Formula Enterprises Car

Matthew Mair along with Crew Chief Mark Eaton arrived at the 2010 SCCA National Championship at Road America Wisconsin on Saturday, September 25th. 

This was the first visit to this historic track for Matthew in his quest for the 2010 Formula Enterprises National Championship.

The Sunday test day was planned so that Matthew could gain valuable track time.  It started out on the bad side.   A relay for the fuel pump went bad on this 3rd lap of the session.  It eneded that session for him while repairs were made by Mark.  The second session was a bust the cars were sitting on the grid to go on track, a light rain shower passed over.  This made the track pretty damp, and a fast lap was not going to be possible.  Most of the competitors did a few laps and came in, but Matthew stayed out.  The car of Scott Rettich changed over to rain tires and did some additional changes to the car and did a flyer lap on the damp track to set fastest time by 11 seconds.  Mair was the fastest car on a full dry set up.  The third and final session of the day had a dry track.  Matthew did 9 laps and was second fastest.  All of this in his first day on the track!

Monday was the first qualifying day of the Runoffs, and again rain hit the course as everyone was on the grid.  Matthew did a few laps, was second on the grid again on dry tires.  Tuesday had a dry session and Matthew finally had a chance to qualify in the dry, and eneded up second again to Rettich, but was 1.5 seconds off Scott's pace.  Mick was getting nervous, but Matthew assured he and Mark that there was a lot more in the car.  "I need a little more time on the track, and I'll be faster" Matthew said when he saw the crew's concern.  He pointed out on the Competition Data System's info on the lap top, that there was more time at turn one and turn 6.  "I'll get it, don't worry." 

Thursday was the next qualifying session and Rettich did not imporve his time, but Matthew gained another half a second to solidly qualify second for the championship race.  Front Row!! The next cars in the qualifying order were a second behind Matthew.

The race came on a cloudy and windy Saturday morning.  Mark had the car to the grid early after checking the car over in the morning and having Matthew go across the official scales one more time to make sure the weight of the car was OK.

Time to race!

The field rolled out, a parade of color as the cars took to the track and weaved side to side to heat up their tires.  The anticipation on pit road was excrushiating, waiting for the cars to come by for the start of the race.  We could hear them coming up the hill, saw the starter stand as still as a statue, and then in a flurry let the green flag fly!!  We were now competing for the 2010 SCCA Formula Enterprises Championship!  The winner is the champ!

Rettich lead for the first 2 laps, the third time up the hill, Matthew was in the lead by 2 carlengths.  Next time by, in about 2 minutes and 40 seconds, Matthew had a 1.2 second lead.  Mark and I looked at each other now believeing what Matthew had told us, he had a lot more ability than what he was able to show during practice and qualifying.

Just as the two leading car who had broken away from the pack came up the front straight hill, the starter showed the double yellow, the race was now going to be slowed down and the field would follow the pace car until a disabled car was moved to a safer location on the back side of the track.  Whew, Mark and I could take a breath, and Mike Mair, Matthew's father could stop pacing for a few minutes. 

The pace car was out for 2 laps and the safety crew was having trouble getting an FE out of a gravel trap, so another lap was done under yellow. 

Finally, as we could hear the cars come up the hill, the green flag waived again.  Rettich was right on Matthew's gear box and stayed there as the two cars went thru turn one.  For there they were out of our site.  I could hear the race announcer say the Rettich had gotten by Mair at turn 5, but I was hoping for all that I was worth he was wrong.  But not to be, Rettich came by the pit straight with a 2 car advantage, and each time by open the gap more and more, unitl Matthew was 2 seconds behind.

And then the magic happened.  You could almost feel the willing of Matthew behind the wheel to get back to Rettich's tail.  For the next 3 laps, he slowly closed in until with one lap to go, he was 4 car lengths behind as they headed to turn one!  Can he pull this out.....  the announcer is going nuts as Matthew makes a move after Canada Corner, gets a wheel up beside Scott going into turn 14!  Matthew gives the leader room but then drops a wheel on the exit and Rettich is 1 car length ahead!  Up the hill they come, Matthew is gaining ground but at the checker flag, it's Rettich by a car length and Matthew is second!!

"We had a great race, I made a mistake on the restart and Scott got by me and pulled away a little.  I tried as hard as I could,  I could catch him but just couldn't get by" said Matthew.  "Scott drove a great race, was clean and just did a better job than I did". 

On the podium as the second place finisher, Matthew thanked Valvoline Oils, Fram, Robinson Motor Sports, Mark Eaton, CarTroincs Car Stereo and Alarms of Miami, Hoosier and his family for the effort in his 2010 FE National Championship effort.  "All of these people really helped me in my first year of national SCCA racing, without them, the effort would not have been as successful" he stated as he was surrounded by photographers and fans.

Mark Eaton was proud of the driving and working with Matthew all year.  "I tell you what, as a kid that just turned 17, he has a great deal of ability, confidence and presence.  I hope he works with Robinson Motor Sports again in 2011 so we can get what he really wants, a national championship"

Robinson Motor Sports would like to thank Valvoline Oil and Fram filters for thier help in the effort too.  Hoosier tires were great and predictable all year long and Appalacian Race Tire who serviced the Southeast as the Hoosier dealer did a great job too.  Sunoco race fuels were used in our campaign all year long.  CarTronics of Miami helped out and on the ride home, the RMS transporter was rockin with our Sirius radio.  Give CarTronics a call in Miami for some great service and a huge array of products (305) .

A list of all of the race contingency companies and stickers that we have on the car for the event are:  Valvoline, Pegasus Auto Racing Supplies, iRacing, Fram Oil filters, Bals Sport Sports for our bead seat, G Force Race Supplies, Staubli, SCCA Enterprises, SCCA, Mazda, Gumout, Competition Data Systems, Sunoco, ChassisTools.com, Race Wholesale, Race Technologies, Hoosier and RS683 Brake Fluid.  Thanks to all of these compaines for their involvement in Motor Sports!!

Matthew Mair and Robinson Motor Sports are actively seeking sponsorship for the 2011 National Racing campaing.  There is a strong chance that Matthew will run again in the 2011 SCCA Formula Enterprises Pro Series if additional sponsorship is secured.  Please contact Robinson Motor Sports for sponsorship packages and rates for the 2011 season.  Call Mick at 321 412 8390 or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Come and join an exciting team and be a part of the 2011 National Championship and SCCA FE Pro effort!!  Robinson Motor Sports has one additional space open for both the 2011 National Race Series and the SCCA FE Pro Series, with your car or ours.