Crane Cams V8 StockCar @ American Road Race of Champions
10-22-2012, 08:19 AM
#1
Crane Cams V8 StockCar @ American Road Race of Champions Every single year since its' inception in 2004, the Crane Cams V8 StockCar Series has concluded its' schedule, and crowned its' champions at the American Road Race of Champions presented by GRASSROOTS MOTORSPORTS MAGAZINE.
The Crane Cams V8 Series is a touring points championship road racing series for high horsepower stock cars and GT machines. The Series races with SCCA and others at some of the finest and most famous road course tracks in the United States. The ARRC presented by GRASSROOTS MOTORSPORT MAGAZINE is certainly one of the most prestigious club racing events held in North America. The ARRC draws competitors from all over the country and a few from around the globe.
The Crane Cams V8 Series has four classes of exciting purpose built race cars with the fastest being the PORTERFIELD ENTERPRISES V8 GT-1 machines. These cars are similar and often identical to the Trans Am cars with their 800 plus horsepower motors, sophisticated suspension components, highly engineered gearboxes and downforce bodies. These car weigh only about 2800 pounds with driver and when matched with their powerful Nascar bred engines and fourteen inch wide rubber they provide shocking speed, incredible sounds, and pulse quickening excitement whenever they hit the track.
The LG MOTORSPORTS V8 GT-2 class is a blend of race cars including the highly modified stock chassis cars such as the C5 and C6 Corvette's that inhabit the SCCA STO class, the ex Grand Am Koni and Continental cars, as well as the purpose built tube frame SCCA GT-2 types. These cars also have quite sophisticated suspensions, high dollar braking systems, lightweight modular wheels and sticky rubber. Most have between 350-450 horsepower and are fully capable of hitting 160 mph down Road Atlanta's long back straight.
The V8 Series has two classes of stock cars, the quickest of the two being the PITBOXES.COM V8 SPO cars. These are the ex Nascar Cup, Nationwide, and ARCA type stock cars with more than 800 horsepower and a race weight of 3400 pounds. Also eligible for the class are the late model stock cars often raced on short tracks around the country every weekend. These are about 2800 pounds with driver, with motors that are bit more restricted, to around 650 horsepower. The lighter weight keeps them competitive with the more powerful but heavier stockers.
In the great "bang for the buck" category are the HOWE RACING ENTERPRISES V8 GTA cars. These are 2800 pound with driver, purpose built tube frame stock cars with motors making around 500 horsepower. These cars use components that are off the shelf type from the circle track suppliers, which makes great value for the racer. The V8 GTA's race on spec 10 inch wide stock car rubber that is very affordable yet delivers impressive grip. These well built, safe race cars are capable of lapping Road Atlanta in 1:28 and hitting 160 m.p.h. down the back straight.
Some of the series veterans who are expected to compete at the ARRC are: Simon Gregg (V8 GT-1 Corvette), Charles Wicht (V8 GT-1 Corvette), Lee Arnold (V8 SPO Impala), Cameron Lawrence ( V8 GTA Impala), Bobby Kennedy (V8 GTA Ford Taurus), Randy Walker (V8 GTA Camaro), Mickey Wright (V8 SPO Ford Fusion), Bob Mayer (V8 GT2 Corvette), Nick Hazelwood (V8 GT2 Corvette), Jeff Dernehl (V8 GT2 Mazda RX7), Bob Monette (V8 GT-1 Camaro), Zach Monette (V8 GT-1 Mustang) Paige Monette Alexander (V8 GT-1 Corvette), road racing Icon Gene Felton (V8 GT-1 Nova), Butch Kummer (V8 GTA Monte Grand Prix), Randy Haney (V8 GTA Monte Carlo), Preston Fowler (V8 GTA Grand Prix), Bob Davis (V8 GTA Monte Carlo), Randy Gay (V8 GTA Monte Carlo), Marshall McLeod (V8 GTA Monte Carlo) and a host of others.
In the battle for the V8 Series class championships, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida's Simon Gregg leads the Porterfield Enterprises V8 GT-1 class in his Derhaag Motorsports prepped C6 Corvette. Charles Wicht of Big Pine Key, Florida is right on Gregg's heels in his Rocketsports built C6 Corvette. In fact, Wicht handed Gregg his only loss this year in V8 action at Palm Beach, where the duo split the two races. Both driver's are sons of racers, with Gregg of course, being the son of the famous IMSA Camel GT and Trans Am driver, Peter Gregg and Wicht, the son of Al Wicht, a veteran independent IMSA Camel GT and SCCA racer. Simon Gregg has had his best year in racing in 2012 and also leads the points in the SCCA Trans Am Series. Gregg's Jim Derhaag built and prepped racer has completed an unheard of seventy two straight races without a DNF.
While they might not figure in the final points battle for the V8 GT-1 championship, the "Racing Monette's" will enhance the competition and challenge for podiums. Zach Monette and his super fast Mustang on his home track can be something diabolical and he will give Gregg and Wicht a battle. Sister Paige Monette Alexander showed real speed at Charlotte and should contend for a podium spot, as well as patriarch, dad, Bob Monette in his Camaro. The Monette racing fleet is prepped in house by the very capable Rick Peters which also includes the Corvette of Mike Kelly.
Former Grand Am Rolex GT competitor Keith Goldin leads the V8 GT-2 points battle, but newcomer Nick Hazelwood could surprise in his CrossRoads Motorsports prepped C6 Corvette and steal the crown. Former ARRC champ Jerry Onks (Corvette Z06) from Murfreesboro, Tennessee is always fast at Road Atlanta and will be a favorite again to take the ARRC race. With two wins at the SARRC Invitational Challenge, Hazelwood put himself in position to challenge for the Champions ring with 72 points still available to the winners at the ARRC. With three time V8 GT-2 champ Bob Mayer not competing this year, the class will get its' second champion ever. LG MOTORSPORTS V8 GT-2 is the series newest class, which was added in 2009.
Mickey Wright's (Competition 101 Ford Fusion) consistency has paid dividends and she has a comfortable lead in the PITBOXES.COM V8 SPO class. If Wright finishes both races at the ARRC she will be difficult to unseat. Should Wright falter, Tad Segars and Bob Mitten are close enough to strike gold.
In the HOWE RACING V8 GTA class, young Cameron Lawrence leads in his Regal Boats Impala, but former Nascar Craftsman Truck racer Ricky Sanders and former V8 GTA champ Randy Walker are well within striking distance. Lawrence will also compete this weekend in the SCCA Trans Am races in the TA2 class. Eighteen year old Bobby Kennedy has spent most of the year racing in the V8 GT-1 class in a Camaro, but will be in his dad, Squeak Kennedy's ride for the ARRC. The car is the former Tommy "Hollywood" Graham Ford Taurus. The car is fast and so is the kid, look for Kennedy to challenge for the ARRC race win. In his 2012 return to action, Butch Kummer gave a sterling performance at Charlotte in August, finishing a strong second to Ricky Sanders on Sunday. Kummer will be on his home track at Road Atlanta and will surely contend for a podium.
The Crane Cams V8 StockCar Series wishes to thank the Atlanta Region SCCA, the ARRC Committee and GrassRoots Motorsports Magazine for hosting one of the coolest road racing events in this country. We are proud to be a part of the action.
The Crane Cams V8 Series is a touring points championship road racing series for high horsepower stock cars and GT machines. The Series races with SCCA and others at some of the finest and most famous road course tracks in the United States. The ARRC presented by GRASSROOTS MOTORSPORT MAGAZINE is certainly one of the most prestigious club racing events held in North America. The ARRC draws competitors from all over the country and a few from around the globe.
The Crane Cams V8 Series has four classes of exciting purpose built race cars with the fastest being the PORTERFIELD ENTERPRISES V8 GT-1 machines. These cars are similar and often identical to the Trans Am cars with their 800 plus horsepower motors, sophisticated suspension components, highly engineered gearboxes and downforce bodies. These car weigh only about 2800 pounds with driver and when matched with their powerful Nascar bred engines and fourteen inch wide rubber they provide shocking speed, incredible sounds, and pulse quickening excitement whenever they hit the track.
The LG MOTORSPORTS V8 GT-2 class is a blend of race cars including the highly modified stock chassis cars such as the C5 and C6 Corvette's that inhabit the SCCA STO class, the ex Grand Am Koni and Continental cars, as well as the purpose built tube frame SCCA GT-2 types. These cars also have quite sophisticated suspensions, high dollar braking systems, lightweight modular wheels and sticky rubber. Most have between 350-450 horsepower and are fully capable of hitting 160 mph down Road Atlanta's long back straight.
The V8 Series has two classes of stock cars, the quickest of the two being the PITBOXES.COM V8 SPO cars. These are the ex Nascar Cup, Nationwide, and ARCA type stock cars with more than 800 horsepower and a race weight of 3400 pounds. Also eligible for the class are the late model stock cars often raced on short tracks around the country every weekend. These are about 2800 pounds with driver, with motors that are bit more restricted, to around 650 horsepower. The lighter weight keeps them competitive with the more powerful but heavier stockers.
In the great "bang for the buck" category are the HOWE RACING ENTERPRISES V8 GTA cars. These are 2800 pound with driver, purpose built tube frame stock cars with motors making around 500 horsepower. These cars use components that are off the shelf type from the circle track suppliers, which makes great value for the racer. The V8 GTA's race on spec 10 inch wide stock car rubber that is very affordable yet delivers impressive grip. These well built, safe race cars are capable of lapping Road Atlanta in 1:28 and hitting 160 m.p.h. down the back straight.
Some of the series veterans who are expected to compete at the ARRC are: Simon Gregg (V8 GT-1 Corvette), Charles Wicht (V8 GT-1 Corvette), Lee Arnold (V8 SPO Impala), Cameron Lawrence ( V8 GTA Impala), Bobby Kennedy (V8 GTA Ford Taurus), Randy Walker (V8 GTA Camaro), Mickey Wright (V8 SPO Ford Fusion), Bob Mayer (V8 GT2 Corvette), Nick Hazelwood (V8 GT2 Corvette), Jeff Dernehl (V8 GT2 Mazda RX7), Bob Monette (V8 GT-1 Camaro), Zach Monette (V8 GT-1 Mustang) Paige Monette Alexander (V8 GT-1 Corvette), road racing Icon Gene Felton (V8 GT-1 Nova), Butch Kummer (V8 GTA Monte Grand Prix), Randy Haney (V8 GTA Monte Carlo), Preston Fowler (V8 GTA Grand Prix), Bob Davis (V8 GTA Monte Carlo), Randy Gay (V8 GTA Monte Carlo), Marshall McLeod (V8 GTA Monte Carlo) and a host of others.
In the battle for the V8 Series class championships, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida's Simon Gregg leads the Porterfield Enterprises V8 GT-1 class in his Derhaag Motorsports prepped C6 Corvette. Charles Wicht of Big Pine Key, Florida is right on Gregg's heels in his Rocketsports built C6 Corvette. In fact, Wicht handed Gregg his only loss this year in V8 action at Palm Beach, where the duo split the two races. Both driver's are sons of racers, with Gregg of course, being the son of the famous IMSA Camel GT and Trans Am driver, Peter Gregg and Wicht, the son of Al Wicht, a veteran independent IMSA Camel GT and SCCA racer. Simon Gregg has had his best year in racing in 2012 and also leads the points in the SCCA Trans Am Series. Gregg's Jim Derhaag built and prepped racer has completed an unheard of seventy two straight races without a DNF.
While they might not figure in the final points battle for the V8 GT-1 championship, the "Racing Monette's" will enhance the competition and challenge for podiums. Zach Monette and his super fast Mustang on his home track can be something diabolical and he will give Gregg and Wicht a battle. Sister Paige Monette Alexander showed real speed at Charlotte and should contend for a podium spot, as well as patriarch, dad, Bob Monette in his Camaro. The Monette racing fleet is prepped in house by the very capable Rick Peters which also includes the Corvette of Mike Kelly.
Former Grand Am Rolex GT competitor Keith Goldin leads the V8 GT-2 points battle, but newcomer Nick Hazelwood could surprise in his CrossRoads Motorsports prepped C6 Corvette and steal the crown. Former ARRC champ Jerry Onks (Corvette Z06) from Murfreesboro, Tennessee is always fast at Road Atlanta and will be a favorite again to take the ARRC race. With two wins at the SARRC Invitational Challenge, Hazelwood put himself in position to challenge for the Champions ring with 72 points still available to the winners at the ARRC. With three time V8 GT-2 champ Bob Mayer not competing this year, the class will get its' second champion ever. LG MOTORSPORTS V8 GT-2 is the series newest class, which was added in 2009.
Mickey Wright's (Competition 101 Ford Fusion) consistency has paid dividends and she has a comfortable lead in the PITBOXES.COM V8 SPO class. If Wright finishes both races at the ARRC she will be difficult to unseat. Should Wright falter, Tad Segars and Bob Mitten are close enough to strike gold.
In the HOWE RACING V8 GTA class, young Cameron Lawrence leads in his Regal Boats Impala, but former Nascar Craftsman Truck racer Ricky Sanders and former V8 GTA champ Randy Walker are well within striking distance. Lawrence will also compete this weekend in the SCCA Trans Am races in the TA2 class. Eighteen year old Bobby Kennedy has spent most of the year racing in the V8 GT-1 class in a Camaro, but will be in his dad, Squeak Kennedy's ride for the ARRC. The car is the former Tommy "Hollywood" Graham Ford Taurus. The car is fast and so is the kid, look for Kennedy to challenge for the ARRC race win. In his 2012 return to action, Butch Kummer gave a sterling performance at Charlotte in August, finishing a strong second to Ricky Sanders on Sunday. Kummer will be on his home track at Road Atlanta and will surely contend for a podium.
The Crane Cams V8 StockCar Series wishes to thank the Atlanta Region SCCA, the ARRC Committee and GrassRoots Motorsports Magazine for hosting one of the coolest road racing events in this country. We are proud to be a part of the action.
