The Grand Prix Races At Pocono

The SPEEDWORKZ/PLANET MIATA TEAM spent the weekend at Pocono for the National Races. And what a weekend it was, it had a little of everything. Let's start with the weather. We had 3 1/2 seasons in one weekend. No snow but close to it. It was hot on Friday as the day began, then the clouds began to move in. With two qualifying sessions on Friday and one of them to be used for Sunday's race we all kept our eyes on the weather. Well, in mid-afternoon we began to hear thunder, then the rain began, first slowly and then harder and harder with lighting to make for a summer thunderstorm. As the weather began to clear the wind began to pick up and it cooled off maybe twenty degrees in the space of an hour. Many drivers didn't even go out on the wet track. Not the Planet Miata boys, heck we were all out there. When I say we there were six team-sponsored cars this weekend racing in Spec Miata: Marc, Alan Olson, Errol Tucker, Mike Rossini, Mason Workman and me. I should mention I missed half the session. As I was putting on my fireproof socks, I noticed I put them near the trailer door and they were soaked so I had to find a dry pair. It was funny me running around trying to find dry socks in the pouring rain. I left all the socks and extras I take with me for such occasions in the car. Saturday was sweater weather, as my mom would say, we needed coats to keep the wind and cool temperature from making it down right uncomfortable. The mercury never got out of the low 60's. Sunday was cool in the morning, misty in late morning, cloudy at mid-day, then rain on and off in the afternoon and then pouring rain for the last race of the weekend. I awarded prizes for some outstanding driving and saves in that race. All that comes later.

I Did It Again

Here it goes again. I register my car as "0," but I'm not driving that number. I drove a friends car number "09," well, guess what, they have no one reregistered for "09" so when I come off the track they tell me I need to go to registration. I march to registration and start telling my story. Mason Workman, Marc's friend from Ohio, will run the "0" car in addition to his F Production car, and I have the" 09" car of Doc O'Boyle. I got a few frowns but nothing more. Later on Sunday, I had an offer to drive Nicole Cooper's SSC car but I decided someone else should drive it, because if I show up at timing and scoring with another change of cars or numbers, I may not get out alive.

You Needed A Score Card To Know Who Was Driving What Car

On Saturday and Sunday Marc drove his own Spec Miata in the Miata race and John Costello's Honda in the SSC race. Mason Workman drove his own Miata in the F Production race and the Spec Miata I drove last weekend at BeaveRun. For this weekend I drove Doctor Lou O'Boyle's Spec Miata, the same ENDURO car Marc and I drove in the 12-hour endurance race at Summit Point in June. Nicole Cooper drove one of Joel Lipperini's Hondas in the SSC race and Susan Ryan drove Nicole's car in Saturday's SSC race, with Guy Pavageau driving Nicole's Neon on Sunday. If that doesn't confuse you, nothing will.

John Yarosz Friday Night Party

For the last several years John Yarosz, the driver of one of the Joe Aquilante monster Corvettes, has a grand party at his country home a few miles from the track. He invites everyone. For those who never go, you are missing the social event of the year that is connected with SCCA's Pocono Sports Car Grand Prix. The best food, wine and desserts can be found there, but it is the host that makes the party. John is the perfect host, he makes sure everyone and I mean everyone has a good time. His close friend and the driver of his other car a T2 Camaro, Al Nocerine is there to pick up where John leaves off. Words cannot describe the event; you can only appreciate it by being there. Next year if he has it, set aside the Friday evening of the race weekend to join in this social event.

Pocono is always a reunion in some ways, I get to see people that I haven't seen in months and also get to see people who I see all the time. I love people so I love Pocono. Let's talk about some of these wonderful folks.

Jack Hanifan - He is responsible for me racing. I never completed a racing school. The first one I attended was at, you guessed it, POCONO. On the second day the fog was so dense they canceled the day. The second SCCA driving school was held at, yes you guessed it, POCONO. The first day was fine, but the second day it rained and was so foggy you could not see 30 yards in front of you. They canceled that school. Marc suggested since I had driven race cars before I apply to a Mr. Hanifan and see if they would waive the school requirement since I tried twice and never got to complete a school. Jack Hanifan signed a waiver for me and I thank him for it every day I race. I still have the letter and a copy of my novice permit. I keep them with the notice that I passed the Bar exam more than 40 years ago, and my Dad's high school diploma. That is a story I may tell someday. It is part of what drives me.

Joe Wilkie - I met Joe at an SCCA function many years ago. He never lost his smile, or his sense of humor or his desire for those "damn" cigarettes. He will be one of my favorite men forever because he got the dumbkoff award that was supposed to go to me. The award is for the dumbest thing a member of NEPA region does that year. I went to the wrong race track; I went to Watkins Glen, New York, when the race was at Lime Rock, Connecticut. Joe beat me out in the vote total. He was driving the pace car when the strobe lights fell off the pace car onto the track at the start of a race. Where was that race? If you guessed POCONO you are correct.

George Bloeser - I get to see George at Pocono and Summit point. Usually only for a few seconds as George is always busy doing something. And it is that doing that he is helping people at all levels of racing. His most recent endeavor is on the Advisory Council Of AMERICA ON WHEELS, INC. This corporation among other things will have a Grand Opening in April 2008 when it will display to visitors "a visual feast of a wide array of vehicles that have moved people and products of this wonderful nation throughout the years...and into the future." Thanks George. His wife, Judy Bloeser, is the Education Coordinator for the group.

Walter Huber - When I see Walter I think, how many lives has he saved, how many people did he give an extra holiday to, how many people did he allow to attend their grandkids weddings. He is and has been for years a blood donor of a special breed. He gives his blood platelets to cancer victims. That is not an easy task as it requires you to sit strapped to a machine for almost 3 hours while your platelets are separated from your whole blood, I know how difficult it is as I have done it over 150 times over the last 20 years. Since you never know where your platelets are going to be used it is a magnificent gesture, a true gift of life.

Chuck Dobbs - Again its Pocono or Summit point that I get to see Chuck. A few times I have been on the receiving end of a lecture for some infraction I have committed, but I always reflect on his conversation of the wonderful work the State Troopers of the country do, especially the New York State Troopers. On Sunday with the wind blowing and the temperatures in the 50's he stood proud on the grid wearing his New York State Police windbreaker directing traffic.

Brian Holtz - I see him all over, Lime Rock, Pocono, BeaveRun, Summit Point, Mid-Ohio, Nelson Ledges, but I never knew he had such a great announcing voice. During the races Saturday I asked who is the announcer and learned Brian was that person. Man he is good, I mean really good. His voice is a cross between John Madden and Howard Stern. He may want to try out for announcing with the NFL he is that good. His commentary added zest to the races, when a car would go off track he explained where it was and how many cars were passing before the car got back on track. When the leaders were in a tight race he let you know how tight it was with his voice. You sometimes felt you were in the car with those drivers. When Chris Collins and I were dueling it out in the Spec Miata race he called it the" dueling of the Dad's." Both our sons were racing in the same race, in fact against each other for position.

Butch O'Conner - I don't get to see Butch as often as I did in the past, mainly I see him at Lime Rock but when I do we get in some great conversations, not about law even though we are both lawyers, but about everyday topics. This weekend Butch and I talked about doing what you can about situations you can control and not worrying about things you can't. Almost all of these conversations have been while I have been sitting in the car on the false grid waiting for the 5 minute warning to be given. (This warning tells everyone the cars will be going on the track in 5 minutes).

Earl Hurlbut - I first met Earl when he was giving a speech to the new Spec Miata drivers at the first National at Summit Point a few years ago. I was not part of the group but I sat and listened. I thought to myself this guy is tough, but he sounds reasonable. Little did I know that he was the new Steward appointed for the new national class of Spec Miata. Over the last few years I have gotten to know a little more about him. This one observation says it all, the baseball hat with the big G for the Green Bay Packers. He sounds like the famed Vince Lombardi, in fact he may be Vince Lombardi's twin. Vince Lombardi is one of football's most accomplished and respected coaches. I loved Lombardi from the first moment I met him, I  feel the same about Earl, and I guess they are twins.

Joe Willer - Joe and I have mutual respect for each other from the first time I met him several years ago. I stated my opinion in a matter and he stated his and they were not even remotely close. He and his wife, Nancy, have been a big help to many racers and other people at the races. A former Marine he still commands respect from his approach to any issue that he encounters, With his booming voice he reminds all of us that this is an amateur sport and we should have fun doing it or we should consider some other activity that is safer and less demanding. I always like it when he sees drivers who may have had a dispute on the track begin to raise their voice or act aggressive, off the track. Joe usually is about 5 feet away (as he says), "Just in case I'm needed."

David Cole - Most people don't know Dave Cole and his wife, Nancy, but if you go to the Glen enough times you'll get to see them at almost every event. They work the grid, in all types of weather and always with a smile. Dave and I have become good friends as he always goes to each and every car in every race group asking if he can get a driver something, that may have been forgotten, or even a cold drink when we wait on hot days. People like that are what this world is all about. In my profession I deal with high-powered State and Federal Judges, and high-powered lawyers so this is a treat when I get to the races and mingle with people like Dave Cole and his wife, Nancy. I always felt humbled when I see what they do for other people and with no hidden agenda.

The Races

The best shows of the weekend were the Production cars both days and the T1, T2, SSB and SSC race on Sunday. You may need a score card to follow this. Mason Workman drove to victory in his first race on Saturday, then jumped into a car Marc built for a Spec Miata customer for that race. I ran that car last weekend at BeaveRun and it was an animal. The Production race was a barn burner, Mason Workman and David Strittmatter traded the lead for the first 12 laps that was only after Mark Carpenter broke after only 8 laps. Mason Workman finally won the race. It was nice to see young guys winning in F Production. On Sunday Mark Carpenter who broke on Saturday won on Sunday with Strittmatter second, that race was also a barn burner, we didn't know who would win till the checkered flag dropped. it was the reverse of Saturday. While Bill Smith held off the fast charging Gary Martz for the E Production win on Saturday, Sunday was again different Smith won that day. Let me say that the Production ranks are slowly dying a slow death as there are fewer and fewer G and H production cars showing up at races. Howard Gerstein won in GT Light on Sunday and Bill Pintaric won on Saturday. Bob Lentz II won on both days.

The Spec Miata race was a bit boring as Steve Gorriaran won both days and Marc finished second behind him. Sunday was a bit more exciting than Saturday because it began to rain during Sunday's race. On Saturday the field was separated by a good length except for Chris Collins and me. We traded places several times until he pulled away when some T3 cars got between us. Collins and I both had the teams ENDURO cars, with some tired motors. The most exciting thing that happened was watching Patch chase a bee out of my race car while I was waiting on the grid. I had the shield on my helmet, I was taking no chances. When you swat at bees they get mad. In T3 John Costello and Kristian Skavnes had a duel right up to the till the flag and Costello won by less than a fender length. In the SSC race on Sunday, Susan Ryan and Nicole Cooper duked it out for the whole race as women are now beginning to get some good numbers to participate in racing (Debbie LaFond, do I call them WOMEN or LADIES?). On Saturday, Guy Pierre Pavageau lost his brakes at the start finish line and collided with another car and then bounced off the wall, doing some good damage to his Chevy Cobalt. On Sunday we got him to race in Nicole Cooper's Neon in SSC. Joel Lipperini did battle with the GM engineer John Heinricy and came in second twice in SSC. Lipperini also ran his Mustang in T3 and came in third in both races on Saturday and Sunday. In the Spec Miata race there were 6 cars sponsored by Planet Miata. Mike Rossini had a new Miata there in orange, my favorite color. Mike makes some nice cars with some of the most powerful motors as he is a famous world class motorcycle engine builder. The T1, T2, SSC and SSB race on Sunday was the best. They saved the best for last. The rain was coming down from the green flag. Marc raced one of John Costello's Hondas (but not before he had to drive home to get a new front wheel bearing) as the class has been getting lower and lower numbers, so in an effort to bring up the numbers, Susan Ryan, Nicole Cooper, Marc and Guy Pavageau ran in someone else's car's on Sunday. The classes that go to the Runoffs are the classes that get the highest number of participants at each race so the local gang pitched in to get the numbers for SSC up. Steve Fondakowski came down from New Hampshire and did well in SSB. Barry Brown from the Washington, DC area was there on Saturday in his blue Honda. Barry likes Pocono and does well here. The big horsepower Corvettes on Saturday and Sunday had a field day trying to control those monster horsepower cars in the rain. It was a crash fest for a few as they began to take each other out of the race. Not by design but from the fact some were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The Saves Of The Day

During the last race (run in a heavy rain) we watched some great saves. Both SSB Mini Coopers spun together in the hairpin turn then regained the lead back after a few laps. They looked like they were dancing to music. Marc's slide in the SSC Honda, first from side to side, then from one side of the track to the other. When he finally saved it a big roar went up from the crowd (yes there was a crowd, even in the rain). There was a sloppy mess as a car bounced 5 feet in the air for at least 60 yards before the driver got it under control, the driver was also in the running for the best save. Another car in the running was the Chevy that spun like a top for a few revolutions in the mud and then proceeded to get back in the race. The car looked it was in a mud bog event.

I am now a test driver for all of Marc's cars including the Miata race cars he builds, I also test drive the cars he purchases at auctions for his other business. Marc says if it can be broken, my dad can do it, "My father can break anything." Are test drivers supposed to get paid?

BE SAFE GO FAST HAVE FUN
Love "the commander" Mike Cefalo

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