Connecticut Autocross and Rally Team Autox # 12: Goodbye Hartford, Hello Bristol
The Connecticut Autocross and Rally Team had its last event at LAZ parking Sunday September 21. The field was looking thin as many drivers were out at SCCA Nationals and others were rally crossing elsewhere. Todd Kean was able to grace us with his presence. Todd drove out to Nationals in his DSP Impreza where you placed very well in a highly competitive class. After the last run, Todd packed up and headed back East to join us on Sunday.
Bill Evans arrived early to lay out the cones. Looking at it from Neil Armstrong's POV, it looked like a giant U. The course started with a hard right as you went through the start lights, it then swept up the right side of the lot with a long left hand sweeper. You were forced to scrub off speed and trailbrake slightly as it tightened up hard left and brought you back almost over to the right side again. The course swept right and back up the opposite side before making a tight 180degree right hander. You brought the right on exit to set up for a tight 180degree left hander that lead you back up to the top of the lot. The course then made a sharp left before sweeping down the left side of the lot and into the finish. The long straight finish offered fast speeds but the quick bend before the stop garage had many people coming in loose and spinning. The timing equipment did suffer a hit during the day but it wasn't during the finish, it was from someone going awry during their run, running off course, locking up the brakes across the wire and into the stop garage. Fortunately the driver of the red Merkur that was about to finish was looking far enough ahead and was able to come to a stop without the miserable crunch. All told, the course was fast and fun.
As has been the case just about all year, mother nature blessed us with sun and a dry day. Tom Cavuoto took advantage of Tom Maks' absence and posted top time in SS. Tom's best time came on his last run even though he didn't need it. Chris StMary finished second in his 04 Bowtie Pride. A-stock saw Joe Solury return to form and take the class win over the black Corvette driven by Brian Elzin and John Jankura. In C-stock Mike Koloniaris took his Speed Miata to a class win. His time of 35.786 was good enough for a .67second win over Robert Mills in his codriven MR2. James Duphiney was left in E stock all by himself and took the class win by the closest margin of the day. Nice driving Jim. Mike Demaio needs to just label his car as GS, noone wants to show up and race him. He doesn't mind because he gets bumped to GS, changes to R-comps, kicks ass, changes to street tires and goes home. Quick, quiet and deadly... sounds like a recipe for a good fart in church or a sniper you choose your poison. Either way, Mike wins, this time by just over a tenth on Joe Rathbun's ACR.
In BSP the absence of Leo, Jeff and Jim saw a pretty much open class that was dominated by Mark Kirves. Mark arrived early, got his extra rest, awoke, and drove to a dominating win over Doug Perkowski's (still on stret tires though) Evo. Paul O pulled double duty on Sunday driving not only his car, but the crazy legends car. He had the dial turned full power and thoroughly dismantled CSP winning my almost 2seconds over Damon O'Palick's Miata.
Kevin Shea was almost happy on Sunday until Todd showed up from Kansas in his nationally prepped Impreza. We were all very impressed with Todd for driving all night and being able to make the event. But we all found out why he was able to stay up, he had an alarm clock permanently going off. His car makes Liam's Evo sound quiet. Todd got one clean run in and was second on the day to the number of cones hit. His one clean run was good enough for edge out Kevin by 2.2 seconds.
Marc Boerma took another win in ESP piloting his 05 GT to a 35.888 seconds and .3 quicker than his codriver Yaro Taeger. In FSP Kevin Fitzmaurice is continuing to try and kill his Subaru Legacy, but try as he might that darned thing just won't die. See Kevin, should have bought a domestic! The little car that won't die posted top time in FSP by over half second on John Bubela's MG Midget.
Ray Covino rejoiced as he finally, for the first time in only he knows how long, wasn't bumped. Ray was able to convince his friend Sam Spencer to come out and run. And then to add more fun, Bob Peplow showed up in his Corvair. Finally Ray had a class to run against instead of Nick. Ray seized the opportunity like a 16yr old getting asked to the prom. The Merkur with the Hello Kitty exhaust end finished almost a full second in front of the Corvair. Ray, if you continue beating up on your friends, they won't come around anymore and you'll be back to square one racing against Nick.
Jay Bode was bumped from FP but that didn't stop him from showing the way in A-mod. Even with Paul piloting the little milk truck, Jay posted top time. Sean Colsen, the owner of the Legend, finished 2nd with Paul just behind him. STU saw Stan Marcewicz take the trophy. Stan is quickly dialing in his Miata and I expect him to be even quicker next year. Jim Armstrong's STI would finish 2nd. The SM class was bumped to SM2 putting Nick and Liam head to head. Nick drove great, Liam hit cones and threw helmets. Liam took the top prize of number of cones hit in one run with 6 and total cones hit on the day with 13. Nick took top time in class on the day. On Nick's first fast run he hit 3 cones, so what did he do? He went out and ran 2 runs faster and clean! Great driving Nick. Bob Pielli is getting the handle on Liam's Evo, but couldn't quite catch Nick. Bob did return the favor of Liam beating him in his own car earlier in the year and beat him to even the score.
In the Exhibition Class, Stan had Liam's Evo and also beat Liam posting an uber quick, but not quick enough 34.2 and John Jankura drove a 2nd car (88 M3) to a 38.3. In the novice classes Anton Kirschner's SI took an eigth tenths XN win over Brian Tanis' M3. Ivan Aguilar drove a 97 M3 and took the YN win over his codriver Tran Nguyen. Wes Eastwood took the riegns of his fathers Mustang and drove very nicely to a ZN win. Wes, being that you won the novice class you know have to run against your Dad at the next event you show up to, nice driving.
The next CART event is Circuits Maximus in Pocono on Monday Sept 29. The next auto-x is in BRISTOL October 5th.
