The third round of the Tire Rack SCCA Solo Championship Tour rolled into Qualcomm Stadium this past weekend with 210 competitors driving over the two days of timed runs. Friday started the fun with a small test ‘n tune course that allowed for tire scrubbing, car familiarization for those stepping into some strange borrowed rides and, importantly, a chance to make sure that their cars would meet the 93dB sound limit that is in place for the site. Many people took advantage of the Lowe’s, that shadows the lot just to the west of Qualcomm, to find that perfect dryer vent to help shave a dB or two. This was followed by the welcome party which featured a food truck serving grilled cheese sandwiches and an adult beverage or seven was also seen in hand on the course walks.
More fun was also in store for those who hung around the site when competition ended after day one, Saturday, at 3:45. By 3:47 a magical red cooler was spied in impound near the back of a certain ESP car and in the distance a wisp of smoke was seen from something that was dubbed “R2BBQ2”. It was sitting in paddock next to a tow vehicle that was an ex-ambulance. The party was moved to this locale and, by 5:30, tri-tip and pork shoulder were being consumed by many competitors. Luckily a deal was made on a floor display which once again allowed for hydrated refreshment on course walks. First heat was home to competition in STU where Brian Peters took an almost two second win in his 350Z. This is the same car he used to win the STR National Championship last year and within seconds the internet was abuzz and the cries of “Overdog!” could be heard. Never mind the fact that the driver is the only person to ever make the author use a curse word on announcing microphone with an unbelievable display of driving talent. It can’t be the driver, it’s gotta be the car. "Borrow a car and win" was a popular theme during the weekend and first heat was where James Yom used a borrowed S2000 to beat out Mike Heinitz in B Street. Clint Child was the last trophy winner in BS also in a borrowed car belonging to Heinitz. SML was home to six competitors. All six are current or former National Championship holders with Christine Grice driving around day one leader Shelly Monfort to take the win.
STX class winner, Max Hayter and his BRZ - Saturday
STX class winner, Max Hayter and his BRZ - Sunday
Heat two saw Jeff Wong winning STC and, in other “news”, water is wet. Second place in STC was won by Will Kalman who moved into the spot after the first day bridesmaid, Morgan Trotter, hit two cones on his final fast run that had a scratch time good enough to put him real close to Wong. STX was an awesome battle which saw quick times laid down by eventual third place finisher Annie Gill and second place recipient Mack Tsang on their second runs on day two. Max Hayter laid down a fast 51.983 on his last run that was good enough for the top spot and then had to wait for co-driver Gill and Tsang to make their final runs. They both slowed down and Max got the win. Second group was also home to KJ Christopher who was running solo in A Modified. KJ set FTD on both raw time and PAX for the event with a combined time in both, over two days, of 84.195. If you find his videos on YouTube, no, they are not sped up. They were really that fast.
KJ Christopher's Saturday AM Run
KJ Christopher's Sunday AM Run
Heat three saw Jeff Cawthorne in an MX-5 take the win in an 18 driver STR class by almost a second ahead of Jason Munchhof driving an S2000 that Jeff used to own. It's also worth noting that another Cawthorne's MX-5, driven by Terri Mayo, also won STRL. Additionly, the 2nd place STC Civic piloted by Will Kalman is also a Cawthorn car. It was a great weekend to be driving Cawthorne prepped vehicles! Steve Lau won SSP in a 911 GT3 RS that was gridded next to an Audi R8 that was also running the class. This spot in grid was very popular and many guttural noises were heard…and not just from the cars. One of the tightest battles in the third group took place in FJB where Cyan Kalman beat her twin brother Dane after a blistering third run that started with a little tear still on her cheek after a physically painful first run DNF. Tears soon turned to a smile after the .266 second win.
Mike Wood got off a plane late Friday night and jumped in a borrowed Subaru on Saturday and Sunday to win a tight D Street battle from James Feinberg by .331. Feinberg bucked the “Borrow a car and win” trend by actually driving his Audi TT from South Carolina. ESP went into Sunday, fourth group, runs with the top four drivers separated by .443. Elliot Speidell had the lead after the first day and going into third runs on day two. Tim Bergstrom laid down a 49.848 to get within .104 but when current ESP National Champ, Greg McCance, clubbed a cone within 15 seconds of his last run that gave Speidell a well-deserved win in, again, a borrowed Mustang.
The trophies were given out by 3:45. Some drove well, many not so well. Some just came for a good time. A good time was there for the taking and many faces had smiles on late Sunday afternoon. Tired smiles, but smiles nonetheless. If you missed the San Diego Championship Tour you missed a chance at fun and tired smiles. Don’t miss it next year.
