Competition Report- August 2015

News & Events

From: Robert E. Hall

Competition Director- Flint Corvette Club

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Our sanctions have been secured (MI-037-001 thru 007) and a flyer created for our joint speed event weekend on October 3rd and 4th. A copy will be posted to be web after a final review by the club. Many thanks to Brian Smith, president of the Irish Hills Corvette Club for all of his assistance and support from his club. We wouldn’t be having this weekend without it.

Fourteen low speed events were held at Spartan Speedway in Mason, MI on Saturday July 18th and Sunday July 19th.

Capital City Corvette Club hosted Saturday’s events which had 24 entrants. They also had to deal with multiple delays, rain, more rain, flooding (which resulted in a course change after two events), and the timing lights being hit (thankfully they were not damaged). The pre-rain men’s FTD was Richard Shatkowsky with a 33.817 (I had a 33.818, ouch) and ladies’ FTD was Mary Wentzel with a 35.080. The post rain men’s FTD was Bob Hall with a 34.190 and ladies’ FTD was Mary Wentzel with a 34.413.

Jackson Corvette Club hosted Sunday’s events under much better conditions however, only 17 entrants returned. The flooding from Saturday was pumped out and the course revised. Men’s FTD was Bob Hall with a 33.744 and ladies’ FTD was Mary Wentzel with a 34.171.

Irish Hills Corvette Club hosted a car show and three rallies on August 1st in Clinton, MI. The show had 35 entrants and included a 2013 model converted to a 63/67 model that was stunning. It had to be seen to be appreciated (funny, I never did hear any mention of the cost to convert the car). The rally had 31 entrants and was perfect for the less experienced or first time entrant. A game at the rally start, a leisurely thirty mile drive with two check points and a game at each, ending at a very nice restaurant. This is how I envision our rally to be in October. User and member friendly.

Shiawassee Corvette Club hosted seven low speed events on August 2nd at Owosso Speedway in Owosso, MI. Included in the 25 entrants were the top three men in national points, Mike Rink, 1st, Indiana Region, Joe Eller, 2nd, West Region, and Mike Godfrey, 3rd, Indiana Region. I was personally looking forward to racing these three. I was fortunate to be the men’s FTD in the first two events before a loud grinding noise in the clutch area ended my day. I was very disappointed. Mary said I was “pouty” for a few days and I was heard to have said “I’m selling the cars and taking up golf”. An autopsy later found a stray bolt of unknown origin stuck and rubbing the flywheel. This seemed to be the only problem. Life is good again. Many thanks to Gary Drago for his assistance in helping me get back on the road quickly. Joe Eller was men’s FTD at 36.713 and Beth Waters was ladies FTD at 39.054.

Irish Hills Corvette Club held seven low speed events on Sunday August 9th at the Tire Rack in South Bend, IN. The event had 49 entrants. With a course averaging thirty to forty seconds and the rain holding off, we were done and on the road by 3 PM. Results will be forth coming.

Upcoming events:

August 15th Back to the Bricks Car Show and Corvette Reunion in Flint, MI.

August 22nd thru 27th NCCC National Convention at Split Rock Resort in Lake Harmony, PA.

August 29th Lakeshore Corvette Club will be hosting three rallies in Holland, MI.

September 5th thru 7th Michigan Autocross Group will be hosting a 21 speed event weekend at the Tire Rack in South Bend, IN.

I will have copies of the flyers to view at our monthly meeting. You can also view/print them on the Michigan region website www.michcorvette.org. Just click on “flyers” located on the left hand side.

For any member that may be interested in attending any of the events listed but would like some assistance please contact me.

Respectfully submitted

Robert Hall