The Cones of Doom
Fall 2007, Event 1 of 4
By Dave Lahey
Firebird International
Raceway – September 16, 2007
Rain, Rain, Go Away.
Never came, gorgeous day!
Elliot Speidell's "The Cones of Doom" course was fantastic, according
to attendees: a slalom up the middle, loop to the right, and through a
box, then up through the slalom again, loop to the left, then a decreasing
distance slalom tightening up to the finish. The "30% chance of
rain" predicted gave way to 70% overcast and much cooler conditions than
the record-breaking summer heat has been lately.
Ted Lewis set fast time in his newly painted Gulf-scheme Lotus Elan.
Kudos to Ted who has returned to the top of the charts, and didn't break the
car. His 34.473 was outPAXed by Jim Harnish's 35.570 in his FSP Civic,
who took the PRO class this day.
Steve “Flyin' Ryan” came third, and David Webb in fourth.
The Sportsman class saw Director Brian
Peters with a 35.921 in Jay Balducci's 2005 Subaru STI take the win, with
Elliot Speidell not far behind, with a 35.850 in the Screaming Yellow Zonker,
aka 2004 Mazda Rx8. 24 competitors in this class were also chasing Steve
Eymann in his Screaming Yellow Hammer (C6 Vette) with a 35.224, Doug Rowse in
the Mazda, Marc McCombs in another C6 Z06, and Larry Petrucci in his
mighty Firebird. I'm sure our Results Guru is glad for computers, because
figuring out the finish order in these PAX-based classes would be a real
nightmare without one! Among the entrants here were some co-drivers for
Nationals in their rides for either the first time or feeling out the car some
more and getting ready for the trip to Topeka, KS. Good Luck guys and
gals!
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Photo by Dan Hawrylkiw |
Photo by by Dan Hawrylkiw |
Street Tire 1 saw Britt Dollmeyer in his
newly acquired 2002 Honda S2000 at the top of the field with a 38.325.
Britt made the switch to rear wheel drive for this event. The perennial favorite in this class shows
that changing cars does not always affect their driving skills. Kudos to
Britt and congratulations! Hot on his heals, though, was George
Sklyarevsky, in his RX8. Jim Bright in
his 2006 Ford Mustang GT, made the trip north for the first time and from his
forum posting, he had a great time. As most of us would say ‘welcome to
the majority!” Chad Mizner in George’s RX8, Robert Rose in that wacky
Miata and Ivan Gantchev in a 2006 Honda S2000 gave chase, but the Brittman was
da man this day.
Street Tire 2 found Klayton Albers in
his 2006 BMW 330I waxing the field with a very
respectable 39.418, followed by Scott Meyers in his '99 Miata Sport, at 39.462,
Josh
Dellinger, John Holbrook, and Todd Houser giving chase, but coming up
short. Street Tire Stock was won
by Manfred Reysser in the "oh so wrong" 2001 Toyota Celica GT,
followed by Aric Trust in his 2003 BMW 325I, and relative newcomer Clinton
Campbell in his Mini Cooper, and then Gant Wegner in a Mazda3.
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Photo by Dan Hawrylkiw |
Jim Rohn is jumping into
Kevin Venisnik's Miata this series for STS2.
First time out, Kevin takes the win, with Jim on his heels, and Dave Branson
(with a cat converter, finally!), giving chase in his wife's newly repaired
Miata. Brant Bauman ran alone in SM2,
while Street Mod was won by Dave Young
in his 2002 BMW M3, followed by Tim Bergstrom in an '03 M3, Kris Castner in his
2000 Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS (sorry, Kris, no rain!), and Bill (Dr Evo) Miskovic
in his 2006 Mitsubishi Evolution MR. Mitzi Burrow ran alone in STL in the family 1987 BMW 325Is and took that
class for the day. Bill Bradley ran
alone in EMod in his 2005 Brunton
Stalker.
The Novice classes were well represented, with NV1
going to Kevin O'Neill in his Audi TT, followed by Corey Ehrler in a 1998
Chevrolet Camaro Z28, John Rodhouse in his 2004 Mazda RX8, and Charles Carson
driving a 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer. NV2
saw Jeff Hancock in his '99 Mazda Miata, followed by Zeb Gajewski in a 2003 BMW
330I, Anthony Vieweg in a 1995 Ford Probe GT, and Mark Jamnik in a 2005 Honda
S2000. NV3 had James Tobias in his
2005 Subaru Impreza, Brad Undahl in a '95 Miata, and Jason Lifgren in his 2006
Nissan Sentra Se-R Spec V, followed by Josh Szepe in his 2007 Scion Tc.
Lisa Folb ran alone in NVL in her 2005 Mini Cooper S. AZSolo club
welcomes these newcomers and returning competitors and we look forward to seeing
more of you at the upcoming events.
There was only one Stock Open class this day, with Dan Hawrylkiw taking the win
in SS his
2005 Lotus Elise over Darrell Covert's 2003 Chevrolet Corvette Z 06.
Other Stock class competitors were spread among the Sportsman or PRO
classes. "The Ladies" (PXL)
were chasing Deb Eymann in the family 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, followed by
Dr. Teresa Clement in the lovely and capable white EVO, and Kat Morrill in her
1997 Mazda Miata M, which has been returned to ES via the proper rim and tire
size allowable for the Stock class.
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Photo by Dan Hawrylkiw |
Photo by by Dan Hawrylkiw |
Dawn Maxwell was "The Woman" this day, taking the CSP class over co-driver Mark Johnson, Steve
Steele, Gene Sanders, and Derrick Disharoom. Though there were quite a
few competitors in this class absent, or running in a different class, no one
can take away any credit to Dawn, who had a fabulous day and earned the
win. DSP was dominated by Jerry
Carter in his 1973 Porsche 914, with Dan Martin chasing in his 2002 Nissan
Sentra Spec V.
Full
results for all classes can be seen here.
All in all, the feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive for the
event and the course and with the welcome cooler temps, it looks like the Fall
2007 Series is off to a great start. Good Luck to all those going to the
Solo Nationals and we will all see you
out there for the newly scheduled October 21st event.