Road Race Report

November 9-11, 2001--Road Atlanta

Chattanooga Region's representation at the ARRC was a bit smaller this year, with the demise of two of the Perry's Hondas. Vesa Silegren took his ITC Civic, Will Perry took the 40% completed ITB Honda Accord, Roy Yother and Art Thompson brought Roy's ITC CRX. Jamie Blair joined us with his ITC CRX.

More Pictures from the 2001 ARRC Sprints
Pictures from 2001 ARRC Enduro

Vesa was a surprise to many when he qualified on the pole for the ITC-only race with a 1:50.14!! The 2000 ARRC Champ, Gareth Rebstock, qualified second, a big .4 seconds back, about equaling his lap record 1:50.8. Third was Tracy Nine, the 1999 Champ. Nine times ARRC Champion, Tom Fowler qualified fourth. Jamie qualified fifth. Our guys were is some tough company.

2001 Races

November
   ARRC
October
   VIR SARRC/ECR/ECR
September
   Roebling SIC
   Road Atlanta SARRC/SARRC
July
   Road Atlanta ECR/SARRC
April
   Roebling Double SARRC
March
    Memphis Mid-Am/IT Tour
    VIR SARRC
    Atlanta SARRC/ECR/ProIT
February
     Memphis Regional
     Roebling School

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This was Vesa's first start on pole position in an automobile. He was unable to capitalize on it and fell back to fourth early in the race. But he made it back to first place mid-race. He, Nine and Rebstock exchanged the lead in a fine race. At about 15 laps of the 20-lap race, Rebstock's car faltered with Vesa on his bumper. Nine took advantage to go on to the win. Vesa took second with Rebstock falling back to third.

Jamie finished 6th in the 13 car field.

Will qualified the not-quite-a-racecar Honda Accord 9th in a field of twenty-five ITB cars. Sam Moore, last year's champ, qualified first in his Volvo. Randy Pobst (yes, the Pro) qualified second in a well-prepared Honda Accord. Pobst was able to get by the Volvo briefly early, but as the FWD Honda's tires heated he fell back finishing second to the Volvo. Will finished seventh.

With Randy Pobst driving the best-prepared Honda Accord in the country, and a driver that looks like he should be driving a Sleigh with Eight Tiny Reindeer driving the Volvo, the Volvo wins. And the Honda gets moved up to ITA for 2002 for being too fast??

In the hour and three quarter Enduro, we were represented by Jamie soloing and Roy and Art co-driving. Jamie had a good battle with the same car that won ITC the day before, driven by Clifton Ching. A Datsun 510 led the whole way in ITC, while Jamie and Clifton battled for second. Clifton's car was able to turn slightly better times, but Jamie took the second place by better regularity and good pit strategy. An encounter with a Spec Miata cost Jamie his right front fender, but it didn't slow him down any.

Roy started in his CRX, with Art taking over at mid-race. They came home sixth in ITC, with a clean race.

The Randy Pobst-Troy Flis Accord won the enduro - no Volvos entered.

A fine weekend of racing; perfect weather; great races. Several lap records broken. One driver to the hospital, but OK; just knocked a little silly against the ever-present concrete walls.

-- Bill Perry

2003 ARRC/Enduro (Photos)
2002 ARRC/Enduro (Photos)
2001 ARRC/Enduro (Photos)
2000 ARRC/Enduro (Photos)
1999 ARRC/Sunoco 400 (Photos)
1998 ARRC/Sunoco 400 (Photos)
1997 ARRC/Sunoco 500 (Photos)
1996 ARRC/Sunoco 500

American Road Race of Champions