Norcal News

By Kevin Smith
Published: June 16, 2008

The latest NorCal Time Trial event was June 7-8, 2008 at Thunderhill. This was going to be our last visit to this track before the much anticipated repaving done in July. Even with the record gas prices we still had over 40 sign ups and new competitors wanting to join TT. We even had a visitor from SoCal in Ed Nazarian making his first trip to Thunderhill. Right off the bat there was much talk of Andy Sutak and why he was not there Saturday morning. The reason is why he gets the resiliency award this weekend; He spent 3 days on 4 hours sleep working on the car to get it ready for the event. He was able to get it done by 6 am on Saturday morning to drive to the track. The only problem was that he was in Bakersfield and drove all the way to Willows on no sleep to be able to drive one session on Saturday. After getting to the track and tightening up a few nuts and bolts he was able to drive in that session. That is dedication to our sport! As always track records fell and they fell quick. By mid afternoon on Saturday the TTR, TTS, and TTA records had been broken by Brian Lowrance (1:51.579), Shawn Mackenzie (1:56.683), and Jake Schumacher (2:00.423) respectively. On Sunday Brian Lock broke the TTB record with a 2:00.809 and Michael Bowman broke the TTU record with a 1:56.201. The rest of the weekend played out as follows:

TTR

Saturday saw young Brian Lowrance in his ‘75 Porsche 911 set the pace early with his record-breaking time of 1:51.579 to claim first place. Crossing the line in second place was Louise Sousoures in her ’70 Porsche 911 with a time of 1:55.981. Claiming the final podium spot was Michael Neujahr who set a time of 1:57.256 in his ’93 Mazda RX-7. Fourth place went to Neil Yonk in his red ’73 Porsche 911 pulling a time of 2:03.786. Rounding out the group was newcomer Susan Smith in her ’72 Porsche 911 with a time of 2:18.695.

Sunday saw Brian Lowrance repeat his first place performance with a time of 1:53.222. Backing up her second place from Saturday was Louise Sousoures bettering her time to a 1:54.461. Neil Yonk was able to better his time from Saturday with a 2:03.147 to get the bronze. Just missing out on her first TT podium spot was Susan Smith with a 2:19.173. Rounding out the group with mechanical problems was Michael Neujahr.

TTU

All week the talk has been about Team Sutak and his 2004 Mustang. Nobody seemed to know much and when he did not show up in the morning more rumors started floating around. That let Gerry Gasber take advantage in his ’06 Z06 to get first place with a time of 1:57.396. Second place was Michael Bowman in his ‘07 Vette hoping to have a lap time of 2:01.000, not only did he do that he blew it away with a 1:57.913. Third place went to Walter Ford in his ’99 BMW M3 with a time of 2:05.298. Fourth place went to Lowell Fennie in a borrowed early eighties Mustang. Team Sutak was able to show up by the last run time to pull a lap to claim fifth place and valuable championship points. Sunday saw Michael Bowman with a renewed confidence break the track record with a blazing 1:56.201. Gerry Gasber set a time of 1:57.892 to get second place. Third place goes to Team Sutak who never seemed to sleep in four days to make this event with a time of 1:59.392. Fourth place belonged to Walter Ford with Lowell in fifth.

TTS

Sean Mackenzie in his ’06 Evo had one thing on his mind Saturday, and that was break the track record, he did just that placing first with a blazing time of 1:56.683. Second place belonged to Team Smith in his ’93 Mustang just missing the 1:59.xx with a time of 2:00.044. Third place was Team Evolved Performance in their ’06 Evo with a time of 2:05.173. Steve Lomaro was making his season debut in his ’87 Mustang to claim fourth place and in a 92 Mustang was Team Yearbook who finished in Fifth place.

Sunday Sean Mackenzie was not able to better his time from Saturday but the time of 1:59.573 was good enough to repeat his first place. Team Smith was able to repeat second place with a time of 2:02.221. Third Place went to Team Evolved Performance to copy the podium picture from Saturday with a time of 2:04.631. Fourth place went to Steve Lomaro again who was adjusting his car all weekend and Team Yearbook rounded out the group for fifth place.

TTA

With Team Bill Arnold BMW Repair moving up a class with his new Euro motor in his 1988 BMW M3 and blew the competition away with a record breaking time of 2:00.423 to claim first place on Saturday. Second place belonged to the SoCal regular Ed Nazarian in his 2006 Evo with a time of 2:03.083. Third place and final podium spot belonged to Steve Kane in his 06 Mustang with a time of 2:05.782. Taking fourth place was Team Callaghan in his ’66 Mustang with a time of 2:06.361. Fifth place went to Team Buttafoco/Howard with their Honda CRX car with a time of 2:07.107.

Sunday saw a complete repeat of the finishing order with Team Bill Arnold BMW Repair taking first place 2:00.960 and Ed Nazarian in second 2:02.348. On the final podium spot again was Steve Kane 2:04.418. Just missing the podium was Team Callaghan 2:08.475. Repeating his fifth place performance was Team Buttafoco/Howard to finish out TTA

TTB

Saturday saw a recognizable face, but new to TTB in Brian Lock who took first place in his ’05 Subaru Legacy GT with a time of 2:01.189. Mark Welch in his 1988 BMW M3 took second place with a time of 2:01.976. Third place went to William Tao in his ’04 Subaru STI setting a time of 2:04.897. Fourth place was Anthony Zwain/SpeedTrapp Racing in his 87 BMW 325is with a 2:05.316. Fifth place finisher was Team3S/Goodsport Racing in their ’91 Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR4.

Sunday saw records fall with Brian Lock setting a time of 2:00.809 to get first place with Mark Welch in second with a stuttering time of 2:01.201. Anthony Zwain/SpeedTrapp Racing was able to claim the final podium spot in third with a time 2:05.650. Fourth went to Team3S/Goodsport Racing time of 2:20.057.

TTC

Saturday saw Jospeh Ramirez take his Honda S2000 out and get the gold medal with a time of 2:08.607. Team Z Car Garage in his Infiniti G35 in second with a time of 2:09.653. Third place was Michael Steele in his 95 Porsche 993 setting a lap at 2:12.537. Mike McDonald and his ’88 Porsche 911 came across the line in fourth place with a time of 2:14.164.

Sunday saw Team Z Car Garage lose time and pick up first place with his time of 2:08.972. Second place went to Joseph Ramirez with a time of 2:08.981; that is only .009 seconds behind first place, I can’t even describe how close that is. Getting on the podium in third was Mike McDonald with a time of 2:11.537. Fourth place went to Michael Sondel in his ’82 Porsche 911 with a time of 2:14.316. Rounding out the TTC group was Michale Steele in fifth place.

TTD

All weekend it was back and forth of who was in the lead between Bob Blackwood in his 87 Porsche 944 and Zane Abedin in his ’04 VW R32. On Saturday Zane picked up his first win of the year with a time of 2:06.495. Bob was only .072 seconds behind to get the silver medal. Third place went to Chuck Krause in his ’95 BMW 325is with a time of 2:10.728. Bill Brown took his Spec Miata out to claim fourth place with a time of 2:11.870. Fifth Place belonged to John Pagel in his Volvo 242GLT pulled a time of 2:12.676. Sixth place was Scott Clough in his Spec E30 BMW with a time of 2:18.023. Seventh was the season points leader Ray Nickson in his 90 VW GTI with a time of 2:18.687.

Again Sunday saw Bob Blackwood and Zane Abedin go neck-and-neck but this time Bob took home first place with a time of 2:08.283. Second was Zane Abedin who posted his time at 2:09.333. Third place was Chuck Krause crossing the line with a time of 2:11.923. Fourth belonged to Doc Brown in his Miata with a 2:13.035 and Ray Nickson in finishing in 5^th. Rounding out the group was John Pagel in sixth.

TTE

Saturday saw AJ Goldsmith take first place with a time of 2:12.374 and Sean Trapp/SpeedTrapp Racing in his ’91 BMW 325 is second with a time of 2:17.396. Sunday the pressure was on to better his time, as he did not want to hear from Anthony Zwain that he could drive Seans own car faster than him. He did just that and picked up first place with a time of 2:15.258. Second place went to Geaorge Mavromatis in his Miata with a time of 2:17.832, and finishing off the podium was Sanjeev Bajwa in third place pulling a time of 2:27.668.

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.