|
Race Report –
Northeast Grand Slam, Leg 1 – 2008 Halloween Classic
The
2008-2009 Northeast Grand Slam kicked off in style with the 6th
Annual Halloween Classic. Over 200 entries made their way to
The Gate in Cleveland, OH; some for the first time, but many had
returned for what they knew was one of the most entertaining
races of the season. Several racers traveled great distances to
get in on the action, and they weren’t disappointed.
The
Northeast Grand Slam Series is a unique program that was born of
the many sentiments surrounding the “Mega Race” on-road scene
over the last few years. The Grand Slam is a 4 races series,
intended to bring the competition of national caliber drivers,
without the additional burden of requiring a week’s vacation,
airfare, and extended hotel expenses. In short, it provides
for more racing, at lower costs. Using the tracks from the
northeast area that have proven themselves as staples in the
indoor racing scene, it is taking place in the heart of where
carpet racing saw its beginning.
The
Halloween Classic had seven classes of competition. Six of
which are the standard classes for the Northeast Grand Slam
series: Stock 1/12 and Sedan (17.5 brushless), SuperStock
Rubber Sedan and WorldGT (13.5 brushless), and Pro 1/12 and
Sedan (10.5 brushless). The seventh class, designated “Raceway
Choice” was the growing Vintage Trans-Am class. Raceway Choice
participants don’t compete for points in the Grand Slam, but it
gives them the opportunity to participate in one of their local
favorite classes.
Another
unique quality behind The Series was the decision to omit the
Open Modified classes. Instead, the rules dictated that the
“Pro” class would run 10.5 turn brushless motors. This served
two purposes. While it made for a ‘spec’ around the horsepower,
it proved to be more than enough power on a technical layout to
make use of the experienced skill set of the pros, yet still
remaining encouraging enough to garner the interest of some
seasoned amateur drivers. This left the “Stock” classes to be
hotly contested among the amateur racers, who don’t typically
get to compete in races of this size. In the end, this format
proved solid, as the racing was clean and competitive in every
class, and in each main.
Practice
The doors
opened Friday morning for a full day of practice. Racers ran in
a semi-controlled format with cars of similar speeds. The last
two hours of the day were reserved for late-arriving
participants who hadn’t turned a lap on the track all day. The
Chris Goetz-designed layout was fast and flowing, yet still
contained a few areas that could prove tricky with a full heat
of cars on the track.
Throughout
the 3-day event, we were greeted with smiles from racers of all
types and abilities. With 240 total entries to hit the track in
this tight time frame, it was a very structured and quick moving
program. Shortly into the weekend, it was obvious that the
racers in attendance were here for one reason; put simply, to
race! When they weren’t on the track, they were working on
their gear and looking for any edge that would push them past
their next closest competitor.
The Racing
After a brief practice-by-heat session and
drivers’ meeting, qualifying got off to a furious start Saturday
morning with 3 rounds scheduled, followed by a fourth round on
Sunday morning. In 1/12 Stock, Tyler Gerber and Max Kuenning
exchanged the Top Qualifying position several times, but it was
Max coming out on top. For Super Stock Rubber Sedan, Larry
Fairtrace held the early TQ, but Losi teammate Mike Haynes
wrestled it away from him and held off several charges by the
“Big Sack” to keep the top spot.
Haynes also
took the early TQ and held on in the Vintage Trans Am class with
his Hemi Cuda, despite Mike Collins and crowd-favorite Chris
Goetz making charges in the later rounds. Next up was 1/12 Pro
where Parma’s Paul Ciccarello set the early pace, only to see
Corally’s Ray Darroch finish with the fastest time. In Stock
Sedan, Brandon Shells set the early pace and kept it throughout
qualifying, despite a strong challenge by Brandon Hess.
The newest
class on the R/C scene, WorldGT, was up next. Several drivers
made a strong runs at the TQ position, such as CRC’s own Frank
Calandra and eleventy-seven time national masters champion, Eli
Ezrow. In the end, it was EA’s Eric “Earthquake” Anderson
taking the pole position. Much like WorldGT, the Pro Sedan
class had several drivers taking a solid shot at the top spot,
including TOP’s Josh Cyrul and Associated’s Keven Hebert.
However, much like in 1/12 Pro, Ray Darroch ran his way to the
top spot.
Pictured: Pro Sedan class
‘TQ’ – Ray Darroch’s Corally RDX Phi heads up the grid.
Mains Report
As a
testament to the great attitudes that were all part of this
event, I witnessed racers volunteering their in between time to
help keep things moving along. Whether it was by keeping
things clean, or by lending a hand as a marshal or even by
making sure the results were being displayed in an organized
format. In a time where bench racing seems to be climbing to an
all-time high, The Halloween Classic provided racers with an
alternative to internet banter via a world class event that
displayed everything from last lap blowouts to bold moves for
the inside line. None of which went unnoticed by the gamut of
announcers that stepped up to help foster the intensity.
When the
dust settled, the racers went home to contemplate their
performances, and more importantly to regroup for the 2nd
leg of the Northeast Grand Slam Series, which will move on up to
Oakville, Canada at the fabulous FastCats facility. Expect more
smiles, more fun, and even greater competition as regional
rivalries begin to develop! The Gate and the Northeast Grand
Slam would like to thank all of the racers, sponsors, and
volunteers who made this year’s edition of the Halloween Classic
such a success.
Regards,
-
Chris Goetz
-
Paul Ciccarello
-
Mike McBride
Prepare yourselves for the usually intense, yet enjoyable, 3 day
program that is
The Halloween Classic. We are proud to announce that this is
the 6th annual running of The Classic. Same great schedule. Same
great racing.
** New for 2008 -
Superstock WorldGT and
Vintage Trans-Am
Let's get it on!
All the latest
information including confirmed registrants will be posted here.
The Entry Form is
in PDF and MS Word format below.
If you do not have Adobe Reader installed, please click on the
image below to download the latest version.
Please click here for the official entry form
in PDF format.
Please click here for the
official entry form in MS Word format.
Entry List
|
DRIVER |
STOCK TC |
Pro TC |
STOCK 1/12 SCALE |
Super Stock World GT 13.5 |
Pro 1/12 SCALE |
Super stockTC RUBBER 13.5 |
Vintage Trans-am |
|
Aaron Buran |
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
Aaron Straus |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Al Jones |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alex Galenski |
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Andrew Holub |
1 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Andrew Tag |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anthony Giannace |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Anthony Saunders |
1 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Bill Hamlin |
|
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
Bill Sydor |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Blake Bell |
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
Billy Spence |
|
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
Brad Stewart |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brandon Hess |
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Brandon Shells |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brian Cook |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Brian John |
1 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Brian Kessie |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brian Lutz |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Brian Rice |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
Brian Wynn |
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
Brock Witmer |
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Carl Inman |
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Casey Rettke |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Chris Doseck |
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
Chris Goetz |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Chris Henson |
|
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
Chris Opdyke |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chris Young |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chuck Chambers |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Chuck Lonergan |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
Corey Bazylewski |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Craig Xavier |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Danny Jenkins |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Dan Medved |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Darryl Stokley |
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
Dave Chester |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
Dave Johnson |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dave Morrow |
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Dave Usnik |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Dean Brown |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dustin Richards |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
Dusty Layne |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Doug Filo |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Eli Ezrow |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
Eric Anderson |
|
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
Eric Chambers |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
Estel Goffinet |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Frank Calandra |
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
Frank Dempster |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Fred Baumgartner |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Fred Kellner |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
George See |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Greg Dobrosky |
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Jacob Delano |
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
James Brink |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
James Prechtl |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James Reilley |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Jason Schreffler |
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
JB Catricala |
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
Jeff Beaule |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Jeff Keagy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Jeremy Gaskins |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Jeremy Otis |
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
Jesse Bean |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Jesse Williamson |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Jim Herrmann |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jim Piersol |
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
Jody Flipsie |
|
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
Joe Klebau |
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Joe Trandell |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
John Koblek |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John Peoples |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John Sims |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John Tag |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jon Carr |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
Josh Cyrul |
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
Josh Davis |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
John Firshing |
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
JP Richards |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
Junior Norton |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Justin Lessard |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Ian Ruggles |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Karl Hoffmeister |
|
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
Kelly Bean |
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
Keven Hebert |
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
Kenny Lambert |
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Ken Miller |
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
Kregg Kerr |
1 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
Kyle Haworth |
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
Kyle Inman |
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
Larry Fairtrace Jr. |
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Larry Fairtrace Sr. |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Luke Richards |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Mark Smyka |
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
Mark Sweeney |
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
Matt Miller |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Matt Walsh |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
Mark Calandra |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
Mick Carver |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mike Blackstock |
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
Mike Collins |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
Mike Haynes |
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
Mike Herald Jr. |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Mike Herald Sr. |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Michael Hanulec |
|
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
Michael Huddelson |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
Michael Skeen |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
Michael Thomas |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Mike McBride |
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Mike Moore |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mike Murray |
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
Mike Pulfer |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
Mike Smith |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Mike sh-Long |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mike Wise |
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
Myles Hale |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Nick Zaccarro |
|
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
Orlando Ledesma |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Odus Christian |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paul Ciccarello |
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
Perry Caswell |
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
Pete Medved |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Ralph Morella |
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Randy Bernard |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Randy Kastl |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ray Adams |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Ray Darroch |
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
Rob King |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
Rob Love |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Robert Dirla |
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Rick Lohr |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
Ron Goetter |
1 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Ron Mick |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
Rusty Whitaker |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Russell King |
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
Sam Dileo |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sean Bushnell |
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
| 
