Racemark Challenge report

First of all, let me thank the folks that traveled hundreds or even thousands of miles to enjoy a couple of days of racing, driving and Florida sunshine, or at least in my case, escape the threat of a massive over-hyped winter storm, in what we hope will become an annual event.

While not as structured as One Lap, the more relaxed event allowed for a little different driving experience. There were no checkpoints, or even a real schedule. We did have one as a guideline, but the drivers' votes and late arrivals made it of little use. We ran all day at Roebling, and when most said enough, we opened the track for testing. No sense wasting the track. Everyone got the track time, competition and fun they came for.

Many drivers came to sort out their One Lap rides. Some to practice in their new cars and explore the One Lap format for the future. And some who wanted to taste the One Lap experience but only had two days to spare out of their busy schedules.

Sobe Beverages provided drinks for us and sponsored a sumptuous lunch at Gainesville Raceway, and Brumos Porsche entered a new 993 and hosted the first night cocktail party at the Amelia Island Plantation. Racemark International, the title sponsor, provided the elegant awards dinner, also at the Plantation. We were well provided for.

Not only did we have perfect weather, but enjoyed great hospitality and perfect tracks at both Roebling Road and Gainesville Raceway. Roebling is as fast and wide as Gainesville’s new training facility is narrow and tricky.

Congratulations to Dennis Oltoff and his superbly prepared Superformance Cobra for his overall win and first in the over 3.5 Liter class, and to Nick Wong and Emmanuel Crouvisier in the reworked Nissan Skyline, who were second overall and first in the under 3.5 Liter class. Third overall was Bryan Barker in the very fast Brumos Porsche.

And let's take a moment to examine Mr. "I'm-an-Over-Achiever" Olthoff's performance: He took first place in every event except the Bracket Drag where he had to settle for second place to Bryan Barker's first. This Cobra and driver promise to offer some serious competition in this year's One Lap!

In addition to people and cars familiar to One Lap regulars, we had in the field two Morgan three-wheelers. While not fast, they did manage to ease around the tracks at maximum speeds. One Morgan, with all the brute power a 2 cylinder engine can muster (and some deft speed shifting), set a new One Lap record: a 33.771 second quarter mile time at 22mph! (Something a certain red Honda can aspire to.)

We had some engine failures, some off-tracks, wrong turns, and some seriously smoking tires (especially on the short course at Gainesville). But it was clear at the end of the two days, everyone had enough track time and had a lot of fun. It was certainly better that firing up the snowblower to remove 30 inches of white stuff.