MARRC News: WERA at Summit Point

WERA at Summit Point

August 28-29, 1999

WERA made its last stop at Summit Point for the season, its second to last Northeast Region race before the Grand National Finals at Road Atlanta October 6. The FormulaUSA series was several hours away at Pocono Raceway, so some of the Summit Point regulars chose the F-USA over WERA this weekend.

The 'Point was looking rather wet on Friday evening, after enduring several days of rain. The resulting humidity stayed the entire weekend, and although it didn't affect track conditions too much, the resulting heat did not make conditions any easier.

In the "Don't Try This at Home" category, Dennis King went out right before the race school practice session on Saturday to scrub in a new set of tires. Unfortunately, King did not count on testing the tires traction limit, and crashed in Turn 5, red-flagging the race school session. Race Director George Mood was none too pleased, especially considering reports that it was not an authorized scrub. Mood cautioned all the riders on Sunday not to take advantage of the scrubbing privilege, otherwise it may be denied to future riders.

MARRC would like to thank the cornerworkers over the weekend for not only doing a magnificent job, but for being such a good turnout. Remember that the MARRC safety crew is a volunteer group, and that the safety crew members listed below come out because the love the sport and want to support the racers. No where else can anyone find a more dedicated group of people than these:

Mike Adams
Dot Bacon
Len Bacon
John Baxter
Mary Black
Bob Black
Liz Brinson
John Capen
Robert Chaney
Robert Chaney
Allen Cox
Fetz Charles
Brad Foos
Chris Ford
Leslie Forewright
Nancy Fry
Janet Gunn
Brad Haskin

Tim Horn
Lee Jessie
Pat Johnson
Lonnie Lawson
Wendy Leland
Roger Lyle
Marie Malloy
Bill Martin
Susie McDonald
Tim McDonald
Randy Moran
Constance Moscati
Mike Moscati
Randy Nusbaum
Christy Osborne
Kevin Osborne
Bill Powers

Sandy Powers
Hedayat Rafiqzod
Nazim Ray
Tim Redmond
David Rickman
Pam Russell
Art Sears
Phil Sears
Bob Steif, Jr.
Roger Stier
Doug Surges
Clara Tucker
Richard Tucker
Bill Walburn
Charles Walburn
Howard Weiss
Jane Weiss

	Tibor Sulyok (#165), aboard a Yamaha R6, holds off John Sine (#524) going into Turn 5. Both riders are hard on the brakes and trying to gain position in the late stages of the C Superbike Novice event. Sine eventually made the pass stick to beat Sulyok at the finish. Photo by Stephen Moore.
	The lightweight classes can be close battles, especially in this photo. Richard Anderson (#95) has the advantage over Robert Rudnicki (#59). Anderson's Yamaha TZR couldn't hold off Rudnicki's EX500, and fell to third place behind Rudnicki at the finish. Photo by Stephen Moore.
	More lightweight machines battle it out in the Carousel during the Formula 2 Novice race on Sunday. Ryan Chapin (#647) has gotten around and in front of Michael Schafer (#16) and Thomas Harper (#425). Chapin used the torque of his Honda twin to stay ahead of the 2 riders behind him and eventually finish in 7th place. Schafer and Harper finished 10th and 9th respectively. Photo by Stephen Moore.
	Edmund Lewis (#400) of Non-Stop Racing sets up to pass Speedwerks' Steve Long (#788) on the first lap of the Lightweight Twins Expert race. Lewis completed the pass in the next turn, in the section known as "The Esses". The pass allowed Lewis to go in a successful search of a podium finish, netting 2nd place. Long and his Honda NSR250 had to settle for 6th place. Photo by Stephen Moore.
	Nationally-ranked 125 rider Chris Pyles (#11) celebrates his victory during the 125 GP event. As Pyles usually does as Summit, he rode a great race, and did most of it far from the rest of the field. Pyles would like to thank his sponsors, and one in particular, for helping along his race season. Photo by Stephen Moore.
	Not all riders experience the sweet taste of victory, but nearly everyone has been bitten by a crash. Michael Garafalo (#360) stepped off his Honda 600 during the B Production Novice event and is tended to by MARRC Safety Director Roger Lyle. Turn 5 Corner Captain Wendy Leland signals the event stoppage with the red flag while Randy Nusbaum and Mike Adams remove Garafaolo's machine. Photo by Stephen Moore.
	Michael Garafalo walks to the ambulance with Roger Lyle and Summit Point EMT Ann Hyatt for a ride back to the pits. Wendy Leland and Nazim Ray finish their check the track for any loose debris. Fortunately, Garafalo was only shaken up by the crash and was unharmed. Photo by Stephen Moore.
	Jonathon Broga (#502) demonstrates just how fast an SV650 can go during the D Superbike Novice race. Actually, this picture of Broga in Turn 7 could also be from Formula 2 or Lightweight Twins since Broga won all three events. He also took the victory in the Solo 20 on Saturday for a 4 for 4 weekend. Photo by Stephen Moore.
	Racing phenom Mike Mashewske (#92) looks for a quick exit from Turn 5 during the C Superbike Expert event. His Alien Racing Kawasaki 600 proved more than capable of doing just that as he went on to victory. Mashewske also took 2nd in the MW Superstock event and 4th in Formula 2 on Sunday. Photo by Stephen Moore.

Many thanks to Stephen Moore for capturing the race action. You can e-mail him at essmo@fred.net.

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