Bill Wessel isn't on the list so he asked that I post his version of the
SCCA National Run-Offs G Production race to the list for those that asked.
----- Original Message -----
From: Bill Wessel <bill_wessel@yahoo.com>
To: Paul <9laser3@bright.net>
>
> Anyway, here's the post:
> Hey Roadster race fans!,
>
> Yes, it was a great race, even I get a charge out of
> seeing it again! I was on full wets like Prather and
> Costley (both who led early on but fell off as the
> track dried). The full tread tires were great at the
> start and allowed me to rocket through the field early
> on, but as the track dried, the super soft compound
> quickly overheats and looses grip (hence the "off" at
> the end of the back straight (that was 5th place!) and
> the spin in the keyhole on the next lap). I just hung
> on for 8th after that.
>
> I started at the back of the pack because I failed to
> get a dry qualifying time on Thursday (I broke a
> lifter on an over rev on the first lap, conditions
> were perfect and I was so keyed up to set a fast
> time). So I only had my wet time from Wednesday (where
> I'd run fourth quickest) but was only good enough for
> last on the grid. Chris Luers and Jim Sloan (of Sloan
> Racing and OROC) were my crew and together the three
> of us swapped the engine in 2.5 hours to an untried
> spare I'd brought. It was one of three that came with
> the car (ex Col. Joe Hauser, four-time National champ)
> and was last raced in '96.
>
> Race morning was wet and cold but the engine ran well
> in warmup so we knew we could race. We couldn't figure
> the weather so we opted to stay on the wets and hope
> for the best. If it had rained any more during the
> race, the finish might have been different. But Winter
> and the other guys who chose intermediates and
> struggled early on, won in the end.
>
> It was a tremendous end result to a roller-coaster
> ride of a season. I blew up Joe's good engine in my
> first National race. I then placed second at the June
> Sprints at Road America. At the Cat National (also at
> RA), my qualifying time was thrown out for a fuel
> violation (Warning: Turbo Blue will NOT pass SCCA's
> fuel test). I had to purge the system and start again
> from near the back, but still claimed a distant second
> place finish. At the Mid-Ohio National (which I was
> treating as a warm-up to the runoffs and where I first
> met Chris and Jim), valve float in the opening laps
> caused a lifter to break and I limped around on three
> cylinders for 12 laps; finishing eigth, but finishing!
> That was essential because to qualify to race at the
> runoffs, you must have entered four races, finished
> three and be in the top ten in points in your
> division. I got in on the bare minimum, four starts,
> three finshes and the two second places put me in
> ninth place in the division (Central division is THE
> most competitive division to race out of). The runoff
> ride....well, you know most of that story, another
> emotional roller-coaster.
>
> I gotta hand it to Chris and Jim for taking time off
> from work and providing the food, friendship and
> motivation to keep on going. I can't thank those guys
> enough. I wish the cameras had caught our pit lane
> celebration...it was elation! And just to let you guys
> all know...we'll be doing it all again this season.
>
> Right now, I'm in the process of building new engines
> and making improvements to the car. We got a purchase
> of Carillo rods in and we're in the process of having
> some new Tilton race clutches made. I've got my cams
> repaired and two new sets of lifters. I'm going to
> replace the trusty (but outdated) points and condensor
> ignition with one of Gary Boone's conversions. I'm
> going to convert the rear drums to discs.
>
> I have no shop working for me, just me and my garage
> (like most guys in SCCA). I welcome any help,
> especially at the track. I race the Cendiv tracks
> (Blackhawk Farms, Road America, Gingerman, Grattan and
> Road America). The schedule (still tentative) is
> posted on the Cendiv and other SCCA sites. There's a
> few other guys across the country still racing
> roadsters; seek 'em out and see 'em at a track near
> you!
>
> I'm no longer on the general roadster list. It got to
> be too much for me to keep up with, sorry. And what
> ever happened to the archives on Listquest? I have
> been thinking it would be great to have a roadster
> race list, especially to coordinate volume purchase
> discounts and share new race-oriented tips and
> technology, but I don't have the time or server access
> to set it up. Mark Bradakis did do just that for us
> all when I asked him to a decade ago....and look where
> it's got to!
>
> Write to me direct (bill_wessel@yahoo.com) if you
> wish, and thanks for your well-wishes and interest.
> See you at the track!
>
> Bill Wessel
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