Championship Drag Racing

Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals
Atlanta, Ga.
(May 13-16)

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Fred Collis G2/Star Racing Pro Stock Bike

Reports: Sunday Saturday Pre-race

Atlanta, Sunday: Fred Collis, aboard the Star Racing/G Squared Motorsports Suzuki, advanced to the semifinals in the NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals presented by Pontiac being held today at Atlanta Raceway in Commerce, Ga.

En route to the semifinals, Collis defeated Craig Treble and Mike Berry before falling victim to Shawn Gann.

The difference this race, as compared to the last race in Houston, was that Collis was much improved. The Star Racing/G Squared Motorsports rider did an outstanding job today on reaction times, shift points and going straight. It was the focus of Collis in the race today that kept the team in the hunt for the event title.

"We left a lot of crumbs on the table today when it came to our tune-up," said Star Racing team owner and G Squared Motorsports partner George Bryce. "We went the wrong way with our tune-up each run in Houston, and while we thought we had it figured out, we did the same thing here.

"Fred's consistent driving won us some rounds today. We're going to stay and test tomorrow and get ready for Chicago. We made some changes to our tune-up in the semifinals today and that slowed us down. Tomorrow we'll reverse those changes and I expect to see the bike react positively."

After testing, the team moves next weekend to the NHRA Route 66 Raceway Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill., about 30 miles from downtown Chicago. This will be the second of five Pro Stock motorcycle events over a seven week span. A schedule that is to Collis' liking.

"I like a schedule like that," said Collis. "You go to the race, then come home and recharge your batteries but it doesn't allow too much downtime. If you are doing good and are consistent, such as I was this weekend, you can keep that momentum going. You can keep your focus and not stray too far from the job you are supposed to do. Yes, I like it."

Atlanta, Saturday: Qualifying for the 24th annual Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals presented by Pontiac, the third of 15 Pro Stock Bike races on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, is now in the NHRA history books.

Fred Collis, aboard the Star Racing/G Squared Motorsports Suzuki finished in the No. 10 positions on the Pro Stock motorcycle ladder for eliminations tomorrow. G Squared Motorsports is a collaboration of efforts between George Bryce of Star Racing, headquartered in Americus, Ga., and George Smith, part owner of S&S Cycle, Incorporated, based in Viola, Wis.

Collis, who qualified 10th with a pass of 7.217 seconds at 184.80 mph down the Atlanta Dragway quarter-mile, will face Craig Treble, who qualified No. 7 with a run of 7.193 seconds at 189.71 mph, in eliminations tomorrow.

Bryce reflected on qualifying saying, "We started out similar to how we did at the last race in Houston which I thought was good. We were fifth after the first session but wound up tenth. We missed the tune up a little bit on each run.

"On the good session last night, the track was better than we thought it was going to be and we knocked the clutch out. The final run today was not as bad as it seems as we were breaking in a new tire and it was our worst 60-foot of the season. Yet we still ran a 7.23 (second) elapsed time. That run was for the big picture. It should pick up three or four hundredths tomorrow and that will put us in the teens. That will make us competitive."

Collis' goal sheet for this race called for him doing things the same way each run and focusing on consistency.

"So far this weekend we are really close to being above average on consistency," said Collis after his four qualifying runs. "We're just a hair from being above average and will work tomorrow to insure that we achieve our goal. Being above average tomorrow can win a few rounds for this Star Racing/ G Squared Motorsports team.

Atlanta, pre-race: There's good news and more good news from the Americus, Ga., shop of Star/G Squared Motorsports.

The first order of business after returning from the last NHRA national event in Houston was the testing of the competition V-Twin, a collaboration of efforts between George Bryce of Star Racing, headquartered in Americus, Ga., and George Smith, part owner of S&S Cycle, Incorporated, based in Viola, Wis.

Combining Bryce's talent for building state-of-the-art motorcycles and mentoring competitive drivers capable of winning championships and Smith's knowledge and experience with the V-Twin engine, Bryce and Smith have established a new company, G Squared Motorsports [a derivative of the name George, common to both partners], to develop motorcycles and motorcycle engines with a focus on late-model hot rod V-Twins.

With testing conducted at Atlanta Dragway and Fred Collis, who rejoined Star Racing as rider at Houston, on-board both the V-Twin and the current Suzuki that is campaigned on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Bryce labeled the session a success and said that it was good news for G Squared Motorsports.

"Our testing called for running both the Suzuki and the V-Twin during the same test session," Bryce said. "On our very first try with the V-Twin, we were very pleased to be able to take a whole new combination that's not similar to anything we've ever done and have it run within 13-hundredths of our front-running Suzuki.

"A Pro Stock car team testing a new car, with a few minor improvements, against an old car may not be happy with that type of results because they expect the new car to be faster. This, to what we're doing, is like comparing apples to oranges. Other than rear tires and gasoline, the V-Twin and the Suzuki are not similar in any way.

"It was a good start and the hill, as George Smith calls it, wasn't as steep as we thought it would be. We made a list of things to change and/or improve and we're in that mode right now. There are still bugs to work out and a lot of testing still to do, but we're going to try and have the bike ready to bring to Atlanta, not to compete but to display."

This weekend the good news is that Bryce's Star Racing/G Squared Motorsports will be competing at the NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, a track that is very familiar to Bryce.

"For us the track is less than four hours from Americus so we don't have to leave a day early and get home a day later," said Bryce, who, as rider/owner/crew chief, has produced 66 No. 1 qualifying efforts and 65 wins in 112 final rounds since 1987. "That makes it easy on the crew and the Star Racing fans that live here. They can come and participate with us. We'll probably have over 100 people from Americus alone. This gives you a lot more support and the added incentive to perform better than usual. It's a lot different atmosphere than say Denver or Las Vegas.

"For our performance, I know the track really, really well. I run there a lot. We run the HDRA Harley races there. We run the AMA ProStar races there. And, of course, the NHRA race each year there. I do most of my testing there. I know the staff. I know the weather. Conditions are so similar to home. We're tuned up for it. That gives us a little bit of an advantage.

"I'm expecting to do much better in Atlanta than we did in Houston. We made a pretty good hit, a 7.12 (second pass), at the last race in Houston. We've got a good program lined up with Fred (Collis). I expect us to qualify near the front (of the field). I don't know how close to the front but near. Of course, from that point we intend to improve run by run, just like we did in the old days rather than let it slip away from us."

Bryce's rider Fred Collis, who is making his second start of the 2004 season, feels that Bryce's knowledge of the track is a definite advantage.

"George's knowledge and experience at Atlanta Dragway definitely plays a role," said Collis. "Between Gainesville and Atlanta we've made a lot of run at both places and that gives added confidence come race day. We'll have a lot of local fans and friends that will be coming to the race. That always gives you a boost.

"For Atlanta, we've laid out a plan of action and goals we want to achieve. Our focus will be on those and we're going to go out there and apply them. I plan to have the same focus and do the same procedure each and every time throughout qualifying and eliminations. That should help with not only the reaction times but with our game plan for the remaining races this season."