The old year is rapidly winding down as I write this, so it’s time for some reflecting on the past. First, although it was probably a short-term phenomenon, it was nice to get back to three race weekends at CBIR that didn’t conflict with other SCCA events. I was actually able to work in the most races for Fubar in years, with 6 at CBIR and 3 more at Elkhart in 5 racing weekends. Given next year’s tentative schedule, it probably won’t continue. Part of the reason is that the demand for the track has pushed us off both Memorial and Labor Day weekends, and with it the chance to finally put on a double National race. Ed. note: See REport for the latest word on the Labor Day weekend. Of course the SCCA decision to move up the RUNOFFS to the third week in September will have an effect on all the National schedules this year. Suddenly Labor Day weekend becomes too close to the RUNOFFS to allow the serious competitor time to properly recover and prepare, not to mention that entries will probably be cut off before that weekend. The Club states the reason for the shift was the conflict with the US Grand Prix and will be re-evaluated next year.
I hate to say I told you so, but the whole situation might have been avoided had the event remained at
Road Atlanta. The past two years have seen lousy weekend weather at Mid Ohio, with this year reportedly worse with the precipitation turning granular. On both of the past RUNOFFS weekends the weather was better at Road America and probably CBIR as well. Not that I recommend considering our home track for the RUNOFFS, as it was plenty chilly there the last weekend of September! Road Atlanta has seen millions of bucks in facility improvements over the past decade. Although adding a 90 degree corner on the back straight has taken away the "dip" through the bridge turn as one of the most spectacular sections of US road racing track, the course still offers plenty of challenge and more passing opportunities than M-O. I recently watched tapes of the two F2000 pro races at Atlanta, and was impressed with the number of position changes during both events, not to mention the pristine appearance of the facility. Maybe it’s time to think about another march on Atlanta, where even moving the event to late October would not be a disaster.
Not too long ago I ran into a former SCCA racer named Nick Engels. We met on the ramp at Napa County airport in northern California and got to talking. Seems Nick is currently chief pilot for Charles Nearburg out of Dallas. Nearburg most recently ran professionally in the Formula Atlantic series, and currently is owner of a huge stable of vintage racecars. He had been testing at nearby Sears Point, and was headed down to Monterey for the big vintage weekend while Nick ferried the company Citation jet down to keep up with the boss. Engels ran a Corvette in the Trans-Am in the ’70s and fondly remembers running several events at Donnybrooke/BIR. He even stayed over at the home of Orly and Lucy Thornsjo who were
running the show back when I joined the club in ’75. The Thornsjos still reside in St. Louis Park, but apparently are now into boating instead of sportscars. Nick had some interesting stories about looking at a Corvette for sale by Jerry Hansen, along with other Trans Am anecdotes including winning the race in Westwood, B.C. back in ’78. He said to say hello to any LOLers who might remember him. Speaking of joining the club, notwithstanding my continued griping about some facets of the SCCA, the past quarter century has been a lot of fun and I’ve met many memorable characters. Being an inveterate Formula Ford addict since starting as a crewmember for Craig Taylor in ’75, I was most interested in the recent history offered on the Formula Ford Underground (access through the SCCA site links). With the help of Dave Hopple, the site has prospered over its first year and is an excellent source of info for any club racer. But for anyone hoping FF will return to the glory years of the late ’70s, forgetaboutit. There have been many changes in SCCA since ’75, and there probably will be a lot more in the next 25 years as with all sanctioning bodies. Despite the flaws in FF, it remains an exciting and challenging form of racing in which I hope to keep competing for at least a few more years. So thank you LOL and SCCA, and let the good times roll.
Tonneau On-Line January 2001
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Copyright 2000, Land O'Lakes Region Last revised: March 13, 2003
