MARC 2018 – 2019 – Thompson Raceway Park – September 8. 2018

2018 – 2019 Season Opener

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

Getting ready to race

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

Rob has something interesting

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

Hal Pierce 1st, Paul Crosby 2nd, Terry Ayer 3rd, Mike Tiffany 4th

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

Rob Hayes 1st, Erik Eckhardt 2nd, Stez 3rd, Peter Lentros 4th

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,

Paul Crosby 1st, Hal Pierce 2nd, Terry Ayer 3rd, Mike Tiffany 4th

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

Paul, Hal, Terry, Mike

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

Erik 1st, Rob 2nd, Paul 3rd, Tom 4th

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

Rob beat up Erik and stole his ribbon

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

About Paul

MARC Director
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