2001 SCCA National Championships

"We are not going to let the bastards win." If the week of the Solo 2 Nationals could be reduced to a single phrase, Roger Johnson provided it during what was to be the Wednesday night awards banquet. The awards banquet and the event itself took on a whole new meaning after the morning of September 11th. Up to that point the event had all the promise of a week of good old American escapism. Nearly twelve hundred autocrossers from across the country created a mini city on a large concrete field in Topeka Kansas to enjoy a shared sport and the camaraderie that has grown from it. Then my cell phone rang.

We had just begun the first runs of Tuesday morning, multi-time National Champion John Thomas was on the South Course ripping off runs that seemed unbelievable. I got a call from Cliff Rosenberg, "a plane crashed into the World Trade Center." At first we assumed it was an accident. The question was raised, do we need to stop the event. The answer was, why? The news kept coming; it became clear this was no accident. Unofficial new reports and rumors of the event being canceled replaced results and cone counts. Every one who had a cell phone was searching for information. While every news source in the country was providing America with unforgettable visual images we looked skyward to find a vapor trail turned 180 degrees and returning to where it came from. As the scheduled break got closer a radio communication came out from Rally Solo Director Tasha Goodale. Simply, do not start the next heat; do not tell anyone anything. Forbes Field, the home of Air Force 2, is also the largest refueling station in the country for the Air Force.

A meeting of event officials was scheduled for 1:00, in the mean time everyone was instructed to leave the site and leave nothing behind. Because many of the competitors ran in the Pro Solo over the weekend and then would not be driving again until Thursday several cars had to be rescued as best as the could by friends. At this point we did not know if, much less when we might be able to return. Steve Johnson made it clear that this was a decision was made in the interest of safety, we were not being forced off rather that we were following the suggestion of the base commander. The plan was to announce at the Wednesday night banquet what, if anything would happen next. CNN took over from there, most autocrossers were gathered in hotel rooms watching the events unfold and learning just how massive the destruction was. It took the images of TV to bring the perspective that Solo 2 really did not matter.

By the time Wednesday rolled around the mood had once again shifted. Poolside card games, beer runs, test drives at all the Topeka dealerships and of course Go-Karts became the focus of the day. By 7:00 everyone was rested, relaxed, hopeful for the event's continuation. A plan was presented for a three run event using the South Course only. Those who had already completed the runs on either course had finished their event and the leaders would be crowned National Champions that evening. There was a very mixed reaction. The question was asked, how can a three run event be considered a National Championship? Drivers whose event was now over wondered how differently they might have approached their runs if they had known it was a one-day event. Then Roger Johnson took the stage and spoke of the terrorist plans to stop America. With the simple phrase, "we can't let the bastards win" the spirit of the show must go on swept the room and "United We Stood" feeling a greater sense of purpose to go on.

Thursday morning we returned to half the paddock space as we had the first time. The start on Thursday was delayed until 10:00 so that everyone could get inside the gate and to allow time for course walking. The elaborate canopy covered pit spaces were gone, most people did not take their cars off of the trailer unless it was time to run. A three run and you are done National Championship made for a change in strategy. Just getting a clean run on the first day no longer paid dividends. There were two theories; go for broke and hope you did not make any mistakes, or stick to your limits and hope everyone else made mistakes. Both proved to be effective. Despite the delayed start the day ended in time for the now Kumho sponsored Talent show to bring some much-needed comic relief.

The Team Underdog entry featured impressions of Howard Duncan (SCCA director of something or other) by Heyward Wagner, Grady Wood (Solo's Fastest Senior Citizen) by Sean Minehart, Jean Kinser-Dana (Owner of Evolution Driving Schools) by Jason Minehart and Mark Allen (One of the sports most "colorful" characters) played by Mitchell Wagner all playing Jeopardy. When "Howard" read off the categories; Past National Champions, Things found in a Garage, Chicken, Popouri and words that rhyme with Poop the room fell apart. From there it became a "you had to be there" type of thing, but it was good enough to win the Peavey Guitar and the Set of Kumhos and place Team Underdog among the greatest talent show entries of all time.

Friday presented a challenge to the organizers, workers and drivers, a challenge that was met with not a can do, but a will do attitude. Instead of the normal 5 run groups, Friday would have nine. With a car being released every 15 seconds it became an unspoken code among drivers to avoid hitting large numbers of cones or spinning out to reduce the need for red flags. Many times drivers chose an of course over causing a red flag. In the timing van no excuses were made for only using the best of the best personnel and they lived up to that billing. Course workers got the job done time and time again. It was a total effort that once again showcased the strength of the solo community.

When it was all in the books, Central Carolinas Region had claimed 4 trophies including a National Championship for Sandra Castro in A Prepared Ladies. Sandra wisely saw the strength of drivers in Super Stock Ladies and decided to put Robert Houser's stock Boxster against a fully prepared car and attempt to let her driving make the difference. In her second trip to Nationals, after her second year of driving, Sandra came home a Champion by over a second. In Super Stock the "Bob and Rob Boxster Show" showed everyone what the Boxster S was capable of against the Z06 Corvettes. Rob Falkner piloted the car to a third place trophy while Bob Houser put together what has been called the drive of his life to claim the 15th and final trophy. Not to be out done, GH Sharp and his Boxster finished in the 4th spot in A Stock. Geoff Zimmer and Chris Petersen had engine problems Super Rabbit saw a few too many RPMs on an early run. The two managed to salvage 9th and 14th place finishes, with Chris one spot out of the Trophies. Carmen Wells put up a strong 10th place finish in BSL for her first trip to Nationals while Todd Phillips learned just how tough ESP can be coming home a respectable 26th. In H-Stock Jason Minehart and Mitchell Wagner turned best times within .03 of each other in Jason's Protégé. However Mitchell fell victim to the"go for broke" theory and coned all of his runs. Jason ended up 6th, while Mitchell was 12th. The other half of Team Underdog, Sean Minehart and Heyward Wagner drove Sean's MR2 in C-Stock. While North Carolina regular Jonathan Roberts claimed the Championship Wagner and Minehart finished 21st and 32nd of a 54-car field.

It can only be hoped that we will never see another Solo 2 Nationals like this one, but at the same time the spirit of the week is something we can only hope carries on for years to come. It should be remembered that just like the Olympics, going to Topeka is an honor no matter where you finish. I hope that next year more Central Carolinas members attend. Simply, there is nothing like it.

--Heyward Wagner