Track Days At Kershaw
CCR Hosts A Solo Extravaganza at Carolina Motorsports Park

When the Central Carolinas Region SCCA hits the road, those guys and gals do it In Style. Over 100 participants came to an out-of-the-way road race venue in the northern piedmont of South Carolina to experience a combined weekend event of simultaneous Solo1 and Solo2 competitions on the 2.38 mile circuit, which had been modified to allow both events to run concurrently while still meeting the stringent safety guidelines of the Sports Car Club of America.

Officials and drivers, some with full complement of crew and support vehicles, began arriving in the late Friday afternoon heat, ready to take on the challenges afforded by this nearly new facility located four miles south of the little burg of Kershaw.

Participants had the choice of preregistration by mail or upon arrival at this event, which was limited to 100 drivers. Camping was allowed on site, and those who preferred the comforts of home were afforded reduced rates arranged by the Club with the Colony Inn in Camden, some twenty miles south. Many members carpooled from the site to Camden, leaving their rigs and tools safely behind at the gated and secured facility. One Solo2 participant Bill Repucci, driver and trophy-bearer in the first day of competition (white 1999 Mazda Miata, CSP 911) remarked Sunday morning, "I left my car and all my equipment and it was all undisturbed," referring to the quality of security and the honor among other Solo devotees.

Things got started early Saturday with the usuals of registration followed by tech. Armbands were issued to allow controlled access to the facility and to designate one day or two day competitiors. The Solo2 side of things was operated as 2 separate events, with CCR Solo2 Championship points awarded each day, along with sharp-looking plaques supplied by Club member and driver Don Blood of Honorcraft Inc. in Statesville, NC.

Karts went first. Just imagine the thrill of driving two inches from the ground over a 0.9-mile road course at speeds approaching sixty mph. Despite the South Carolina heat and humidity, full drivers suit and helmet, you still won't approach the rush that these 5 drivers experienced on the first of three runs: through a tightly restricted avenue of technicality defined by cones, opening up into a sweeping right hander and dashing into a high speed 6 cone slalom, braking then left into a 100 degree slightly on camber turn onto the third, and wide- open, straight; then a decreasing radiused right turn into offsets, followed by a slightly off -camber right hander at turn 13 opening into a VERY LONG STRAIGHT, braking and scrubbing off speed as you come into aptly- named Last Chance turn 14, another 100 degree sphincter-grabber, powering out into a 2 cone slalom to a brief, but rolling, finish. Fastest time of day for the Saturday event went to David Frye, who managed to negotiate the circuit with an impressive 1:00.412 time in his Tiga S2000. As a point of reference, the fastest stock class car ran 1:10.635 (John Messenheimer, GS VW GTI VR-6)

The forecast rains finally arrived during the tail end of the 3rd run group Saturday afternoon. Cloud-to-ground lightning in and around the vicinity forced a 45-minute delay in the action which resumed with the fourth and what became final run group. Although 6 runs had been planned, only 3 were realized. The unwelcome foreshortening of the racing was overcome with a combined social with the Solo1 crowd under the open canopy of the Tech facility. Here drivers were allowed to come back down to earth with raw veggies, snacks, beer, sodas, and juices, supplied by the Club.

Day 2 greeted participants with lowered humidity readings, steady 10-15 mph breezes, and a more open front straight. Modified by Geoffrey Zimmer, Martin Bartlett, Todd Hopkins, and Chris Peterson, the course began with a series of alternate offsets sequenced to provide just enough acceleration to reach the sweeper without sacrifice of safety. (One of the concerns aired early in the weekend which Safety had to address with the approval of Kenny Leighton, CCR Regional Executive, and Mort Stern, Solo1 Safety chair, was the issue of speed and driver safety on both the front straight and the final straight prior to turn 14).

Turn 1 and turn 10 remained the same, although the entry to turn 1 was pinched a wee bit, followed by a shorter, hence more forgiving, slalom into an offset before turn 11;turn 12 saw a tightening with the movement of a single restrictive cone nearly mid-turn, gates shifted somewhat to the right in the short straight preceding turn thirteen, which now gave way to a lengthy but fast 5 cone slalom, leaving a chute created with cones funneling drivers to the narrowed turn 14, out the other side around a mandatory speed- killing cone into the short chute to the unchanged finish.

Turn 14 saw its share of adventures of the John Deere variety as adrenalin-charged drivers, boosted by that looonnnnggg straight, failed to manage the late braking- shift- turn- tango required to escape its awaiting entanglement. Of particular note was the raging attack to the outfield vegetation provided by worker steward Maurice Weber on Day 2 as he charged into the sandy sod in his pristine silver AS Z3 Bimmer.

Lunch break greeted drivers early with all engines shut down for 11:00 for worshippers in the vicinity. During this time, personal cars shed their magnetics and became "streetable" once more as the Solo1 venue was opened up for low-speed touring of the remainder of the facility.

Speaking of lunches, the concession provided excellent service both days. Saturday's lunch ticket got a REAL old-fashioned grilled burger with all the trimmings, salad, chips and a drink. Sunday served sandwich fare also, but guests were treated to REAL grilled chicken breast sandwiches instead of beef. The food was consistently good, served by friendly helpful concession staff.

Before days end, day 2 drivers had four runs back to back, on the clock and in the dry. The absence of rain allowed the official runs to end earlier than expected, but with the rent already paid up, free runs at the open course quickly became plan for those who had yet to pack their cars. Some folks even unpacked again to take full advantage of the opportunity. Karts got an additional run, with most remaining drivers getting 2. Workers volunteering to relieve the 4th run group folk got a bonus run besides.

FTD on day 2 again went to David Frye in his Tiga at 0:57.497. In the stock classes, Jon Krolewicz impressed with a 1:05.400 in his ES CRX. Geoff Zimmer topped FSP with his sweet 1:02.993 driving Super Rabbit, of course.

Thanks to the folk on the CCR board, the event Chair Martin Bartlett, and all those who volunteered to bring about this grand opportunity for fun in the SC sun. Talk has already commenced via the net of another such event in 2002. This writer knows where he's gonna be. How 'bout you?

--William Crummett