Ken
Gone but not forgotten
From Cleveland.com:
TRANS-AM
In a pinch, Ruman turns to his daughter
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Joe Maxse
Plain Dealer Reporter
When the going gets tough, go with your daughter.
That is what veteran driver Bob Ruman has done for today's Trans-Am series race at Burke Lakefront Airport. Because he pulled some lower stomach muscles last week and is on painkiller medication, the Munroe Falls native put his daughter, Amy Ruman, at the wheel of his McNichols/Cenweld Corvette.
"We were testing the car and I had this shooting pain," said Bob Ruman, who has 95 races in the series. "I had to go to the emergency room on Monday. We were all signed up and ready to go here, so we just had to have Amy do it. We had no other option."
While it will be her first professional race, 31-year-old Amy Ruman is no stranger to the track. The Stow High and Kent State graduate has been racing since 1992.
With two wins, two thirds and three poles this year, she is the points leader in the SCCA Northeast Division GT-1 Nationals.
"The goal was to get a Trans-Am [race] this year," said Ruman, an office manager for Cenweld Corp. in Cuyahoga Falls. "I'm definitely ready for it. I'm comfortable with the car. Maybe a little nervous since it's my first pro race."
Most of the nerves will be with her parents and sister, Niki. All have racing experience, but it's not the same watching as opposed to driving.
"It's harder to watch than it is to drive," said Bob Ruman. "This is a longer race [51 laps] than she's used to. She has to be patient and diligent . . . not get frustrated. You have to stay out of trouble and try not to tangle with anybody.
"I'm excited because she's doing so well. She'll do fine."
"I'm doing all right," said Barb Ruman, the team's coordinator and Amy's mother. "Now [today] it might be another story at the start of the race."
Amy Ruman said going over the track, first in a golf cart and later in two practice sessions helped "get the lay of the land." She qualified eighth in the field of 14, clocking a best lap time of 1 minute, 16.265 seconds.
"The first turn is definitely interesting," said Amy Ruman. "Around Turn 5, you've got to hit your marks there. You just have to learn the track more or less. I'm looking for a top 10 finish."
Series rookie Klaus Graf, a winner last week at Portland, Ore., notched his second straight pole with a best lap of 1:14.343. Veteran Paul Gentilozzi, last year's winner, was right behind his Rocketsports Racing teammate in an identical Jaquar XKR in 1:14.868.
Because the series has gone back to a "Fast Five" inverted start, Graf will start fifth and Gentilozzi fourth.
Tomy Drissi (Rocketsports Jaquar XKR) will hold his third spot, while Max Lagod (Hypermax Corvette) will start at the front along with fourth-place qualifier Joey Scarallo (Group A Wheels/Autotrend Corvette) in the race at 3:30 p.m.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: jmaxse@plaind.com, 216-999-4748
TRANS-AM
In a pinch, Ruman turns to his daughter
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Joe Maxse
Plain Dealer Reporter
When the going gets tough, go with your daughter.
That is what veteran driver Bob Ruman has done for today's Trans-Am series race at Burke Lakefront Airport. Because he pulled some lower stomach muscles last week and is on painkiller medication, the Munroe Falls native put his daughter, Amy Ruman, at the wheel of his McNichols/Cenweld Corvette.
"We were testing the car and I had this shooting pain," said Bob Ruman, who has 95 races in the series. "I had to go to the emergency room on Monday. We were all signed up and ready to go here, so we just had to have Amy do it. We had no other option."
While it will be her first professional race, 31-year-old Amy Ruman is no stranger to the track. The Stow High and Kent State graduate has been racing since 1992.
With two wins, two thirds and three poles this year, she is the points leader in the SCCA Northeast Division GT-1 Nationals.
"The goal was to get a Trans-Am [race] this year," said Ruman, an office manager for Cenweld Corp. in Cuyahoga Falls. "I'm definitely ready for it. I'm comfortable with the car. Maybe a little nervous since it's my first pro race."
Most of the nerves will be with her parents and sister, Niki. All have racing experience, but it's not the same watching as opposed to driving.
"It's harder to watch than it is to drive," said Bob Ruman. "This is a longer race [51 laps] than she's used to. She has to be patient and diligent . . . not get frustrated. You have to stay out of trouble and try not to tangle with anybody.
"I'm excited because she's doing so well. She'll do fine."
"I'm doing all right," said Barb Ruman, the team's coordinator and Amy's mother. "Now [today] it might be another story at the start of the race."
Amy Ruman said going over the track, first in a golf cart and later in two practice sessions helped "get the lay of the land." She qualified eighth in the field of 14, clocking a best lap time of 1 minute, 16.265 seconds.
"The first turn is definitely interesting," said Amy Ruman. "Around Turn 5, you've got to hit your marks there. You just have to learn the track more or less. I'm looking for a top 10 finish."
Series rookie Klaus Graf, a winner last week at Portland, Ore., notched his second straight pole with a best lap of 1:14.343. Veteran Paul Gentilozzi, last year's winner, was right behind his Rocketsports Racing teammate in an identical Jaquar XKR in 1:14.868.
Because the series has gone back to a "Fast Five" inverted start, Graf will start fifth and Gentilozzi fourth.
Tomy Drissi (Rocketsports Jaquar XKR) will hold his third spot, while Max Lagod (Hypermax Corvette) will start at the front along with fourth-place qualifier Joey Scarallo (Group A Wheels/Autotrend Corvette) in the race at 3:30 p.m.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: jmaxse@plaind.com, 216-999-4748
