Autumn Challenge Cup - Spook-Tackular Results and 2013 Champ

[Chris Elwell]

This weekend was the Spook-Tackular Quad Regional at Nelson Ledges, the final weekend of the 2013 Autumn Challenge Cup. The series champion was crowned on Saturday following the afternoon race. Sunday's races count towards the 2014 championship. This event is different in that there are no qualifying sessions during the weekend; the first time on track is the pace lap for race 1! Pole for race 1 is set based on who registers first.


Saturday Race 1
Pole: Guy Bellingham
Results
1) Ray Carmody, Fastest Lap, 1:18.410
2) Greg Davis
3) Trevor Miller
4) Arnold Carbaugh Jr.
5) John Maloney
6) Matt Rehm
7) Matt Clark
8 ) Guy Bellingham
DNF: Chris Elwell


Saturday Race 2 (wet)
Pole: Ray Carmody
Race Results
1) Ray Carmody
2) Guy Bellingham, Fastest Lap, 1:37.534
3) Greg Davis
4) Arnold Carbaugh Jr.
5) Matt Clark
6) Trevor Miller
7) John Maloney
8 ) Matt Rehm
DNS: Chris Elwell

So with that, the final points for 2013, Series Champion and podium finishers are:
1) Arnie Carbaugh Jr. ---- 153 points
2) Trevor Miller ----------- 125 points
3) Greg Davis --------------88 points
4) Ray Carmody ---------- 71 points
5) Matt Clark -------------- 49 points
6) Dennis Potocki --------- 26 points
7) Bill Hannum -------------25 points
8 )Guy Bellingham -------- 24 points
8 )Pete Neilsen ------------ 24 points
8 )Matt Rehm -------------- 24 points
11) Curt Bennet ----------- 23 points
12) Don Taylor ------------ 20 points
12) Matt Garwood --------- 20 points
14) Dan Grace ------------ 19 points
14) Dan Grace Jr. -------- 19 points
16) Steve Kwasnik ------- 18 points
17) John Maloney -------- 16 points
18) Ronald Bass ---------- 12 points
18) Brian Kenney -------- 12 points
20) Dave Aird ------------- 8 points
20) Harry White ----------- 8 points
22) Stephen Burton ------- 6 points
22) Robert Murray -------- 6 points
22) Jim Oswald ------------ 6 points
25) Tammy Oswald ------- 4 points
26) Doug Hannum --------- 2 points
26) Bill Young -------------- 2 points
28) Mark Farnham --------- 1 point
29) Chris Elwell ------------ 0 points
29) Dermont Ennis --------- 0 points
29) Desmond Ennis -------- 0 points

Congrats to Arnie on being the inaugural champion, and to Trevor and Greg for 2nd and 3rd! The three of them received very nice loving cup trophies at the awards ceremony which followed directly after race 2 on Saturday. Greg wasted no time in using his as a beer mug. Also at the awards ceremony was a small prize giveaway, which consisted of several parts from Carbough Tool Company and five $25 cash giveaways from Maloney Racing. Ray Carmody used the end of ceremony as a forum to gauge interest in a possible major change for next year's series, so stay tuned for that.

The season overall was a lot of close racing and carmaderie, and 31 drivers competed from two countries. I think everyone had a great time and we're looking forward to next year.

Chris

[fezzic181]

Thanks all for coming out. Made standing in the rain worth it.

[Chris Elwell]

Sunday's results are below. Slightly smaller field and much colder, but sunny and no rain. The results look the same, but race 1 was a back and forth battle between Ray and Guy. Race 2 Guy had trouble getting started in grid and needed a push start, so he started at the back and Ray opened up a lead and maintained it through the race. Matt Clark and John Maloney had the closest battle in race 2.


Sunday Race 1
Pole: Ray Carmody
Results
1) Ray Carmody, Fastest Lap, 1:18.874
2) Guy Bellingham
3) Greg Davis
4) Matt Clark
5) John Maloney
6) Matt Rehm


Sunday Race 2
Pole: Ray Carmody
Results
1) Ray Carmody, Fastest Lap, 1:18.729
2) Guy Bellingham
3) Greg Davis
4) Matt Clark
5) John Maloney
6) Matt Rehm



2014 Points (this half of the event counts towards next year's series):

1) Ray Carmody ---------- 54 points
2) Guy Bellingham -------- 36 points
3) Greg Davis ------------ 30 points
4) Matt Clark -------------- 24 points
5) John Maloney ---------- 20 points
6) Matt Rehm ------------- 16 points

Ray is off to a perfect start, so everyone better come out strong next year.

[Amon]

Chris,

If you want greater attendance at next years October Nelson race, I would make
the points from both days races apply towards the 2014 Championship. This will
prevent Saturday "only" drivers, and it also may bring in additional drivers if they know more points are at stake and applying towards 2014. A few drivers
may have realized that the points from Saturdays races weren't enough to change the outcome or move up a position and therefore didn't show up?

Just a thought!


Mark

[G.B.]

I think this year’s format was devised so that the end of season award ceremony could take place Saturday evening. Otherwise when would you hand out the trophies?

We had 13 FVs last year and just 9 this, I wonder if the 4-race format, without any practice or qualifying might have affected this. If you have never been to Nelson before, would you really want to go straight into a race? On Sunday, they skipped lunch and the races were finished soon after 1pm. There really was time to have slotted in a short qualifying session, before the races started on Saturday.

[rcarmody]

They did offer to make races longer I really enjoy this weekend very nice people and I am sure if we asked they would be willing to change there schedule maybe an open practice for open wheel then an open practice for closed wheel 15 min each in the morning. Not sure but guys this is alot of fun and a lot of track time.

Ray Carmody
115107

[Amon]

Ray,

Thanks again for helping me out with Mike's car!

Much appreciated!

Mark