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Post by georgebowland on Aug 3, 2008 20:47:14 GMT -5
John Finger wins a CCR hillclimb.
Thats a headline I never thought I would see again. Congrats John and welcome back. If you aren't doing anything on the 16th, why not join Stan Vann and me at the Duryea Hillclimb in Reading, PA. A great hill with a unique history. George
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Post by tedebayer on Aug 4, 2008 7:43:24 GMT -5
Wow...what a weekend. Growing up, I went to a lot of Chimney Rock Hillclimbs...and if you ask me what I liked best. I would say the atmosphere, the excitement and the competition... and when it comes to competition, NOTHING generated more excitement and atmosphere than John Finger on his last run down 2/10ths of a second. The waiting for an entire run group for him to get his last shot... wondering if he could pull it off. I realy missed that... but this weekend, history repeated itself. George, I wish you (and John) could see a video of the pits when they announced John's last run. John's crew chief, Mike Greene screamed and jumped up in the air and almost cleared 6 feet for the first time in his life. For those that missed this event, Stan Vann in a 1970 Caldwell, Gary Ramsey in a monster Cobra and John Finger in a Riley Super Vee traded the King of the Hill position all weekend. It finally came down to Gary and John and with each run , one would break the other. With John in the lead, Gary broke to first place with a 1:29.899 on his last run and on John's last run he pulled a 1:28.268 to take KING OF THE HILL for the weekend. Absolutely incredible performance under pressure considering the 1970 Riley was a borrowed car from Greenville Technical College and that John had not run a hillclimb in over 14 years. EQUALLY impressive performances from Gary Ramsey of Mauldin, SC in only his second hillclimb and Stan Vann - George, Stan MUST be over the hill because he is picking up speed...he just keeps wringing more and more out of that car.. In spite of the rain and Mort Stern and Jon Cort's brushes with the walls, it was a wonderful weekend. No one hurt, beautiful location at Eagle's Nest and great commradery between drivers, course workers and spectators. Timing and Scoring ran perfectly, pits were well laid out and the event was conducted smoothly. A Big Thank You to the following : Tony Wentworth - Event Chair Steve Eckerich - He does more work below the radar than we realize and STILL finds time to fix tight rear ends. Nick Hallman - Great job with T&S group. MArk Mashburn - Good to have you back...next time behind a wheel please! John T. - You built a wonderful place at Eagle's Nest and we will ALWAYS look forward to visiting and putting on more shows like this weekend. Bill - Absolutely "hands down" the best motorsports announcer in the south. Thanks so much for making the event interesting and keeping us informed of the details. That breathes life into an event. Cornerworkers - Good job keeping us safe and keep the course clean. I think we'll keep on "flying the wings" on the parade down the hill. Thanks for coming and being a part of this event. It CANNOT happen with out you. Sponsors - thanks To Brian and Continental for the support for the event and the series. Rich and Cool Shirt once again a faithful supporter for our events. Prestige Subaru - BIG thanks for stepping up to help CCR! Jerry Hagen THANKS for your effort in finding sponsors to make this happen! Also Thanks to Dick and our Board of Directors for CCR who worked diligently together to find funding and support the effort. Awesome weeekend... I hope Scott from Grassroots can capture this whole event in an article... it might take the WHOLE MAGAZINE ISSUE!
Thanks Ted
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Revs29k
New Member
Formula Car Driver @ www.Area81Racing.com
Posts: 35
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Post by Revs29k on Aug 4, 2008 7:53:04 GMT -5
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Post by nutdriverrighty on Aug 4, 2008 8:32:57 GMT -5
I want to give a big thanks to every one who was there for being a part of the "family". I didn't hear a cross word (except at a malfunctioning car), see anyone being inconsiderate of another, or leaving a mess. I saw garbage bags and pans catching every drop of oil, coolant, or whatever. If you haven't done a hillclimb yet, get a car and come play! The commradery (Ted told me this is how it is spelled) was unbelievable. Sorry to see the Lotus and Mort's FF bent/broken. Looked like Stan's car wasn't too worse for wear. I just can't say enought for everyone involved in this excellent weekend. Thanks for Tony Wentworth for being the chair and helping to make this work.
Scott
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Post by oldgiracer on Aug 4, 2008 11:10:11 GMT -5
Ted, you have, as always, expressed our/my appreciation and excitement from this event far better than could I. But, I have to join in.
I fully appreciate all the kudos but cannot forget the way Steve Eckerich and Jerry Hagan stepped in and up to help "save" this event when I was tied up with our ailing mom, thanks guys for bailing me out.
Next, I have to thank Brian Gause for more than I can list in this space. Brian brought me back to the SCCA after more than a 35-year absence, put me in his beloved Camaro, nominated me to the board which led to this chairing of events. Then, he covers my back like no one ever has. I could not do these things without his and his family's help. No one that I know cares more about this region or gives more time and effort to it and us than Brian does. Thanks, my friend.
I asked Ted Theodore and Mark Seiler to join Brian and Rich Little as co-chairs to help me make this the event that it became. Ted came up with the idea of inviting John Finger to run the event. We worked very quietly to fulfill our dream, if you will, of having John in a hill climb, again. Once we finished our arm-twisting, John came through like the exceptional "pro" that he is, not only finding and prepping an unknown car for the event, being a sponsor and all around good guy, he even offered to go up to Eagle's Nest early to be an ambassador for us with Eagle's Nest owner, John Turchin. Then, to give us the exciting finish to the event, well you could not write a script like this. Ted, thanks for your unending help and friendship.
Mark, your marketing and PR efforts plus stepping up to "water" all of us was greatly appreciated let alone Sue and Ray's work on the event. Like many of us, the SCCA is a total family event for the Seilers. Mark will, again this year, enter and run his "racing Miata" in every SEDivision Time Trial and Hillclimb event. Folks that is dedication to our part of the sport.
Rich, you once again, were a quiet, agreeable co-chair who offered to do whatever it took to make this event a success. Last year, I "drafted" Rich to assist with this event and I got just what I expected: a quiet, cooperative, effective ambassador for our region who never seems to fret about how do something, he just steps us and says "I'll do it".
I contacted Mark Mashburn and asked him if he would come up to Eagle's Nest. I did not ask him to work but he insisted that if he came, that he, John and Lisa would work the event. No one in this region or division loves hillclimbs more than Mark. That was very apparent at this one as Marked agreed to handle our drivers' meetings, drive one of the shuttle vans with Rich, Dick McCollister and Ken Irwin. This is the kind of unseen contributions made by so many.
Nick Hallman, Aimee Fincher and Dagmar Theodore ran timing and scoring the best that I can remember. Thanks to all of you for you effort-you are all invited and requested for both of our hillclimbs next year.
To all of our stewards, grid workers, paddock workers, corner workers, you came and made all the difference in the safety and success of this event. By the way, folks, we had two fine young men from the Detroit Region came to work this event, along with my friends Betsy and Dick Edwards from the DC Region who worked their second CCR hillclimb with us. We had many first time hillclimb workers come for this one, thanks to all of you!
Wesley Nicholson, Nick Seymour, Jerry Hagan and the Eckerichs brought CCR back to the "hillclimb business" with Wolf Ridge in 2007 which opened the door for Garry Hill's momentous referral of our Region to John Turchin for Eagle's Nest. Door-openers all, thanks!
I guess I'm a gluton for punishment, but I need all of you to help us find more places where we can produce hillclimb events. We have the topography and the people to do so, we just need to find the right places and roads.
Thanks, again to all. Tony Wentworth
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storz
Junior Member
Posts: 66
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Post by storz on Aug 4, 2008 15:04:50 GMT -5
I had an awesome time up there again this year, working the event is definitely the best seat in the house, I'd like to thank the CCR SCCA for housing and feeding all the workers as well. It is a HUGE benefit and really helps make the weekend possible for many of us. My friends from MI got back safely about 8am this morning (Monday) and will surely be back for more next year!!
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Post by ffhillclimber on Aug 4, 2008 17:31:28 GMT -5
Although I could not make it a 3 way "shootout" yesterday, I did try. I don't know if that last run would have kept me in it, but it was AMAZING until I got to turn 9. Dispite that little difficulty, I have to say that was the best weekend I've ever had in motorsport. To have the chance to compete against one of the greatest hillclimbers and one of my heros, was a honor and VERY SPECIAL. Something I will never forget. Thanks so much to everyone that had a hand in creating these memories. Now, if I can find a faster car --------------
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Post by huntersrun on Aug 4, 2008 21:02:32 GMT -5
First I have to say thanks to Tony and his crew for a job well done!! Also thanks to all you drivers for putting on a fun and safe show. I really enjoyed it. This year I had my friend and fellow photographer, Jay Greenbaum with me. We were able to cover the whole mountain. As you will be able to see we got some great stuff. Many of you asked when the photos would be up,.....well they are loading as I type. Enjoy, Richard Hunter www.HuntersRun.photoreflect.com
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Post by ffhillclimber on Aug 7, 2008 16:16:14 GMT -5
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Post by trickbrick on Aug 9, 2008 10:06:43 GMT -5
Neat article! Thanks Stan .
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