OHIO MUSCLECAR CHALLENGE
August 21-23, 2015
Written by Brandy Phillips
Photos by Orange Cone Racing
For those living near the Ohio area, there is one particular event that sparks curiosity. Maybe because it’s an event that sells out quickly or maybe it’s
because the event includes elements that many of us do not get to experience at other race events. Whatever the reason may be the Ohio Musclecar
Challenge should be an event to consider.
The event is limited to 60 participants. Though a couple of drivers could not make the event at the last minute, there was a lengthy wait list that quickly
filled those openings.
The event is a three-day event with quite nice accommodations. Two local church groups provided lunch on Saturday including shredded beef sandwiches,
side dishes and homemade cookies.
The event center was also open to the drivers where they could cool down in the air conditioning, get something to drink and enjoy some additional cookies.
The event center overlooked the North Road Race Track, which was where most of the racing was held.
Enough about the food though, the racing is probably what most of you are curious about. Registration took place Friday along with a driver’s meeting.
Then drivers were divided into two groups: Early Class (pre 1981) and Late Class (post 1981). There were a total of forty cars in the early class and twenty
late class that attended the event.
Now some might be asking what in the world is a Track Cross. Many are familiar with an autocross set-up that includes a large parking lot, a sea of traffic
cones and a timing system. At the Ohio Musclecar Challenge a section of the road course was used to make a very fast and technical autocross on a much
larger scale; hence the Track Cross.
The Track Cross ran just like an autocross. Each driver took to the course one at a time with the goal of running the fastest time. The Track Cross went
late into the evening Friday night allowing drivers to get in some practice runs before completing their three final runs for the official scoring.
At the end of the day scores were finalized and results were in. Brian Finch and his ’71 Camaro placed 1st in the early class. Larry Woo and his ’69 Camaro
claimed 2nd while Danny Kind in his ’69 Camaro took 3rd place. In the late model class Bryan Johnson took 1st in his ’13 Camaro, Chris Jacobs 2nd in his
’01 Z06 Corvette and Mark Mikula 3rd with his ’11 Mustang.
The Track Cross was just the start of the race weekend. Saturday brought faster speeds and more competition as competitors hit the road course. Again
drivers ran the North Track, but this time it included the full 1.6 miles course.
Drivers were divided into four groups; each getting six track sessions lasting twelve minutes. Though you might think twelve minutes is not much time
that’s 8-10 laps X 6 sessions equaling an average of 50-55 laps total. That is a lot of seat time in one day.
When racing ended at 5pm Saturday results were calculated:
EARLY CLASS:
Brian finch ‘71 Camaro with a 1:02.422 1st Place
Danny King ‘69 Camaro with a 1:03.415 2nd place
Mark Greenisen ‘65 Tempest with a 1:04.060 3rd
LATE CLASS:
Bryan Johnson ‘13 Camaro with a 1:01.784 1st
Chris Jacobs ’01 Z06 Corvette with a 1:03.869 2nd
Justin Snow ’02 Z06 Corvete with a 1:06.963 3rd
As Saturday came to an end, the Ohio Musclecar Challenge participants sat down for a rib-eye steak dinner sponsored by BFGoodrich. The Real Living
Ministries and Upper Room Fellowship were kind enough to help serve the group while drivers were able to relax, enjoy a good meal and reflect on the day.
Sunday was the final day of racing at the Pittsburgh International Race Complex. The morning was met with another drivers meeting preparing for the
autocross portion of the event; a fast pass track that allowed several cars on track at the same time.
Autocross remained open for fun runs until 4pm allowing drivers to get some extra seat time if desired though many drivers started to prep for their
journey home after the award ceremony was complete.
Throughout the three days drivers averaged a total of 70 laps between the Track Cross, Road Course and Autocross. That’s quite a bit of driving within a
three-day time span.
We want to thank Bob Bertelsen for providing us with a quick recap and photos of the event. For those that have any questions, want to check out the full
photo gallery or are possibly thinking about attending next year’s event, head over to Orange Cone Racing: http://orangeconeracing.com/index.php
(BTW We Miss You Too Sam!!!)
We absolutely love this event and look forward to next year. Thanks to everyone that participated in the "we miss you Sam" pictures.
09-13-2015
lotarust
So my Mustang had an engine failure while unloading off the trailer,but I still had a great weekend! Bob did a once again great job hosting, and everyone there are some of the coolest and nicest people on the planet! Thank you to everyone who offered to let me share their rides! And I got some time with my son who squeezed the weekend in to a hectic time frame. ( I had to drop Kenny off at school on Sunday night for Monday a.m. classes) The Mustang got torn down to find a non engine piece of metal in one of the cylinders....I have no idea what,why or how. I'm just glad it failed on the trailer and not on the track!....Still good to be me!