NorCal SpecE30 Season Opener at Infineon Raceway
written by Scott Neville
March 2009

In February eighteen SpecE30s arrived for the 2010 NorCal Season Opener at a rain-soaked Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California.  Saturday's rainy weather claimed its first victim in morning practice as Jon Emerson's E30 became casualty of the tire wall at Infineon's famous Ss.  Saturday's qualifying was on a wet and dry track utilizing the "Long Turn 7" track configuration with Scott Clough capturing his first pole position.  By race time it was dry and Scott Clough led flag to flag for his first ever class win.  2009 NorCal Regional SE30 Champ Donny Edwards, who qualified 3rd, had engine misfire problems which caused him to fall back to 10th.  Tony Zwain in the Team SpeedTrapp Racing car placed 2nd while Gary Rieger in the Team Berkeley Motorwerks car, who had qualified 2nd in an underweight car and was DQ'd, came from 17th place to finish in 3rd only 4 seconds behind the leader.

Sunday's weather was dry but cloudy and cool.  Instead of a traditional qualifying session, SE30 racers would have a qualifying race with an inverted grid based on Saturday's race finish.  The standing start was an exciting one with a tight crowd of E30s all trying to get through Turn 2 without contact.  Donny Edwards in the Team Brimstone Dynasty E30, who started in 7th place, won the qualifying race followed by Gary Rieger in the Team Berkeley Motorwerks car (he started in 14th) and the Team BTM Motorwerks driven by Brad McClure took 3rd after starting in 11th.  The afternoon race was equally exciting. A close battle was had by the top three cars, Donny Edwards took an early lead chased hard by Gary Reiger, Tony Zwain and Scott Clough.  Gary Rieger managed to pass Donny and finished in first by a gap of nearly 6 seconds.  Donny Edwards took 2nd followed by Tony Zwain. Gary's exceptional driving over the weekend earned him the $100 Cash Evil Genius Racing Hard Charger Award.  This was the first outing for the #29 car of Team Berkeley Motorwerks since it had been heavily damaged at Thunderhill last year.

Our winners for the weekend goodies were:

The $75 Fast Signs Gift certificates went to Bennett McMicking and Ron Harness. Mr. Lucky Ron Harness also won the Exedy Clutch gift certificate. Thanks to Ed Koop (Spec Miata Racer) owner of Fast Signs Natomas for donating the gift certificates! The two free GTS Supersize upgrades form NASA NorCal went to Team Berkeley Motorwerks and Team North Bay Bavarian. The bottle of fine Port Wine donated by Nichols Wealth Management went to Saturday's fastest race lap holder Gary Rieger. On Sunday we drew car numbers for the second bottle of wine and Donny Edwards won the wine. The random draw for the $100 AIM Tire gift certificate went to Jim Bucha and Dean Walker (B&W Racing). The AIM Tire gift certificate was drawn from Saturday's field 6 place and lower. Beginners luck for B&W Racing!!

Ron Harness and Glen Porter hosted Saturday's SE30 after race party...great food and drink were enjoyed by all while watching Saturday's in-car race videos.

MyLaps event results are up. Here's the link:
http://www.mylaps.com/results/showevent.jsp?id=507661

In-car videos of the event can be found here.

Pole Sitter and winner Scott Clough (#224) has the inside line the in Turn 2 in Saturday's Race
HeadOnPhotos

Turn 11 Mid Pack Action
Kregg Miller Photo

Scott Clough led Saturday's Race Flag to Flag for his first career SE30 win
HeadOnPhotos

Tony Zwain SpeedTrapp Racing leads BTM Motorwerks in Turn 2
HeadOnPhotos

Team Brimstone Dynasty #1 SE30 with the fabulous Donny Edwards at the helm
HeadOnPhotos

Sunday's SE30 Winners (L to R) , Tony Zwain, Gary Rieger and Donny Edwards
NASA Norcal Photo

Gary Rieger piloted the Berkeley Motorwerks #29 to Victory on Sunday. Gary also won the Evil Genius Racing Hard Charger Award
HeadOnPhotos

Evil Genius Hard Charger Winner Gary Rieger with NorCal Regional Director Scott Neville (with Mr. Ben Franklin!)
Scott Neville Photo

Ron Harness won the Exedy Clutch Gift Certificate
Scott Neville Photo

Ron Harness won the Excedy Clutch Gift Certificate
Scott Neville Photo


Ron Harness also won the Fast Signs $75 Gift Certificate
Scott Neville Photo

Kevin Nichols (L) Nichols Wealth Management awards Gary Rieger with a bottle of fine wine for turning the fastest lap in Saturday's Race
Scott Neville Photo

Kevin Nichols (L) Nichols Wealth Management awards Donny Edwards with a bottle fine port wine, Donny was the lucky draw winner
Scott Neville Photo