SVRA at Roebling Road
The Beginning of the 2008 Season
The Monoposto season actually began the week-end before at Roebling Road with the formula Vee 45th birthday. Seven Monoposto racers were there to race and celebrate. This weekend, however, was the first “full” Monoposto event with all Classic and F70 classes running for championships eligible. The weather, except for Saturday afternoon, was fantastic. The racing got of to a good start on Friday with the 100 lap, 202 mile endurance race open to all entrants including formula cars. Travis Engen won it in his 1976 Ralt RT1 formula Atlantic.
Patricia and David Porter hosted the Monoposto party following the enduro. The discussions and camaraderie were full of energy as all of us were anticipating the racing ahead. Two new Monoposto racers who were there were Sandra Carlino and Dave Handy. Dave, of course, is not new to racing but he said that he was really impressed by the close racing in formula B last year, particularly the final race at Road Atlanta, with multiple lead changes in the course of a lap and the potential for any of the five leading drivers to be the winner and decided to get a formula B car and join us.
The first of the Monoposto qualification races the Classic group. As the cars were gridded Dave Handy in his new BT29, formula B was on pole. As the race began Dave felt he had jumped the start and ceded the first corner to Travis Engen. On lap 6 Dave regained the lead, Travis was again the leader on lap 13 and on the next lap Dave took the lead to win the 15 lap race. Throughout the race their two cars were nose-to-tail. Lee Brahin had one of the best views of the action, finishing 3rd in his Brabham.
The action in formula ford was also close. Frank Hammette was on pole but Deane Tank was in the lead when they crossed the start/finish line at the end of the first lap. Frank regained the lead but Deane took it back for laps 9 to11. At the end Frank won the race.
By the time of the F70 qual race a storm front had moved in and the track was quite wet with many places with standing water and a light rain falling. Three intrepid drivers took the start: David Porter, Travis Engen and Mike Snowdon. Engen (on pole) was on the side of the track with puddles and Porter claimed turn 1. He maintained the lead for the rest of the shortened ten lap race. Engen was right on his gear box until a spin near the end of the race and finished several hundred yards back. Observers around the track thought Engen was following Porter closely so the spray from Porter’s car would pass over him. It may have looked that way but there was still plenty of water and zero visibility where Engen was sitting. Snowdon was hampered by car issues but did finish 3rd, although some distance back.
On Sunday morning it was clear and a little cooler but very pleasant. In the Classic race the previous day’s duel between Handy and Engen continued with Handy winning the race. In formula ford Frank Hammette lead from flag-to-flag. Over the distance of the race four different drivers were behind Hammette in second place but at the end the order was Hammette, Deane Tank and Jamie Britnell.
With the dry track a larger grid took the start in the F70 race. David Porter led flag-to-flag. Three cars held second place during the race but at the end the order was Porter, Lee Brahin and Mike Snowdon.
Summing up the weekend it was a superb start to what promises to be a very competitive season of good, close, exciting racing. Next up is the SVRA event at Road America in mid-May.
