Racing In The Rockies: NASA Utah Round 1
It feels soo goooood to be back! Just look at how happy Ty is! HE’S SO HAPPY!!! Probably because we’re back to racing, but also because Shawn set another track record. Speaking of, let’s talk about that
Time Trial
Yes, everyone’s favorite cowboy set another record. Well, two actually. On Saturday he went around the West track in 1:34.252, which was a record. Then on Sunday he pulled a 1:33.639. Good enough to win TT2, good enough to win TTU on Saturday
David Bradshaw, and his yellow Beetle “Bumblebee” Lyfe prepared 996 Porsche Cup Car took home the win in TT1 with a best time of 1:39.810. His luck wouldn’t hold into Sunday, as Daren Jorgensen, in the Rearden/Strom Motorsports M4 ran a 1:36.762.
We already talked TT2, so let’s move on to TT3. On Saturday, John Calvin (theologian, father of Calvinism/Reformed Protestantism, and driver of an orange and black Mustang) turned a 1:45.969 to bring home a win. Sunday saw another Rearden BMW take home a TT class win, this time it was the M235iR of Andrew McCubbins, an adorable animated teddy bear… Probably.
The 2017 season sees the debut of TT4, replacing TTB. Mike Bratsch kept his sucking low and pulled off the first win in the new class on Saturday with a 1:45.131. On Sunday Nam Yoon (not pictured) ran a 1:41.868, and took the class victory.
TTC is still around, having yet to be replaced by an as of yet undeveloped TT5, and had a few competitors on the weekend. Two to be exact! On Saturday, with a 1:44.955, Lynn Hodges in the red chrome Lotus took the win over John Butcher. Johnny boy would get his win on Sunday, with a 1:47.497.
Kenneth Russell, noted bon vivant and man about town, was the sole TTD competitor on the weekend. Him and his trusty Civic pulled a best time of 1:48.471 on Saturday and, like myself, weren’t around on Sunday.
A pair of hardtop NA chassis Miatas split the wins in TTE over the weekend. Todd Green, in Ol’ Blue or the Smurf or Babe the Tiny Blue Sports Car, ran a 1:46.473 on Saturday. On Sunday Tyler Nisonger took the win with a 1:48.074.
We had a TTF competitor this weekend! It was one Eduardo Acurero, in a black CRX that would lift the inside rear wheel during hard maneuvers. Eduardo, as he will always be referred to as on these pages, turned a 1:45.316. A time on par with the TTC field. Good going Eduardo!
Rounding out TT is Andrew Smith, who trotted out the Rearden/SilencerCo/FourFoods Group/maybe R&R Barbecue? Audi R8 LMS Ultra and turned a 1:36.606, outpacing even the likes of the UVU Miata.
Lightning
Tom Rogers, Thom Rodgers to his friends and Peruvian officials, beat out Chris Haunold for the GTS2 win on Saturday and Sunday. Will the BMW-Porsche battle end with the Bavarian car on top? It’s too soon to tell, but LET’S RECKLESSLY SPECULATE AND SAY YES!
Carl Marx, the great nephew of the legendary Zeppo Marx, in one of the Rearden BMW M235iR’s claimed a pair of GTS3 wins on the weekend.
Troy Duffin, in a cruel twist of fate, managed to get the PTD victory, but lose his gorgeous red Datsun 510. The car broke loose going into turn one, and as a result damaged some of the rear suspension. He managed to get the car going again, but only to limp it back into the pits. I speak for a lot of people who are glad Troy is ok, and are wishing for the car to make a speedy recovery!
Speaking of broken cars, Todd Green’s blue Miata decided to spin a bearing. It managed to do this AFTER Todd took the PTE win on Saturday. On Sunday Todd turned to an old friend, one who’s always been there when called upon: Paul Mitchell. Despite sitting since October, and on old tires, Paul answered the call of his old friend. After an oil change, Todd ran just over a tenth of a second off the track record on his way to another win.
With a spring in his step, a song in his heart, and a fresh new livery; Matt Williamson took to the track for another year of Spec Miata competition. Joined by newcomer (to Spec Miata) Andy Moench, who finished second on both days, Matt claimed the first two wins of the 2017 season.
Super Touring 4 was ruled over by benevolent hamburger overlord Blake Troester, aka Mayor McCheese. Under his stewardship, sightings of the Hamburglar have been greatly reduced, while acceptance of Grimmace is now commonplace. We salute you, kind mayor!
Our two (for the moment) Thunder Roadster drivers traded wins over the weekend. Jihn Han took the season opening win, and JD Stull took home top honors on Sunday. Big Bob Evans has said he’ll be in one of these cars this year, which would be amazing for many reasons. We hope he hops in soon, but in the meantime we’re more than content with watching JD and Jihn duke it out.
944 Spec was its usual, robust self. When Otto Silva (Saturday’s winner) and William Kendall (Sunday’s winner) were on track together, they were quite racy. Otto posted a better fast lap, but not by a whole lot. This would be a good class to hop into. 944’s are still Porsches, but don’t have any of the astronomical costs of 911’s. Plus it’s just two guys, it’s not like you’d be jumping into a massive field, filled with fast drivers who are getting lapped by even faster drivers…
Thunder
Normally the Spec Z field runs in the Lightning group, but not this weekend. No, they were on grid for the Thunder races. Yeah. the group with the Huracan Super Trofeos, 911 GT3R’s, Cup cars, and other fast stuff. Despite being a herd of rolling cones (there were 14 cars on grid for Saturday’s race, 11 for Sunday), they had quite the race. As is tradition, Arthur Golebiowski grabbed the season opener, with Tom and Chad in tow. Sunday was a different story. Someone going by the handle of “LYFE Motorsport” hopped into Kyle Schick’s #22 car and took the win. With Chad and Tom in tow.
GTS4’s dual wins were taken by Darrell Troester, and this leads me to a question: what’s with the Troester’s and McDonald’s? Do you own a franchise? Are you forever indebted to Ray Kroc? What is the deal? I DEMAND ANSWERS! Feel free to send them in to [email protected]
He managed to race, and remove his thermostat all in the same day! It’s the one and only Toby Crawford! Despite having a wounded car, Toby still went out and ran a full race in ST2, getting a win.
A Minion was spotted running in ST3 on Sunday. I wasn’t there, but it’s on the official results. It’s actually listed as the winner… Curious…
ST1 was populated exclusively by Ginetta G55’s. The little GT4 cars were prepped by Ian Lacy Racing, and driven by Frank “You’re my boy, Blue!” Gannett and Drew Staveley. Drew took home the wins for the weekend, and now I have to figure out either a nickname or a weird non sequitir for him.
Steve Burns, Texan and driver of a car that barely qualifies as a Mustang anymore, claimed Saturday’s Super Unlimited win. Jeff Kearl, pictured in a different car from a different round from a different month from a different year, took the SU win on Sunday.
GTSU was a bullfight all weekend! Except without the cultural relevance, animal cruelty, or goring. A new Huracan Super Trofeo appeared, fielded by DXDT Racing, and driven by Paul Terry. It wasn’t one of their cars that they use for the Super Trofeo series, at least this one wasn’t sporting the livery anyway. They faced off against the tried and true Makes & Models Huracan. Despite Paul having slightly faster fast laps, he couldn’t overcome the cagey driving of Derek Wolthoff. The Makes & Models team returned to the shop in Layton with two more victories under their belt.
And there we have it! The season is off to a rousing start. The East track is the venue for next month, and the weekend of that is April 21-23. We’ll be out there, for the whole thing this time! Come out and join us!
