Our Sponsors

7 Championship Titles - Over 100 Wins and 200 Podium Finishes

2 0 0 7    S A R R C    G T -  1   C H A M P I O N                      2 0 0 8    S A R R C   G T -  1   C H A M P I O N                     2 0 0 9   S E  D I V I S I O N    G T -  1  C H A M P I O N

Sebring Provides Bitter Cold Disappointment for PHR

January 11, 2010 - Sebring, Florida

Something happened to the “sunshine state” as temperatures in Sebring fell below freezing and the wind howled, setting the stage for a pretty disappointing weekend for the #85 ECR Engines / H2O Overdrive / Base Race Fuels / Goodyear Tires / PST Driveshafts / Wix Filters / Thermal Control Products Corvette. Friday’s first qualifying session put the #85 fourth on the grid for Saturday’s race, however Mother Nature sent in freezing rain and temperatures in the twenties so the team decided to not run in Saturday’s race which  was shortened due to bad weather. Sunday, was another day, although still very cold and windy, the skies were blue and the sun had come out of hiding. Terry had the car qualified in the 5th spot on the grid for Sunday’s race and at the start the top five cars checked out on the field. Running nose to tail for 6 laps, Terry made a move to over take the third place car when the ECR powerplant expired, forcing the second DNF in just two weeks for the team due to mechanical failure. “Not a great start to the season” commented team owner and driver Terry Giles “we pushed this engine just a little too much I guess, it was the engine we ran at the Run-Offs and we were pushing it as part of the development program and I guess we pushed just a little too hard”. The team will regroup, the engines will go back to ECR for analysis and rebuild as the team will be preparing for Round Three of the National Points Championship coming up March 6th - 7th at Roebling Road Raceway in beautiful Savannah Georgia, one of the team’s favorite tracks. “I only hope we get this turned around quick” stated Team Engineer and Car Chief Kevin Allen “this is not how we expected our season to start with all of these mechanical failures”. Look for the team to rebound from this and be on their game at Roebling, a track where Terry has proven the team has what it takes to win there with over 50 wins at that track. “Terry really is good at Roebling and we expect to get our season turned around there” he said. “My brother drives hard and works hard at making this team a real competitor and a value for his sponsors, its hard having this kind of luck out of the gate - but I know the guys can turn it around and we have complete faith in ECR to provide us with the best horsepower and reliability” said Team Manager Eric Giles.

New Year Brings Podium Finish at Miami Homestead International Speedway for PHR

January 4, 2010 - Homestead, Florida

Powerhouse Racing celebrated the New Year with a third place finish in Sunday’s Double National race at the Miami Homestead International Speedway in Homestead over the weekend. Team driver Terry Giles put the #85 ECR Engines / H2O Overdrive / Base Race Fuels / Goodyear Tires / PST Driveshafts / Wix Filters / Thermal Control Products Corvette fourth on the grid for Saturday’s race but failed to finish when he broke a read drive spindle while running in third place on lap 6 of the Saturday race. The team repaired the car for Sunday’s race and Terry started 6th on the grid. At the drop of the green Terry shot his ECR powered steed into the top four and proceeded to pick his way through the field over the 20 lap race to finish with a strong 3rd place and the final spot on the podium for Sunday’s race. The team will now prepare for next week’s Double National at the world famous Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida.

On display at the RCR 40th Fan Day.

On the chassis dyno at ECR Engines.

On the chassis dyno at ECR Engines with the ECR engineers putting her through the paces.

New Paint Scheme Revealed for the 2010 Race Season.

December 28, 2009 - Loxahatchee, Florida

Powerhouse Racing revealed the new paint scheme on the freshly rebuilt #85 ECR Engines / H2O Overdrive / Base Race Fuels Corvette today. The new brilliant black and hot red paint is accented with sponsors logos and a bright red “swoosh” down both sides. The team is honored to once again have ECR Engines on the car and under the hood for the 2010 season, as well as returning sponsors H2O Overdrive / Base Race Fuels / Goodyear Tires / PST Driveshafts and Wix Filters. Powerhouse Racing welcomes their new sponsors for 2010 - including Thermal Control Products, Inc. Catch all the action at Homestead on Jan 1st - 3rd followed by Sebring on Jan 8th - 10th as the 2010 race season kicks off.

Powerhouse Racing on Podium at RRR March National

Roebling Road Raceway – Savannah, GA – March 7, 2010

The sky was clear, the weather cold – but the racing was hot. The state of the economy was evident in a smaller than usual turn out for the 32^nd running of the Tom Nehl National at the historic Roebling Road Raceway, with less competitors in each race group and fewer cars over-all competing, however two of the SE Division’s top GT1 pilots turned out to do battle on this 41 year old 2.2 mile road course. Reigning SE Division GT1 Champion Terry Giles in his Powerhouse Racing / ECR Engines / H2O Overdrive / Base Race Fuels / TCP / PST / Goodyear / Wix Filters / Tilton / Mallen-Alley wings Corvette and Simon Gregg running out of Derhaag Motorsports in his freshly painted orange and white Corvette lapped the field in this 23 lap sprint to the checkered flag. Terry and his team fought small mechanical issues all weekend with a failed power steering unit allowing them to turn only one lap of practice and a mystery oil leak and battery connection problem cutting their qualifying session short. Simon put his Derhaag Corvette on the pole, with Terry on the outside pole position at the drop of the green. These two experienced GT1 drivers blasted away from the field at the start – running nose to tail for 9 laps, until lapped traffic became an issue and Terry’s Corvette was hit by multiple cars in Turn 4 causing extensive nose and side damage that created major tire rub and handling issues. Terry managed to maintain forward motion through the incident and though it set him back – he did manage to continue the chase on Simon and lapped the field in route to his strong second place finish. “The new ECR powerplant was incredible” stated Giles, “they gave us some really strong ponies under the hood – I was able to pull Simon on the start and I gave him his line knowing we had 23 laps to settle this thing, just too bad I got caught up in the mess at 4 on lap 9 or I am sure it would have been a different finishing order” he said. Team engineer and  car chief Kevin Allen said that the new engine package had them 5 mph faster on the front straight and that they were working on gearing up until 20 minutes before the race to compensate for the increase in performance. This showing helps the Powerhouse Team find their footing after a rough start to the 2010 season with 3 DNF’s in the first 4 races of the season – they now have two podium finishes and are repairing the car for the March 21-22 National at Road Atlanta in their quest for the 2010 GT1 National Championship.

Powerhouse Racing Captures Pole and Race Win at Atlanta National

March 21, 2010 - Road Atlanta - Braselton, GA

Under beautiful sunny skies on Saturday, champion driver Terry Giles wheeled the Powerhouse Racing / H2O Overdrive / ECR Engines / Base Race Fuels / PST / TCP Inc. / Goodyear / Wix Filters / Tilton - C6 Corvette around the hilly terrain of the 2.54 mile road circuit setting the fastest qualifying time, placing the #85 black and red Corvette on the pole for the start of Sunday's race. "On Thursday we were working her over in the parking lot of the track repairing the damage that happened at Roebling when Terry got hit by a wrecking lapped car" said car chief Kevin Allen. "Kevin did a great job getting her patched up and ready to go and ECR's new engine package is great" stated driver and team owner Terry Giles after his qualifying run. "You guys have seen us run here before - but not like this" he said, commenting that the new engine package had them over 6 miles per hour faster according to their data than the same time last year. Giles placed the car on the pole by a margin of almost 2 full seconds over the second place GT1 car.

 

The blue skies disappeared into the night to be replaced by dark and rainy skies for all of Sunday's racing, with a terrible crash at the start of the GT race, however at the end of the day Terry emerged with the GT1 win and in the process moved up to third place in the SE Division GT1 National Points Championship points. "After such a rough start to this season, we felt we had turned the corner last race at Roebling, other than getting caught up in that wreck - we still managed a second that weekend and this win really gives us the momentum we need to fight for our 8th Championship title, as we really want to capture the SE Division Championship again this year on our way to the Run-Offs" Giles said, speaking about the team's direction and focus on winning the National GT1 Championship at Road America in the SCCA Run-Offs to be held in late September. Next up for the team is the Double National at VIR in April.

Start of Atlanta National “Rain Race”

Powerhouse Racing Earns Pair of Podium Finishes at Oak Tree National

April 18, 2010 - Virginia International Raceway - Alton, VA

It was the first time ever that Terry Giles and his Powerhouse Racing / H2O Overdrive / ECR Engines / Base Race Fuels / PST / TCP Inc. / Goodyear / Wix Filters / Tilton - # 85 Corvette had visited the 3.27 mile road course known as VIR, which would require some fast learning if the team was going to be competitive. Giles and the team put their best foot forward all weekend and as a result Giles managed two third place podium finishes for this all important double national points weekend. “His ability to grasp the track quickly really showed this weekend” commented care chief Kevin Allen, proud of his driver’s accomplishment. “Two things helped make these two wins happen” said Giles after the race. “I spent some time on iRacing running VIR to learn the track configuration that was number one - and then the work that Kevin did this weekend on getting the car right, and I have to thank Danny Slack from ECR Engines for coming over and lending a hand this weekend - the guys back at the shop built a new carb for this engine and holy smokes, wow - that is all I can say - these guys at ECR are amazing and the care, precision and work they do to make us the best we can be is just awesome” he said. With these two third place finishes, Giles moves up to second place in the SE Division GT1 points championship as well as moves into 5th overall in the National GT1 points race. The team is now working to prepare the car to head west as they will compete in the CAT Double National event at Road America, May 20 - 23, 2010 - followed by the Trans Am race to be held in conjunction with the NASCAR Nationwide Series in June (also at Road America), followed by the June Sprints at Road America the weekend following the Trans Am event. So it is a full slate of events at Road America which Terry and the team feel will  be very valuable in his getting seat time at the track prior to this year’s National Championship Run-Offs in September as the team will make their bid for the much coveted National GT1 Championship title.

ECR Engines Powers Powerhouse Racing to Podium at Road America

Elkhart Lake, WI - May 23, 2010

The ECR Engines powered #85 Powerhouse Racing / H2O Overdrive / ECR Engines/ Base Race Fuels / PST/ TCP / Wix Filters Corvette out of South Florida driven by reigning SE Division GT1 Champion Terry Giles surprised the field of champions and local GT1 hot shoes with a hard charging second place podium finish in Sunday's GT1 race. Foul weather and heavy fog on Friday caused all practice and qualifying for the CAT Double National to be cancelled, under a modified schedule all races would be subject to a single 20 minute qualifying session to be held on Saturday morning - followed by the first of two National races for each class. Terry managed to put the #85 Corvette in the second row - outside pole position, behind long time Road America GT pilot Denny Lamers, beside seasoned GT1 driver Rick Dittman, with the reigning SCCA GT1 National Champion Cliff Ebben on the pole. The excitement and action of Saturday's race soon went from good to great and then to bad - as Terry moved from 4th into 3rd into turn one on the green flag and again moving into 2nd on the second lap of the race as the cars entered turn one. He maintained that position building a 5 second lead over the 3rd place car of Dittman when the race was black flagged due to a car impacting and then clearing the tire wall, After an extended 45 minute black flag the race resumed with just 4 laps to go - Terry maintained his second place position going into the next to the last lap when he and Dittman made contact entering into turn one and the #85 Corvette ended up in the outside sand trap. "This is a very disappointing day for the team" stated team engineer Kevin Allen, "Terry pulled everyone but Cliff on the start and he was gaining on him before the contact - the ECR Engine has legs" he said. Sunday's starting grid was identical due to the single qualifier - however this time at the drop of the green - Terry immediately put the #85 Corvette into second position before the cars hit turn one - he ran the entire race giving chase to Cliff who won the race with Terry finishing second and Dittman third. "We had all these guys wondering who and what ECR Engines are all about when we got here" Kevin said, "now they know - we are serious about the Run-Offs and as Terry gets time on this track - we will be contenders" he said as the team celebrated this podium win. "I have to thank ECR for their incredible horsepower and torque - we were 8mph faster up the hills here over when we were here last year at the Run-Offs, we had everybody looking that is for sure" he said. "Kevin did a great job on getting the car balanced for this track and Jason over at RCR who did our shocks -wow - the guy is a genius - I can't thank ECR and the gang, including the help from RCR on how much they have help elevate our program this year" Giles stated. Next up for the team is the June 20th Trans Am race at Road America, followed by the June Sprints the very next weekend.

 

Powerhouse Racing Takes Podium at June Sprints

ROAD AMERICA - Elkhart Lake, WI - May 23, 2010

Terry Giles driving the  #85 Powerhouse Racing / H2O Overdrive / ECR Engines/ Base Race Fuels / PST/ TCP / Wix Filters Corvette took third place in the 55th running of the prestigious June Sprints, often hailed and noted as the biggest and most competitive SCCA National race in the country. Amid a field of 19 top GT1 cars, Terry placed the ECR Engines powered Corvette on the grid in 5th  - having struggled a bit with braking issues the week prior in the Trans Am race, where Terry (running in 6th - making a move for 5th) over shot Canada corner under braking and ended up putting the car deep into the gravel pit at Turn 12 - ending his day - the team was making adjustments for the Sprints. “We were second fastest in practice, but had a few tire / brake issues in qualifying” said Car Chief and Race Engineer Kevin Allen “Terry did what he could with what we gave him - after qualifying I made some additional changes that seemed to be on target and he drove a great race” he said. When the green flag dropped, pole sitter Cliff Ebben checked out on the field with second place starter Amy Ruman giving chase, Terry took over P4 going into turn 3 and gave chase to Texas based Pinnacle Racing’s Doug Harrington for 3rd place - which proved to be the race to watch on track. Nose to tail Terry and Doug battled for 8 laps when Terry took over 3rd in the short shoot between T13 and T14 afterwards he showed the dominance of ECR power by pulling away to a 9 second lead over Harrington to take the final spot on the podium at the waving of the checkered flag. “We changed engines after the Trans Am race, as we had over 900 miles on the old one - the new ECR bullet was every bit as strong and we have shown everyone with this finish just how focused we are on the Run-Offs” Giles said after the race, “I want to hand ECR their first National GT1 Championship title - I want to make all of our sponsors proud of sticking with us” he stated as he thanked ECR Engines, H2O Overdrive, Base Race Fuels, PST Driveshafts, Goodyear Tires, Thermal Control Products, WIX Filters and Tilton Clutches for their continued efforts in sponsoring the #85 Powerhouse Racing Corvette.

JUNE SPRINTS PHOTOS COURTESY ROBERT BOWE

Terry Giles Races Back to a Top Ten Finish At Run-Offs - Ends Season with Wrecked Race Car

ROAD AMERICA - Elkhart Lake, WI - October 1, 2010

Terry Giles driving the  #85 Powerhouse Racing / H2O Overdrive / ECR Engines/ Base Race Fuels / PST/ TCP / Wix Filters Corvette worked hard after a first lap skirmish into Turn 1 took off his hood and caused serious damage to the body of the C6 steed under him. After being bumped back to mid pack another hit outside of Turn 13 on the end of the first lap sent him off track and to a dead last position as the end of the first lap was complete. Terry drove hard and worked his way up through the field to finish 7th as the checkered flag dropped on the National Championship race. “Not the result we were looking for” Terry stated after exiting the torn up race car. “We worked hard fixing the car after I tore the nose off of it in qualifying on Wednesday—we had to have a nose and hood flown in from ACP Products and then we thrashed to get it fixed.”  “We never could have done it without the help of Jeff and Mike, two of John Schaller’s crew guys that live here locally” he said. Car chief / race engineer Kevin Allen said “I am proud of Terry for not giving up—he ran his fastest time ever here even after being hit and kicked back to dead last”. After the race ended and all was sorted out - the team loaded up the broken race car and headed back to West Palm Beach not knowing what the future for the team held with the current economic climate and the hardship of finding sponsors. Terry commented that “it has been a great ride - I can’t thank ECR Engines, Base Fuels, PST, TCP, Goodyear or any of these guys that have been with us through thick and thin for all the help they have given us over the years. I couldn’t have done it without them and hope they have enjoyed the ride as much as I have”. “The car is spent and needs a lot of love after this weekend, I am surprised how much banging and bumping went on - not to mention my trip into the wall at 120+mph” Giles closed with as he shut the trailer door with a bit of dismay and despair. The team will be re-grouping after the Run-Offs and have not announced any plans for 2011.