SCCA-NNJR - Racing in the Rain
June Region Update
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Joe DeLuca and Linda Gronlund Freedom Majors
Racing in the the Rain!
By Peter Schneider - Region Executive
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Over the Memorial Day Weekend the Region and SCCA returned to Pocono after a four year absence, to mark the 20th anniversary of the passing of Joe DeLuca and Linda Gronlund on September 11, 2001 (Link).
The event was truly a group effort bringing resources together from Northern and South New Jersey and 9 other Regions to volunteer and staff the Race under very trying conditions. 120 entries in 21 classes turned out for the weekend from 18 Regions, two from as ‘far away’ as Las Vegas and Central Carolinas. Large contingents came from New England, Washington DC and Philadelphia Regions to test their skills against Pocono’s famous ‘Tricky Triangle’.
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The Weekend was really five events in one. A Test Day and Track Night in America on Friday. Race 1 of the Majors and a joint Solo hosted by NNJR/NEPA on the ‘Infield’ Course on Saturday, followed by Race 2 of the Majors on Sunday and Track Sprint hosted by NNJR/NEPA.
As you can image the challenge for both the drivers and the volunteers was the weather, at the 2021 Pocono event, it was a very rainy and cold (temperatures were in the mid-40s), totally unexpected for the end of May. While the drivers faced the weather and wet track with standing water during a twenty minute race on Saturday and a 50 minute race on Sunday, the volunteers working the Flag Stations, Grid, Start and Pit were exposed to the elements for over seven hours each day.
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SCCA’s events are put on by the members for the members. Unlike hosting a Rally using GPS Smartphone Checkpoint Timing (see the write-up about the 2021 Second Hand Roads) that only requires a handful of volunteers, and Solos/Track Sprints which due to the nature of the event allows for the core event committee and contestants work and compete at the event, putting on the Memorial Day Weekend Majors required over 80 volunteers across nine specialties over the three day weekend, none of which compete in the event. Some Volunteers worked one or two days, while the majority worked all three days. The largest contingencies as you can expect came from Northern and South New Jersey Regions. Even ‘VannaWhite’, the NNJR equipment van which has been on loan to SJR came up for the event.
Work on the event started in early March, after it was determined that Pocono would be open for Racing in 2021 with the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions in Pennsylvania. Terry Hanushek (NNJR/SJR) and Dave Hofmann (SJR and a prior NNJR member and Race Chair) agreed to be Race Chairs for the event. The Race Director was Gene Kern (Steel Cities) and Clerk of the Course was Kathy McLeod (Washington DC) who also drove up for a couple of days, weeks prior to the event to recertify the track for SCCA. Chief Steward was NNJR’s own Butch O’Connor. Race results and podium photos are available on the Region’s Website.
As you can imagine putting on an event of this size has a large financial risk to the Region, the budget for the Weekend, exceeded the combined budget for all other programs for 2021. Even with the drop in entries at the last minute due to weather, the Region is looking to ‘breakeven’ or a ‘manageable/acceptable’ loss on the event, once all the paperwork is done.
We would like to thank everyone that made the event possible, Racers, Crews and Volunteers and the Region Board.
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The sun did make an appearance on Friday afternoon
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Multi Image Photography
'Official Photographer' for the Freedom Majors
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Based in White Haven, PA, two photographers were at the Joe DeLuca and Linda Gronlund Freedom Majors.
Multi Image Photography have been providing services for over 40 years. Photos are available
Ken Schurman's Images
Rob Hill's Images
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Saturday 7/24 - Meadowlands - Event #6
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Upcoming RoadRally Events
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August 22 – Back to School – Mileage based navigational road rally. This event will be an introduction to mileage based course rallying. 100 penalty points will be ‘awarded’ for each mile that you go off-course. The Rallymaster is designing the route for individuals new to this type of event and will provide helpers to keep you on-course and ‘instruct’ you on possible upcoming self-correcting route following tricks that you might see later in the event or on the December 5th ‘Teddy Bear’ Toys for Tots rally.
October 9 – North by Northwest - National Tour RoadRally – This is an all-day 160+ mile straight forward Time-Speed-Distance Rally. Hosted by South Jersey Region as the first event of a New Jersey National Weekend in conjunction with the NJ Monte hosted by NNJR on October 10th. The route will start by Atlantic City and travel North by Northwest to end in Clinton, NJ. The route will have over 100 timed locations and will include some sand trails in the NJ Pine Barrens.
October 10 – New Jersey Monte - National Course RoadRally – This is an all-day 160+ mile Time-Speed-Distance Map Rally and the second event of the New Jersey National Weekend held in conjunction with South Jersey Region. . The event will start in Clinton, NJ and end in Long Valley, NJ. The route will be based on the ‘historic’ New Jersey ‘Esso/Exxon’ map published by TravelVision a division of General Drafting Company, Inc of Convent Station, N.J. (yes paper maps were a thing) All Timing Controls will be listed on the map with associated Car Zero ‘Key Times’, ll you have to do is stay on-course by following the route highlighted on the map and get to each of the Timed Controls ‘on time’. (Sample Route Instructions). The event will be held in honor of NNJR member Dave Panas who was one of the original organizers of the NJ Monte back in the early '60s.
December 5 – 31st Annual ‘Teddy Bear‘ Toys for Tots Charity RoadRally. This is our annual toy drive for the United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots program. The longest running charity event hosted by the Sports Car Club of America – don’t miss out on the fun.
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Pocono Raceway
July 8, 2021
Track Night in America
SCCA Track Night in America Driven by Tire Rack is the single easiest way to get on a racetrack this (and every!) summer. With more than 130 events at 30 tracks across the country, it’s fun. It's safe. It’s affordable – and the spots fill up fast!
Don’t wait – registration is now open – so get signed up, lest you find yourself watching others have fun on a sold-out night!
Pocono Raceway is one of the most historic circuits on the Track Night in America schedule having hosted NASCAR and IndyCar races for more than 40 years. In addition to the oval known as the “Tricky Triangle,” Pocono raceway includes a selection of road courses, the longest of which takes advantage of the ovals’ 3000+ foot straights to create a 2.5-mile 8-turn layout. Located in the mountains of Pennsylvania, the track is a two-hour drive from both New York City and Philadelphia, making it a great location for an evening at the track.
Track Night in America is a non-competitive, no-stress, entertaining, easy and inexpensive way for nearly anyone who loves cars or motorsports to get on a real racecourse in their own vehicle during weeknights. All that is required is that participants be at least 18 years old with a valid driver’s license and have access to an approved helmet and streetcar in good working condition.
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2021 New Jersey Champ Tour Fast Notes
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Mother Nature wreaked havoc on day one proceedings at New Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford during the Tire Rack SCCA New Jersey Champ Tour this past weekend. Overnight rain Friday left the course damp to start Saturday competition. But by second runs of Heat 1, the course was dry.
The specter of rain Saturday, however, never went away, and the skies finally opened up near the end of the second heat. The precipitation never relented the remainder of Saturday competition, growing stronger as Heat 3 progressed before beginning to subside during the fourth heat. Thankfully for day two, the predicted rain didn't materialize until well after competition was done.
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2021 Second Hand Roads - TSD Rally
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On May 23rd SCCA-NNJR presented this year’s version of ‘Second Hand Roads’ a 65 mile Time-Speed-Distance RoadRally which utilized Richta Smartphone GPS checkpoint timing/scoring application.
‘Second Hand Roads’ is an event which was originally conducted by Raritan Valley Sport Car Club (RVSCC), which is club that operated in Central New Jersey since the early 60s. ‘Back in the Day’ there was over a dozen rally club conducting events in the area, hosting both TSD, Gimmick rallies and the all night New Jersey Monte TSD Map rally, which was always run in the dead of winter on a moonless night. How things have changed. These clubs included, Triumph Sports Car Club, Greater Rockaway Sports Car Club (Grass), Mustang Club of North Jersey (later rebranded as Motorsports Club of North Jersey), MG Car Club, Corvette Club and in the ’70 the Z-Club.
The idea behind ‘Second Hard Roads’ hosted by RVSCC was to provide the club an excuse to recycle leftover trophies from prior events and use an old set of rally instructions for the route layout, refreshed for current road conditions and signage.
Event Results and Images - Link
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RoadRally Beginners Guide to TSD
Zoom Get-Together
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Continuing the new series of Quarterly Zoom Get-Togethers, the RoadRally Board announces that the next session will take place on 7/15/21 from 7:00-9:00 PM CDT, and will include these two topics:
- Wendy Harrison will present a “Beginners Guide to TSD RoadRally”. This session is aimed at first-timers and will cover the essential things they need to know to select, participate in, and enjoy a Time Speed Distance rally.
- SCCA staff members who are participating in a TSD RoadRally for their first time at Roads Scamper in Middleton, WI on 6/6/21 will share their experiences as newcomers to this type of rally event.
You can find the zoom link for the event on July 15, 2021, Here
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Women on Track @ New Jersey Champ Tour
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SCCA Women on Track has been providing opportunities for women to get involved in SCCA programs since its announcement at the 2018 National Convention. SCCA Women on Track became an official SCCA committee in May 2020, through the encouragement of SCCA leadership and support from the SCCA Foundation.
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2021 Solo Spring/Summer Results
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