May 2011 Thunderhill Download
Willows, CA (May 14-15, 2011) —
Post Event Email Letter to SE30 Group by Scott Neville

Hey Everyone!   
As with my last download I'm a little tardy getting this out but it's been a busy post-Thunderhill few weeks for me so I'm now just catching up on sutff.  Plus, I was kind of waiting to see when Geoff and Will finished their editing and upload of their GoPro video footage of Saturday's race...but I haven't heard where they are at with that...I had a good spin in Turn 10 and would like to see what that looks like from the GoPro mounted on my roof!

Friday Night Casa Ramos:  This has to be my favorite restaurant...hands down...especially when it's filled with NASA folks willing and able to buy me a frozen Margarita no-salt (take note rookies J). After finishing Trackmasters on Friday I made a reservation for 20 at Casa Ramos...so far the staff at Casa hasn't put together the relationship between the name "Scott" and 20 plus boisterous boozy racers all wanting separate checks...at least I didn't detect anything in the hostess's voice when I made the reservation.  I may in the future need to use a pseudo name...I know one thing...I don't think I can use the names "Donny" or "Jerry" or "Will" or "Jeff".  I'm thinking the next time I'll use the name "Bennett", it will confuse them.

At our table, I sat next to Mike Courtney and Jim VanSickle.  Mike shares a car with Tommy O and like Tommy is a very experienced NASA racer going back to Pro7 days.  Jim is not a SE30 racer but works on a lot of our cars under Tim Barber's TFB Performance Flag. It was fun getting to know them during the evening and I love to be surprised by people's backgrounds.  Jim, it turns out, works for Tim part time and in his full time profession is Vice President of a Real Estate Development company that restores older apartment complexes and brings them back into profitability.  Mike on the other hand, owns a construction company that specializes in masonry and the restoration of historic and vintage brick and stone buildings. Being a geologist it was fun to learn about Mike's work, plus I found out that Mike is quite the history buff on San Francisco.
 
Other NorCal SE30 folks at our table included (I took notes this time to remember)  Greg Peterson, Donny "Hollywood" Edwards, Bennett McMicking, Steve Ferrario, Eric Deck, Tony and Sara Zwain, Dave Reed, Bill Shawhan, Mike Sekhon, Chris Hovey, Brad McClure.  As usual NASA officials Jeff Lepper, Geoff Mohler and Will Faules were there.  Jim Bucha (as were a lot of folks that Friday) was suffering hugely from wind-borne allergies and decided booze and Mexican food were not going to help so he headed back to his motel. As I said before and I'll say it again, forgive me if I've left anyone out tequila and middle age do have an impact on ones memory!  

Funny story...Jeff Lepper was sitting next to me and when the wait staff were handing out the tabs he leaned over and said "Watch Ferrario's face when he gets the bill", I asked why and he said he had told the waiter earlier on that Steve was his Dad and would cover his dinner!  The thing that was the most funny to Jeff is that the waiter didn't blink an eye with his claim that Steve was his Dad!  I had my iPhone in the video mode all ready to catch Steve's discovery...but unfortunately missed the magic moment as someone handed me a fresh margarita!!  Steve figured something was amiss when he caught Jeff and me looking his way and snickering when he was studying his bill. Jeff finally admitted to Steve the story...I think Steve's feelings might have been hurt that the waiter had bought the ruse without reservation.  Nice one Jeff!  BTW...My tab, this is the second time I haven't had to pay for dinner/margaritas - either CASA likes me a lot to not charge me or there is a mystery SE30 racer picking up my bill - thanks to whoever you are!

Weather and Racing Format: The weekend weather was cool in the 70's and partly cloudy...and rain in the forecast (so much for global warming I guess!)  I made sure to bring my rain tires so that we would have a dry race...which we ended up having but not without a few drops at the start of Sunday's race.  Both races were the usual 30 minute sprint with standard qualifying and grids.  No big surprises from the NASA folks this race.
 
Saturday Qualifying:  We had 27 SE30s out for Saturday's qualifying.  Mike Courtney qualified on Saturday's pole with a very quick 2:06.020. Greg Peterson secured Q2 with a 2:06.764 and Tony D'Alessandro Q3 clocked a 2:07.263.

Saturday Race: We didn't have a great start as three cars got into it exiting Turn 1 on the first lap...basically it was like trying to stuff three pounds of car into a one pound bag.  Donny, Paul Blickman and John Trefethen all banged up their cars and DNF.  Paul and John's car couldn't be repaired and were put on the trailer.  Donny's car was able to make it for Sunday's race.  I was running mid-pack trying to fend off a hard charging Andy Chittum and couldn't see much action up front but Mike Courtney and Brad McClure were in a hard fought battle for the lead.  Greg Peterson was right behind and they finished in that order.  There were some new racers in the top ten, notably Dan Gorman (P7) and Bryan "Lightening" McQueen in P9.  Good job guys.  The rest of the top ten finishers were: Loren Trefethen (P4) Steve Ferrario (P5), Bennett McMicking (P6), Derek Welch (P8) and Jeff Lepper (P10).

Group Photo Saturday:  NASA was very cool about letting all the SE30s go out and take a group photo when the track went cold Saturday.  This went really well...you guys did great!  I was afraid it would turn into a "kitten herding" exercise but it went really smooth.  The sun came out and we had great lighting.  Everyone was well behaved with their cars but (or should I say "butt") with the exception of Lepper and Donny who decided a couple of full moons were in order for Dito Milan our photographer from GotBlueMilk).  The thing is I can't use these photos for any form of extortion as both Jeff and Donny just plain don't give a shit! (Which is why they are so fun to have around in the first place!) 

You can find the group photos here: http://www.norcalspece30.com/news/news_May_2011_THill_Raceway_Group_Photo.html

A big thank you to Dito Milan at www.GotBlueMilk.com for taking the photos!

Disclaimer - please read: "Moon Shot" Requests (a.k.a. "Twin Moons Rising over Willows") must be made in writing. Requests can be mailed or E-mailed. NorCal SE30 Central Records is the "Moon Shot" repository and all requests must be made through NorCal SE30 Division Headquarters. Requests made at any other location may not be answered. Within five business days this agency will respond to your request for records with a written acknowledgement of the receipt of such request and a statement of the approximate date, which shall be reasonable under the circumstances of the request, when such request will be granted or denied. Requests to inspect or copy "Moon Shots" shall be made in writing and directed to the NorCal SE30 Records Access Officer at Division Headquarters, no oral requests to inspect or copy records are permitted. All requests should identify or describe the records sought with sufficient specificity to enable the NorCal SE30 to ascertain and locate the records being requested.

Sunday Qualifying: It rained overnight but by morning the track was dry and ready for shaved RA-1s.  Mike Courtney pulled another rabbit out of his glove box and qualified on Saturday's pole with a very quick 2:05.695. Greg Peterson secured another Q2 spot with a 2:06.596 and Loren Trefethen Q3 clocked a 2:07.261.

Sunday Race: Rain drops teased us at the end of our warm-up lap...but luckily no rain developed for the race.  An incident free start saw the beginning of a 9 or 10-car freight train of nose-to-tail E30s which slowly gapped the rest of the field.  What a show!  It was starting to look like an Aussie Super V8 Touring Car race (which is the most awesome road racing series on the planet IMO...NorCal SE30 is a strong second place).   His Highness Himself, Jerry Kunzman said it was the best race of the weekend to watch!  Way to go guys! Mike Courtney was the lead engine followed by Greg Peterson, Brad  McClure, Steve Ferrario, Loren Trefethen, Andy Chittum, Jim Bucha and me riding the caboose.    In the end Mike took P1 followed by Steve Ferrario in P2 by a whisker then Brad McClure in P3.  The other top ten finishers included Jim Bucha (P4), Loren Trefethen (P5), Greg Peterson (P6), Scott Neville (P7), Robert Lamb (P8), Donny Edwards (P9) and Derek Welch (P10).

Race Contingencies and Gifts:
North Bay Bavarian Pole $100 Position:  Mike Courtney won a cool Ben Franklin for setting the fastest pole of the weekend with a very fast 2:05.695.  So much for shaking the rust off Mike from your racing hiatus!

Point Six Fast Race Lap $100 Award:  Brad McClure won another Ben Franklin for setting the fastest race lap in Saturday's race (and a new track record) with 2:05.890.

Evil Genius Racing $100 Hard Charger Award:  Will Faules selected Donny Edwards for the EGHCA for driving a banged up-mis-aligned SE30 from the back of Sunday's 22 car field to finish 9th.  Andy Chittum was the other driver under consideration for his performance on Saturday, but his DQ on Sunday tilted Will's choice to Donny.  Congrats Donny!

AIM Tire $100 Gift Certificate:  The driver who finished 20th on Saturday won the $100 gift certificate to AIM Tire...that driver was Ted Hill!

Anarchy Eyewear Sunglasses: The winners of the coolest shades in the paddock go to 11th place for Saturday and 22nd place for Sunday.  Andy Chittum was 11th on Saturday and Ron Harness closest to 22th on Sunday (we had one car DQ which shortened the field to 21 cars).  See Greg Peterson for you new shades! Wear 'em proudly boys!

Trefethen Wineries Fine Wine: Fine wine donated by Trefethen Wineries went to 9th place and 18th finishers on Saturday and to 18th place on Sunday (Loren only had three bottles of fine wine).  Those racers are Bryan McQueen and Ron Harness for Saturday and Rick Row for Sunday.  Enjoy your fine wine from Trefethen Wineries!  Thanks again Loren!

Pro Racing Simulator Race Winners:  Mike Courtney gathers up two hours of SIM time (like he really needs it) for his two first place wins.

Pro Racing Simulator Race Hard Chargers: Saturday's Hard Charger (most positions gained during the race) goes to (according to my ciphering) Andy Chittum (Q27 P11) for Saturday and for Sunday Donny Edwards (Q22 P9).

TFB Performance $75 Coupons: Went to 14th position for Saturday and 15th position for Sunday.  That would be Dave Reed and Bill Shawhan.

GPR Parts Coupons BMW Parts: Went to those racers finishing 4th on Saturday and 25st on Sunday.  Loren Trefethen finished 4th on Saturday but we didn't field 25 cars on Sunday.  Manager's choice here...I'm going to award Dan Gorman a GPR coupon for his strong P7 finish on Saturday.  See Steve Ferrario about picking up your coupons.

Driven Karting $50 Coupons: Those went to P8 on Saturday and P12 on Sunday.  That would be Derek Welch and Bennett McMicking!  I've got your coupons in my tow vehicle.

Free Infineon Test Day:  Jim Bucha secured this awesome prize worth close to $400 (he has no fear about asking for stuff!) and wanted to do a random draw of car numbers (all 27 entrants for the weekend) for the prize.  Car #23 was picked and that belongs to Bryan McQueen!  Congrats Bryan...I'm sure is softens to blow of a broken rocker arm your car suffered on Sunday!

If we add up all the contingencies for the weekend (including Toyo Bucks) we're looking at about $2,575 in weekend prizes.  A big thanks to all our sponsors and supporters.
Another (hopefully fun-to-read) long-winded e-mail so I should sign off.  I'll have the usual pre-race info coming out shortly for Infineon.

Cheers,
Scott



Saturday's Podium: L to R Brad McClure, Mike Courtney and Greg Peterson
NASA Photo

Sunday's Podium: L to R Steve Ferrario, Mike Courtney and Brad McClure
NASA Photo