Norcal News
By Kevin Smith
Published: May 14, 2008
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The latest NorCal Time Trial event was May 3-4, 2008 at llihrednuhT (Thunderhill backwards). There was a lot of excitement in the air as many competitors really enjoyed running Thunderhill clockwise last year and were looking to breaking the track records. Little did we know that every group would set new records as the configuration changed after our first session on Saturday due to an unfortunate incident in the bypass (Turn 5) in a different run group, now everyone had to figure out how to do the Crow’s nest backwards. Many have not done it in the regular configuration, let alone backwards. All of the drivers figured it after a couple laps and everyone adjusted very quickly after a few off’s from running wide or getting air off the inside berm, which has a very rough landing. A big hand should go out to the TT’ers and to NASA for making a quick decision on the fly to get everyone as much track time as possible. The rest of the weekend played out as follows:
TTR
Saturday saw Team Calculated Risk driver Mike Lock make his TT debut in his Honda Del Sol and what a debut it was. Breaking the track record with a 2:10.199 to take first place. In second place was Fred Jackman in his ‘88 BMW M3 with a time of 2:22.745. Battling drive train problems was Michael Neujahr who still managed to get a time of 2:24.023 that was good enough for third. Kudos to Michael, Sheedy Racing, and the Lock family for getting his car fixed and able to run on Sunday and take first place in his soon to be go fast ’93 Mazda RX-7.
TTU
The track change did not seem to bother Team Sutak and his 2004 Mustang that much as he finished in first place with a time of 2:01.995 which beat second place Gerry Gasber in his ’06 Z06 by 3.054 seconds. Gerry Gasber gets the perseverance award this weekend as on Saturday he needed a new tire, so he drove home to Sacramento on Hoosiers D.O.T. tires, got new tires mounted and drove back in time to race on Sunday without missing a lap and finishing second Sunday. Third place belonged to Claus Groth who is a regular competitor in SoCal and brought his ’86 Porsche Turbo to play with the NorCal group. He was a great competitor and great driver with a time of 2:05.067. Fourth place went to John Anker in his ’90 Mazda Miata on Steroids with a time of 2:11.
Sunday Team Sutak not only broke the record with his first place finish, but he also the only one to post a time below 2 minutes. He got a blazing fast 1:59. 406. Gerry Gasber did all he could on his new Hoosiers to finish second with a time of 203.426. Third place went to Claus Groth to complete to copy of the podium from Sunday with his time of 2:05.862, and fourth went to John Anker who was battling problems all weekend with his Miata.
TTS
With some experience on this track configuration Sean Mackenzie in his ’06 Evo placed first with a blazing time of 2:01.995. Second place belonged to our fearless leader Team Smith in his ’93 Mustang with a time of 2:07.762. Third place was Team Evolved Performance in their ’06 Evo with a time of 2:10.506. Battling motor problems all weekend in their ’92 Mustang was Team Yearbook who tirelessly worked on the car for hours, and was able to post a time good enough for fourth place.
Sunday Sean Mackenzie was not able to better his time from Saturday but the time of 2:02.044 was good enough to repeat his first place. Team Smith was able to better his time to get second place with a time of 2:06.909. Third Place went to Team Evolved Performance to copy the podium picture from Saturday with a time of 2:12.620. Fourth place went to Team Yearbook who was battling problems with the car all weekend, once they get the bugs worked out I can not wait to see how fast it will go.
TTA
TTA saw championship leader Team Callaghan have some trouble with the inside berm on Turn 5 as witnesses say he did his best Duke Of Hazzard impersonation by apexing way too early in his ’66 Mustang and catching some pretty decent air. He was still able to increase his lead in the points with a first place finish on Saturday with a time of 2:11.539. Tightly on his exhaust pipe was Steve Kane in his 06 Mustang with a time of 2:13.103 to claim second place. Third place went to Team Buttafoco/Howard with their Honda CRX car with a time of 2:27.402. Fourth place went to Tom Coon in his 04 Vette with a time of 2:33.046.
Sunday saw Team Callaghan with the track record in hand before the last run session only to have Steve Kane take it on almost the last lap of the weekend with an impressive drive, well done Steve. With the track record comes first place for Kane with his time of 2:10.077 with Team Callaghan getting second with the time of 2:11.453. Repeating his podium finish of third was Team Buttafoco/Howard with a vastly improved time of 2:16.084 and fourth place going to Thomas Coon with a time of 2:22.932 to round out this group.
TTB
TTB had drama before the weekend even began. Team Bill Arnold had a motor break on him on the freeway literally doing 55 mph. That made valuable points available and Mark Welch in his 1988 BMW M3 took advantage with a first place 2:08.163. Second place went to Anthony Zwain/SpeedTrapp Racing in his 87 BMW 325is with a 2:11.739. The final podium spot belonged to Felipe Cabezas in his Nissan 350 Z with a time of 2:11.938. Fourth place finisher was Team3S/Goodsport Racing in their ’91 Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR4 with a time of 2:19.948. Finishing fifth on Saturday was Team Bill Arnold BMW Repair in his new track toy rental car. I hope he got the insurance on that thing.
Sunday saw an exact repeat of Saturday’s finishing order with Mark Welch breaking the track record with a time of 2:06.533. Anthony Zwain/SpeedTrapp Racing in second with a time of 2:09.139. Third place to Felipe Cabezas’s time of 2:10.925 and fourth to Team3S/Goodsport Racing time of 2:20.057.
TTC
Saturday saw Jospeh Ramirez take his Honda S2000 out and set the track record on the first timed session of the weekend with a 2:08.612, which held through the whole event. This let him take the first place medal with Team Z Car Garage in his Infiniti G35 in second with a time of 2:22.510. Third place was Mike McDonald ’88 Porsche 911 with a time of 2:27.558. Michael Steele came across the line in fourth place with a time of 2:28.555.
Sunday saw Joseph Ramirez repeat the gold medal win with time of 2:09.893. Team Z Car Garage also repeated is Saturday performance with a time of 2:17.730 while battling brake problems all day. Getting on the podium in third was Michael Steele in his 95 Porsche 993 timing at 2:21.000. Rounding out the group was Mike McDonald with a time of 2:26.227.
Both Joe and Mike had decided to try and post a blasting time in the 1:40 range, however it was due to a detour (track fire lane) that cut the track in half. Good driving guys and very heads up to use that lane, unfortunately we cannot count those times.
TTD
All weekend was neck and neck between Bob Blackwood in his 87 Porsche 944 and Zane Abedin in his ’04 VW R32. On Saturday Bob was able to muster up enough speed in the last session to finish first with a time of 2:11.567. Zane was only .215 seconds behind and claimed second place. Paul Geddings in his 85 Mercedes 190e got onto the podium with a third place finish time of 2:14.801. Newcomers to TT Team 10/10ths finished in fourth place in their 1997 M3 with a time of 2:17.725. Fifth was Bill Brown in his Spec Miata with a time of 2:24.691. Sixth was the season points leader Ray Nickson in his 90 VW GTI with a time of 2:27.166.
Sunday saw Bob Blackwood pick up the pace with a record-breaking time of 2:11.134 to claim first place. Second was Zane Abedin who posted his time at 2:11.852. Third place was Paul Geddings crossing the line with a time of 2:15.254. Fourth belonged to Doc Brown in his Miata with a 2:19.312 and rounding out the group was Ray Nickson in 5th.
TTE
Saturday saw another newcomer take the record and finish first with a time of 2:16.444. Second was Vincent Parker in his 06 Mini with a time of 2:20.309.
Sunday saw Vincent Parker move up a spot into first with his time of 2:17.600.
I would also like to say a special thank you to Andy Sutak for his hospitality to TT competitors allowing all of us to hang out at the trailer and talk about racing under his awning. Also for sharing his energy drinks, rehydrating drinks, and Muscle Milk bars from his sponsor CYTOSPORT.
