June 25, 2003 – Munroe Falls, OH – The Ruman Racing team’s 2003 season has been anything but normal. In March, Amy’s Dad, Trans-Am driver Bob Ruman had to undergo a battery of medical tests which later let to surgery, hence putting the Trans-Am season on hold. So the team decided to run Amy not only in her #23 Spec Racer Ford, but also in the SCCA GT-1 class in the #23 Cenweld/McNichols Corvette. After running three GT-1 races in the 2002 season, Ruman was eager and ready to settle in.
April 6, 2003 – The season started out at Summit Point, VA, where both Niki and Amy Ruman raced in the National SRF race. Niki qualified 17th and Amy qualified 24th on the starting grid. Unfortunately, both were moving up steadily, when Niki had a transmission problem and had to pull off and Amy had contact with another car. Amy was able to continue and finished in a disappointing 23rd.
April 27, 2003 – Amy Ruman continued on to the GT-1 National at Gingerman Raceway in Michigan. She ran against well-known GT-1 drivers Rob Giorgi, Tom Wallace, and Trans-Am/GT-1 driver Tim Cowen. Ruman qualified 5th on the grid, and finished in 3rd place. “For my first race in the car again, I was pleased to qualify in the top five. My plan was to try and stick with the leaders and that’s what I did.”
May 3-4, 2003 – The team headed across the Ohio border to a newer track, BeaveRun, PA. Ruman participated in the double header Pro Spec Racer Series. Ruman put the #23 spec racer on the grid in 4th position on Saturday and in 3rd on Sunday. She battled with drivers Richard Spicer, Neil Tilbor, and Chris Current all weekend long. She finished 4th on Saturday, and ended up dropping to 6th on Sunday after a spin in turn four.
May 18, 2003 – A busy May took the team to hometown track Nelson Ledges for the NE National to race GT-1. After raining all week, the track finally dried out for the race weekend. Ruman put the Cenweld/McNichols Corvette in the first row of the grid in second place. She started next to Tom Sloe, who was on the pole. Starting in 3rd was Frank Cioppettini and 4th was Bret Moyer.
Frank got by Amy on the start and the top three pulled away from the field. Frank broke midway through the race, and it was up to Amy after that. Sloe and Ruman were nose to tail lap after lap. Ruman had a faster car than Sloe, who had power steering problems, and she continually tried to pass Sloe. After the two came together in turn 13, Ruman took the lead with 3 laps to go. The next lap, another car had a problem and checked up in front of Ruman in turn 13.
Unfourtunately, this happened under a yellow flag condition and Ruman, who had nowhere to go, tapped the GT-3 car. Ruman won the race, but was later disqualified and awarded no points due to contact under a yellow flag condition.
“This race was a huge disappointment to me. My crew gave me a great car and it was handling perfectly. It was my first GT-1 win, and I had nothing to show for it. However, I understand that the officials must create a safe racing environment for everyone involved, and I do not take issue with their actions.”
June 1, 2003 – Ruman Racing headed down to Mid-Ohio for the CenDiv Race of Champions National. Rain continued to pound Ohio that week, and the forecast for Saturday did not look good. At this national, there were two qualifying rounds instead of one. There was a break in the rain and the track started to develop a dry line. Ruman suited up and was heading for the grid when the team ran into a car problem. Ruman was unable to make the session, and had to qualify in the afternoon in the rain. She had to start 39th on the grid for the race.
“Race day was sunny and dry and I new I had a real challenge in front of me. I wanted to start up in the front with Cowen, Giorgi, Sloe, and Wallace. So I set my sights high and went for it. I finished in 5th place on the lead lap; needless to say I was very pleased.”
June 22, 2003 – Ruman and the team headed back to BeaveRun, PA for the second time this year, only this time they would field the 23 car in GT-1 for a NE division National.
“We tested on Friday, and just could not get rid of the push in the car. So we gambled and changed the whole setup for Saturday, which I was going to try out in practice. It ended up raining for the morning session, but I decided to stay with the new setup for qualifying. I grabbed my first pole position in the afternoon in front of Giorgi, Bush, and Hopwood.”
Ruman lead the first lap until the last turn, where Giorgi got by. Ruman continued to run in 3rd for the rest of the race after a spin in turn 5. “I was so mad at myself. I got over anxious because I was right with Giorgi and Bush, and the car was loose going up that hill and I knew it. I got going again, but at that point they were on their way.”
Ruman finished in 3rd position, but things were about to change. Apparently, Giorgi and Bush passed under a yellow flag condition during the race. They were each handed a 60 second penalty, which moved Ruman to 1st, Giorgi 2nd, and Bush 3rd.
“I hated to see that happen, and it’s not how I want to win a race. But, after what happened to me at Nelson’s, it kind of came back around. At least the officials are being consistent in handing out penalties regarding safety. Rob was a real class act and brought me the checkered flag.”
Ruman is going to continue her season at the Watkins Glen National on July 13 and possibly Mid-Ohio again in late August. The team is hoping to make an appearance at the Vavoline Run-Offs in September.
