Road Race Report
By Bill Perry

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First, an update on Wally Robinson from his Daytona race in August. He T-boned another car, then hit the wall. He found later that his Camaro is essentially unrepairable and will have to be replaced. Earlier at Road Atlanta he had grenaded the engine, requiring a new block. So Wally will basically have a whole new racer. Work is proceeding.

Road Atlanta Double SARRC -- Labor Day Weekend

Handly Templeton raced for just his second weekend this year, in the HR7260 Formula Ford. On Sunday he ran second, having a fine battle with a Van Dieman Formula Ford. Handly spun in turn one and finished third in a good field of seven. On Monday, he again spun in turn one, falling to a fourth place finish.

Bob Forsten raced the G Production Datsun roadster. On Sunday he had a good battle, holding second for most of the race. He was passed near the end, finishing third. In Mondays race, he also finished third.

John Leigh ran the HP Bugeye Sprite Sunday only as a tune-up for the SARRC Invitational Runoff. He was unopposed. Just to keep it interesting, he ran up on the curb at turn 1. He did a 900 degree spin (yes, 2-1/2 turns) but was able to recover and continue.

Carl Blevins raced the Toyota MR2 in ITA - but he didn’t race it long. In grid, he asked if I saw anyone he better watch out for. I warned him about an RX7 lined up beside him - it was already rubbed on every fender and door and the first race hadn’t been held yet! Sure enough, the RX7 spun out of corner three on the first lap, taking out the MR2 and others. The MR2 bounced off the RX7, climbed over the tire wall and slid down the bank along the fence. It finally looped back off the bank (about seven feet tall at this point) and landed on its wheels. There was substantial body damage, but major chassis damage. Carl was finished for the weekend and the MR2 may be toast.

Roebling Road SARRC/ECR -- August 16 & 17, 1997

Andy Felker had the wall-banger from Charlotte repaired and was ready for the Enduro at Roebling. He lead the Showroom Stock C for a good while but finished second in a field of four.

Bill and Will Perry ran the ITD Midget in the Enduro unopposed. Will got knocked off the fast end of the front straight by a Miata damaging a wheel bearing. By easing up a bit in right hand corners, we were able to complete the race.

Will ran the Midget in the SARRC sprint unopposed, but again tangling with a Miata (same Miata, same right front fender). He finished, taking another first.

Road Racing Tip of the Month: This sport we all love so is called Club Racing, not Club Rubbing and Bumping!

Daytona Double SARRC -- August 9 & 10, 1997

Handly Templeton had a fine (if late) start to his racing season. On Saturday, he qualified and finished first in Formula Ford in the HR7260. On Sunday he qualified first but spun early in the wet, falling to last in class. He was able to pick his way thru traffic to finish fourth. Six Formula Fords (48 formula cars!) started each race. Despite being designed and built in a backyard shop about 25 years ago, the HR7620 is still very competitive on the fast tracks.

Charlotte Enduro -- July 19, 1997

Andy Felker took the Miata to the July Fry Enduro. Unfortunately he got rear ended going into turn one by his good friend and fellow Miata racer, Rob Ebersol. Andy hit the wall hard, came off, then hit the wall again. Both ends of the car were smashed and the frame bent. The wall was unharmed except for the blue paint marks, which had already been painted over before the IRL race the next weekend. While Andy’s attempt to knock down the walls at Charlotte were a total failure, I told him not to feel too bad - many drivers had tried to knock them down with cars much bigger than the Miata and they failed also.

(Road Racing Tip - If you wreck, spin or lose control totally, apply the right foot to the center pedal - hard - and keep it there until the action is over. This will prevent over half of the secondary wrecks, especially the always spectacular T Bones. The locked tires make the car slide in a very predictable, straight line.)

Charlotte Double SARRC -- June 28 & 29, 1997

John Leigh took an uncontested first on Saturday in his HP Sprite at the Charlotte double SARRC. On Sunday the Sprite dropped a valve down a cylinder and DNFd.

Wally Robinson attempted the Double SARRC in the American Sedan Camaro, without success. I’ve been unable to talk to Wally, but results list him as DNF both Saturday and Sunday.

Four race cars to the track this period - three of which failed to complete the weekend! Things will get better.

A lap record of note was broken this spring. According to Roebling Road records the lap record for Formula Ford was held by Chattanooga Regions most famous racer, Harvey Templeton. The record was set on November 15, 1981 with a time of 1:12.550. Harvey was 71 years old when he set this record in the HR7260 Ford which he designed and built himself. Will Perry holds the lap record for ITD at Roebling, but it wont hold for 16 years I'd wager.

Road Atlanta--June 7 & 8, 1997

Darlene Felker crewed for Andy Felker who took the SSC Miata to a first place win in the two hour Enduro in a field of four. Darlene says luck on being in the pits when a full course yellow came out aided the win.

Gail Perry, Art Thompson and the regions newest member, David Brooks crewed for Bill & Will Perry in the ITD Midget in the 2 hour Enduro. The Midget was out-qualified by a Datsun 1200 from Florida, but the Midget took the lead for keeps on the first green lap. On lap 13 the Datsun ITD car hit the wall at turn 12, sending the driver to the hospital with head injuries, dampening the joy of the Midgets win.

Totally New Concept! - Racing IT cars at Night! The big car IT Enduro ran from 9:15 PM until 11:15 PM on the cloudy, very dark, Saturday night. Carl Blevins and Will qualified fifth in the ITA MR2 Toyota. The extra cornering lights on the roof worked well but did bring on calls to put a tail and whiskers on the MR2 as it reminded onlookers of Mickey Mouse. The Toyota soldiered on through the night until 2/3s of the way through the last lap. Will got tangled up with a spinning car (need I say - RX7!). A steering tie rod was broken, causing a bump into the dirt bank when he tried to drive off without benefit of steering. A rollback wrecker ride at near midnight isn't the way to finish a days racing. Two consecutive 2 hour races asks a lot of the crew, but Gail, Art & David performed faultlessly for the Pod.

The SARRC races were held on Sunday. Andy finished second in a field of four in the Miata. Will won over Roe Lyle of Knoxville. Roe drove a Datsun 1200 and worked corners between each trip onto the track. Way to go, Roe!

Doug Leigh crewed for John Leigh, who took another uncontested win with his HP Sprite.

Buffy Melton crewed for Wally Robinson in his American Sedan Camaro. He and Carl Blevins both started the bigger car race. Neither finished. Beginning lap two, the Camaro started smoking badly down the front straight. Entering turn one it grenaded the engine, dumping oil on the track and dumping Wally into the gravel trap, causing mayhem behind him. One car whammed the tire wall and about six others spun in the oil. Carl managed to squeeze the MR2 through the mess by inches. The resulting red flag stop lasted 35 minutes for cleanup - lots of oil! The crew normally gets the blame for any mechanical problem, but I suspect we can't hold Buffy accountable for this one. Then, eleven laps into the race, while battling two other ITA cars, the MR2 lost a CV joint and parked near where Will had stopped the night before. Bummer - two races - two wrecker trips for the MR2.

Handly Templeton hasn't raced yet this year due to reconstructing his car and other commitments. He plans to begin his season with the Double SARRC at Charlotte, run a couple of other SARRCs and the SARRC Invitational Championship race.

Road Racer of the Year Points - Provisional

                     Total Points           Best 6

Will Perry               215                 112
Carl Blevins             144                 112
Andy Felker               77                  77
Bill Perry                62                  62

The Rivergate Racing Pod is accepting applications for Crew positions for the ARRC/Sunoco 500K races in October. This weekend of racing will include two 3 or 4 hour Enduros, one at night, and sprint races. We expect to have 4 to 6 drivers there.

Rockingham--May 10 & 11, 1997

Wally Robinson took the Z28 Camaro AS car to compete in a double SARRC at Rockingham. On Saturday he took second place and on Sunday first place in a field of four.

Road Atlanta--May 24 & 25, 1997

Will Perry drove the ITD MG Midget to unopposed first in the Pro IT race. He finished 30 of the 50 ITS, A, B, C, D and T cars overall.

The SEDIV points race positions are:

ECR:     Andy Felker is second in SSC
         Will & Bill Perry and first in ITD
         Carl Blevins & Will Perry are fifth in ITA

SARRC:   John Leigh is first in HP
         Wally Robinson is first in AS
         Will Perry is tied for second in ITD

PRO IT:  Will Perry is first in ITD

Road Racer of the Year Points (Provisional):

                      TOTAL           Best Six

Will Perry             173              112
Carl Blevins           131              112
Bill Perry              46               46
Andy Felker             45               45

Daytona--May 3 & 4

Andy Felker took the Miata down for the Enduro on the big track. This trip the tow truck and trailer gave trouble, but the race car was trouble free. Andy noted, as we did last year, the impact as the AS cars blasted by at 165 MPH. We both wish they didn’t run American Sedans with the slowest class cars, like SSC and ITD. Andy thinks he finished fifth in a field of five, while learning the track and getting better all the way.

Memphis Motorsports Park--May 3 & 4

On Saturday Carl Blevins drove the Toyota MR2 to second in a field of 8 ITA cars.

In the Sunday sprint, he made it only to the first corner before a rubbing clipped off a valve core causing a flat and a DNF (need I say that the other driver was armed with an RX7).

Carl was able to drive solo in the 1-1/2 hour Enduro because it was run in a format like the NASCAR trucks - race 45 minutes/intermission/race 45 minutes. Carl managed to stay away from the RX7s this time and took first place in ITA in a field of five.

Roebling Road--April 19 & 20

The Chattanooga area was well represented again at this race with 4 drivers - unfortunately 3 of the 4 are Atlanta Region members.

Will Perry took two more wins in the Midget in a field of three each day. The Saturday win was easy - by half a lap. On Sunday he and another Midget were blocked in the corners by an ITB car almost the whole race. Will and the other Midget driver (Bill Johnson of Knoxville) had a great race for 14 laps, changing the lead at least once per lap. Will finally pulled away for the win. Even the SOMs indicated they enjoyed the great race. The Midget has now been in 21 races, with 19 firsts, one second & one DNF.

John Leigh took two wins in HP with his Sprite, with one other in class.

Wally Robinson took 4th in a field of 6 on Saturday despite an oil leak. On Sunday he again took fourth, driving most of the race without power steering, when it threw a belt.

Bob Forsten made his first races of the year in the G Prod. Datsun Roadster. On Saturday, he worked his way up to a second place finish in a field of four. On Sunday he again finished second, after having a race-long battle with an FP Spitfire.

Road Atlanta--April 5 & 6, 1997

We were well represented at this SARRC, Pro IT, ECR weekend. Rivergate Racing Pod had present Carl Blevins, Will & Bill Perry, Andy Felker, Eric Strelneick & Beth McClure.

Will & Bill took an uncontested first in ITD in the 1-1/2 hour Enduro Saturday in the ITD MG Midget. Beth and Eric finished fifth in ITC in the VW Sirocco, with Beth doing most of the driving.

Andy drove the SSC Miata solo to a 3rd of 4 in this race, despite the loss of oil from an engine seal.

In the early Sunday AM running of the big IT Enduro, Carl and Will took a third place in a field of 20, continuing their string of good endurance race finishes.

In the Pro IT race on Sunday, Eric drove the VW to second place in ITC.

In the SARRC sprints, Will finished first, a half lap ahead of the other MG Midget in ITD. Eric finished third in ITC and fourth overall in this race, beating all but one of the ITB cars. Andy’s Miata was unable to start the race due to the severity of the oil leak. This is the second consecutive weekend the Miata failed to make the Sunday race after doing well on Saturday. I’ve decided the Miata must be too religious to race on Sundays.

In the SR-Prod. race, John Leigh finished uncontested first in HP on a damp track.

In the big IT, AS, TI, etc. race, Wally Robinson drove the freshened Z28 American Sedan well to finish first in a field of five. Carl turned a 1:44.317 lap in the MR2 during the race. I think this is the fastest lap ever turned at Road Atlanta by an ITA Toyota. Unfortunately, it didn’t finish the race. Braking into turn one at about 120 MPH, it broke a rear suspension member and spun. Carl kept it on the pavement but had to pull off as it was uncontrollable. The suspension failure was probably caused by a hit on this wheel during the Enduro (by an RX7, of course). About 8300 racing miles on the car could have had some effect also.

Memphis Motorsports Park--March 22 & 23, 1997

Carl Blevins raced the IT Regionals Saturday & Sunday in the Toyota MR2. Both days he scrapped with a Memphis local Bruce Campbell for second, but finished third (of six starters) both days.

Rockingham--March 15, 1997

Thank goodness, racing season (and spring) are finally upon us.

The Rivergate Racing Pod got off to a fun start, going to a Double Endurance Championship Race at Rockingham with three cars - Carl Blevins’ ITA Toyota MR2, Andy Felkers’ SSC Miata, and Bill & Will Perry’s ITD MG Midget. Darlene Felker, Gail Perry, Art Thompson and Gina Howell crewed for the Pod.

Learning a new (and unusual) track Saturday, Andy finished fourth in SSC in the 1-1/2 hour race. He had an off-track excursion at the rough exit from the oval to the infield part of the track (as did many others). Strangely, at impound after the race the Miata developed a short circuit in the wiring harness. Finally, after dark, he gave up on fixing the problem and withdrew for Sunday.

Carl drove both enduros, co-driving with Will. On Saturday, he was hit three times by an RX7 before turning the driving over to Will. They finished eighth of nineteen. On Sunday, Will started the MR2, turning driving over to Carl after having an RX7 smash the door of the MR2. They finished fifth in a field of 16.

As we had established previously, the MR2 possesses some magnetic attraction for RX7’s on the racetrack. We don’t fully understand the science behind this effect but have empirically established its existence.

In the first practice Saturday in the Midget, I noted that our competition, a Honda Civic, was being driven awfully hard, reacting to the presence of a competitor on his bumper by dropping off the pavement and spinning. We therefore predicted beating him with the slower Midget. Sure enough, after repeatedly driving off the edge of the pavement during the race, he dropped out due to suspension mounts shearing off the body of the Honda, leaving us to win.

On Sunday I started the race. When the crew signaled me in on lap 41, I was having so much fun that I considered signaling them back, with the usual single digit signal that signifies rejection of a directive, that I wasn’t ready to come in. I thought better of it and came in for Will to take his driving stint. We won unopposed.

One of the things that makes a Rockingham trip so much fun is the great culture of service and friendliness by the North Carolina Region workers. For example, when we registered at 10 PM Friday, Kaye Baum was working Registration. At 11:30 PM she came by the paddock to be sure we had found the source of electricity we had mentioned needing for the Motorhome. At 8 AM Saturday, I reported to false grid to find Kay serving as chief of grid, with the firmness required but with the friendly, helpful manner we love to see. After dinner that night Gail noticed Kay sweeping up in the Ladies Restroom. When Gail asked if she had to do that job too, Kay replied she didn’t have to do any job, she worked at them all because she wanted to. We had noted this friendly, hard working attitude among the NCR workers on earlier trips to Rockingham. Darlene Felker noted the same attitude Saturday night when she had to request a refund of the Sunday registration fee when Andy had to withdraw due to car trouble.

Can Chattanooga Region attain such a friendly, hardworking culture among our workers? Can we do it before August 8?

Club Racer of the Year Points:

Will Perry       66 Points
Carl Blevins     35 Points
Bill Perry       31 Points
Andy Felker      26 Points

Upcoming Races:

Carl Blevins     - March 22 at Memphis, April 5 at Atlanta
Andy Felker      - April 5 at Atlanta
Will Perry       - April 5 at Atlanta, April 19 at Roebling Road
Bill Perry       - April 5 at Atlanta
Handly Templeton - April 19 at Roebling

February--Plans for '97

Carl Blevins, the Chattanooga Club Racer of the Year for 1996, will again campaign the very experienced ITA Toyota MR2. He plans to run SARRC and Enduro races in the Southeast Division plus some regionals in Memphis. He plans to share driving time with Will Perry again in Enduros. The American Road Race of Champions and Sunoco 500K will finish out the year.

Will Perry will attempt to repeat as SARRC champion in the ITD MG Midget, with a beautiful new green paint job by Rusty Reynolds. He will also share it with Bill in Enduros. Plans also include the ARRC and Sunoco 500K.

Handly Templeton almost has the HR620 Formula Ford rebuilt after a major wreck late last year. He plans to do all the double SARRC races at Rockingham, Road Atlanta, Charlotte, Daytona; beginning in April at Roebling Road.

Bill Perry will try to repeat as Endurance Championship Racing champion in the Midget, again sharing driving with Will. He will also co-drive in the Sunoco 500K.

Andy Felker is attempting to win the Endurance Championship Racing SSC crown in his Miata in his first full season of racing. He plans to do almost all of the 10 race series driving solo. He has already begun his season with the February Enduro at Moroso. Racing the full 1-1/2 hours in the rain, he finished second first in a field of 3 in class. About 70 cars raced overall. He reports that his only pit help, wife Darlene, did good work. (Final results showed that Andy won, which is where he thought he finished)

Art Thompson is putting the ITS Mazda RX7 back together to race until it is sold. He plans to do a few regionals at least. If the RX7 sells he may build an ITD Spitfire.

Chris Rehberg is working to get his F500 Red Devil back together after a major rebuild. When it is complete he will get started racing, although he may start with a Driver’s School, for a refresher.

Brian Flanagan is completing preparation of an American Sedan Mustang. He will attend a Driver’s School after it is ready. With his previous schools and experience he should then be approved to go regional racing.

Wally Robinson has a fresh (and faster) race motor and a new paint job for the Z28 Camaro. He will run the SARRC series and maybe mix in a National or two.

John Leigh plans to run the SARRC series in the HP Sprite. He will be a contender for the HP championship again.

Rick Gerwe sold the Spec Racer as the Renault engine was no longer legal for SCCA racing. He and Molly are race car shopping. They are considering an Improved Touring car so they can share the car in Enduros.

'96 Road Race Reports

Red Sand in My Shoes Timetable for the Beginning Racer
Road Racing Road Racing Points Points Championship   

Chattanooga Region Home Page

Rivergate Restoration

Updated December 12+1, 1997