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2004 SPRING The Spring Jefferson SOLO I is becoming a “must attend” event just as the Fall Jefferson event is, and this year we had the added attraction (or plague, if you will) of the invasion of the cicadas. They were everywhere…in your hair, on your clothes, on your face shield, your windshield…a veritable “wall of sound”- a high pitched buzz that didn’t stop. BUT, despite the cicadas, the Dankos and Tim Royer put together another great event. The weather was beautiful, the food was delicious, there were no major "incidents”, and a number of new class records were established in both directions. Forty-eight drivers competed in
twenty-nine classes setting a total of twenty-one class records – twelve counterclockwise
on Saturday and nine clockwise on Sunday. Friday Registration and Tech.
Inspection was uneventful, and most of the evening
was spent renewing old friendships and commenting on the invasion of the
cicadas. Never let it be said, however,
that a little bug kept people from enjoying themselves in anticipation of the
competition ahead. Saturday dawned bright and sunny,
and, following a thankfully brief drivers’ meeting, familiarization laps gave
everyone a chance to relearn the course before timed runs in the
counterclockwise direction began.
Drivers had an opportunity to make two timed runs of three laps each
before the course was closed for the day.
The Dankos provided quite a spread for lunch
and an even larger selection of entrées for the party that evening. As happened last year, this driver put his
diet on hold and ate a little (all right, a lot) of everything (including a
cicada or two). Sunday’s weather was the same as
Saturday…lovely- despite the ever-present cicadas. After a brief drivers’ meeting and
familiarization laps, timed runs began and drivers were able to compete in
three sets of timed laps in a clockwise direction. Spring is the only time we are able to run
in a clockwise direction and I understand that, next Spring, both days will
be run clockwise. Again, no major
incidents other than an oiling of the track by Jack Danko after his Porsche
swallowed a valve-ouch! There were motorcycle races on the
main track and, periodically, a cycle could be seen cartwheeling
down the track followed by the rider doing the same. Unfortunately, one rider had to be
airlifted to the hospital…and they say we’re crazy! The following drivers set class
records in their respective classes: in ITB, Tony Powell set a new record of
63.768-CCW; in GT-2, Bill Lessig set a new record
of 58.726-CCW, and in GT-4, Bob Oswald Sr. set a new record of
59.652-CCW. The following drivers set
records in both CCW and CW: in GT-3, Tim Stephens set records of 55.553 and
54.470; in Street Mod. 2, Fabio Vlacci set records
of 63.719 and 64.567; in SOLO V, Bob Oswald Jr. set records of 56.534 and
59.503; in Form 500, Bill Kotyk set new records of
69.972 and 68.387; in Form Atl., Darryl Danko set
records of 49.697 and 51.315; in CSR, Skip Levengood
set records of 57.985 and 58.293; in Hist 2, Pete
Stillwell set records of 62.217 and 63.228; in Spec Miata,
Don Newcomer set records of 62.997 and 64.403; and in Form SV, K.J. Taggart
set records of 53.881 and 54.739. Some observations on the weekend…
What is there about a little bug that makes women shudder and scream “get it
off me!” I
can see I’m in for a long season dealing with that Suzuki Swift- once I get
my electrical gremlins sorted out. Bob
Oswald built a beautiful, fast SOLO V in keeping with the Oswald tradition of
building fast cars (I understand Bob Sr. also has one in the works). Dave Rohrbach
upheld another tradition of no respect for fathers by soundly beating his dad
in their Form. Cont.; so did Matt Specht in beating
his dad, Joe (but not by much). Mike Ancas showed up with another fast car; he seems to pull
them out of the woodwork. Rich Rock
was there, but without his car. Gordon
Wise left on Saturday…car problems?
Jim Cosner was missed- hurry back, Jim. There were several new faces, which bodes
well for the season ahead. Thanks to the Dankos
and Tim Royer for another super event- despite the bugs. Let’s do it again
next year! See you at Weatherly! Joe Foering
#37
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