October 21, 2003 – Munroe Falls, OH – Bob Ruman will compete this Sunday in the first Trans-Am race outside the continent of North America. The Motorock Trans-Am Tour for the BF Goodrich Cup season finale will be on a new temporary circuit in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Sunday, October 26 at 2:00pm Island time.

The temporary circuit has been built at Isla Grade Airport, part of the Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport complex in the capital of San Juan. It is a 1.6 mile, 10-turn circuit designed by Martyn Thake. San Juan Harbor is backdrop to the racetrack, similar to Burke Lakefront Airport, location of the Cleveland Grand Prix.

“The McNichols/Cenweld Corvette has performed better and better as the season has gone on,” said Ruman. “We’re really looking forward to the finale in San Juan. The track is said to be similar to Cleveland’s Grand Prix, which is a track I really enjoy. We’ve all heard that the fan base in Puerto Rico is huge and we’re really looking forward to running in front of what should be one of the biggest crowds this year. While this was the first season in 8 years we were not able to participate in a full season, we’re pleased to be able to compete in the finale at this extremely unique venue and we’ll be working hard for a top finish.”

Ruman has competed at St. Petersburg, Cleveland, Trois-Rivieres, and Road America this season.

Television – The Trans-Am Puerto Rico Grand Prix will air LIVE on Speed Channel Sunday, October 26 at 1:00 pm (ET)

September 23, 2003 – Lexington, OH – It was an exciting week at the SCCA National Championship Valvoline Runoffs at Mid-Ohio. In the Super Bowl of club car racing, Amy Ruman, in the Cenweld/McNichols Corvette, finished 5th in a very competitive field of GT-1 racers. After the three qualifying sessions were over, Ruman had qualified 10th in the twenty car field. There was only a one second spread between 2nd place and 10th place with Amy in 10th place with a time of 1:27.069.

Blue skies and temperatures in the high 70s graced Sunday afternoon’s 1:30pm race. Ruman started the race in 9th when the 5th place car did not start. The twenty-car field took the green on the back straight and made it through the first turns cleanly. Ruman was on the inside row, which moved a bit slower that the outside row, and she settled into 10th place behind Craig Conway by the 4th corner. The fifth through 10th place cars were nose-to-tail for the next few laps, making passing a real challenge. Ruman moved up to 9th on the second lap when the field passed Tom Sloe, who had spun in the key-hole. Ruman worked her way by Conway at the end of the back straight on lap 8. She then quickly put distance between the two of them and worked her way to the 7th place car of Tim Cowen. Ruman made her move on Cowen in the key-hole section of the racetrack and passed him coming onto the back straight.

“Cowen and I were nose to tail for quite a few laps. I could see that he was struggling with his set up especially in the key-hole, and I set him up on the exit and got by him on the back straight,” stated Ruman. “We decided to go with Goodyear tires and that was definitely the right move. My Dad nailed the set up, and the car was handling well the whole race despite the changing conditions of the track.”

Ruman then set her sights on Bret Moyer for 6th place. She executed the pass coming up out of thunder valley with three laps to go in the race. She started to gain on the 4th and 5th place cars, Rob Giorgi and Jack Busch. On the final lap, Busch spun in the carousel and Ruman passed him to take the checkered flag in 5th place!

“My crew gave me a great car today. I steadily worked my way up through the pack, and if I had a few more laps I think I could have tried Giorgi for 4th. It was a great race for me and I had a lot of hometown fans supporting me.”

“I’m so proud of Amy,” said father and car owner Bob Ruman. “She did an incredible job in her first Runoffs in a very deep and experienced field. She was consistently fast, conserved the tires, and worked strategically to improve her positions. You’ll be seeing more of her in the future!”

Ruman Racing wishes to thank sponsors McNichols Co., Cenweld Corp., and Goodyear for helping to make Amy’s effort at the Runoffs such a success.

For all results, news, photos of the Runoffs, visit the official Valvoline Runoffs website at: http://www.scca.com/amateur/club_racing/runoffs/index.html. The results section is comprehensive.

Television coverage of the entire 2003 SCCA Valvoline Runoffs will be aired on SPEED Channel. All races will be tape delayed with coverage starting November 22. The GT-1 race is scheduled to air Saturday, December 13 at 1:00pm. For more schedule information, visit www.speedtv.com.

September 18, 2003 – Ruman Racing Update Thursday, September 18, 2003

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, OH – The grid is now set for the GT-1 field. Amy Ruman finished up the third round of combined qualifying this afternoon in 10th. She will start 10th on the grid in Sunday’s 1:30 pm GT-1 race. Despite dropping her time to a 1:27.069, there is now only 1 second covering 2nd to 10th place. Ruman plans to make her way through the tight field Sunday, hoping to score a podium finish at her first Valvoline Runoffs.
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September 17, 2003 – Ruman Racing Update Wednesday, September 17, 2003

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, OH – Amy Ruman was 8th in the second qualifying of the Runoffs this afternoon. Ruman now places 9th in the combined qualifying times going into tomorrow’s final qualifying session. Ruman, in the McNichols/Cenweld Corvette, had a best time of 1.28.335 around the 2.25 mile Mid-Ohio race course, with an average speed of 92.02 mph.

The final qualifying session is Thursday afternoon at 3:50. The race will be Sunday at 1:30pm.

Weather note: The weather in Lexington was clear and in the 70s today and expected to be the same on Thursday. At this point, effects from Hurricane Isabel are actually expected to be seen in Ohio with rain and wind on Friday and part of Saturday with clearing by late Saturday.

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September 16, 2003 – Ruman Racing Update
Tuesday, September 16, 2003

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, OH – Amy Ruman had a slight setback in the first qualifying session of the Runoffs.

Just as she was finishing the second lap of qualifying, the bolt broke on the harmonic balancer. Luckily the incident happened at pit-in, so she was able to duck into the pits.

Although she was only able to log one timed lap, which was more of a warm-up lap, she is on the qualifying charts in 17th position.

The next qualifying session is Wednesday afternoon at 4:15.

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