74 was the 1st year my family went to summit Point. I basically grew up at that track.
__________________
Kevin Firlein Autosport,Inc.
Runoffs - 1 gold, 3 silver, 3 bronze, 3x drivers of the year
2004 Star Mazda East Coast series champions
8 Divisional championships 6 Regional championships
and at least I dont still play with Mr Potato heads !
__________________
Kevin Firlein Autosport,Inc.
Runoffs - 1 gold, 3 silver, 3 bronze, 3x drivers of the year
2004 Star Mazda East Coast series champions
8 Divisional championships 6 Regional championships
I think 1974 was a little early for Tommy in SCCA racing. I started back racing in 1977 and I think Bud Williams got him involved a couple of years earlier. He was racing mini stocks prior to that.
Tom and I raced Vees together through 1980 - 1981 when he sold the Vee and bought an Elden super vee and a couple of years later I got into FF. The rest is history.
By the way the 1300 jug story didn't happen until 1978 - 1979. Somehow he didn't think anybody would notice(???)!!
Well, he started racing SCCA with a forged waiver since he was under 18 and had moved/been thrown out out of his parents home at 15 and thus was unable to obtain their signatures. He was born in 1954 I think, so what year would he have started?
Well, he started racing SCCA with a forged waiver since he was under 18 and had moved/been thrown out out of his parents home at 15 and thus was unable to obtain their signatures. He was born in 1954 I think, so what year would he have started?
I know Tom raced my dad in FV 75/76. his moniker at the time was 'dirt track Tommy' for his tendency to be off the road quite a bit. raced wearing electrician boots.
__________________
Kevin Firlein Autosport,Inc.
Runoffs - 1 gold, 3 silver, 3 bronze, 3x drivers of the year
2004 Star Mazda East Coast series champions
8 Divisional championships 6 Regional championships
Sort of amazing that nearly 30 years later, this exact same crop of cars (except the camaros for some reason) still make up half of an SCCA event. SCCA hates progress.
Fantastic group of photos.
As one of the ever shrinking number of still active drivers who ran Summit before it was made into a 2 mile track with the addition of the carousel, I ran in 1970 at the April National in FC [and won] and I am pretty sure the carousel was not there then, these bring back amazing memories.
Someone with the history and memory can confirm or deny the construction timeline of the carousel as previously it was 1.75 miles if memory serves.
We are takking all 3 series, F2000, F1600 and Atlantic, back to Summit late August when we share with CCS Motorcycle races, can't wait !
Looking through the photos, #DSCF2581 is a study of Harry Reynolds 2 times National Championship [1971 and 1972] winning Branbham BT29 converted from FB to FC with a Cosworth SCA motor.
Then DSCF2949 is me in my Brabham BT40 FB car.
DSCF2948 is Bob Houston in a Royale aircooled SV, Bob currently runs a DSR Stohr I think, and is still fast.
DSCF2947 is a Brabham BT29 but I can't dredge up the driver.
DSCF2549 is Tony Cicale in his BSR Chevron. Tony was a hell of a shoe as well as one of the best ever CART engineeres working with Mario etc to several championships, great guy.
Fantastic trip into the attic archives [mine, not the house !].
The track opened in 1969 but the first National wasn't until April 1970, I just don't recall if we ran the carousel that year of if it was 1971.
I distinctly remember running pre-carousel though, the bits of old asphalt are still there in places, you came down the hill and did a left-right-left jog that led to T-whatever the sweeping righthander is, 8 or 9.
Pat Goodman was the owner/builder and we used a not long since in use chicken barn as registration. Everyone tried to get signed up real quick......
That barn was just about where the entrance road comes past the old farmhouse but well before the EV post at the crossroad on track.
Surely WDC Region has people around who were there, then.
Wait, didn't I see Sue Roethel somewhere in the last year or two ? I know Dave died but I think Sue is still around.......They were way active WDC folks then.
Hell, Houston might remember.
Even Eddie Impink who has returned and is running a FV again might.
alot of racing people lived in that old farm house over the years.
__________________
Kevin Firlein Autosport,Inc.
Runoffs - 1 gold, 3 silver, 3 bronze, 3x drivers of the year
2004 Star Mazda East Coast series champions
8 Divisional championships 6 Regional championships
John Caldwell, where have you all been ?
We miss having the Caldwell family circus in the paddock these days.
Hope you are all well and that we get to see you sometime sooner rather than later.
Not a whole lot has changed, F2000 continues with strong competitive fields, 35 or 36 this weekend at Mid Ohio, along with 25 + F1600.
Lots of talented young drivers in both series and they are still learning race craft lessons from guys like Tim Minor and Dave Weitzenhof, among others.
Summit Point, 1974
