Membership Magazine of Oregon Region Sports Car Club of ...

The racing action at Oregon
Region’s first BF Goodrich Tires
SCCA Super Tour race was terrific.
Winners celebrated with a victory
lap, checkered flag keepsake, and
a beautiful trophy, followed by a
Champaign shower and post-race
interview on the victor’s podium by
SCCA President & CEO Jeff Dahnert.
The weekend featured Oregon’s
famous “changing conditions,”
where tire selection and car set-up
between dry and wet settings were
a constant challenge. In every race
group, the racing was clean and
tight. While few SCCA races are
bigger than a National Super Tour
event, there are still those who demonstrate
true sportsmanship -- even
if it could potentially cost him a
victory. During the GT-3 race, with
less than 2 laps to go, an emergency
vehicle was dispatched on track.
When the class leader came upon
the service vehicle, he mistakenly
slowed in order not to pass it, allowing
the trailing GT-3 Mazda
RX3, driven by Gary Bockman, to
pass both the leader and the service
vehicle and move into the lead.
When Gary saw what happened, he
slowed and motioned for the former
race leader to pass him. While
the re-pass was not taken, Gary’s
sportsmanship was outstanding.
One area of the race weekend
continues to be of concern: low
participation. Approximately 30%
BF Goodrich Super Tour:
Super Celebrations &
Sportsmanship
By Jim Weidenbaum
ORSCCA Road Racing Director
of entrants came from out of the Region,
which is not a surprise given
that Portland is one of only two
West Coast Super Tour events in
2012. It’s just that the total number
of entrants was well below expectation.
Super Tour events preclude
any Regional classes, so the loss
of Improved Touring and Vintage
race groups was expected. But
there were far fewer participants in
National classes, such as Spec Miata
and Spec Racer Ford than anticipated.
So, where did everybody go?
SCCA National races in the Pacific
Northwest have drawn smaller
fields than Regional races? Why?
I believe the issue is with limited
race budgets, Regional racers, more
18 Oregon Region SCCA
Leo Matthews takes his B-Spec Honda through the Festival Curves with style at the Super Tour!
Photo by Doug Berger - www.digitalracephotos.com
concerned with Regional points,
skip the more expensive entry fees
and preparation of National competition.
I’d like to hear from you,
but in my mind, next season, with
the exception of the Super Tour, any
National race should be sanctioned
as a Rational to allow Regional and
Vintage race classes to participate.
Your BOD is working hard and
creatively to build the best racing
experience for our fellow racers,
workers, and officials. We want to
make racing with Oregon Region
SCCA safe, fun, and competitive.
We take your feedback seriously,
but there is seldom unanimity –
even within a single race class. Our