Year End Party and Award Ceremony

The winners of the Dick Hager Memorial “Spirit of the Sport” award and the Grant Cameron Memorial “Driver of the Year” award were announced at the Region’s Year-End Party at The Windmill Restaurant on February 1, 2014.  In the photo above, Regional Executive Chris Brewer awards the “Spirit of the Sport” award to Dean Johnson and the “Driver of the Year” award to Ben Caudill.  The party was well-attended despite the chilly weather.  Everyone in attendance appeared to have a great time!

 

Abarth Track Experience

z001Want to learn how to really drive a Fiat Abarth?  Just buy one and use your VIN to register for the freeAbarth Track Experience at one of several professional race tracks around the country.  It’ll be the high performance drive of your life!

The Region Webmaster/Secretary-Treasurer/Newsletter Editor took me to the exclusive Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, IL, west of Chicago, to celebrate our wedding anniversary in a Fiat.  Our day-long Track Experience included driving both autocross and a road course, definitely an exhilarating experience for a novice. The Autobahn is performance car heaven with no speed limits where individual memberships can be purchased for a $35,000 initiation fee and annual dues of $4,000.  Yellowstone Region could purchase a corporate membership (4 designated members) for an initiation fee of only $112,000 and annual dues of $16,000 a great club investment!  Check out venue features at http://autobahncc.com/

The upscale event began with a shuttle ride from the parking lot to the clubhouse and a spin around the ample breakfast buffet.  We drivers need to keep up our strength!  Orientation included a brief video about Karl Alberto Abarth (pronounced “Ah-Bart”), the Austrian genius who started his career designing and racing motorcycles.  A friend of Ferry Porsche, Abarth turned to car design and in 1952 built the first Abarth 1500; eventually Abarth became the racing department of Fiat.  And then we bought one.

z002Before buckling into one of the fleet of Abarths parked curb-side, each driver got a flash drive to video every event with two in-car cameras, one facing the road and one facing the driver; a computer also tracked the car’s position on the course and the lap/time/MPH/RPM in real-time.  Of course, I’m sure we drove much faster than the telemetry indicated.

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We 52 drivers were assigned to either “Team Shake & Bake” or “Team Hollywood,” so our goal was to beat the other team in two timed autocross events.  The first course gave each driver a chance to race the clock; fast time was turned in by Bobby, our S&B team leader, at just over 26 seconds.  The second figure-8 course was a head-to-head competition that pitted two drivers against each other on mirrored courses; this was definitely more exciting and challenging because of a required full stop in the middle of the run.  J won the face off competition among the Shake & Bakers.

Each event venue offered shade and snacks (again, for keeping up our strength!), welcome hospitality in the Midwest where August heat and humidity are usually oppressive though our weather was perfect. A gourmet lunch offered the chance to talk with other Abarth owners of all ages, shapes, and skill levels, and the cadre of professional drivers who coached us at each event.

During breaks from our road course work on the North Course, we watched local drivers in a various cars blast around the South Course.  We also checked out the fleet of performance cars Autobahn members can rent.  (J. was whining about taking out the Ferrari California pictured below, but I told him he could only drive yellow cars.)

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Then it was our turn to hit the North Course, a 1.46 mile circuit with 9 turns (6 right + 3 left), marked with braking, turn, and apex cones.  We put on helmets and jumped into an Abarth where a professional driver was already in the passenger seat, waiting to coach us through the course. We plugged in the flash drive and hit the track.  It was AWESOME, and I could definitely give up my day job to just go FAST.

 

Each driver had seven turns to drive the 2 laps of the course before pulling into pit lane and waiting while others drove with ourcoach.  Initially, we were limited to 3rd gear; as we learned the track in successive drives, we could use all gears, as fast as we wanted to go.  With each drive, our coach had less advice for me as I began to figure out what those cones really meant; I finally conceded that he might be right about how to get around the course, braking strategically and using the full 40 feet of track width.

z005The last event of the day was our ride-along with a professional driver at the wheel who showed us what an Abarth can do on the road course when it’s driven by someone who drives for a living.  But just like at our local events, being a passenger is much less fun than being a driver so I would have given up that hot lap for lots more of my own.

Remarkably, with no racing modifications, the Abarth stood up to every driver’s skill, from those of us who had no experience to hard-core seasoned drivers.  Want to elevate your heart rate and learn about driving a great car FAST?  Drive the Abarth Track Experience!

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Year End Party and Award Ceremony 2013

Dwight Gilliland

Dwight Gilliland

Brent Hergenraeder

Brent Hergenraeder

The Region’s Annual Awards were presented at the year-end party on January 26, 2013.  The Dick Hager Spirit of the Sport trophy was awarded to long-time Region member Dwight Gilliland.  Nominators noted Dwight’s consistent contributions to Region events during 2012 despite dealing with significant health challenges. The Grant Cameron Driver of the Year trophy was awarded to Brent Hergenraeder.  Nominators noted Brent’s consistent improvement in driving technique resulting in multiple class wins and a fast-time-of-day in 2012.  Check the Member Profile pages for Dwight and Brent for more information regarding these deserving recipients.

Adrenaline-Filled Speed Demons Play on Makeshift Course

June 30, 2013, by Dustin Klemann – Q-2 News

BILLINGS – Although racing is not prominent in Billings, if you look hard enough, you will find car-enthusiasts burning rubber on a track.The sounds and smell emanating from the Skyview High School parking lot were a dead giveaway of racing. Fifteen drivers took turns speeding around the makeshift course — as cones and faint lines mapped their path.” You can’t have a course over a minute because you never breath. If you hit the corner perfect, there is just nothing, it’s just there. It’s when you don’t hit it perfect that you begin to talk to yourself and try to get it right the next time.But it comes down to the love of it,” said Steve Gruver, who’s held the fastest time in his stock 1986 Corvette.He’s part of the Yellowstone Sport Car Club of America, SCCA for short. It provides the fix of adrenaline for anyone interested in racing around a track and doesn’t find go-karts too easy.But not only does it fill the need for speed, it’s a community of car enthusiasts who welcome anyone of any skill level to join.”Some people get really good after a lot of experience. And some people, teenagers 18 19 years old, after two events, they’re running with the top drivers,” said Jay Reuss, the club’s secretary treasurer.Reuss runs everything behind the scenes, organizing events, getting out the word to other drivers, and occasionally finding himself behind the wheel.The Yellowstone Sports Car Club has history to its name as its helping drivers master hairpin corners since the early 80s.While racers’ foe is the clock, there is a fair amount of friendly competition that never trumps camaraderie.“The love for vehicles goes for every one of us. Each one of us has a different passion. My particular one is the car needs to look good and work good. Other guys are just more interested in that they work good. They will spend their time and money making them go faster,” Gruver continued, “They share it between each other. We’re always talking, always telling each other what we do different, what we do to make the car better. And we also tell each other what we did to make the car worse.”The passion is what drives (yes, pun intended) these races. Not only do they learn how to shave precious seconds off their time, but understand the capabilities of a car, something that could help protect or prevent everyday roadway hazards.“The thing that it teaches – and I think it’s more important for the young people than anyone—if you know what the car can do, in many cases it will keep you out of trouble and maybe even save your life,”said Gruver.

Are You a Car Nut? Can you Identify this Beauty?

Can you Identify This Car?

Pink-Car

The stylish pink beast is, of course, a “Muntz Jet.” The Muntz Car Company was created in Glendale, California, by Earl “Madman” Muntz and was in existence from 1950 to 1954. He was assisted by Frank Kurtis, who had earlier attempted to produce a sports car under the Kurtis Kraft marque (the Kurtis Kraft Sport, which sold just 36 units by 1950). In 1951, Kurtis sold the license to manufacture the cars to Muntz, who quickly rebadged them as the “Muntz Jet”, extended the body to make it a 4-seater, and exchanged the Ford engine with a larger Cadillac V8. Later, this engine would be replaced with a less expensive Lincoln side-valve V8.

The car, a sports coupe, was manufactured in Chicago, IL in the 2900 block of N. Sheffield Av. and featured its own unique design, with aluminum body panels and a removable fiberglass top that were manufactured in-house. Other parts (such as the engines) were sourced from other manufacturers. It was capable of 112 mph, a significant achievement for a road car at the time.

The company managed to produce only about 400 cars during 1951-1954, and due to the high manufacturing cost, Muntz himself estimated that his company lost about $1,000 on each car; this financial drain eventually caused him to close the company.

If you would like to know more about the Muntz Jet, click on this Wikipedia link. If you would like to go for a (virtual) ride in a pink 1952 Muntz Jet, click on this YouTube link.

2012 Region Year-End Party and Annual Award Ceremony

awards-2012The Region reinstated a long tradition by holding a year-end, potluck get-together at R.E. Chris Brewer’s house.  Along with that tradition came the awarding of the Grant Cameron Memorial Most Improved Driver of Year Award and the Dick Hager Memorial “Spirit of the Sport” Award.  The Region was proud to (at long last) bestow Driver of the Year honors on long-time Region member, Dwight Gilliland.  Gillliland–who has more driving talent (and experience) in his little finger that anyone else in the Region–genuinely appeared humbled by the accolade.  J. Reuss accepted the “Spirit of the Sport” award.  In presenting the award, R.E. Brewer noted that “J. does all those things for the Region that no one else wants to do.”  The evening was also highlighted by a delicious turkey barbequed by Brewer and a thorough workout of the driving simulator in his “man cave.”  Check the Region’s Facebook page for more photos.

 

Billings 365: Labor Day SCCA Autocross at Skyview High School

Billings 365 Blog Author: James

The Labor Day SCCA Autocross meet could not have happened on a nicer day. The weather was warm, the sun was bright, and the asphalt in the Skyview High School parking lot was perfect for racing. Labor Day was the penultimate gathering of the Yellowstone region racing club, featured twenty-one competitors, and kicked off Sunday morning at 10 AM.

For those not familiar with autocross, the closest analogue would be go-kart racing. The main difference is that in place of go-karts, most competitors race street cars. Instead of a special slick track, like at most go-kart establishments, SCCA builds their courses out of traffic cones in parking lots in and around Billings. The objective is simple: drive through the course as fast as possible. There are a couple rules—each cone knocked over or out of place adds two seconds to the lap time, missing a gate disqualifies the lap, and all drivers and riders must keep their limbs inside the vehicle at all times.

Dean’s Mazda Miata MX-5

Dean’s Mazda Miata MX-5 takes a corner on the way to the finish line.

Dean’s Mazda Miata MX-5 takes a corner on the way to the finish line.

The course covered almost all of Skyview’s eastern parking lot. The course was laid out a comfortable distance from the heavy concrete footings of the parking lot’s streetlights, but there was no avoiding the deep, two-finger-wide cracks running through the asphalt. Chris Brewer, one of the event’s coordinators, held a driver’s meeting ten minutes before the first car went out. He detailed the rules for counting cones and general safety rules for anybody at the event. After checking that everybody had signed the liability waiver and was wearing one of the club’s trademark blue-and-white-checkered paper wristbands to show it, the event got started.

The twenty-one entrants were divided into three groups of seven apiece. There was a broad range of vehicles, from Eric Mayer’s Lexus IS300 sedan to Reese Newman’s Datsun 280ZX coupe. The course flowed smoothly from turn to turn, and lent no clear advantage to one type of car over another. The asphalt held the sun’s heat and promised plenty of grip, even for the most worn tires. The cars lined up behind the start line, one at a time, and made their runs. Two laps apiece, three times through. SCCA member and unofficial computer expert Doug Hills sat in the timing trailer and made sure each car’s time was recorded. The first two run groups cycled through their runs without incident. Around 11 o’clock, run group three came up, and it was my turn to drive.

Behind the wheel of my ’89 Honda Civic racecar, I made sure the chinstrap on my full-face DOT-approved helmet was tight (required—all drivers and passengers must wear helmets on the track), buckled my four-point racing harness (required—anybody in a car must be strapped in, either with a factory seatbelt or competition-spec webbing belts like mine), and strapped on my leather driving gloves (required—it’s not a safety issue, but wearing driving gloves makes me look like Ryan Gosling from the movie Drive). I pulled up to the start/finish line and waited for the go-ahead from the started. When he waved his hand, I revved my engine near redline and dropped the clutch, never losing traction as I launched through the timing lights.

The course itself was not overly complex and the line was ordered and logical. There were straight sections that allowed me to run the motor up until it shrieked, and technical sections that required me cut the wheel hard enough to make the tires squeal and the chassis shudder under the strain. The huge cracks in the asphalt punctuated the straightaways with jarring bump-bump tympanics, made all the louder by my car’s lack of interior. However, as any driver will attest, all the noise and discomfort registers as an afterthought (at most). Out on the course, 100% of the driver’s attention is on driving.

I can’t claim anything mind-blowing this time out; I finished third overall. There’s always next year!

While the other run groups made their laps, others in my run group stood out on the course and counted cones. I made rounds through the crowd of spectators. First time spectator/passenger Brandon Hantke was in town from Oregon, and decided to check out the event on the advice of driver Olin Harriger. “I thought it’d be more competitive,” he said, “but it seems like a bunch of people out here having fun.” When asked if he’d drive his ’08 Mitsubishi Lancer for a few laps, he said he’d “definitely like to try it out next year.”

The SCCA season is almost over for the year, but should be starting again next May. Check out the website, get more information on events, and even register for races at www.yellowstonescca.com.

Joel, Al, and Steve parked in staggered order…so that nobody had to park on the speed bump.

Joel, Al, and Steve parked

Joel, Al, and Steve parked in staggered order…so that nobody had to park on the speed bump.

 

Region Event at Yellowstone Drag Strip featured in the Billings Gazette

Paul Ruhter of the Billings Gazette attended the Region’s event at Yellowstone Drag Strip on July 15, 2012.  The story and photo gallery can be found here.

All you need is a valid driver’s license and a car that will pass an inspection, and you are ready for a thrilling day of racing at local autocross events.

The Yellowstone Region of the Sports Car Club of America is based in Billings and hosts many autocross events in the Billings area every summer.

The club has dozens of local members, but they open racing events to the public.

A day of driving the course is $40 for those not members of the SCCA, and $25 for first-time racers.

To learn more information on becoming a member of the Yellowstone Region SCCA or for a schedule of autocross events, go to www.yellowstonescca.com.

Newsletter Editor Graduates from MSU-B

kaitlyn-graduatesThe editor and staff of the Yellowstone Region website is pleased to announce that the Region’s Newsletter Editor recently graduated (with honors) from MSU-B with a B.S. degree in biology.  The normally shy and reclusive editor is show below taking her own picture at La Perouse Bay just prior to uploading same to her Facebook page.  Next time you see Kaitlin, make sure to offer your congratulations!

 

Summit Meeting Between Yellowstone Region and Maui SCCA

Reuss-Maui-SummitYellowstone Region Webmaster J. Reuss recently met with Maui SCCA Webmaster, Spiritual Leader, and Chief Menu Advisor, Scott Hughes, at La Perouse Bay in south Maui.  (La Perouse has a rich history.  It was at La Perouse that the first Westerners set foot on Maui.  When French explorer Jean Francois de Galaup La Perouse landed there in 1786, scores of Hawaiians from the village came out from the village of Keone’o’io to greet him.)

J. was unable to attend Maui SCCA’s February event at Maui Raceway Park this year, but Scott was kind enough to provide a tour of south Maui to J., the “Team Owner,” the Newsletter Editor, and her roommate (and former Region member), Jerod Staebler.  Scott has lived in Kihei for many years and had many insights to offer about south Maui and its beautiful features and activities.

Scott noted that participation at Maui SCCA events over the past 3-5 years has averaged about 10-12 drivers per event.  The rough pavement at Maui Raceway Park (a former military airfield) is the source of 99% of the Region’s issues.  Many participants do not return after one or two events because of the fractured and abrasive paving which can be tough on tires and cars.  There have also been plans in the works to build a prison on the site, which could lead to a better venue.  However, the powers that be continue to have difficulty finding $275M to build the new facility.