<VV> [fastvair] Convention Autocross results - impressions

[levair at aol.com]

Thanks from all of us who couldn't attend, for all of the reports and 
pictures.

Warren



Sorry for the delay in feeding the autocross results. My primary 
mission at Sturbridge has been keeping my wife happy, secondary, 
manning the Silicone Wire Systems booth, and tertiary, chasing down the 
final autocross results. Dave Clemons did, indeed, take the FTD. There 
were three other cars in his class, Norm Latullippe was a second+ back, 
driving Bob Peplow's car, Bob was third, John Egerton fourth. Dave 
really wowed the field, a very impressive win. The fastest V8 car, in 
Street Mod-2, was Dave Button, in a nice street Crown car. Kevin 
Wilsons Corvair powered Street Mod-3 car bracketed the V8 car, with 
Michael Leveque a tenth of a second ahead, and Kevin slightly behind. 
Michael's third run of the day included the most impressive "slide" of 
the day, in the turn three/four oval. It never did come completely 
around, but it didn't back into the outside wall either! All four tires 
were smoking, though!  The video is already on YouTube! That is Michael 
at the wheel, not Kevin. Kevin was shooting the video, heart rate 
climbing! In the Stock classes, Mark Aksamit, from Arizona, was the 
class of the field. He has past racing experience and knows which car 
to borrow <grin>! He was two seconds ahead of any other stock 
class car, running in SS-3 and in a 110 PG car! None of the 140 
4-speeds came close! Larry Tustison took SS-1, Roger Ringerstetter had 
to beat two Seversons to take SS-2.  Philip Levering took SS-4 in his 
convertible, Phil Raker won SS-5 in his Greenbrier.
Improved Stock was all over the map. IS-3, usually the largest class at 
the convention, didn't disappoint with eleven entries. Mark Edmonds won 
the class with a 39 second run with his 140, but Brett Aston with his 
110 turned a 38 second run in IS-2! Just behind him was his brother(?) 
Bryce in the same car. Notably in the IS3 class, Ryan MacLeod beat his 
father Stewart, a changing of the guard! Allison Stewart took the 
ladies class  IS-3L. Larry Claypool thrashed the family Truckster 
(Greenbrier) to an IS-4 title.  Barb Mee has the IS-4L title.  The 
fastest Improved Stock car belongs to Terry Stafford and it is an early 
model! Terry's 64 Turbo is a longtime Lime Rock competitor, and is 
tightly tied down. He lent it to me to drive, however, and I took a 
couple of seconds off his time in IS-5. Terry's early model was easy to 
drive, a good thing since I hadn't competed in an early model since 
1982! His turbo motor was really dialed in and was fun and rewarding to 
drive! For reference, however, Removable steering wheels should always 
be checked for full installation tightness before getting out on 
course. Please just take my word for it!! And don't ask! As I sit, 
writing this, it is pouring rain outside. It started at the end of the 
car display on Saturday evening. Except for the humidity and a 
"warmish" outside temps, weather was not a factor at the convention. 
And the weather gods actually smiled deeply on the Autocross 
competitors. The Autocross day was absolutely perfect. Sunny, warm and 
RAINFREE! The Stafford Speedway was a challenge for both power and 
handling, and you could vision yourself driving the oval track in a 
fast car with the safety needed for the Corvair Convention competitor, 
some of which are novices at this racing thing.  Next year, at Western 
Michigan/Kalamazoo, look for even more racing as the Convention moves 
to a hot-bed of racing. If you didn't make it to Sturbridge, you should 
have!
 
Seth Emerson  


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