SCCA Racer will Drive Modified Corvette Memorial Day Weekend in Kent, Washington

Thunderhill Raceway near Redding, California was the site of the first Sports Club of America Championship race of the season for racer Rich Sloma.

SCCA Modified Corvette driven by Rich Sloma at Thunderhill Raceway near Redding, California, photo by Chuck Koehler
SCCA Modified Corvette driven by Rich Sloma at Thunderhill Raceway near Redding, California, photo by Chuck Koehler

SCCA racer plans to attend 8-10 races in the Northern Pacific Division in 2009, photo by Chuck Koehler
SCCA racer plans to attend 8-10 races in the Northern Pacific Division in 2009, photo by Chuck Koehler
Sloma towed his two frame chassis carbon fiber modified Corvette from Fortuna, California ready to win. “We made some significant improvements to the rear suspension over the winter,” he said. “I was able to qualify on the pole position for the race.” Sloma chose a production Corvette because he can put the transmission in the rear and set the engine back relative to the front wheels. “It’s a great way to distribute the weight,” he said. “We compete against Mustangs, Jaguars and American cars with V8 engines.”
Corvette in the lead before No. 72 Monte Carlo took first place in the SCCA event, photo by Chuck Koehler
Corvette in the lead before No. 72 Monte Carlo took first place in the SCCA event, photo by Chuck Koehler

Next race for Rich Sloma will be over the Memorial Day weekend at Pacific Raceway in Kent, Washington, photo by Chuck Koehler
Next race for Rich Sloma will be over the Memorial Day weekend at Pacific Raceway in Kent, Washington, photo by Chuck Koehler

Sloma held the lead for several laps, but his engine lost a cylinder due to a broken roller lifter. “I was still the quickest car by a small margin and opened up a big lead,” he said. “I thought I would hang on until the finish.”

There was an incident that brought out the pace car on the track and all the cars were bunched together. On the restart the second place car passed Sloma on the long main straightaway. “I caught up and ran right on the back bumper of the lead car for the rest of the race,” he said. “I was never able to get a clear shot at first because I was racing on 7 cylinders.”

Out of a field of seven cars in the GT1 class, Sloma took second place. “Under the circumstances we are reasonably satisfied with our second place finish,” he said. “I’ve made repairs to the damage and we are ready for the rest of the season.”

The SCCA driver has been racing for 42 years and has used K&N products for 20 years. “We do dyno work and we know we flow more air and make more power with K&N air filters,” said Sloma. “On the long straightaway we hit speeds of 153 mph and we need horsepower. That’s why K&N is the best filter out there.”

The Northern California racer plans to race in 8- 10 races in the Northern Pacific Division of the SCCA. He has won the division championship several times over the years. Sloma’s next race will be at Pacific Raceway in Kent, Washington over Memorial Day weekend.

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