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Benny Moon Tests New Fran-Am Car and Formula Mazda!
January 21,2002 Buttonwillow California:
Paul Tracy Kart Factory Driver Benny Moon tested both a Fran-Am 1600 and Formula Mazda at Buttonwillow Raceway Park on Wednesday January 16th, 2002! Temperatures were down in the high 30s during the early morning hours at the track when Ben arrived. Fran-Am car owner William Mayer, and World Speed Motorsports Team Manager, Telo Stewart, greeted Ben. Also eagerly awaiting the preparation of the cars was two of Benny’s long time racing competitors, Michael McDowell, and Scott Speed. McDowell having already been awarded the ride in the new Fran-Am car and Speed reaping one of his awards for winning the 2001 Star of Tomorrow series, a Formula Mazda test with World Speed Motorsports. As the temperatures warmed slightly into the low 40s Ben was first on the track. The Formula Renault (Fran-Am) car is stunningly beautiful, resembling a scaled down F1 car. Digital gauges, a padded interior and finger molded sequential gear shift knob, caused Benny’s eyes to light up as he slid into the drivers seat. It looks just as impressive on the track. "That car was really cool, it handles so smoothly!" Ben said with a wide grin on his face after his session.
Benny's time on the track was short, just 13 laps, but it was 13 laps he is sure to remember for a long time. "William Mayer was very kind to offer me a chance to drive his car. It was some fun seat time!" Mr. Mayer and others on hand seemed impressed with Ben as he dropped his lap times with each and every lap.
This was the first Fran-Am car delivered to the west coast and Ben felt very fortunate to be one of the very first in the country to drive such a car.
After the Fran-Am drive, Chuck West owner of Worldspeed Motorsports and Telo Stewart Worldspeeds Mazda and FF2000 director graciously offered Benny some laps in the Formula Mazda. In the late afternoon, after Scott Speed had worn the Mazda’s tires down sufficiently, Ben was given about 25 laps in Worldspeeds #16 Formula Mazda. Although the switch from the sequential gearbox to an unfamiliar "H" pattern slowed him down some Ben still managed to drop 5 seconds of his initial laps, dropping time with every pass.
As Benny continues his Karting career with the Paul Tracy Factory Kart Team, he is looking for funding to move to the next level, considering the Fran-Am 2000 or 1600 series or possibly the Star Mazda series in 2003. For more photos www.moonracingonline.com click on Fran-Am / Mazda 2002 photos.
