Skip at Viper Days
Enthusiast
VRL at BIR
Billed as a co-feature with NASCAR “Elite” Series the Vipers were the ultimate winner.
When you came into the pits you were awestruck to see the Archer Racing Accessories 2 53’ semi’s with six CC lined up and then the performance items lined up for sale and display. Next to Archer was Bobby Archer Motorsports with three rigs and a display of all the tires and safety things you could think of! Then the VRL trailer selling wearables was last in line. It was “awesome” and that was not my statement it was the sentiments on many of the spectators. The number of kids that had the opportunity to sit in a VRL Viper were all appreciative as well as the parents. My thanks to ALL drivers who opened up their cars and hearts to all these fans. The NASCAR Elite cars were in two garages behind our display and they were not as friendly to the fans as our guys were!
Thursday – the Press Day was the brain child of Bobby A. and the track thought it was a great idea and then implemented it. We had five VRL cars available for the press to take rides but this was after a press conference where the press only asked questions of the VRL, S. Whelen, R. Foster and J. Archer. We were all plummeted with questions for 45 minutes. They were interested and it showed. The Friday Brainerd newspaper had a front page article about the VRL and a ride with Sonny. There were two photos on the front page. As soon as we can figure out how to scan it, we will publish it. The drivers got 3 hours of practice time to boot!!
Friday practice was a one hour session in AM and a one hour session in PM. No problems and all drivers took advantage of the opportunity to learn the track. There were nineteen VRL race cars present for the weekend.
Saturday – 2:30 pm 25 lap race on this 3.1 mile track. 160+ thru turn one, 150+ thru turn two and then 70 thru turn three. Wow…… what a Viper track. The Viper really gets to stretch its legs here! There were four GT-WC, five GT-C, and nine GT-1 cars running.
Qualifying went well and the pole was won by Rob Foster with Sonny Whelen second and Bobby Archer third.
Qualifying times were:
Veh# Class Last Name First Name Best Time
17 GT-WC Foster Rob 01:42.571
31 GT-1 Whelen Sonny 01:43.127
23 GT-1 Archer Bobby 01:43.217
28 GT-WC Dalsin Mike 01:44.157
1 GT-C Stout Jim 01:44.210
59 GT-WC Hawkins Kenny 01:44.435
91 GT-1 Moore Ray 01:44.701
98 GT-C Oasis Russ 01:44.895
93 GT-1 Cone Henry 01:44.978
84 GT-C Foster Jason 01:45.344
4 GT-WC Greenberg Michael 01:45.963
62 GT-1 Robertson Barry 01:46.023
337 GT-C Lashinsky Gary 01:46.629
354 GT-1 Frank Howie 01:47.713
9 GT-C Carvajal Sam 01:47.811
38 GT-1 Palatnik Seth 01:47.953
39 GT-C Dickler Marshall 01:48.017
12 GT-1 Greaser Paul 01:51.583
The race was fun to watch with races all around the track. The race was gridded by qualifying and the Saturday race winners were:
Veh# Class Last Name First Name Best Time
23 GT-1 Archer Bobby 01:43.217 DQ
17 GT-WC Foster Rob 01:43.098
31 GT-1 Whelen Sonny 01:45.345
59 GT-WC Hawkins Kenny 01:44.904
28 GT-WC Dalsin Mike 01:45.110
1 GT-C Stout Jim 01:45.656
91 GT-1 Moore Ray 01:46.062
4 GT-WC Greenberg Michael 01:46.031
98 GT-C Oasis Russ 01:46.064
93 GT-1 Cone Henry 01:45.818
62 GT-1 Robertson Barry 01:46.840
354 GT-1 Frank Howie 01:47.219
337 GT-C Lashinsky Gary 01:46.900
9 GT-C Carvajal Sam 01:48.190
38 GT-1 Palatnik Seth 01:49.287
98m Exhibition Murray Ross 01:42.008 DNF
12 GT-1 Greaser Paul 01:50.939
39 GT-C Dickler Marshall 01:51.065
84 GT-C Foster Jason 01:46.273
R. Murray was fast but the battery caught fire and forced him to stop at corner #1 on the last lap.
Jason Foster had the rear diffuser come apart and had to pit to secure it.
The champagne celebration was something to behold. It was flying everywhere and the nine winners seemed to enjoy the spraying and drinking of the bubbly!!
Sunday – The weather was beautiful and 78+ and sunny. The NASCAR group took the track at 1pm and had more yellows than green laps I swear. The pace truck was a beautiful new yellow SRT Ram from Tanner Dodge. It looked great but saw too much track time. Haha! The crowd present that day was 3,500+ as stated by the track but it was sure well below the 15,000 the anticipated. I personally question 3,500 but the track is committed to doing it again in 2005 and NASCAR has already said yes so we are considering it if there are changes made.
Bobby A. and the #23 car were found to be in violation of VRL engine rules during a routine resealing of the engine on Sunday morning. He lost his Saturday finish and points for that race.
The VRL was called to grid at 3:45 and on track at 4pm. One hour late and the temperature dropped 20 degrees with the cloud cover and wind shift out of the North. When asked what’s up, John A. simply sniffed the air and said there is moisture in the air but it will not rain. Welcome to Minnesota, things change quickly.
As an added thrill Bobby Archer drove the # 91 Marines car in the NASCAR 60 lap race and finished 6 out of eighteen cars. Congrats to Bobby!!! This was right before the VRL race and he chose not to race again.
The grid was inverted, as usual, and it brought a great race to all the fans who stayed. The race was 25 laps was long and the drivers had to consider fuel, tire and brake management to be able to finish. There were two mechanical problems during the race when the clutch blew on Ray Moore’s # 91 GT-1 car on lap 4 and parked on the inside of turn # 3. Barry R. had transmission failure on lap 15 and was forced to park on the inside of turn # 1.
The announcers had a ball called the race and were quite vocal on how the inverted race made a great race for the fans as well as the drivers. Ross Murray was running in exhibition because the engine in the car was not legal. He ran for the show and started from the back and won!! Great driving Ross!! “Thank you!” to M. Greenberg for entering his other car for exhibition.
The results were for the Sunday race:
Veh# Class Last Name First Name Best Time
17 GT-WC Foster Rob 01:43.964
31 GT-1 Whelen Sonny 01:43.339
28 GT-WC Dalsin Mike 01:45.146
84 GT-C Foster Jason 01:45.180
59 GT-WC Hawkins Kenny 01:45.169
337 GT-C Lashinsky Gary 01:46.631
38 GT-1 Palatnik Seth 01:46.760
93 GT-1 Cone Henry 01:46.369
4 GT-WC Greenberg Michael 01:46.040
1 GT-C Stout Jim 01:44.273
354 GT-1 Frank Howie 01:48.094
98 GT-C Oasis Russ 01:46.162
9 GT-C Carvajal Sam 01:46.773
12 GT-1 Greaser Paul 01:49.223
39 GT-C Dickler Marshall 01:47.345
62 GT-1 Robertson Barry 01:46.781 DNF
91 GT-1 Moore Ray 01:46.743 DNF
We had a different format for trophies for this event. The winning trophies went to the drivers by class based on the total weekend performance.
Qualifying + Bonus + Saturday race + Sunday race
This rewarded the drivers for their overall performance of the event. It was well received by the drivers and may be a change for 2005.
The winners of the BIR weekend races were:
GT-1
1. Sonny Whelen – won two - Hoosier 335’s
2. Henry Cone – won $200.00
3. Seth Palatnik - won - $100.00
4. Howie Frank – won $75.00
GT-C
1. Jim Stout – won two - Hoosier 335’s
2. Gary Lashinsky – won $150.00*
3. Russ Oasis – won $150.00*
*There was a tie for second
GT-WC
1. Rob Foster – won two – Hoosier 335’s
2. Mike Dalsin – won - $200.00
3. Kenny Hawkins - won - $100.00
All in all it was a great event but we will not run behind the NASCAR race again or we will not be present! The drivers who missed the press day still had four and ½ hours of track time. There will be other considerations when we negotiate with the track for the 2005 event.
See you all at VOI 8 where the VRL will be racing on Saturday and Sunday at noon both days and again on Monday and Tuesday at Viper Days.
Billed as a co-feature with NASCAR “Elite” Series the Vipers were the ultimate winner.
When you came into the pits you were awestruck to see the Archer Racing Accessories 2 53’ semi’s with six CC lined up and then the performance items lined up for sale and display. Next to Archer was Bobby Archer Motorsports with three rigs and a display of all the tires and safety things you could think of! Then the VRL trailer selling wearables was last in line. It was “awesome” and that was not my statement it was the sentiments on many of the spectators. The number of kids that had the opportunity to sit in a VRL Viper were all appreciative as well as the parents. My thanks to ALL drivers who opened up their cars and hearts to all these fans. The NASCAR Elite cars were in two garages behind our display and they were not as friendly to the fans as our guys were!
Thursday – the Press Day was the brain child of Bobby A. and the track thought it was a great idea and then implemented it. We had five VRL cars available for the press to take rides but this was after a press conference where the press only asked questions of the VRL, S. Whelen, R. Foster and J. Archer. We were all plummeted with questions for 45 minutes. They were interested and it showed. The Friday Brainerd newspaper had a front page article about the VRL and a ride with Sonny. There were two photos on the front page. As soon as we can figure out how to scan it, we will publish it. The drivers got 3 hours of practice time to boot!!
Friday practice was a one hour session in AM and a one hour session in PM. No problems and all drivers took advantage of the opportunity to learn the track. There were nineteen VRL race cars present for the weekend.
Saturday – 2:30 pm 25 lap race on this 3.1 mile track. 160+ thru turn one, 150+ thru turn two and then 70 thru turn three. Wow…… what a Viper track. The Viper really gets to stretch its legs here! There were four GT-WC, five GT-C, and nine GT-1 cars running.
Qualifying went well and the pole was won by Rob Foster with Sonny Whelen second and Bobby Archer third.
Qualifying times were:
Veh# Class Last Name First Name Best Time
17 GT-WC Foster Rob 01:42.571
31 GT-1 Whelen Sonny 01:43.127
23 GT-1 Archer Bobby 01:43.217
28 GT-WC Dalsin Mike 01:44.157
1 GT-C Stout Jim 01:44.210
59 GT-WC Hawkins Kenny 01:44.435
91 GT-1 Moore Ray 01:44.701
98 GT-C Oasis Russ 01:44.895
93 GT-1 Cone Henry 01:44.978
84 GT-C Foster Jason 01:45.344
4 GT-WC Greenberg Michael 01:45.963
62 GT-1 Robertson Barry 01:46.023
337 GT-C Lashinsky Gary 01:46.629
354 GT-1 Frank Howie 01:47.713
9 GT-C Carvajal Sam 01:47.811
38 GT-1 Palatnik Seth 01:47.953
39 GT-C Dickler Marshall 01:48.017
12 GT-1 Greaser Paul 01:51.583
The race was fun to watch with races all around the track. The race was gridded by qualifying and the Saturday race winners were:
Veh# Class Last Name First Name Best Time
23 GT-1 Archer Bobby 01:43.217 DQ
17 GT-WC Foster Rob 01:43.098
31 GT-1 Whelen Sonny 01:45.345
59 GT-WC Hawkins Kenny 01:44.904
28 GT-WC Dalsin Mike 01:45.110
1 GT-C Stout Jim 01:45.656
91 GT-1 Moore Ray 01:46.062
4 GT-WC Greenberg Michael 01:46.031
98 GT-C Oasis Russ 01:46.064
93 GT-1 Cone Henry 01:45.818
62 GT-1 Robertson Barry 01:46.840
354 GT-1 Frank Howie 01:47.219
337 GT-C Lashinsky Gary 01:46.900
9 GT-C Carvajal Sam 01:48.190
38 GT-1 Palatnik Seth 01:49.287
98m Exhibition Murray Ross 01:42.008 DNF
12 GT-1 Greaser Paul 01:50.939
39 GT-C Dickler Marshall 01:51.065
84 GT-C Foster Jason 01:46.273
R. Murray was fast but the battery caught fire and forced him to stop at corner #1 on the last lap.
Jason Foster had the rear diffuser come apart and had to pit to secure it.
The champagne celebration was something to behold. It was flying everywhere and the nine winners seemed to enjoy the spraying and drinking of the bubbly!!
Sunday – The weather was beautiful and 78+ and sunny. The NASCAR group took the track at 1pm and had more yellows than green laps I swear. The pace truck was a beautiful new yellow SRT Ram from Tanner Dodge. It looked great but saw too much track time. Haha! The crowd present that day was 3,500+ as stated by the track but it was sure well below the 15,000 the anticipated. I personally question 3,500 but the track is committed to doing it again in 2005 and NASCAR has already said yes so we are considering it if there are changes made.
Bobby A. and the #23 car were found to be in violation of VRL engine rules during a routine resealing of the engine on Sunday morning. He lost his Saturday finish and points for that race.
The VRL was called to grid at 3:45 and on track at 4pm. One hour late and the temperature dropped 20 degrees with the cloud cover and wind shift out of the North. When asked what’s up, John A. simply sniffed the air and said there is moisture in the air but it will not rain. Welcome to Minnesota, things change quickly.
As an added thrill Bobby Archer drove the # 91 Marines car in the NASCAR 60 lap race and finished 6 out of eighteen cars. Congrats to Bobby!!! This was right before the VRL race and he chose not to race again.
The grid was inverted, as usual, and it brought a great race to all the fans who stayed. The race was 25 laps was long and the drivers had to consider fuel, tire and brake management to be able to finish. There were two mechanical problems during the race when the clutch blew on Ray Moore’s # 91 GT-1 car on lap 4 and parked on the inside of turn # 3. Barry R. had transmission failure on lap 15 and was forced to park on the inside of turn # 1.
The announcers had a ball called the race and were quite vocal on how the inverted race made a great race for the fans as well as the drivers. Ross Murray was running in exhibition because the engine in the car was not legal. He ran for the show and started from the back and won!! Great driving Ross!! “Thank you!” to M. Greenberg for entering his other car for exhibition.
The results were for the Sunday race:
Veh# Class Last Name First Name Best Time
17 GT-WC Foster Rob 01:43.964
31 GT-1 Whelen Sonny 01:43.339
28 GT-WC Dalsin Mike 01:45.146
84 GT-C Foster Jason 01:45.180
59 GT-WC Hawkins Kenny 01:45.169
337 GT-C Lashinsky Gary 01:46.631
38 GT-1 Palatnik Seth 01:46.760
93 GT-1 Cone Henry 01:46.369
4 GT-WC Greenberg Michael 01:46.040
1 GT-C Stout Jim 01:44.273
354 GT-1 Frank Howie 01:48.094
98 GT-C Oasis Russ 01:46.162
9 GT-C Carvajal Sam 01:46.773
12 GT-1 Greaser Paul 01:49.223
39 GT-C Dickler Marshall 01:47.345
62 GT-1 Robertson Barry 01:46.781 DNF
91 GT-1 Moore Ray 01:46.743 DNF
We had a different format for trophies for this event. The winning trophies went to the drivers by class based on the total weekend performance.
Qualifying + Bonus + Saturday race + Sunday race
This rewarded the drivers for their overall performance of the event. It was well received by the drivers and may be a change for 2005.
The winners of the BIR weekend races were:
GT-1
1. Sonny Whelen – won two - Hoosier 335’s
2. Henry Cone – won $200.00
3. Seth Palatnik - won - $100.00
4. Howie Frank – won $75.00
GT-C
1. Jim Stout – won two - Hoosier 335’s
2. Gary Lashinsky – won $150.00*
3. Russ Oasis – won $150.00*
*There was a tie for second
GT-WC
1. Rob Foster – won two – Hoosier 335’s
2. Mike Dalsin – won - $200.00
3. Kenny Hawkins - won - $100.00
All in all it was a great event but we will not run behind the NASCAR race again or we will not be present! The drivers who missed the press day still had four and ½ hours of track time. There will be other considerations when we negotiate with the track for the 2005 event.
See you all at VOI 8 where the VRL will be racing on Saturday and Sunday at noon both days and again on Monday and Tuesday at Viper Days.
