by: Jim Creighton
BLOOMINGDALE, Ga. (March 3, 2008) - The 139 Club National racers who competed at Roebling Road this weekend were treated to true Savannah southern hospitality by Mother Nature and the Buccaneer Region. Mother Nature provided beautiful blue skies, a mild breeze and 70 degree weather while the Buccaneer Region treated everyone to a Saturday night menu of Southern barbeque chicken, potato salad, green beans and cold refreshments.
Race One Sunday morning saw Georges Forgios take first overall in the 32-car field and first in Formula Atlantic driving a Ralt RT-41, while second-place driver Richard Ross set a new FA track record of 1:02.460 at the wheel of a Swift DB4 on the 2.02-mile track. Keith Roberts’ Van Diemen RF-99 placed first in Formula Continental while Formula Enterprises winner Mark Eaton set a FE new track record of 1:07.662. Bruce Lawrence was first in Formula Mazda.
Race Two was won by Formula Ford driver Gale Stokkers, who came all the way from Centerport, N.Y. Driving a Dolphin F500, Wayne Alfarone who was second overall and first in Formula 500 recorded his first National win in his National race debut. In Formula Vee, Donnie Isley scored the closest margin of victory of the day, his Agitator 016 beating Stevan Davis’ Racer’s Wage to the finish line by 0.019-second.
Race Three was a clear victory by E Production Nissan 240Z driver Don Ahrens, but second place finisher Alan Pierce was all smiles for his effort behind the wheel of a Mazda RX-7 in his very first National race. David Bryson continued his winning ways in his F Production Mazda Miata, setting a new track record of 1:18.043, while Tyler Raatz’ Datsun 1200 was first in GT-Lite. Another track record was set by Dan Robson’s Mazda MX-3 in GTL at 1:18.801. Jay Griffin was first in H Production in his Honda CRX, while Les Chaney scored his first ever National win in G Production driving a Volvo 142 E.
After a break for lunch, racing continued with Race Four for Spec Racer Ford. Brian Schofield continued his domination of SRF in 2008 with his fourth-straight win. Lee Hill was second and Andrew Charbonneau was third.
Race Five saw several more firsts. Charlie Guest, driving a Pontiac Solstice in Showroom Stock B recorded his first-ever overall win. The team cars of Freedom Auto Sport from Tallahassee, Fla., recorded their first ever one, two, three finish in Spec Miata. Derek Whitis was first, followed by Tom Long and Jonathan Czarny, who finished third in his first National race. Ian Stewart was first in Showroom Stock C.
Race Six saw two more new track records as Dorial Foyil’s Stohr WF1 scored a win in D Sports Racing, while Jean-Luc Liverato recorded a new track record of 1:02.007, also in a Stohr WF1. In C Sports Racing, Bill Goldkind was first in a Toyota Viking and Canada’s Jacek Mucha set a new record of 1:03:732 in a Swift 014.
The final race of the day was won by GT-1 driver Phil Simms in a Jaguar XKR. Fletcher Williams returned to GT-3 with a first-place finish in his Nissan 240SX, while Minnesota driver Tim Gray won GT-2 in a Porsche GT3 Cup. Bob Eubanks’ Ford Mustang was the American Sedan winner and Kimberly Braswell won B Prepared in her Corvette. After winning Showroom Stock B earlier in the day, Charlie Guest made it two-for-two with the Pontiac Solstice by winning Touring 2.
Full results from the Tom Nehl National are available on MyLaps.com. SEDiv takes two weeks off and then moves to Road Atlanta for the sixth National of the season. For more information see www.sedivracing.org