2018 – 2019 Season Opener

Thompson Connecticut, September 8, 2015 – Once again MARC kicks off the

season at Thompson Raceway Park.  Durf decided to switch things up a bit and instead of Can-Am bodies on the G-Jets he went with F1 bodies.  Durf, Stez, and Peter have cooked up a championship within a championship.  The F1 G-Jet Championship will crown a champion at the February race at LenJet based on the results of the three G-Jet races this season.  Also, at each race these will be a best appearing trophy awarded based on voting by those present.  Don Hall took the best appearing trophy for this race.

Thompson Raceway Park is a unique Tomy track cooked up by Durf.  Each year it seems

you learn something new about a part of the track that lets you get a bit faster.  The track was in great shape and record lap totals would be set in both G-Jet and Super Stock.  15 drivers showed up for the opening race.

First up was F1 G-Jet.  Practice saw lap times dipping under 7 seconds and the drivers didn’t look too rusty from the summer break.  As usual, Sportsman and Pro ran together in a single round robin.  Once again Erik Eckhardt, Stez and Rob Hayes blasted out to a big lead over the rest of the field.  Hal Pierce and Paul

Crosby quietly drove through the field setting down laps that some of the Pros wished they could match.  Tight racing through out the field made for some close racing.  Rob Hayes took the top spot followed closely by Erik in second and Stez in third.  Peter rounded out the Pro podium in fourth.  Hal Pierce took the top spot in Sportsman finishing a lap ahead of Paul Crosby.  Terry Ayer was third and Mike Tiffany came home fourth.

Sportsman Results

Drivers	Total
Hal Pierce	150.23
Paul Crosby	149.24
Terry Ayer	146.20
Mike Tiffany	136.19
Don Hall	130.30
Durf Hyson	127.02

Pro Results

Drivers	Total
Rob Hayes	164.02
Erik Eckhardt	162.27
John Stezelecki	162.12
Peter Lentros	147.21
Dave Muse	144.12
Paul Ryer	143.23
Tom Jahl	128.15
Jim Macartney	128.08

F1 G-Jet Championship points standings

Drivers	Points
Rob Hayes	30
Erik Eckhardt	29
John Stezelecki	28
Hal Pierce	27
Paul Crosby	26
Peter Lentros	25
Terry Ayer	24
Dave Muse	23
Paul Ryer	22
Mike Tiffany	21
Don Hall	20
Tom Jahl	19
Jim Macartney	18
Durf Hyson	17

I’m not sure who Durf thought he was feeding, but there was a feast of lasagna, meatballs,

shells and sauce and corn that could feed an army.  As always this was topped off with plenty of home backed cookies.  I think if you drop by now, there’s still some food left over.  With the G-Jet program wrapped up, it was time to start getting ready for Super Stock.  Stez headed out and Tom Gray joined the mix.  After some two hours of practice most people were ready to race and the rest resigned themselves that they would have to make do with what they had.  As with the G-Jets, lap times were fast and more guys seem to be getting a handle on the setup and driving for Thompson Raceway

Park.  Low 4 second lap times were what you needed to get to the top of the podium.  Erik Eckhardt was unstoppable and drove a clean race to take top honors finishing 10 laps ahead of Rob Hayes who was battling with newly re-elected club director Paul Ryer.  Rob finished 4 laps ahead of Paul with Tom Jahl taking the fourth spot in the Pro division in his first race as a Pro.  In the Sportsman group Paul Crosby drove away from the pack covering second place Hal Pierce by 14 laps.  Terry Ayes was just sections behind Hal to finish third and Mike Tiffany took the last podium sport finishing fourth.

Sportsman Results

Drivers	Total
Paul Crosby	231.07
Hal Pierce	217.23
Terry Ayer	217.04
Mike Tiffany	205.15
Dave Muse	197.30
Don Hall	185.02
Durf Hyson	170.11

 Pro Results

Drivers	Total
Erik Eckhardt	259.11
Rob Hayes	249.11
Paul Ryer	245.29
Tom Jahl	234.30
Peter Lentros	226.29
Jim Macartney	220.12
Tom Gray	218.03

Ribbons were awarded, hands were shook and everyone packed up and headed out.  Thank

you to everyone who showed up for another great day of racing and to kick off the 2018 – 2019 MARC season.  See you at the next MARC race October 13 at Catfish International Speedway in the Republic of Cambridge.  This will be our first race for the Open Weighted class with Can-Am bodies so check the rules and get your cars ready.  For Can-Am, there should be a driver in the open cockpit!  Super Stock will also make a return to Catfish after a hiatus of a few

years.

The race report as recorded this day

September 18, 2018

Douglas C. Neidermeyer

Sergeant at Arms

 

A postscript from the Host !

Yes I admit there was a little confusion between the concept that a “standard baking pan” meant 8 ½” x 11” x 2 ½” and the reality that “standard baking pan’ in a commercial setting means 14” x 22” x 5” . And yes we may be having leftovers next year …

The other thing I wanted to do was thank everyone who participated in or contributed to “Durf’s Campy Race” . We completed the raffle for the car Rob built and donated at the MARC race . This and the last of the outside donors checks put us over my ambitious goal . I was hoping we could raise $1100 so we could again sponsor a complete family for one of the Camp’s family weeks . This is an opportunity for a sick child to bring his or her parents and siblings to spend a week at camp with them . This is a unique opportunity for a family to “vacation” with the whole family without having to worry about the medical needs and logistics that would normally limit such an endeavor . The Camp’s ability to provide all the necessary medical care on-site makes this possible .

I am more than happy and grateful to report the final total was $1318 and YOU all will be sponsoring a family . I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart . It’s a wonderful thing you have done .

My Thanks to All

Durf