Spartan-Like Battles Mark GingerMan SCCA Majors Day Two

Several drivers achieved back-to-back Class wins Sunday during the second day of racing at the SCCA U.S. Majors Tour at GingerMan Raceway.  But claiming those victories wasn’t always easy, and some of the battles delivered new faces to the top step of the victory podium.

The Group 2 race brought Formula 500, Formula F and Formula Vee competitors to the 11-turn, 2.14-mile circuit near South Haven, Michigan.  The session produced some of the most interesting and entertaining racing of the day.  Saturday’s F5 winner, Steven Thompson, jetted off to a substantial lead at the start of Sunday’s race.  But a little more than midway through the 35-minute challenge, Thompson’s T&R Fabricating TR1 sputtered out of the final turn and ended up coming to a halt on the main straight just beyond the start/finish line.  Calvin Stewart, the 2015 Daytona SCCA Runoffs Champion, blew by and went on for the win.

“Steven was really smoking today.  He was killin’ it,” Stewart admitted.  “We had a good car, but our handling was a little off.  But I’m appreciative to even have the opportunity to win this.”

In the exact same Group 2 session, five FV pilots put on a demonstration that was simply spectacular.  Chris and Adam Jennerjahn, in Vortech machines, were going at it the entire race with Andrew and Brandon Abbott in Vector AM-1s.  Jeff Loughead was in the mix, too.  The gaggle was darting around one another, swapping the lead too many times to count.  There was dust, tactical traffic decisions, and even some excited hand gestures.  But at the checkered flag, it was Loughead in his Vortech CR04 that claimed victory.

“It was a great race.  Very exciting,” Loughead said afterwards.  “It was tense at moments, but we all gave ourselves space and respect.  But my heartrate was pretty high at times.”

And while the FV five fought it out, a pair of determined FF drivers were doing the same.  Jeffrey Bartz and Russell Ruedisueli, both driving Van Diemens, were weaving around one another and exchanging the lead while pushing through slower traffic.  It was a terrific fight throughout the race, but Ruedisueli emerged the winner, giving him a double on the weekend.

“That was a fantastic race.  It was back-and-forth the whole time,” a breathless Ruedisueli said while climbing from his car afterwards. “I think we passed each other five or six times during the race.  It just went on, and on, and on.  But Jeff did a great job.  We raced really clean.  And I’ve just had a really great time here this weekend.”

But it wasn’t only the open-wheel cars that produced interesting results Sunday.  The Spec Miata race also produced a surprise ending.  Justin Hille, who has had some strong Class performances this year in the Northern Conference, looked to be on his way to another win.  But as the last lap began, Hille pulled to a stop in the grass just beyond the start/finish line, handing the victory to Jonathan Davis.

“I think Justin ran out of gas on the last lap.  I pulled by him and just prayed I wouldn’t run out of gas, too,” Davis said.  “On that last lap, I heard every little bump and rattle. Any one of a million things run through your mind, and I started wondering if I was going to run out of gas.  My crew chief couldn’t be here today, but I promised I’d bring home a trophy.  I guess I did that.”

Next on the competition agenda for the SCCA U.S. Majors Tour Northern Conference is a return visit to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, for the July 30-31 SCCA U.S. Majors Tour at Road America.  There, drivers will compete in Round Nine and Round Ten of the Conference schedule as they near completion of this year’s 12-round calendar.

Below are provisional race results from Sunday’s SCCA U.S. Majors Tour at GingerMan Raceway with Class: Name, Hometown and Car.

-American Sedan: Andrew McDermid; Howell, MI; Ford Mustang

-B-Spec: Ted Sahley; Cleveland, OH; Mazda 2

-E Production: Joe Moser; Wilmette, IL; Honda Prelude

-F Production: John Walker; Richland, MI; Lotus Super 7

-H Production: Tom Feller, Clarkston, MI; Triumph Spitfire

-Formula 1000: Nicho Vardis; Sylvan Lake, MI; JDR F1000

-Formula 500: Calvin Stewart; Novi, MI; Novakar Blade F600

-Formula Atlantic: Sedat Yelkin; Austintown, OH; Swift 014

-Formula Continental: John Norton, Wauwatosa, WI; Van Diemen US-99 FC

-Formula Enterprise: Scott Rettich; Columbus, OH; Formula Enterprises

-Formula F: Russell Ruedisueli; Rochester, MI; VanDiemen RF-99

-Formula Mazda: Steve Johncock; Bellevue, MI; Star Mazda FM

-Formula Vee: Jeff Loughead; Darien, IL; Vortech CR04

-GT-1: Mark Boden; Buffalo Grove, IL; Porsche 997 GT3 Cup

-GT-2: Jonathan Start; Caledonia MI; Dodge Viper

-GT-3: Phil Lasco; North Venice, FL; Mazda RX 7

-GT-Lite: Steve Sargis; Frankfort, IL; Triumph Spitfire

-Prototype 1: Rob Shick; Ortonville MI; HRP LSRII

-Prototype 2: Jake Thielmann; Kiel, WI; Stohr WF1

-Spec Miata: Jonathan Davis; Seven Hills, OH; Spec Miata

-Spec Racer Ford 3: Bobby Sak; Mattawan, MI; Spec Racer Ford Gen3

-Spec Racer Ford: Max Koff; Ypsilanti, MI; SCCA Spec Racer Ford

-Super Touring Lite: Garret Dunn; Commerce Township, MI; Honda CRX SI

-Super Touring Under: Charles Tobel; New Hudson, MI; Pontiac Solstice

-Touring 2: John M Buttermore; South Lyon, MI; Chevrolet Corvette

-Touring 3: Raymond Huffmaster; Clarkston, MI; BMW M3

-Touring 4: James Ebben; Appleton, WI; Mazda MX-5

Photo: F Production’s John Walker claimed back-to-back wins this weekend at the SCCA U.S. Majors Tour at GingerMan Raceway

Prelim Results

The Packwood Championship Tour started with a damp surface as expected by the forecast, but quickly dried and was close to dry when the first cars took to the course.

It was clear it would be a third run race for group 1 with the drying conditions, but that didn’t stop Mitch Fagundes in putting the smack down on SSP on his first run. It wasn’t all roses for Mitch for he struggled to improve and Ryan Johnson got within 0.078 after three to make it a real race for Sunday.

SM also in group 1 wasn’t intimidated by the conditions and all three trophy position drivers on Saturday were high in the PAX over standing for the day. Jason Merritt in his 240sx took the lead and was 2nd in PAX for the day, Dallas Cutler in his Mitsubishi EVO in 2nd and 6th PAX, with Joey Sim also in the 240sx in 3rd, 19th PAX. Impressive for a drying damp 1st run group!

CM lived up to the expectations as Bryan Heitkotter put a wide 1.1 second lead on the field driving Andrew Howe’s Reynard FF. It’s a race for 2nd as the next 4 drives are a mere 0.4 seconds apart and the remaining field not all that far back as well. Look for some leap frogging for 2nd on Sunday as not only things are close but rain is a real possibility.

BS also lived up to expectations as Brian Coulson battled the 16 car field to lead over Dan Bullis by a scant 0.052 with Richard Arienza another 0.162 in third, and Brad Herley and Tony Rodriguez rounding out the trophies on day 1. Look for anyone in the current 5 trophy positions to take the win with weather iffy for Sunday.

HSL was the battle of the hybirds as both ladies were most definitely getting the best MPG as they competed. Deborah Thompson leads the way in her Toyota Prius over Valerie Ball in her BMW i3 with range extender. I bet that kicked in during her runs.

Another great ladies battle is SSL with 6, which has Kristi Brown leading the way in her gorgeous blue Porsche Cayman GT4 over Joan Clark in her Corvette.

Speaking of ladies, so many ladies running in the open class this weekend.

Caitlen Snell currently 3rd in ASP

Jessica Gauthier currently 2nd in DS

Jodi Fordahl currently 4th in SSM

Tasha Mikko 2nd, and also Gretchen Weidemann running in STU

Other ladies running in open classes are Avril Morrison, Teddie Alexandria, Jenna Taylor and maybe others I’ve missed. Got get’em gals!

As expected top time of the day was put in by a AM driver, but it was not easy for John Haftner with his significantly improved super vee now sporting major aero wings to put down a 47.868 to edge out Bryan (alien) Heitkotter running CM by a mear 0.038.

Top 5 Pax for Saturday where:

  1. Geoff Clark – ASP
  2. Ryan Otis – FS
  3. Jason Merritt – SM
  4. Bryan Heitkotter – CM
  5. Kit Gauthier – DS

Look for Sunday in Packwood to really mix things up with the forecast iffy on rain. I’m sure many a class will not be decide until all entrants in a class have finished there runs!