European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 8, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday August 8, 1990 the stars and stripes Page 25american enjoys Raci Gracina round m at Bockenheim last april we interviewed the Young american racer Nick Firestone and wrote an article that described his first experiences in the world of International Competition. We had also agreed to meet again in late july and Check his Progress. And while he a yet to win a race or even come close he is definitely moving ahead in what is perhaps the most competitive of any International racing series a the pm Lotus eur series program launched and directed by the american Dan parcel who also Heads the european formula Drivers association Edda. We talked to Firestone again in Bockenheim late last month where he competed in the pm Lotus round a supporting race in the German grand prix for formula one cars. The cars used in pm Lotus Competition arc of Lotus Chassis construction. They Are powered by Opal Vaux Hall engines and the wheels Are shod by Bridges tone tires. What most impresses Firestone about the pm Lotus series is the closeness of the Competition which of course makes it a top line training ground for up and coming Young Drivers. That a one of the major Points of the series. Discussing several of the races he has enjoyed this season Firestone singled out the rounds at Zand Voort and brands Hatch As among his Best. A at Zand Voort i was close to the pole position time a he said a but i still found myself 27th on the Grid. But it was one of my Best races. I had to drive around a first Lap pileup which dropped me to 30lh place but i then made up at least seven places under braking from the 130-Milc-an-hour Straightaway to the 40-mile-an-hour first turn. A half of those passes were made on the outside. It Felt great. My Crew could Sec All of this and loved it. After each pass they would be cheering me on As they were showing me the pit Board. That was one of my Best races so far. A another Good one came at brands Hatch. I was Only 7/10lhs of a second off pole position but i still started 17th on the Grid and i finished 13th. I had faltered at the Start but i made up for it with some Good passing Maneu vers. A i never thought i would be Happy about a 13th place but the Competition is fabulous and in a making Good Progress. This is my first year Cvar in Road racing and when i started i really had to extend myself even to make the starting Grid. Now in a making the grids and i have More Confidence. A in qualifying you re really dealing in fractions a Firestone says. A a half second can be Worth 10 spots on the Grid. In our race at Paul Ricard circuit in the French grand prix weekend the entire 36-car Field was split by Only 2.37 seconds. I was 1.73 seconds off pole not Baa but 1 was Only 29th on the Grid. Its that close. A the racing itself can be just As close and it teaches strategy and dealing with High pressure situations Quot to give an idea of the Caliper of International Competition there arc 15 formula Ford champions and 13 go Kart champions involved in the pm Lotus series and the Drivers come from 17 nations. Firestone is the Only american Driver competing on a regular basis. A for Drivers on their Way up there a nothing on a Par with this series Quot Firestone says. A it gives the Driver plenty of International exposure and the crowds Are great. From the experience standpoint you re learning in one season what would normally take three. A in my Case in be been racing since March 5 and ill race through oct 14. That will total 24 races and 25 test sum v Randy Barnettie. ,. A amps Milf tool Abrams pm Lotus Driver Nick Firestone. Making Good Progress sessions leaving me Only five weekends Oft. So in a getting plenty  Firestone says the Only program in the United states that might compare to the pm Lotus action is the Barber Saab series but he quickly Points out that Barber Saab lacks the International aspect. Firestone enjoys referring to the pm Lotus series As the a mini big time a and his description is an Apt one when you consider that As a Novice Driver he. And the others race before crowds of More than 100,000 throughout Europe. Of the 11 rounds in the pm Lotus eur series seven arc run in support of the formula one grand prix events. These include the san Marino French British German belgian portuguese and Spanish grands prix. Firestone who drives for the highly successful pm racing team directed by the Irish Brothers Peter and scan Thompson started his career in off Road racing and in go karts. He plans one More year in the pm Lotus series and then will be aiming for either formula 3 or formula 3000. His ultimate goal like every serious Young racers is making it into formula one or indy car racing. A graduate of Princeton and. 1 to great grandson of. Harvey Samuel Firestone founder of the Firestone tire and rubber company the 24-year-old racer Calls Scottsdale ari/., Home but he has spent Little time there this year. Quot i m totally committal to racing Quot he says "and1 As Long As 1 keep improving i m Happy. But i won t he totally Happy until i win my first  Firestone races next on aug 2 \ when the eighth round in the pm Lotus eur series will he held in Eon Junction with the belgian grand prix at spa Fine or champs. Where to go 11 is weekend t he Hunan j an grand prix 10th round in the formula one world driving championship will be staged sunday at the Hunga Roring just outside Budapest with the Start of the 77-Lap race 192 Miles set for 2 30 . Brazils Ayrton Senna of the Mclaren Honda team leads Alain Frost of France Ferrari by just four Points going into the hungarian round. Untamed practice will be held on Friday and saturday from 10 to 11 30 ., and official qualifying is set from 1 to 2 . On both Days. Supporting races Are also on the three Day program. The hungarian grand prix will be shown live on German televisions second program Adf beginning at 1 50 ., and also on the eur sport satellite Channel. In Germany the 18th annual avd old timer grand prix featuring Many of the great racing cars of the past will be held Friday through sunday at the Nair Burgering. Formula one racing cars will be on the program for the first time. The races make up the fifth round in the Fia historical car championship. Practice for the Oil tinier up will be held Friday from 8  To 5  practice and racing is scheduled from 8  To 6 . On saturday while racing on sunday is set from 8  To 7 . Prices on saturday Range from 10 to 20 Marks while sundays tickets Range from 10 to 35 Marks. Combined tickets Good for both Days Range from 10 to 45 Marks. Youngsters pay half Price and children 12 and under will be admitted free. To reach the Nair Burgering take the Koblenz trick autobahn a48 and exit at us men Nair Burgering. At the Zand Voort circuit in the Netherlands the 26lh International North sea cup races will be staged saturday and sunday with Louring ears Renault 5s and other categories on the program drag racing a the second round in the German dragster trophy series will be held saturday and sunday on the Oscr Weichring circuit in Zel Tweg Austria with both the German drag racing tub and the Hanau Auto racing association Hara entering the ears and motorcycles for this event. The third and Fin round follows a Bockenheim on aug. 19. The Oscr reaching is located in Central Austria Between Judenberg and Knittelfelde Ori National a route b336. Motorcycle racing a the grand prix of Sweden 12th round in the world motorcycle championship series will be held sunday at the rulers Torp circuit in Southern Sweden races will he run in the 125, 250, 500cc and Cycle Sidecar classes. Pray lice and qualifying take place on Friday and saturday. Motocross a the i2lh and final round in the 125cc world championship my Torero is series will be held sunday in Moron de la Frontera spam. Practice and qualifying races will be held on saturday. Thu stars and Stripe Urcla lands hoop Prospect on rebound from univ but the los Angeles times los Angeles red of Bannon one of the country s most highly coveted basketball recruits last season at Artesia High Sli Joi in Lakewood Calif., announced monday that he will enrol next a Tomit at Urcla. A 6-loot-,s Forward o Bannon is the second recruit in the past week to spurn Eada Las vegas in favor of the Bruins a it ii tag Shon Tarver a 6-5 guard from Ama t Lam High in Oxnard Calif. Univ the defending National Champion was banned by the Mcaa front postseason Competition next year bemused of alleged recruiting violations of in years ago prompting of Bannon and rarer to Eluige their minds about car pm g at tie school. Neither of Bannon nor Tarver signed letters of intent with univ at the suggestion of coach Jerry Tarkanian giving them the option of changing their minds if univ was penalized by the Mcaa before the Start of the fall semester. Univ is still awaiting word on possible sanctions stemming from alleged improprieties in its recruitment of former new York City prep Star Lloyd Daniels. O Bannon is expected to have the greater immediate Impact on the Urcla program possibly moving into the starting lineup As a freshman in place of Trevor Wilson who was drafted last june by the Atlanta Hawks. Coach Bill Frieder of Arizona slate who wanted both players said last Winter that the left handed of Bannon was the Best player he has Ever tried to recruit. Among frieders former recruits Are Roy Tarpley of the Dallas Mavericks Glen Rice of the Miami heal and Gary Grant of the los Angeles clippers three of frieders former recruits at Michigan a Rumeal Robinson Loy Vaught and Terry Mills a were first round Aba draft picks this year. A a of Bannon will be a three time All american no matter where he goes a Tarkanian said last week when of Bannon was still considering us Syracuse and Arizona state. A if Urcla gels both. O Bannon and Tarve they could have the Best team in the country.  be so talented it will be unbelievable a said coach George Raveling of us which was said to be of Bannon a second Choice last Spring and again this summer Quot my feelings Are the mme As when he announced he was going to attend univ except now it gives the l ae-10 two teams this Vear with final l our to  with the additions of Tarver and of Bannon u f a is expert Ted to Challenge Arizona next season Lor thetic i championship. A of Bannon averaged 24 i Points 9.7 rebounds and 1 4 assists a game last season leading Artesia to a 29-2 re Oid the Southern Section 4-a championship and the stale division ii championship. Ilia was named National High school player of the year by basketball limes and Aldora player of the year by Gal i i sports