STAR RACE CARS ANNOUNCES MOSES SMITH RACING TO TAKE OVER MANUFACTURING, SALES AND SUPPORT OF STANDARD FM AND FULL-BODY MSR RACE CARS
Pacoima, CA / Tempe, AZ (September 7, 2009)-Star Race Cars and Moses Smith Racing today jointly announced that Moses Smith Racing, LLC. (MSR), headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, will take over all support for the approximately 300 Standard FM rotary-powered race cars currently in use across North America, as well as the MSR sports racer, a full-bodied version of the Standard FM.
Moses Smith Racing (MSR), already a dealer, race prep shop and operator of an on-line store with a complete catalog of Standard FM Parts and associated hardware, will re-build existing cars, manufacture new cars and parts and handle all sales and service.
"Moses Smith has long been one of our strongest supporters and most pro-active FM dealers," says Gary Rodrigues, President and CEO of Star Race Cars, which will continue to produce the 'Pro' Formula Mazda and operate the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear racing series. "A lot of today's top drivers got their start in the Standard FM and hundreds of these cars continue to be raced on a regular basis. This is one of the most reliable, cost-efficient and competitive open-wheel cars in motorsports history and Moses Smith Racing is the ideal organization to not only keep the current fleet of FM cars racing, but also to expand into new areas like driving schools and regional spec racing series."
The history of the Star Race Cars Standard FM extends back to 1990, with a strong, simple design makes it an easy car to drive, inspiring confidence for novices and pros alike. Standard FM cars are tube-frame, fiberglass-body, open-wheel race cars weighing 1350 pounds (with driver) and powered by a 180 horsepower, Mazda 13B rotary engine mated to a 5-speed racing transaxle. Features include 4-wheel disc brakes, double-wishbone and rocker-arm suspension, front and rear wings, adjustable sway bars and Goodyear racing slicks. Top speed is 140 mph and 0 to 60 mph acceleration is under four seconds.
MSR has already re-manufactured and supplied twenty Standard FM cars for the new, 9-race Bob Bondurant Championship Race Series taking place during the 2009-10 season at Firebird International Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona. Other series, such as the Molecule Formula Mazda Challenge in Northern California, and Cartech FM Challenge in the Midwest utilize the Standard FM open-wheel car; it is also one of the largest and most competitive classes in the Sports Car Club of America. MSR will support Standard FM racers at the upcoming SCCA National RunOffs at Road America, in Elkhart Lake, WI. Sept. 21 – 27, with parts, technical assistance and a contingency program.
“The Standard Formula Mazda is the car that started my Professional Racing Career,' says Smith. "Since then I have driven many different types of race cars such as Pro Formula Mazda, Atlantic Championship, Indy pro Series, Koni Challenge and NASCAR, but my heart has always had a sweet spot for the Standard FM. I became a dealer for Star Mazda in 2004 not only to support the Standard FM, but to also put MSR in a position to one day hopefully take on the responsibility of building, maintaining, and supplying parts for the car, and be responsible for the car and class integrity. This has been a dream and goal for a long time, and I am very excited to see this come together!”
Smith, who began his career as a racing school mechanic, began competing in Formula Mazda events in 2001, eventually becoming one of the top drivers in the series. He finished 2nd in the Star Mazda Series North American Championship with four wins; he finished third in the series championship in 2003 and sixth in 2004. In 2006, with the encouragement of his current sponsor HASA Inc., Smith made the switch to NASCAR; he is currently in his third full season as a driver in the NASCAR Camping World Series West.
_______________________________
For further information about Moses Smith Racing,
please visit www.mosessmith.com,
www.msrparts.com or contact:
Moses Smith Racing LLC (480) 967-7278 - phone
1302 W. 23rd Street #119 (480) 967-7358 – fax
Tempe, AZ 85282 moses@mosessmith.com – e-mail
_______________________________
For more information about competing in Standard FM race cars and series:
www.SCCA.com
www.bondurant.com/championship-race-series
www.thecartechchallenge.com
www.rotaryrockets.com
www.worldspeed.com
_______________________________
For more information on the Star Mazda Championship and its drivers,
as well as the Mazda
Motorsports ladder system, please visit:
www.starmazda.com
www.mazdausa.com
Peter Frey / Communications Director / Star Mazda Championship
(818) 398-5733 / E-mail: StarMazdaPR@aol.com.
________________________________
On any given weekend, there are more Mazdas on the road-race tracks of America than any other brand of vehicle. At the track, you’ll see MX-5 Miata, RX-8, MAZDA3, MAZDA6, RX-7 and other vintage Mazda models competing, because every Mazda has the Soul of a Sports Car.
For more information on the various Mazda spec series, visit:
www.atlantic-championship.com
www.starmazda.com
www.skipbarber.com
www.mx-5cup.com
Dean Case / Communications Officer / MAZDASPEED Motorsports
(310) 318-4582 / E-mail: MAZDASPEED@MazdaUSA.com