Privateers walked away with the big hardware this past weekend at the World Challenge Series Finale. The important items for all of us, was that the Privateers who whipped up on the Factory Teams ( Cadillac and Audi ) were driving the formidable Comp Coupe Viper, and what a testament to the small cadre of SRT Engineers that have put their hearts and soul into this program!As many of you already know, the Series Champion ( 3R Racing, Whelen Engineering ) was Tommy Archer in a Comp Coupe that never changed a body panel the entire Season. His consistent runs, and win in Portland, gave him a well deserved win over the mega funded Cadillac and Audi Teams. McCann Plastic's , Mike McCann , finished the season in 7th place , overall, and captured the Rookie of the Year Honors - finshing the Laguna Seca scramble in the 8th spot. What turned out to be a Corporate race for **********, ended up with the driver trophies going to the DC boys, and Dodge even vaulted into the 3rd spot in the Manufacturer's Championship with Tommy's bronze finish on Sunday. But , before I digress too much, let's talk about the race.......
Sunday was a gray day, with the Monterrey fog banks depositing their moisture inland ,clouding the day with ominous reports of a rainy race. The MoPar gods were listening to the pleas of the many California VCA members ( they were everywhere voicing their support for the contingent of Snake Racers that came to this fabled track )as the leaden clouds filled to bursting, never ruptured on the SRT parade.
The standing start of all the World Challenge races is a spine tingling explosion , and Bob Woodhouse roared from his 15th qualifying to **** by four drivers with a deep braking manuvuer into turn two. He came out in 11th, and Mike McCann had also vaulted into the top 6 with a tremendous launch, yet where was Tommy Archer. A decision to try a lower rpm launch on the cool track left Mr. Consistent mired in 14th spot after lap one, as Archer killed the car on the starting grid. What was missed by the announcer was the Duluth Destroyers quest for the podium illustrated in that very first lap. Possessed by his own error, Tommy had waylaid himself in 22nd ( from his 7th starting position ) and stormed back to 14th in only the beginning lap. His pursuit for the Championship , made him relentless in his drive to the front, as the 3R Comp Coupe seemed oblivious to other vehicles on the course , yet as always, not a body panel was ever ruffled. Tim Wiens, Bob Woodhouse, and Mike McCann, gave the Minnesota Marauder a wide berth , allowing him to move towards his destiny, and they were having fine drives themselves. During the first third of the race Woodhouse actually was kissing the rear bumper of McCann, and while whistling through turn four Mike pulled in tight , not realizing Woodhouse was at this door, and the number 13 straddled the curbing , bouncing back to the tarmac with a controlled slide, but no damage to either Comp Coupe. A hairy moment the almost lost us two top Dodge runners, but the number 13 was not an unlucky number this day,as the curbing had actually cracked the oil pan, but the leak was small and Woodhouse was able to finish the race. Archer seemed absolutely possessed , every car in front of him appeared to be of little consequence,as the Whelen Engineering beast snaked around all the Out-ees and Caddyshacks with
apparent ease. Essentially with only Boris Said (Saleen Mustang ) and Wolf Henzler ( Porsche ) ahead of him, Tommy settled into a smooth rythym , secure that his podium finish should propel him into the lead for the Series. With Audi driver, Michael Galati taking the point lead into the race, the pit radios at 3R, let Tommy know that the battling Vipers of McCann and Woodhouse,had gotten around the previous Champion driver, and were both pulling away. Though it never came into play , it had to be comforting to Archer to know that two friendly Snakes were between him and his Audi foe. Confident knowing that a late charge from Galati would show that the Comp Coupes ( baby got some back ) could be very wide in the hands of Woodhouse and McCann, the air collapsed from the Galati balloon and Tim Wiens whistled ahead also. With just a few laps left in the race , Woodhouse gave McCann a love tap on his left rear panel in turn two, but it was a gentle caress and Mike stayed strong in 8th, and Bob appeared satisfied to finish,again , in the top 10. After 50 heart rendering minutes of racing which included a fire in turn 5 by Mike Davis in the other Saleen, a three wide charge up turn six which had the announcer sweating over the loudspeakers ( this is not supposed to be able to be done ), numerous off course excursions, and the mosquito killing rupture of Leighton Reese's Vette , laying petroleum based products all over the asphalt, this final race kept every fan off their seat for the duration. Special kudos go to John Dearing, who when he had trouble with his Viper GTS spewing oil he immediately pulled off the track , instead of causing concern for his fellow drivers like a certain Chebby driver did later - great move, John. Al Becera had a shunt early in the race and he soldiered around the course very quickly with the nose scraping the pavement , yet he managed a 21st place finish before overheating at the end.
The coolest part of the entire weekend was the massive support from so many Viper Club members , who made it a point to wander around and give their wishes of a good race to all the Comp Coupe and GTS drivers. What a terrific send off to end the year with friends and Viper family members there to witness the winning of the Championship and the Rookie of the Years honors by two Viper Days Alums, and fellow VCA members.
Top Ten at Laguna Seca
3rd - Tommy Archer
8th - Mike McCann
9th - Bob Woodhouse
10th - Tim Wiens
Sunday was a gray day, with the Monterrey fog banks depositing their moisture inland ,clouding the day with ominous reports of a rainy race. The MoPar gods were listening to the pleas of the many California VCA members ( they were everywhere voicing their support for the contingent of Snake Racers that came to this fabled track )as the leaden clouds filled to bursting, never ruptured on the SRT parade.
The standing start of all the World Challenge races is a spine tingling explosion , and Bob Woodhouse roared from his 15th qualifying to **** by four drivers with a deep braking manuvuer into turn two. He came out in 11th, and Mike McCann had also vaulted into the top 6 with a tremendous launch, yet where was Tommy Archer. A decision to try a lower rpm launch on the cool track left Mr. Consistent mired in 14th spot after lap one, as Archer killed the car on the starting grid. What was missed by the announcer was the Duluth Destroyers quest for the podium illustrated in that very first lap. Possessed by his own error, Tommy had waylaid himself in 22nd ( from his 7th starting position ) and stormed back to 14th in only the beginning lap. His pursuit for the Championship , made him relentless in his drive to the front, as the 3R Comp Coupe seemed oblivious to other vehicles on the course , yet as always, not a body panel was ever ruffled. Tim Wiens, Bob Woodhouse, and Mike McCann, gave the Minnesota Marauder a wide berth , allowing him to move towards his destiny, and they were having fine drives themselves. During the first third of the race Woodhouse actually was kissing the rear bumper of McCann, and while whistling through turn four Mike pulled in tight , not realizing Woodhouse was at this door, and the number 13 straddled the curbing , bouncing back to the tarmac with a controlled slide, but no damage to either Comp Coupe. A hairy moment the almost lost us two top Dodge runners, but the number 13 was not an unlucky number this day,as the curbing had actually cracked the oil pan, but the leak was small and Woodhouse was able to finish the race. Archer seemed absolutely possessed , every car in front of him appeared to be of little consequence,as the Whelen Engineering beast snaked around all the Out-ees and Caddyshacks with
apparent ease. Essentially with only Boris Said (Saleen Mustang ) and Wolf Henzler ( Porsche ) ahead of him, Tommy settled into a smooth rythym , secure that his podium finish should propel him into the lead for the Series. With Audi driver, Michael Galati taking the point lead into the race, the pit radios at 3R, let Tommy know that the battling Vipers of McCann and Woodhouse,had gotten around the previous Champion driver, and were both pulling away. Though it never came into play , it had to be comforting to Archer to know that two friendly Snakes were between him and his Audi foe. Confident knowing that a late charge from Galati would show that the Comp Coupes ( baby got some back ) could be very wide in the hands of Woodhouse and McCann, the air collapsed from the Galati balloon and Tim Wiens whistled ahead also. With just a few laps left in the race , Woodhouse gave McCann a love tap on his left rear panel in turn two, but it was a gentle caress and Mike stayed strong in 8th, and Bob appeared satisfied to finish,again , in the top 10. After 50 heart rendering minutes of racing which included a fire in turn 5 by Mike Davis in the other Saleen, a three wide charge up turn six which had the announcer sweating over the loudspeakers ( this is not supposed to be able to be done ), numerous off course excursions, and the mosquito killing rupture of Leighton Reese's Vette , laying petroleum based products all over the asphalt, this final race kept every fan off their seat for the duration. Special kudos go to John Dearing, who when he had trouble with his Viper GTS spewing oil he immediately pulled off the track , instead of causing concern for his fellow drivers like a certain Chebby driver did later - great move, John. Al Becera had a shunt early in the race and he soldiered around the course very quickly with the nose scraping the pavement , yet he managed a 21st place finish before overheating at the end.
The coolest part of the entire weekend was the massive support from so many Viper Club members , who made it a point to wander around and give their wishes of a good race to all the Comp Coupe and GTS drivers. What a terrific send off to end the year with friends and Viper family members there to witness the winning of the Championship and the Rookie of the Years honors by two Viper Days Alums, and fellow VCA members.
Top Ten at Laguna Seca
3rd - Tommy Archer
8th - Mike McCann
9th - Bob Woodhouse
10th - Tim Wiens
