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Gordon Medenica Wins |
Pete Gulick takes both |
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- Photos by Bob Harrington (click to enlarge) |
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VIR was the perfect ending to a spectacular year for our drivers and for us. In fact, our LCR AllStars crossed the finish line for 2002 with six "major awards" to bring home. However, the awards fall short when it comes to describing how much fun we've had this year. A separate scrapbook page with a few choice photos will be forthcoming, as we try to do justice to the nonstop hilarity and, frankly, adolescent behavior that we've come to thrive on, both in the paddock and on our evenings out. It's gonna be a long, cold winter 'til Sebring brings the gang back together again. |
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Left to right:
Bill Pedersen, Gordon
Medenica, Dave Colby, Pete Gulick, Lee Chapman, Ed Mettelman and Pete
Schultz (Paul Flowers missed this shoot, but we'll get him next
time!) |
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2002 was a stellar year for Gordon Medenica and his Chevron B6 GT, making the SVRA Annual Dinner on Saturday night a real treat for us all. The first of three times Gordon was called to the awards table was to take the trophy for overall winner of the Michael Stott/UBS Paine-Webber Enduro Championship. This was especially gratifying, since after a very tenuous start to the final Enduro of the series on Friday, we weren't so sure he would be able to claim this one. He had limped into the pits before even taking the green flag, uttering a variety of expletives that quickly alerted us to the gravity of his situation. Our pit crew flew into action and the problem was diagnosed in seconds: a broken rotor arm, leaving the rotor uselessly spinning in place. Lee Chapman then broke a few records himself, racing the LCR pit-cart back to the paddock to retrieve a replacement, then back to the pits to effect the repair, with Wonder-Boy Bill Pedersen's invaluable assistance. All tolled, "Go" was back in action within 3-1/2 minutes of rolling in, his language somewhat improved, and his championship ultimately secured. We might have expected the unexpected with the B6, since the weekend had already gotten off to a curious start on test day. We actually had to convince everyone with an opinion on the matter - which is, of course, everyone - that the vibration plaguing Gordon's car was only a case of "square wheels" (easily remedied with new tires). And even though the VIR weekend itself did not provide Gordon with spectacular race finishes (merely a 3rd in class), the year as a whole stood him in good stead, enabling him to also take home the 2002 Edelbrock Sprint Series Group 5 Championship, not to mention Most Improved Driver of the Year. And so we salute him again - way to go Go!!! |
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2002 was also an excellent
year for SuperStar
Pete Gulick.
He was awarded both the
2002 Edelbrock Sprint Series Group 7
and
Group 9 Championships.
Driving
the wheels off
his
BMW Chevron B23
at VIR, he was in hot pursuit of Alex Quattlebaum in his Lola T294 all
weekend long, as the photo (left) bears out. He won
1st-in-Class
and
3rd Overall
in the race. But the real scoop is that the level of his game has
risen at least 25 percent
-
particularly this weekend
-
due to better focus and a much more relaxed approach. This
has benefited his performance in his
Chevron
B42 as well,
and he is sure to be a major contender in Groups 7 and 9 again in 2003.
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The other story here is |
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Paul Flowers had a great year in his '63 Elva Mk7. He took 2nd (Solo) in the Chicago-Soft Performance Awards for the year, and 3rd (Solo) in the 2002 Tom Yeager Sports Racer Challenge presented by Chicago Soft Triple Crown (phew!). He also placed 3rd in the Group 5 Sprint Race on Sunday - not bad considering it was his first race at VIR. |
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Paul's '80 Toleman TG280 F/2 per-formed beautifully all weekend. Even though he hadn't driven the car for over three years, Paul still took 2nd in Class in the Group 9 Feature Race. In fact, his best lap-time was not far off that of the overall winner, ace-driver Ted Wenz in his 72 McRae GM1 F5K! Obviously, Paul is quickly getting a real feel for the car again and we can't wait to see what 2003 will bring. |
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(On a separate note,
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Pete Schultz
in his '63 Lotus Elan S1
had a terrific weekend at VIR, especially considering that it was only his
second outing this year. He flew his plane into beautiful Danville
Regional Airport on Thursday morning (after Wednesday's storms dissuaded
him from an earlier attempt), got to the track and jumped into his Elan,
soon getting up to speed. In the Enduro on Friday, he and Ed Mettelman ran
together and proved to be a great team, although Schultz actually came in
for the required pit stop, unlike the rebel Ed. (see Ed's story
below...) |
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On Sunday, whilst Keith Dunbar did get by Pete in the Sprint Race, he
wasn't able to draw away, as Pete kept getting faster. In fact, he
was able to knock two seconds off his previous best time, finishing
3rd in Class,
and 4th
Overall.
An excellent effort! And once again the car came home sunny-side up,
no restoration required this year! |
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Ed Mettelman,
in his stunning '66 Lotus 47
("NOT a Europa!"),
was perhaps the highlight of the weekend for many of us, and we have to
thank Gordon for rescuing him from his Porsche (pttuh!) past and bringing
him to us, where he's become a happy, born-again Lotus lover. |
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Ed particularly enjoys the Enduro for the chance it gives him to be "in the zone" for at least an hour.
Of course, it follows that the required pit stop comes as an entirely unwelcome,
unnatural and unwarranted interruption, which he has overcome by simply
refusing to take one. Hey, it works for him. Even got him
mentioned in Bob Harrington's report: |
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Thanks, Ed, for giving us an entirely new perspective on the sport.
We look forward to more of your sharp insights, wit and originality in
2003.
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(It'll look
sensational in his front window (no need
to thank us, Go
-
you earned it!)
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Gentlemen, thanks for
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(photos by
Pete Gulick!)
