SPEEDSF CHALLENGE - DECEMBER 14, 2019 - ROUND 14 @ THUNDERHILL RACEWAY

INTRODUCTION

We start off Day 1 of the Thunderhill SpeedSF Challenge doubleheader featuring the Cyclone configuration and broken Challenge lap records across four classes!  It’s been quite a while since we’ve run the Cyclone config, but it was a great way to start the weekend! With 19 drivers participating for the final Challenge weekend of the year, is there really a better sendoff?

Class X

Notable Class X driver Lief Storer took home 1st and only place with his 2009 Nissan GT-R. While a 2:02.314 lap time is fast, the fact that the GT-R driven by Lief is still being put through its paces 10 years later is either a testament to longevity or stubbornness. Either way, glad to see it around putting in the work!

Class S1

Fearless class leader Gordon Peng broke a record and subsequently some hearts after setting a very fast lap time of 01:58.053, beating the previous record of a 02:00.031 lap time proving that American power is still the way to go when German motoring is not around. Ravi G proudly took home 2nd place with his 02:04.327 lap time set in his Toyota GT86, rounding out the two-class participants for this Saturday Challenge event.  Good job to Gordon for being the champion of S1 thanks to the trusty steed!

Class S2

2 drivers, 2 podium placers: Chris Lee and Gary Yeung. Boy, were the results surprising! Chris Lee took home 1st place AND broke Gary’s old record of 2:00.293 by putting down a 01:59.548 lap time in his 2007 BMW Z4M. Yes, it’s basically a stripped-out race car BUT THAT’S NOT THE POINT. Chris’ driving has really improved throughout 2019 thanks to excellent coaching and training and today it showed.

Gary and the Dirty Mango S2000 did their best by putting down a 2:00.237 lap time (how consistent) for a 2nd place podium. That’s still pretty fast since it’s NOT a competition-ready race car. Gary destroyed this class anyways in points so 2nd place isn’t bad. Participation award goes to you, sir. Chris can go ahead and use that sweet detail spray on his shiny new 1st place medal!

Class S3

3 drivers, 3 podium placers. Wow, math! Our S3 results featured an S2000 losing 1st place to a GT86, and an M3 ending up in 3rd. So that’s what the “3” in M3 stands for!  

1st place was taken home by Kevin Schweigert in his Subaru BRZ thanks to a 01:59.834 which also obliterated the previous class lap record of 2:05.206 set by Scott Smith! How times have changed! Gary Wong and the TayTay 2004 Honda S2000 took home 2nd place though it appears Gary still took home the Class S3 overall win (a consolation prize). Ken Yip rounded out the podium in 3rd place in his 2011 BMW M3 - a 02:04.465 lap time for his efforts.

Class S4

Hey! Why is Gary in the picture?!

S4 featured 8 drivers for this event. Clearly they all wanted to try out the Cyclone config! Joe McGuigan took home 1st in the FRS thanks to a 02:04.054 lap time (typical) while 2nd place featured Joe Kou (Gary Yeung photo-subbed) who drove his 1999 Porsche Spec Boxster and put down a 02:06.199 lap time.

3rd place, however, featured drivers who all put in a 2:07 lap time but it was in the tenths where it really mattered. While Nick Cahill drove his Miata like a mad man and eventually came out ahead with his 2:07.121 lap time to steal 3rd place, the two almost-3rd-placers were Todd Winstanley in a 2008 Honda S2000 and a 2:07.191 lap time and David Fitz-Randolph in a 1995 Mazda Miata putting in a 2:07.568 lap time. What a drive from everyone!

Class S5

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Ferocious competitors by day, too-close buddies by night, Scott Smith and Gary Yeung/Mia Mango closed out Saturday with their little S5 competition and a broken record! Would you believe it, Gary must love the number 2 because he didn’t win here either! Scott took home 1st place in his Miata and broke the class record thanks in part to a 2:06.723 lap time, putting the new record leaps and bounds ahead of the previous lap record of 2:14.169. GarMia’s lap time on this day was a 2:11.649….good enough, it seems.

CONCLUSION

A great start to the Thunderhill double-header! Excellent work by our drivers who won their places and THANK YOU to everyone who participated in the SpeedSF Challenge! For those who are still chasing podium finishes, more seat time, coaching, and watching videos of the track will certainly get you there!

As we look forward to Round 15 - the second day of the Thunderhill double-header of the SpeedSF Challenge at Thunderhill Raceway East on December 15, we want to say that we truly appreciate our sponsors and participants as it would not be possible without them! 

We thank our sponsors Wine Country Motorsports, G-Loc brakes, Titan7 Wheels, Necksgen, and Charles Schwab for their continued and valued support. Please visit their respective websites to show your support and let them know SpeedSF sent you!

Again, our next SpeedSF Challenge will be held at Thunderhill Raceway East in Willows, CA. Again, please check out the event website by clicking here. Onto Day 2!