With test days starting up and people arriving on site, I suppose it's that time of year right?
What: SCCA Runoffs
Where: Mid Ohio Sports Car Course - Lexington, OH
When:
Qualifying: September 19-22 2:15PM each day.
Race: Sunday September 25, 1:00PM.
SportsCar Magazine called out Hans Saurino, Andy Brumbaugh and John Robinson II as top picks, but that issue went to press before Robinson vanished from the entry list and 15-year-old multiple conference champion Neil Verhagen qualified and entered the event. It may be interesting up front, and I don't think it's fair to mention Brumbaugh and Saurino without also giving a nod to David Livingston Jr who fought a great battle at the Mid Ohio Majors before spinning on the final lap while side-by-side with Brumbaugh.
Speaking of vanishing entrants, at one point there was a "high" of 19 cars but as we head into test days, there are only 15 Formula F's on the entry list. (The lowest of any year I can find.) In another "strange" for the class, there are only two Swift DB-type cars. My DB3/Honda and the DB3-89/Ford of John Benson.
In the previous 15 Runoffs, Swift DB cars have made up at least 1/4th of the field, which is sure to give this year's Runoffs a strange look with so few of the trademark over-sized NACA-ducts on the grid.
I am sure this will turn into a little bit of a "why so few cars" discussion, but I think overall it's important to look at other major changes, such as newer cars having a stranglehold on entry numbers and how the race may look now that the spec tire is well in play.
While we are on stats, of the 15 drivers, there are two former FF National Champions (Rubenzer and Payne) and at least four Runoffs rookies. The oldest driver in the field is 71 years old and the youngest is 15. The average age is 40-years old.
I know at least one FF entrant is already there, and I will be at the track on Sunday. I am looking forward to watching a good discussion here and meeting new people during the week.
- Jon