Well, for our first autocross this year we had over 30 thrashers at our new playing field in Manassas. Hey, these people were animals! See what winter will do to you. Just ask poor (tee hee) Matthew Yip. All the guy did was hit cones on his first three official runs -- four on the second run alone. On his third run, he got one wedged in his wheel well, melted it with the rubbing of his tire, and promptly spit it out in the stop garage! I mean, the cheering, whooping, and bravos could be heard in Kansas. This guy instructs for your club?
Ummm, yes.
Going by the classes, Bill Stewart acted like last season never ended and took Fastest Benz Time of Day in his 16-Valve, and edging Jim by less than a tenth. Tom Sheppard, in a hurry to make the same-day W113 Tech Session, was third (ripping off his CB antenna under acceleration in the process). Dick Pedersen, hampered by an auto (there’s that word again) trans was fourth.
In the biggest upset in the entire history of autocross, Bob Fini (a Jersey boy) drove 160 miles to drub Das Prez. Sure we know it’s the same engine in a 500 pound lighter car and sure it’s got better balance, but my lord, it’s a grocery cart. The humiliation felt by the local crowd put a damper on the entire day. Sid Newman whomped the 300 class, which included three new drivers. Larry Taylor knows the tenths are there and will find them before the end of the season. Steve Walters did a magnificent job in his monster classic 300SEL 4.5, even if he doesn’t yet have anyone to run against (hey, Norbert).
Steve’s better half, Janet McFarland bested Brigitte Drake in the Ladies’ class. Both are novices and drove extremely well. Brigitte thinks the advantage will swing her way when the weather’s good enough to pop her top.
I want to thank the SCCA rule makers (obviously some Porsche guys) for altering the indexes this year. My index was dropped two thousandths and those prepared guys were bumped up two -- C’est la guerre. Now what do I do about that #*+@ SpitŽre? Does anybody else notice that when Charlie comes into the garage he shakes his head and grimaces like the wheels fell off during his run? Is he chortling at us inside that Union Jack helmet? Anybody else in favor of him running in A Modified?
Since there will be no April autocross, I’ll finish the tale of Number 1 next month. That is, if I can get over the shock (gosh, a wagon!).
| DRIVER | CAR | BEST TIME | POINTS | INDEX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Stewart | 86 190E-16V | 52.214 * | 10 | - |
| Jim Van Valkenberger | 92 500E | 52.307 | 9 | - |
| Tom Sheppard | 86 190E-16V | 54.222 | 8 | - |
| Dick Pedersen | 87 190E-16V | 54.948 | 7 | - |
| Sid Newman | 87 300E | 54.583 | 10 | - |
| Larry Taylor | 86 300E | 57.126 | 9 | - |
| Ryan Roberts | 93 300E 2.8 | 59.967 | 8 | - |
| Vernon Roberts | 93 300E 2.8 | 60.218 | 7 | - |
| Chris Curcio | 95 E320 | 61.528 | 6 | - |
| Bob Fini | 84 300TD | 57.543 | 10 | - |
| Chuck Landenberger | 80 300SD | 57.655 | 9 | - |
| Greg Harrison | 80 300SD | 61.865 | 8 | - |
| Steve Walters | 72 300SEL 4.5 | 60.508 | 10 | - |
| Janet McFarland | 72 300SEL 4.5 | 63.626** | 10 | .951 |
| Brigitte Drake | 81 380SL | 66.119 | 9 | .915 |
| DRIVER | CAR | BEST TIME | CLASS | INDEX | INDEX TIME | POINTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Wozney | 85 Porsche 911 Cabrio | 51.949# | AS | .832 | 43.284 | 10 |
| Charlie Brown | 72 Triumph Spitfire | 55.136 | ES | .790 | 43.557 | 9 |
| Larry Schiro | 78 VW Scirocco | 52.062 | DSP | .840 | 43.732 | 8 |
| Bill Lear | 94 Saturn SL2 | 55.456 | ES | .790 | 43.810 | 7 |
| Steve Church | 86 Saab 900 Turbo | 52.985 | DSP | .840 | 44.507 | 6 |
| Tom Newman | 94 Subaru SVX | 54.095 | BS | .824 | 44.574 | 5 |
| Matthew Yip | 86 VW GTI | 52.368 | CSP | .856 | 44.827 | 4 |
| Harry Newman | 94 Subaru SVX | 54.718 | BS | .824 | 45.088 | 3 |
| Jason Meise | 92 Toyota MR2 | 53.488 | CSP | .856 | 45.786 | 2 |
| Warren Gant | 92 VW GTI | 55.159 | DSP | .840 | 46.334 | 1 |
| Nigel MacEwan | 95 Cobra R | 55.689 | ASP | .861 | 47.948 | 1 |
| Bill Kirk | 90 Nissan 300ZX | 58.300 | AS | .832 | 48.506 | 1 |
| Joe Henriques | 94 Honda Civic | 61.190 | DS | .801 | 49.013 | 1 |
| Bobbie Wozney | 85 Porsche 911 Cabrio | 53.782## | ASL | .832 | 44.747 | 10 |
| Michelle Schiro | 78 VW Scirocco | 56.869 | DSPL | .840 | 47.770 | 9 |
| Tina Dowd | 94 Saturn SL2 | 60.506 | ESL | .790 | 47.800 | 8 |
| Lynn Gant | 89 Camry | 64.652 | HSL | .785 | 50.752 | 7 |