Bruce Ashmore
Changes on the horizon for USAC. "The time when we developed the Reynard Indy car," recalls race-car designer Bruce Ashmore, "was a great time because we were at war with Lola. I loved it."
That Ashmore speaks in such bellicose terms about Lola Cars, where he spent a rewarding 17 years, and still considers its founder, the legendary Eric Broadley, his mentor, does not suggest a negative opinion of Lola, but rather conveys volumes about his passion for racing and winning.
Whether designing formula cars, sports cars, Indy cars, or now the new USAC Silver Crown cars, auto racing for Ashmore has always been about being the best by beating the best.
In late 2005, Ashmore's design efforts took a decidedly different turn. Chris Paulsen, founder and owner of C&R Racing and a former Indy-car chief mechanic, was familiar with Ashmore's talents. Paulsen had the good sense to hire Ashmore to design the new series of Silver Crown cars he planned to build. Ashmore relished the challenge.
"I've really enjoyed the Silver Crown car," insists Ashmore of what might seem to some to be a 180-degree turn in design standards. "It's opened my eyes on many aspects of design. Besides, it's a race car. It handles and reacts just like any other racing car.