John Berget

[tiga57]

When you say treating them do you mean using formulaV traction treatment or likewise to soften?
Thanks

[Rick Iverson]

Gents:

John’s Email address, please?

[Joules5]

Gents:

John’s Email address, please?

Email: jbracingtires1@gmail.com
Tel:(262) 215-2291

His old website is no longer active, but he is on Facebook as JB Racing Tires

[Rick Iverson]

Julian, thx

[Messenger Racing]

They are still heavily involved in both new and used tires. Mike Hansen handles the day to day. John is still very involved as well - the office number is 262-740-0180.

And if you didn't know - John was a very active and competitive FF driver for many years - formula car guy - through and through.

JM

[Rick Iverson]

Jay:

I was first introduced to John in the early 70s while serving as crew chief for a couple of characters out of Winona MN. John’s CE was a Gent in Charlie. Campaigning a Lola. WAAAAAY too much fun. Racing wasn’t bad either.

They are still heavily involved in both new and used tires. Mike Hansen handles the day to day. John is still very involved as well - the office number is 262-740-0180.

And if you didn't know - John was a very active and competitive FF driver for many years - formula car guy - through and through.

JM

[Messenger Racing]

I started buying tires from John in the eighties. Met him in person a couple of years ago at Road America. Funny thing - in the late 90's I picked up a volunteer crew guy for a pro sports 2000 race in Colorado. That guy was a guy named Charlie Seffrood. Then 20 years later when I moved into FF Charlie and I reconnected running SCCA and FRP Formula F races. Only then did I learn that Charlie was a Junior in High School when John was a Senior and they started their FF racing relationship. I believe they may have run as many as 30 FF races in one season out of an open trailer and the family station wagon. Apparently John was quite the shoe competing against large fields and routinely running toward the front. A photo I took last summer - John Berget and his buddy Charlie back together again!

[Rick Iverson]

Oh my. Jay, you have truly taken me back to better days. These Gents, a pair to draw to.

I started buying tires from John in the eighties. Met him in person a couple of years ago at Road America. Funny thing - in the late 90's I picked up a volunteer crew guy for a pro sports 2000 race in Colorado. That guy was a guy named Charlie Seffrood. Then 20 years later when I moved into FF Charlie and I reconnected running SCCA and FRP Formula F races. Only then did I learn that Charlie was a Junior in High School when John was a Senior and they started their FF racing relationship. I believe they may have run as many as 30 FF races in one season out of an open trailer and the family station wagon. Apparently John was quite the shoe competing against large fields and routinely running toward the front. A photo I took last summer - John Berget and his buddy Charlie back together again!

[E1pix]

John was indeed *very quick* as an independent in the day, my memories mostly from 1975 and ‘76. I think he had a black Lola T340, and I’ve long wondered where that car came from, and where it went.

He was in a group of about 10 that could score Top 6 points, but not afford enough tires or engines or consistency to quite make the Runoffs (if they even wanted to).

Lest you think being like 5th to 10th was no big deal in Cen Div Nationals then, that just meant there were fifty to eighty others that never could or never did.

Aside, Man I miss Siebkins, last time there was on my 41st birthday on Vintage weekend, 2001.

[Rick Iverson]

Eric:

Yep on everything.

I recall an on-course National incident with John and the son of Donnybrooke’s owner in George Montgomery. In the paddock, it became a bit heated, where young Montgomery was hot and bothered about EVERYTHING.

John CLEARLY had the line, but young Montgomery took a chance.

I recall the conversation as it were yesterday:

• Montgomery: “Don’t you check your mirrors?”
• John: “If you want to live in mirrors, go back to Regional racing.”

John was indeed *very quick* as an independent in the day, my memories mostly from 1975 and ‘76. I think he had a black Lola T340, and I’ve long wondered where that car came from, and where it went.

He was in a group of about 10 that could score Top 6 points, but not afford enough tires or engines or consistency to quite make the Runoffs (if they even wanted to).

Lest you think being like 5th to 10th was no big deal in Cen Div Nationals then, that just meant there were fifty to eighty others that never could or never did.

[E1pix]

Eric:

Yep on everything.

I recall an on-course National incident with John and the son of Donnybrooke’s owner in George Montgomery. In the paddock, it became a bit heated, where young Montgomery was hot and bothered about EVERYTHING.

John CLEARLY had the line, but young Montgomery took a chance.

I recall the conversation as it were yesterday:

• Montgomery: “Don’t you check your mirrors?”
• John: “If you want to live in mirrors, go back to Regional racing.”

That’s awesome, Rick!

I never knew George or his son… but our first trip there was “Donnybrooke’s” finale under George, when Francois scored his only Can-Am win in true and brilliant style… and Donohue broke something (a tire?) into 1 on his first race “back” after Road Atlanta at, they announced, a hair over 200.

I struggle to think today’s drivers fully realize how “safe” things are now.

Cool kid moment for me was taking my bicycle around at 5:51 at 13 at the first BIR Race, the Uncola Nationals (1974), and winning the impromptu Sunday lunch hour bicycle race in the 13-16 group (and a $75 bike shop gift certificate in Minneapolis). Connie personally timed me, and I think you know who I mean.

So I recall Berget from maybe 1975, but maybe more so in 1976. Bob Paladino won that ‘76 race in a Lola T340 sponsored by “1-2-3 Disco,” his only National win so far as I remember.

Rumor had it that his motor was perhaps “a hair too fast,” or maybe Disco just brought that out.

Lest we remember it was 1976 after all, when we feared we’d lost Zeppelin and the rest forever — and the hood from “Welcome Back, Kotter” was suddenly an international superstar.

[Rick Iverson]

Rumor had it that his motor was perhaps “a hair too fast,”.

Eric:

And EVERYONE knew it.

But feature this: crewing for these two Fellas out of Winona, Sprints or the Kettle Moraine, circa 1974/75. One of these two (not to be named, (but in Dan Storhoff)), decided to change cams between qualification sessions. We removed everything from the car (gas, oil, battery….), removed the rocker shaft so the lifters could fall, and summoned as many people in the immediate area (say 12). We then inverted the car to R&R the cam.

Sounded like a AA fuel dragster on the line. Siebkins that night was throbbing.