November 8th, 2009
Event 3 of 4 for the 2009 Fall Series
by Dave Lahey
"Oversteer Alley"
Since yours truly wasn't in attendance at this event, I will let the people speak; those that DID attend, that is. The course map looked really fun; lots of sweepers and switchbacks, and not too complicated. But as with many of Britt Dollmeyer's course designs, there were tricks and traps, tempting one into overdriving; thus the name.
John Leonhardt: "When I first saw the track map I thought...'Piece of cake'... Boy was I wrong! Very challenging and very, very fun. It would 'lure' you into going fast and sting you when you did so in abundance. The saying 'go slow to go fast' was the perfect saying for this course. Only when I reduced my speed going into the sweepers did I get my fastest times."
Kevin O'Neill: "The course design was a blast; it was fast and furious (furious when overdriven, since it spanked bad driving). The bumpy sections kinda sucked, but they really just made the corners more challenging. The offsets coming out the gate were tough for me, but if they weren't there, I would have entered the decreasing turn into the middle section much too quickly (which I still did more often than not). When I nailed that turn correctly, the middle section was full throttle run to the sweeper. Those bumps right before the sweeper were unsettling (no pun intended), but the sweeper into the walloms was a freaking blast. It was the next turn I kept overdriving (thanks for the help, Elliott), but then a quick flick through the middle section (which I did maybe once out of nine turns), into a really fast finish. What wasn't there to like?"
Jeff Abrams: "This course was a real mind-game. I loved it. I spent much of my time trying to beat it into submission (which worked for some parts), but it wasn't until I slowed down here and there that I got faster."
Yup, sounds like a good time alright! The weather was perfect; yet another bright sunny day with just a little breeze to keep the air moving. Attendance was a little low, as there were some other events going on down south, but everyone got lots of runs on a fun fast course, so who is going to complain about that? So, let's see how everyone did:
After his much disputed and discussed DQ last month, Flyin' Fred Zust brought out the Hammer once again, and was the only car in Comp. runs to break the 30 second barrier. Fred's fine 29.006 was Fastest Time of the Day by a full second and 6 tenths over Steve Eymann in his Porsche GT3 at 30.642. Close behind Steve was Kevin Gleaton in his supercharged SSM Miata at 30.789, then Mark Johnson, CSP Miata with a 30.850, co-driver Don Sattler at 31.220, and Kevin Venisnik, another CSP Miata VERY close to Don's time, at 31.245. Rounding out the Top Ten were Clint Child in the evil EVO, Brad Owen in an ESP WRX, and Jay Balducci in his STR MX-5, the first of the 32 second cars.
Apparently, there was a lot of this going on; cone displacement, we shall call it, but no excuses !!! Sorting by PAX, Fred completes his vengeful victory by a whopping 28 points over Clint in the EVO, Dawn Maxwell in HS Mini, Eymann's GT3, the Johnson Miata, Kevin O'Neill in the TT Quattro, Jay's STR Miata, Britt Dollmeyer in the trusty ST Honda Si, and Mindi Cross in her GS Mini Cooper S. Don Sattler also tied Britt and Mindi at 951 to make it your Top Eleven in PAX scores. Fred told me he would "try to destroy PAX the rest of the season." Gotta love a guy who keeps his word!
To the Open classes, and as mentioned, Mark Johnson took the CSP win, with co-driver Don Sattler second, and the constantly improving Kevin Venisnik close on Don's heels. Mindi Cross has simply scared everyone off in GS, and took that class. David Webb, same car, different class, took the DSP Open win. In ESP, Stephen King took his first runs with R Comp tires in his '99 S10 pickup and got the win over Alan Humes' '95 SLP Firehawk. Kevin Gleaton took SSM, and TG Watkins thumping a familiar CP Camaro around for that class.
In the ST classes, Tim Bergstrom took the win in the STU class in his '03 BMW over Travis Berry in an '05 STi Subaru, by a scant 3 tenths of a second. In ST, Brock Palmer took the win by ONLY 9 hundredths of a second over Adam Vega, Subaru vs. Honda. Next best was Manfred Reysser in Brock's car, follwed by Chris Largent and this month's Pylon Press Profilee, Josh Johnston. Ryan Bernholtz took the win in STX over Chris Kohler, Honda over BMW. Jay Balducci took the STR win in his '06 MX-5 over Larry Burrow in the '99 10th Anniversary Miata, Clayton Saffell in another MX-5, and Larry's son Jeff, making his first stab at rear wheel drive.
It seems Brian Peters has yet another new ride for this event, driving an '07 FS Mustang GT that rumor has it is Jim Barks' former car, and puttin' the whoopin' on the ST1 class this event. Next best was Chad Mizner in a 330i BMW, Scott Meyers in his V6 Mustang, then Mike Rogers in his three-wheelin' RSX, Chris Steele in an '08 Mini Cooper S, and Rick Paradis in his '08 Honda Civic SI.
In the ST2 class, Jeff Israel took a slim victory over the ever-improving Brad McCann, Golf R32 over Sky Redline AT. Dustin Schertz was next in an STi Subie, then Todd Houser in his Mini Cooper S, Dan Tracy in STi, David Manley in an Sti, and Elliott Goltsman in his SRT-4.
In the other PAX sorted classes, Ted Lewis has apparently scared off the rest of the PRO entries, and won that class. In Sportsman, Fast Fred made good over Clint Child in the EVO, followed by Dawn Maxwell, Steve Eymann, Kevin O'Neill, Elliot Spedell in his '94 325 BMW, course designer Britt Dollmeyer (pictured on three wheels), and Brad Owen, perennial Miata driver, found driving an ESP Subaru WRX this day. In the PAX Ladies' class, Teresa Clement strong-armed Colleen O'Neill and Mitzi Burrow; EVO over Audi TT over '99 Miata.
It seems you had better drive a Cobalt SS in the Novice 1 class, or have a little talent mixed in if you want to take John Leonhardt. He just simply beat up on Felix takach in an '08 Subaru, Stu Lasswell in a MINI, and Michael Fergen in an '03 Celica. In the Novice 2 class, John Rodhouse took the win in his RX8 over Kenneth Eguchi in a VW GIT, Travis Harrison in an STI and Jose Soto in a MazdaSpeed 3. In Novice 3, Kelsey Pranke took the win in a Jetta GLI over Lucas Chavez-Pardini in an '05 Acura TSX and Paul Rojas in a '93 Integra. Last, but certainly not least, Mandy Bennett took the Novice Ladies' win, and has apparently scared off the rest of the new gals!?
Cool Shot of the Day has to go to this one; "Mystery Woman" riding along with Kevin Venisnik in his CSP Miata. The grin on her face is priceless !!! Apparently, she is a co-worker of Kevin's and also took a ride with Fred! Update: Her name is Gerri DuRoss, friend from work, she may be out for the school depending on her schedule, and she drives a Miata! Way cool, and a brave lady, who had a great time, as did all those stalwart folks who made this event. A fast fun course on a nearly perfect day. "What wasn't there to like," indeed !!!
Thanks to John Leonhardt for the photos featured this month. :)