Thunder Hill Race Report March 8 2008

[Tony G]

March 8, 2008

 

It was a bright and sunny weekend at Thunderhill Raceway with temps in the mid 70’s for the first race of the West Coast CMC season. 20 cars were registered, but 16 cars showed up prepared for battle, and a battle it was. Ron De Blauw showed up for his first CMC race under his provisional license. New CMC driver Dave Schotz and his dad Joel were there with his orange Camaro and also a 4th gen Firebird all the way from Arizona, talk about dedication.

We also had several new contingencies awarded to CMC West this year.

Larry Marsala has headed up the CMC tech/impound this year and he brought in a $5,000 Redline Contingency, which we are very grateful for!

Also Carbotech Performance has joined in with a nice Contingency for us this year.

So we have Toyo, Redline and Carbotech to sponsor us.

 

Now to the racing:

 

Saturday qualifying went well with Dave Schotz posting the fast time in CMC with a 2:08.2, and Mike Plum behind him with a 2:09.2. In CMC-2 Michael Arnheiter set the fast time with a 2:06.2 followed by Peter Hopelain with a 2:06.7.

 

First race Saturday and it was a flying start with CMC and CMC-2 mixed in together by time. Recently licensed driver Jeremy Bua also joined CMC. The race started with Michael Arnheiter , Peter Hopelain taking off battling for the lead in CMC-2, but by turn two Tony Guaglione had taken the lead by an impressive inside pass on both front leaders in turn two. While all this was going on, Brady Flaherty was making a charge from the back since Brady missed qualifying while he was repairing a broken differential from the morning practice session. He eventually caught up to the leaders to join in the already tense battle. Tony Guaglione ended up winning the race, followed by Brady Flaherty, and Michael Arnheiter. Meanwhile, in CMC, Dave Schotz was quick to take off and Mike Plum was quick to follow. Dave kept his lead for the entire race, and ended up with the victory, followed by Mike Plum, Kevin Margetta, Ed Hamilton and Mike Donahoe for the top 5 CMC positions. New racer Jeremy Bua ran a 2:09.5, which was fantastic for his first CMC race. Unfortunate for Ron De Blauw, he blew a head gasket and had to retire early. In impound however, Brady was found to be without a dyno, and was DQ’d from the race as the rules once again must be followed by all in CMC. Something was also wrong with Kirk Theis’ car, as he had some engine problem which also ended his weekend early.

 

Saturday night, the group gathered at the local pizza place for fun and dinner. Everyone had a good time exchanging stories as we always do.

 

Sunday morning started off with a blast as CMC/CMC2 and FFR had an inverted race based off of the previous day’s finishing order during their qualifying session. Karl Chicca was unable to make the race as he had sustained engine difficulties during practice. The race started well and in CMC, Ed Hamilton jumped out to the lead and held on to it until Mike Plum, who in turn was then over taken by Dave Schotz, over took him. Dave Schotz went on to win the race, followed by Mike Plum, and Kevin Margetta. In CMC-2, Tony Guaglione starting last took the quick lead and held onto it for the rest of the race. He was followed by David Whitelaw, and Michael Arnheiter and Peter Hopelain. David was however, DQ’d as he came to grid late and passed under the double yellow to pass the entire field on the pace lap.

 

The final race on Sunday was set to be an exciting one until a Mazda GT crashed at the beginning of the session. To make matter worse, another Mazda GT crashed into the already crashed car that was parked right in the middle of the straight and it almost ended the entire race. But due to NASA’s great safety team, the race was eventually restarted once again. In CMC, Mike Plum got a quick start and took the lead for multiple laps until Dave Schotz tracked him down and then took the lead. He again held onto it until the end, and took the weekend sweep, followed by Mike Plum, Kevin Margetta, Ed Hamilton and Jeremy Bua. In CMC-2 Julie Bergman was on pole with a blistering 204.420( fast time of the weekend).At the start Tony Guaglione once again took off with a great start and took the lead at the beginning of the race and kept it for the rest of the session, and getting the weekend sweep as well. He was followed by Michael Arnheiter and Peter Hopelain. Unfortunate for David Whitelaw, he was having a mechanical failure that ended his race.

 

It was an exciting weekend and we hope to see everybody back at Infineon on April 12/13. It should play out to be one of the year’s best-attended events, as Infineon usually is.

 

Tony Guaglione

CMC National Director

 

Kyle Plum

CMC Staff writer

[tacovini]

Great writeup and oh how I can relate to the "passing the entire field under double yellow on the wam up lap" and subsequent DQ. That was a tough lesson for me and glad to hear the rule is being applied consistently clear over there!

 

-= Todd

[Dave Schotz]

Great Write up Tony! And Great fun California CMC Group! WOW!! My Dad and I tried to make it all the way back home... but finally had to stop and get a hotel at about 2am... Nothing but great things to talk about! And only reinforcing the decision to go NASA CMC racing in 2008!

 

Tony, Mike, Julie, Larry, Carl, and the Dozen or so other fellow competitors that we got to hang with during the weekeend... thanks for making it SOO MUCH FUN!

 

Looking forward to seeing everyone back at Infineon in April!

 

The Contingingencies offered by NorCall CMC sure do help! Nicely done!

 

My dad had a blast... and when realizing how close the competition is up here... made the wise decision to just run our CMC2 car in HPDE4... and gain valuable experience. I'm sure he'll end up racing with us sooner or later... but for now... the flexibiltiy of still getting great track time all weekend, with his son... he's ecstatic!

 

Thanks again guys!

 

PS... if anyone needs a set of Brand new Carbotech XP12's for the PBR (1LE) Calipers... we have an extra set anyone can have for $150...

 

Peace,

Dave

 

PS: I'd like to thank our series sponsors, TOYO TIRES, REDLINE OILS & CARBOTECH BRAKES!

 

As well as those who have helped setup our cars:

BLAINE FABRICATION

STRANOPARTS

ARGENT LAB

HP234

XTREME MOTORSPORTS

[Dave Whitelaw]

Fast time was a 2:03.577. New track record but thats ok....

[Tony G]

True and not true.

Dave, you had a great track record going, until you got DQ'd.

Julie Bergman still holds the track record for CMC2.

I have no doubt your name will be on the list this year though.

Thanks,

Tony Guaglione

[Dave Whitelaw]

Just messin with ya Tony . Always Infineon (my home).