|
 | Alan Benowitz driving Zach & Kyle Williams' fully prepped rally car at the "Please Let It Snow" RallyCross.
Yes, Virginia, the weatherman forgot the snow.
Photo by Rob Benowitz |
Oh What Fun It Is To Ride!
By Alan Benowitz
After nine months of no RallyCross events, December 23rd was the e vent that filled the void. After competing in my first RallyX in March, I was ready to race every weekend! Unfortunately that wasn't possible. However, I did buy my SCCA license so I could participate in events like RallyCross and Solo. It is also a nice "cool" factor to me, to be a member of the SCCA. I've grown up around racing my whole life, and now I want to join in the fun. For me, the "Please Let it Snow" RallyX was like another Christmas present!
The RallyX was held in the same location as the event in March, just south of Salem, MO. Kyle and Zach Williams graciously let me use their early nineties, fully prepped Ford Festiva rally car once again. This time, though, it had bigger wheels with rally tires on them. As a result, grip had been improved by a lot.
The course was very similar to the March event; a few different c orners, but virtually the same layout. I was excited to get to race again and the field of approximately twenty cars amplified my excitement. Kyle and Zach ran in heat one and I ran in heat two. Out in the field, during the heat opposite of yours, being a corner worker is fun. You get to see different driving styles, call in cones being knocked over, and be close to the action.
After the two runs made by the racers in heat one, it was my heat's turn to tear it up. So, in from my post on the track to the Festiva I went. I got in the car, put on the helmet and got all buckled up. We started the parade lap and I was attentive to spots on the track that were slick and where I didn't want to be. I was feeling good and the butterflies settled in while waiting in line. I was thinking back to the March event, remembering what I had learned. Finally, it was time for my first run.
All the feelings went away as soon as I was pointed at to go. Throughout the whole run I was telling myself "Faster, faster! This seems slow." The first run is always the time to just find a rhythm and get back in the groove of things. Well, as it would turn out, it was a slow lap. Dad mentioned that I looked slow, and Zach came over and said "Hammer it dude, don't be so easy on it!" While dad and Zach were still waiting with me in line, I noticed the red "brake" light was on. I asked Zach about it and he said "Oh, we fixed the parking brake." You guessed it; I had run that whole first lap with the parking brake on!
So, after sheepishly releasing the parking brake, I waited in line for my second run. It was almost ten seconds faster than the first run and I felt much better. We chatted while the second heat ran and then had an hour break for lunch. Zach had to leave at lunch, so my dad, Rob Benowitz, took his place for the three afternoon runs.
After some food, stories, and jokes, it was time to get going again. I was back out to the corner post while dad was to drive in the fifth spot in heat one, just one car after Kyle's run. After watching everyone in the first heat do three runs, I was anxious to hear dad's take on his drives and get into the driver's seat once more.
Back in the car, I was ready to go faster than ever. I knew the track was faster, as times had improved and the track had dried out some. My first run in the afternoon, the third of the day for me, was a clean run and the fastest yet that I had posted. Unfortunately, during the fourth run, my luck ran out. After completing two thirds of the course, I turned into the slow corner before the fast section. While downshifting to first gear, I hear the engine drop severely in RPM. My first thought was that I caught third gear instead, so I quickly pushed the clutch in and tried first again. After releasing the clutch, the engine died.
After a handful of tries to start it back up, the car wouldn't run for more than a second each time. I was towed back to the start line area and Kyle popped the hood and we found that a fusible link had blown. We replaced it and I attempted to start the car again. It blew that one almost instantly. After one more fuse being blown shortly after, we gave up. I felt bad that the car had quit during my run, even thought it wasn't my fault. The good news is that the RallyX was the last event for the motor that was in the car, because they have a boosted performance motor all ready to be put in. I was just thrilled they let me use the car again and that I could race!
I've loved cars and racing my whole life. I may only be a senior at Salem (MO) High School, but it certainly didn't take my (almost) 18 years for me to discover this passion for speed. Whether it was racing, marching band, or my school's golf team, my parents have always supported me in whatever I wanted to do, and never more so than this summer. I fulfilled two dreams at the same time: owning my own car and owning a Porsche! I am now the proud (and careful!) owner of a Guards Red 1986 Porsche 944. The car is an absolute blast to drive and is in almost new condition. It was in Ohio, and my dad and I drove there to pick it up. It ran like a train the whole way home and hasn't missed a beat since. I love it, and hope to keep it for a very long time. And don't worry; it's garaged and doesn't get out unless there is no chance for rain or inclement weather.
Even though you won't be seeing my Porsche in competition, I hope to borrow a car and enter some Solo events during the coming year and I may see some of you at future RallyX events or at the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood the last weekend in February. Huge thanks to Brian Schwantner for putting on the RallyX and to the Williams Brothers for the use of their car.
Complete results for this event can be found on the results page at
 Club Racing News
By Chuck Udell
St. Louis Club Racing Chair
MAR REUNION
January 20th
1pm till we run outta stories!
Coeur de Royale Condos Party Room
551 Coeur de Royale Dr.
Creve Coeur, Missouri 63141
(not far from Ballas and Olive)
Bring any souvenirs from the early days at MAR...
photos, news clippings, programs, whatever.
Be sure to tell your friends, because
Mark Weber's email list is not too complete and
he's lost track of many of those folks
that made a weekend at the race track so much fun 40 years ago.
Bring your own refreshments.
If we are still bench racing at dinner time, we'll pass the hat and order in pizza.
RSVP by phone: (314) 583-8259 or e-mail: Mark Weber
Thanks to the Saint Louis Region, SCCA
for sponsoring the Party Room!
We have three race weekends scheduled at at Gateway Motorsports Park in 2013.
April 19, 20 and 21 - Super School and Double Regional
August 3-4 - Major Showcase Event-Double National ( no Regional only Classes )
October 19-20 - Season Finale Double Regional
Just in case you want to go to the "Runoffs", we are also attaching the link to the entire MiDiv schedule. You can find the 2013 MiDiv schedule on the MiDiv website.
We are seeking sponsors for our overall six race series, individual class championships, the Driver's School, the October Fall Festival event, worker food and tow truck for all three events. If you have any leads please contact me via email or any of the Club Racing Committee members. We have some attractively priced opportunities.
Solo Report You've watched the newscasts where there's the "tease" for what's coming up next. Well here's St. Louis Region's version. The 2013 St. Louis Region Solo calendar will be unveiled.......drum roll please........on Wednesday, January 16 on the...............drum roll again, please...........new and improved stlsolo.org website. Be sure to check out the new and improved website for all your solo news and, of course, the 2013 schedule.
The Tire Rack 2013 Solo National, Match Tour, and Pro Solo schedules have been announced and you'll find them at scca.com.
Awards Banquet Report
By Charlene Lain, Chairman
You came for the cars and you stayed for the people.Join us for a great night with your friends and fellow members to celebrate theSt. Louis Region, SCCA 2012 competition season and our award winners.SCCA National Road Rally, Midwest Division Club Racing, and
the 2012 St. Louis Region Solo series class awards will be presented.
Championship awards will be presented to the
Ladies, Novice Index winners, and the Top Index driver in Solo.
The evening will be capped off with the presentation
of the Region's annual awards. Saturday, February 2, 2013 6:30 - 10:30 p.m. Members $30, Guests $35, Children 12 and under $13 Buffet dinner with an open bar Orlando Gardens8352 WatsonWebster Groves, MO 63119(located in the General Grant Shopping Center)St. Louis Region legend Mark Weber will be our guest speaker.Mark's a racing photographer who celebrated his 500th Club Racing startand 50th SCCA National Runoffs start at Road America in September.A great storyteller, he'll entertain you with adventuresfrom his many years of racing and the people he's met along the way.Register online at Motorsportsreg.Have any questions?Contact Banquet Chair Charlene Lain via email or by calling 314-941-9943.
Stop by the St. Louis Region general membership meeting on Monday, February 18 for a few pointers to make your racing more successful and fun! Featured presentations include:
Dave Whitworth of SPS, on "Suspension and Handling: Top 10 Misconceptions & What to do to Fix Them".
Dan Layton of Honda PR, on motorsports journalism
"From Formula Ford to Indy Car"
Scott Rhea of Izzy's Custom Cages, will cover
"Roll Cages: What to Look for when Buying a Race Car"
Social hour (dinner) at 6 p.m., meeting at 7 p.m. at Patrick's in Westport.
If you have comments or suggestions for the Board they may be reached at BOD@stlscca.org. Was there something you wanted to see in WHEELSPIN, but didn't find it.? Submissions for WHEELSPIN may be sent to wheelspin@stlscca.org. |
