Peak Performance

Great track. Great event.

Strategies and schemes. Full-tilt-boogie dreams.

Charleston Peak Full Course CW offers 18 corners including two hairpins, negative camber and blind elevation changes that add up to enough challenges for even the most seasoned of drivers.

3.23 miles of F.U.N. fun!

Friday

Friday practice was optional but just like the best way to get to Carnegie Hall, practice is the best (and fastest) way to the podium. Sessions were informative to say the least. We had to refresh our techniques in the sectors we’d driven before and learn the new T11-12-13-14 combo culminating in T15’s in-your-face challenge to make it through without spreading red marbles all over the track; the gift that keeps on giving to drivers spinning and shrinking in your rear-view mirror. There were a good number of offs. There were delays clearing the track and towing a car-or-two back to the paddock. I asked our esteemed Editor, Don Matz, how his day went. “The very first session on Friday I took the car off at turn 13, went straight and bottomed out. There was minimal damage to the front splitter but the impact cracked the bell housing on our transmission. Out for the weekend! (Son) Scott and I became spectators.” Thankfully, others survived.

Saturday – Orange Races

Saturday morning got off to a standing start due to a corner worker dispute. Joe Wiederholt and John Momeyer employed their problem-solving skills and got us back on track as soon as it was safe to do so. I qualified .001 second behind Mark Boschert. I’d be more upset if Mark wasn’t such a good guy. Todd Trimble of Trophy Performance eagerly pitched in with gridding and splitting duties. Both Orange races were shortened from 10 to 8 to 7 laps once actual lap times were determined in practice and qualifying. In Orange Race #1 Trophy Performance drivers Chris Bason and Nick Khilnani led the BSR pack with Anders Hainer finishing 3rd. Khilnani earned fastest lap with a 2:38.896. Kudos to BSR driver Chris MacDuff for an impressive performance, finishing 4th in his class. Aspasia Zouras thoughtfully strategized her game and finished 1st in GT5, soaring through the BSR flock to gain 14 places. Don Kravig and Neal Rouzier finished 2nd and 3rd in GT5. Bob Thacker finished 1st in Carrera Spec followed by Kip Waterhouse. Doug Volder did not run. Randy Bergum was the solo GT7 entry. Herb Cunitz squeaked by me in T3 and went on to pick up another 2 places. Ryder Liu, Aaron Guttman, Dallas Carroll and Marc Kolbe suffered car trouble.

During Orange Race #2, Chris Bason started out front but found himself on an offtrack excursion and never recovered. In later laps, Daniel Rozenblatt went off after T13 sending gravel everywhere. I was behind him along with Justin Daily as my windshield got smashed and a new sheet of dirt was spread on the track. It was a good test of my car handing skills. Joe Wiederholt limped home with 3 inflated tires and one very deflated result. Khilnani finished 1st in BSR with a fastest lap of 2:38.244, followed by Anders Hainer and Riley Giacomazzi. Don Kravig led GT5 with Neal Rouzier and Bill Durant behind. Kip Waterhouse finished 1st in Carrera Spec. Randy Bergum ran solo again in GT7. Ryder Liu (BSR) and Bob Thacker (Carrera Spec) only completed 3 laps due to mechanical miseries.

Saturday – Red Race

Mike Monsalve in GT1 qualified for the first Red Race with a fastest lap of 2:15.248. The Race was a fast and furious 9 laps. Loren Beggs finished 1st in GT1 with an impressive fastest lap time of 2:14.340. Monsalve finished 2nd followed by Eric Olberz in his number zero GT1 rocket. In GT2, Ana Predescu edged out Razvan Sporea and Bryan Van Noy. Brett Gaviglio took 1st in GT3, with Eben Benade hot on his bumper. James Buck finished 3rd. Phil Town led GT4 followed by Lenny Loftin and PDS Director Jim Salzer.

The Saturday night dinner was all about great food and even better friends. Scott Craig and John Momeyer awarded raffle items from the POC store via the POC Wheel of Fortune. I went home with two POC beer glasses. Chicane racing shoes and Alpine Stars gloves for men and women were donated by Racers Safety Source’s Chris Emory, one of our loyal sponsors. POC jackets and 500 POC bucks were part of the grand prizes. Jim McLaughlin, Katie Shorthill and Aspasia Zouras were the biggest winners. Steve Town thanked each of our sponsors and announced that we raised $3,500 for the Shine-a-Light Foundation in association with Gaudin Porsche, Las Vegas. It was a great evening.

Sunday

A special morning meeting was called for the start of the day for a surprise birthday celebration for photographer Luis Vivar. He was very surprised and very appreciative. Sunday morning sessions were slightly delayed, but we got back on schedule quickly. The schedule was created with an “early out” in mind. Driving home after a racing weekend can be a challenge and not having to navigate through Las Vegas weekend traffic later in the day was a super idea. I got home in time to soak in our hot tub, enjoy a beer in my new POC glass, and have dinner with Terry. Home sweet home.

Sunday – Red Race

Red Race #2 was defined by lots of action. Sporea gave it his best shot to get past Predescu (unsuccessful), and Benade carved his way through heavy traffic. Beggs hard charged 12 places with a fastest lap time of 2:14.363 to finish 7th overall. GT1 podium winners were Monsalve, Jimmy Lorimer, and Olberz. Predescu took 1st in GT2, followed by Sporea and Van Noy, a carbon copy of Saturday’s match-up. In GT3, Gaviglio scored 1st with Benade close behind. Bayan Salehi finished 3rd. It’s always great to see Bayan and his dad, Behr, at the track. GT4 pilots Town, Loftin and Salzer repeated their Saturday performances. Benade had a huge smile on that handsome face of his at impound and was enjoying multiple high-fives from competitors and spectators alike.

Sunday – Orange Race

Orange Race #3 was 7 laps of intense competition. It got off to an odd start for BSR driver Adam Abrahms when a giant moth flew into his cockpit and dive bombed his face multiple times. He swerved. He slowed. From where I was, it looked like he was having car trouble and I appreciated the opportunity to overtake. In Boxster Spec, Hainer beat hometown boys Khilnani and Bason although Bason turned a fastest lap of 2:38.408. They’re all outstanding drivers. Congrats to Hainer for a hard-fought battle. GT5 pilot Zouras finished first in her class (moving up 13 spots), followed by Rouzier and William (Bill) Durant. Carrera Spec driver Waterhouse ran solo, as did Bergum in GT7. I had a great time trying to get by Karen Robinson but she made me work super hard and ultimately stayed out in front. Kravig (GT5) and MacDuff (BSR) both suffered transmission failures and had to retire early.

After driving the Mansell Course at Spring Mountain for several years we got to enjoy the challenges of Charleston Peak for a second time. Although facilities have yet to be completed, it’s a great place to race. Many thanks to Joe Wiederholt, John Momeyer, Scott Craig, the entire Board and band of volunteers for another outstanding POC event.