lingenfelter Performance Engineering Stage II Twin Turbo Package

Fordahl Motorsports custom front brake cooling system

Star Stage III Carbon clutch

GM T1, Vette Brakes and Products suspension components

                Penske double-adjustable shocks

                Brembo front brakes (355MM rotors; F50 calipers)

                Fikse Rims

                B&B TriFlo exhaust

                Hardbar harness bar

                TeamTech Harnesses

                OMP Kevlar seat.

                Boost gauge

Sponsors:

                Fordahl Motorsports