Monoposto Announces Ten Champions

The 2021 Monoposto season ended at the Circuit of the Americas with championships decided in ten of the eleven Monoposto class categories. Our 2021 champions are as follows:

Formula Vee – Eric Coppock

Formula Junior – Tom O'Grady

Historic Formula Ford – Tony Freston

Club Ford – Jacque Dresang

Formula B – Mark Giroux

Classic F2 – Graham Adelman

Formula Super Vee – Fletcher Belt

Formula Atlantic – Josh Boller

Formula 5000 – Tom Simpson

Indy Lights – Marc Giroux

Two of these champions deserve special notice. Tony Freston is repeating as the Historic Formula Ford champion and Marc Giroux has won in two championship classes: Formula B and Indy Lights.

While celebrating these special achievements we should also recognize the vibrancy of the vintage/historic racing community as demonstrated by the strong recovery of the level of competition from the lows of 2020.

Shortly after we secure the schedules for each of the sanctioning organizers on which we usually base our event selections we will announce the 2022 Monoposto schedule. In addition to looking at participation levels and choosing events that reflect the locations of our members, for the last few years we have been trying to have all of our championship classes compete at all of our events. (This seems to really build participation and camaraderie.) Please email me if you have suggestions for the 2022 schedule.

Finally, it's time to get busy preparing your car and equipment for 2022. Check your seat belts and HANS devices for their certification periods as well as checking your helmet certification milestone so you are prepared with these important safety equipment items when you resume racing in 2022.

Travis Engen

President, Monoposto Racing

Down to the Wire

Next weekend will mark the final race of the 2021 Monoposto season. As our last event of the year SVRA's U. S. Vintage National Championship at the Circuit of the Americas features large entry lists in all Monoposto classes. In fact, the event is fully subscribed in all classes and run groups. For the first time in memory last week SVRA announced that entries were closed.

There are 56 cars registered in Group 2 which includes all the Classic classes from FJ to Formula 2. FV cars are in a separate group with 34 cars that are running in Group 1 which brings the total of Classic Monoposto car entries to nearly double last year's total.

SVRA's Group 9, which includes all F70 classes and Indy Lights, has 31 entries spread across many classes so there will be spirited racing on offer for everyone.

With so many cars entered, the sessions will be crowded but for Sunday's "Helmet" races, the fields will have three group races: Group 2, Group 1b (Formula Vee) and Group 9.

The race circuit at CoTA has many challenges beginning with the tightening turn 1 to the esses that follow. There are some really high-speed straights and sections like the epic turn 16, 17 and 18 sweeper near the end of the lap. If you watch last weekend's F1 race there you will also know that despite efforts to smooth it out, the circuit is quite bumpy. In summary, there is something to test us all.

Unlike last year the Monoposto schedule (save for races in Canada) occurred as anticipated a year ago when the schedule was set. Of the 11 categories of Monoposto championships it looks like 9 will meet the three-event threshold for trophy presentation. Of these 8 championships will be decided based on the action at CoTA. Only one championship has already been locked up: Indy Lights. Congratulations to Marc Giroux the 2021 champion!

SVRA Covid-19 precautions will be in full effect, masks everywhere, social distancing and basically no social events. The usual SVRA season ending banquet and prize giving will not happen. There will also be no Monoposto Party.

I hope to see you at the track!

Travis Engen,

President, Monoposto Racing

Road America and VIR are Next

Imagine a three-week event sequence spanning Watkins Glen, Road America and VIR. It's hard to not find enjoyment in this.

Last weekend at Watkins Glen started out with many cars having teething problems that meant sessions ending very early. We also had several bouts of rain that kept cars off the track. Thankfully by Saturday afternoon and Sunday most of the issues were behind us and the racing was good. With the Watkins Glen event completed we have two more tracks to visit in this three-weekend series of events.

Next up is VSCDA's Elkhart Lake Vintage Festival XXXVI at Road America another classic track with early street course racing origins. Like Watkins Glen racing at Road America began on roads around and through Elkhart Lake. The entry list has over 30 cars in the Classic Run Group, while the Wings & Slicks group is sparse. Regardless, the racing should be great in both groups with a promising weather forecast.

The final event in the three-event sequence is SVRA's VIR Speed Tour and Trans Am. Entry information has not been published but there always seems to be good racing at VIR. Like Watkins Glen and Road America, the natural terrain course is fun to drive while presenting interesting challenges. There are two long straights that offer great drafting and the potential for lead changes almost every lap. If you get in the lead you need to really hustle to avoid being passed on the next straight.

As for previous events this year there will be no Monoposto party at either Road America or VIR. Hopefully next year the Covid pandemic will have receded enough that we will be able to resume them in 2022.

Travis Engen

President Monoposto