January 07, 2003 – Bob Ruman is interviewed for www.theracesite.com at

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1/7/2003 – The Preferred Line – Road racing news and commentary Trans-Am Tuesday (1/7/2003) Jim Bourn – Bob Ruman on Trans-Am and Traction Control

The red and black Cenweld/McNichols Corvette of Bob Ruman is sitting in his garage prepped and ready, but Trans-AM’s elder statesman, his words not mine, isn’t exactly sure what his 2003 schedule will include. But he did indicate that he will race at St. Petersburg for sure and will know soon what his plans for the full season are.

From our conversation my guess is he will make every effort to run the entire schedule. Bob mentioned that he has an unsigned agreement for 2003 with McNichols Corp. but he is saying the same thing as many other competitors about how the economy is having a serious impact on racing and sponsorships.

“Financing is THE toughest aspect of pro racing,” Ruman said. “Racing is not a cheap date and you have to work hard to find the financing!”

“We did a lot of maintenance and repair work on the car to get it back in racing shape and the car is ready to go,” Ruman reported. “Right now the car was setup to race in SCCA Club Nationals at Sebring and Moroso. Amy was going to run one event and Niki was going to drive in the other. But we canned the whole idea. We all had business at home to take care of.”

When asked about the proposed “death penalty” for anyone caught with Traction-Control, Ruman was all for it, saying, “I am not sure if Trans-Am can do what they want as far as driver penalties legally, but anything that be done to keep traction control out of Trans-Am is great! This series is built around over powered cars that require driver skill and control to drive them. Traction Control would ruin the mystique of what Trans-Am racing is really all about.”

“I am happy that Paul is making a severe and defined effort to address traction control,” concluded Ruman. “I think that Paul might even have the resources to catch it. At least more so than anyone in Trans-Am has had before.”

“I was watching the year in review on the SPEED Channel,” Bob continued. “And watching Tony Ave move the car through the esses was something to see. Of course they showed my big crash. Not a great moment for me, but I guess any exposure is good (said with a laugh).”

Bob Ruman also gave two big thumbs up to the elimination of mandatory fuel stops and did see some positives to the competition yellows. Bob echoed many comments made that the fuel stops just made following the races harder. Even for experienced race fans.

“The format of Trans-Am racing is a 100 mile sprint race, but pit stops kind of ruined that,” Ruman said. “I didn’t realize that so many competitors share my dislike of fuel stops until they proposed getting rid of them.”

“The competition yellow is a good idea because fans will get to see two races in one,” Bob commented. “For some reason, and don’t ask me why, you don’t always have the same car after a yellow. Sometimes they are better and other times they get worse! Just as long as they don’t have the yellows with 1 or 2 laps left!”

“When we had 25 or 30 cars in our races we very seldom went green all the way anyway,” concluded Ruman. “I do like the idea that has been circulating around about having the option of NOT having a yellow. Just so that we don’t know for sure and cannot plan for it.”

Lucky Bob Ruman, he has two charming test drivers ever willing to take his Cenweld/McNichols Corp. Corvette out for a drive. Didn’t the Beach Boys have a song about this a while back? “And she’ll have fun, fun, fun, till her daddy?..” well you get the point! Anyway, I have to fire up the snow thrower, AGAIN, and head back out into the frozen tundra! Has snowed here in Connecticut every day in 03. If you want to send a note about any of this I can be reached at JimBourn@TheRaceSite.com; but be forewarned, we may use your letter in an upcoming article.

October 29, 2003 – San Juan, PR – Bob Ruman ended the season with a great race, right down to the final turn of the Trans-Am season finale at the Puerto Rico Grand Prix, bringing home 5th place in Sunday’s race.

“The temporary circuit at Isla Grade Airport, in San Juan was a beautiful location for a race,” said Ruman. “We came here hoping and working for a top-5 finish and we’re quite pleased to have achieved it. The McNichols/Cenweld Corvette handled well right out of the box and we made a series of small changes that had us going better each session we were out.”

The first two practices on Friday left the McNichols/Cenweld Corvette placed 7th and 6th respectively. The third and fourth practices left Ruman a little slower as the crew had him trying the car in full race trim to check its behavior. “We had very solid handling, even though the third practice was cut short for us when we holed a differential oil line. The oil stream was directed right on the left rear tire,” Ruman said. “That made for some wild moments, but we were absolutely certain we had a dialed-in car.”

The race was exciting from the beginning. Ruman qualified 10th and started 9th on the grid. He worked his way through a couple of early race incidents and four double yellows that left him finally, near the end of the race, in 4th place, challenging Mike Lewis for 3rd.

“I got a good re-start after a late race double-yellow and made a run on Mike going into turn five. He left me all the room I needed, but, unfortunately it was all marbles out where I had to go to pass him and I just couldn’t keep the car in shape.”

Ruman lost three spots there, which dropped him back to 7th and left him playing catch-up to the lead pack. By the final lap, Ruman had closed back up on the fifth and sixth cars. Heading up the back straight towards the final turn, Ruman noticed Diaz beginning an attempt to pass.

“I could see Jorge coming and realized there was no way he’d make this pass and stay on the track, so I drove my line and waited for him to slide on by, figuring I’d criss-cross him on the way out, but he ended up cleaning the two cars off in front of me, so I just threaded the needle and drove away from them all.”

Ruman and his team offer congratulations to Wally Castro and his whole crew for their impressive and well-deserved win in the race. “The crowd was going absolutely nuts during the race, you could see them all on their feet and I swear you could hear them over the cars’ noise,” said Ruman. “By the time I got around on the cool down lap, the crew was telling me to watch out for spectators on the track!”

The 5th place finish moved Ruman and the McNichols/Cenweld Corvette up to 15th in the overall standings, from 18th place going into the Puerto Rico Grand Prix. Needless to say, the team was ecstatic, even more so when they found at the season finale banquet that Ruman was awarded the Westward Tools Tough Tools Tough Guy Award for overcoming a bout with kidney cancer and yet still returning to the Series to put in several top-10 finishes including this 5th place finish at Puerto Rico.

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October 26, 2002 – RUMAN PUTS 2002 SEASON TO BED AT VIR

Danville, VA – Veteran Trans-Am competitor Bob Ruman put the 2002 season to bed at Virginia International Speedway on Sunday, closing out what proved to be the toughest year in Ruman Racing’s seven-year Trans-Am career. Ruman qualified 14th at VIR but a suspension failure forced an early departure from the race, landing him in 20th. Ruman finished the season 13th overall in the 2002 Trans-Am Series for the BF Goodrich Tires Cup points standings.

“This was by far the most demanding season I’ve ever had-in Trans-Am or in any of my other racing endeavors. The team came out, worked hard and raced hard, but we just didn’t have the finishes to show it. Racing is always a sport of highs and lows and we had one of those seasons with a lot of lows and tough breaks.”

“We again had excellent sponsors for the #23 Cenweld/McNichols Corvette and very dedicated fans and supporters. We couldn’t have persevered this season without them. Many thanks to each of you. I’d also like to thank Trans-Am Series sponsors. BF Goodrich gave us a great tire and Westward Tools eased a little of the pain since we were awarded a number of Tough Times Tool dollars through their ‘Tough Tools/Tough Times Award.’ The Trans-Am Series is still the best road racing competition anywhere. We’re looking forward to next year.”

October 23, 2002 – RUMAN LOOKING FOR FINE FINISH AT VIR FALL FESTIVAL

Munroe Falls, OH – Veteran Trans-Am competitor Bob Ruman is eager to get back on the track at the recently reopened Virginia International Raceway near Danville, Virginia for the Trans-Am season finale. Ruman, in the #23 Cenweld/McNichols Corvette, is 12th in the Trans-Am Championship points standings coming into Sunday’s race.

The VIR Speedfest presented by Justin Bell GT Motorsports Experience is race number twelve of the Trans-Am series for the BF Goodrich Tires Cup 2002 Season. The race should provide plenty of competition action for drivers and spectators alike, on a backdrop of fall Virginia countryside color.

“I’m looking forward to this race, even though the championship has been settled,” said Ruman. “We’ve had a long, hard season, but this track is absolutely gorgeous and we’re hoping to get a great finish for the Cenweld/McNichols Corvette Team. We were here last year with my daughters Amy and Niki, when they raced Pro Spec Racer (as they are again at this event) and I just wanted to get out on this track and race it,” explained Ruman. “Looks like I’ll finally get my chance.”

Sunday’s race will be the first time since 1966 that the Trans-Am Series has raced at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, VA. The 3.27-mile permanent road course has 17 turns and rolling hills with about 130 feet in elevation changes. More information about this challenging track can be obtained at www.virclub.com. Practice and qualifying are on October 25 and 26. The 31-lap race (101 miles) will be at 1:15pm on Sunday October 27 and will be shown live on Speed Channel.

Television – Trans-Am season finale: VIR Speedfest presented by Justin Bell GT Motorsports Experience will be broadcast LIVE on Sunday, October 27 on Speed Channel 1:00pm (ET)

October 23, 2002 – AMY & NIKI RUMAN ANTICIPATE GOOD RACES IN VIR PRO SPEC RACER EVENTS THIS WEEKEND

Munroe Falls, OH ? Ruman Racing will field sisters Amy and Niki Ruman at the double Pro Spec Racer Pro event this weekend at Virginia International Speedway’s Speedfest. Amy last competed in the Mosport Pro Spec Racer event, where she finished 15th. Amy has raced GT-1 for most of the 2002 season, competing in SCCA national events at Sebring, Moroso, and Mid-Ohio. Her best finish for the season was 3rd at Sebring in GT-1. Niki has competed in several SCCA national events this season in Spec Racer, with a season high finish of 4th at Mosport.

“I’m looking forward to the double Pro race at VIR,” said Niki. “VIR is a spectacular facility both for the racers and the fans. I know it will be a competitive field and I expect we’ll put on two great races.”

“I’m excited to be running this weekend at VIR,” said Amy. “We get a bonus with two races and a lot of track time.”

Amy and Niki competed in the VIR 2001 Pro Spec Racer double race weekend. Amy finished 14th and Niki finished 19th in race number one’s thirty car field. Amy finished 13th in race number two, while Niki had a mechanical problem and was unable to finish.

Ruman Racing is also fielding Bob Ruman in the Trans-Am event at VIR on Sunday.

Virginia International Raceway in Alton, VA is a 3.27 mile permanent road course has 17 turns and about 130 feet in elevation changes. Saturday’s Spec Racer race will be at 1:05pm. Sunday?s race will be at 4:00pm.

For more information on the Pro Spec Racer Series log onto www.sccapro.com/srfps