The NASA American Iron West season concluded recent at Buttonwillow Raceway near Bakersfield, California. Andy Bowman dominated the action in his 1999 Cobra.
The San Marcos resident won the American Iron pole both Saturday and Sunday and then swept the field, winning both days while breaking the American Iron track record on the 1.86 mile road course. Pacing the 18 car field, Bowman and his Cobra continued the dominance they have shown for the second half of the 2006 season. Overcoming gremlins at the American Iron race held at Willow Springs in July, that set him back in the point standing, Andy's second half charge earned him second place in the American Iron West final standings.
The number 99 Cobra improved as the season progressed and Bowman stated, "Because of the Steeda suspension, Tri-Ax shifter and other performance parts from Steeda the Cobra was a total dominate force the second half of racing this year."
EMRALast spring George Abbale purchased his 2006 Steeda Q335 from Howard Lucas Ford, in Southhold, New York. He immediately took the Mustang to Lime Rock Park, in Connecticut and after a weekend of fun told Lucas how pleased he was with the car. This fall George returned to Lime Rock for the Eastern Motor Racing Association time trials. Some of the fastest competitors in the East were entered. It was only the fourth time Abbale had been on the Lime Rock circuit.
The Screamin' Yellow Q335 blitzed the opposition, including race prepared cars in 40 degree weather. "The Steeda handles extremely well, I could put it anywhere I wanted to, the platform rotates well and the car is easy to drive." George stated. "The series points leader in a race prepared Mustang came up to me before the event and told me to stay out of his way!" Abbale continued, " Well, I came down the hill and blew by him on the front straight and waved as I went by! The Steeda handled so well that I never saw him again!" Abbale concluded. George did say he really liked how the Steeda 14" front brakes worked and the car stuck well even at 40 degrees with the Nitto 01 tires.
Abbale's time of 102:080 was faster than any of the Corvettes, BMW M3s, Camaro or Mustangs entered. In the heyday of the SCCA Trans-Am Series a factory prepared, Mustang race car would turn times in that range. The fact that George drives the car to the event and turns fastest time of day speaks volumes for the Steeda Q335 suspension. Forever in the quest for better times, Abbale plans to update the shocks for next year's action. In the meantime he enjoys driving the Steeda around his Northport, Long Island, New York home.