By Lou Modestino
We’re all very excited to remind you that the registration process for the 2014 Subaru Mt. Washington Hillclimb opens at midnight – December 1, 2013 for the following five (5) classes: Open, Hillclimb 1, Hillclimb 2, Hillclimb 3 & Hillclimb 4.
The event is usually held in mid-June and is held on the auto road at the foot of the 7 mile + auto road in Gorham, NH.
Sports Car Club of New Hampshire officials, working closely with representatives from Rally America, Inc., announced today that the 2014 Subaru Mt. Washington Hillclimb taking place at the Mt. Washington Auto Road in Pinkham Notch, Gorham, NH June 26-29, 2014 will also serve as a full-points round of the 2014 Rally America National Championship.
“We’re excited to welcome Rally America and its national championship teams to the 2014 Subaru Mt. Washington Hillclimb”, stated Sports Car Club of New Hampshire President, Terry Murphy IV. “This hillclimb has a tremendous history that includes rally teams since the hillclimb returned in 1990. Having up to twenty of Rally America’s top national teams competing for national championship points here next June will not only provide for some great competition in the Rally America National Championship, but provide a great opportunity for spectators to watch these extremely talented teams test their skills at what is referred to by many as the most technical automotive hillclimb in the world.”
Although the Rally America teams will be competing for traditional hillclimb awards at Mt. Washington, the recorded times the rally teams post in the two half-course timed sessions on Friday and again on Saturday, as well as the two full-course timed runs they post on Sunday, will be combined to provide them with a total of six “competition stages”– just like a regular Rally America National Championship event where the lowest combined times after completing a series of competition stages determines the class winners. Rally America officials will use the times their teams post on Friday, Saturday & Sunday to determine placement in the four Rally America National Championship classes which include Open, Super Production, 2-Wheel Drive and B-Spec.
“The 2014 Subaru Mt. Washington Hillclimb will infuse more excitement into the Rally America National Championship,” added Bill Fogg, Sr., Rally America President. “It’s a varied format from our traditional rally, a new event, a new challenge for our top national teams who want to add this one-of-a-kind accolade to their rally racing resumes. I attended this hillclimb in 2011 and saw firsthand how wildly competitive it can be. I am very excited to have Rally America as a part of Mt. Washington’s amazing history and to include our drivers in this storied competition.”
The 2014 Subaru Mt. Washington Hillclimb will consist of seventy five teams competing for bragging rights in a total of eight separate classes June 26-29, 2013 – the top class being the Open Class where high horsepower and creativity will play a key factor. The field of eight classes will also include two rally classes for the Rally America invitational teams – one class for 2-wheel drive cars and one class for all-wheel drive cars – four distinct hillclimb classes (H1, H2, H3 & H4) which will be filled with a variety of highly skilled drivers and specialized race cars, primarily from the New England Hillclimb Association. In addition, a group of up to ten invited drivers competing in rare vintage race cars, many with a history of competing at Mt. Washington and other well-known venues from around the world will round out the seventy five car field.
In 1904, the first year of the Mt. Washington Hillclimb, F.E. Stanley from Newton, Massachusetts, co-creator of the famous Stanley Steamer, drove his 6-horsepower, 800-pound steam-powered car to the summit of Mt. Washington only to be beaten by Harry Harkness from New York. Driving a 40-horsepower Mercedes that weighed 2,200 pounds, Harkness posted a winning time of 24 minutes, 37 and 3/5 seconds in 1904.
Since that first year of competition, many well-known drivers have competed and won the Climb to the Clouds such as “Cannonball” Baker in 1928 & 1932 and the legendary Carroll Shelby in 1956. Driving a Franklin in 1928, Baker raced to a time of 14:49.6 seconds. Carroll Shelby, driving a specially prepared Ferrari 375 Grand Prix roadster in 1956, posted a record-setting run of 10:21.8 on his way to victory. In 1961 Connecticut racer Bill Rutan drove his Carrera-powered Volkswagen to another new record time of 9:13.0 that would stand for 29 years – until the return of the race in 1990 when Tim O’Neil, a Rally driver from Franconia, NH drove his 300+ horsepower all-wheel-drive Volkswagen Rally Golf to the summit in a time of just 7 minutes and 45 seconds.
Following the return of the Mt. Washington Hillclimb in 1990 after a 29-year hiatus, the event was run annually as part of the Mt. Washington Auto Road’s summer event schedule until 2001. During that time, several new records were shared between 7-time Sports Car Club of America National Rally Champion Paul Choiniere from Shelburne, VT and multi-time Canadian Rally Champion Frank Sprongl from Mississauga, Ontario. Sprongl set a record time of 6:41.99 in 1998 driving his 500 horsepower Audi Quattro S2 that would stand for 13 years until 2011.
In 2011, Subaru Rally Team USA driver and multi-time Rally America Overall Champion David Higgins from the Isle of Man came to Mt. Washington for the very first time. Driving a Vermont SportsCar-prepared 2011 Subaru WRX STI all-wheel-drive rally car in the Open class without the aid of a co-driver, Higgins set a new overall course record of 6:11.54 – smashing the previous Mt. Washington Hillclimb record time set by Sprongl by more than 30 seconds!
“Sometimes the biggest battle is against the other drivers”, stated 5-time Rally America Overall Champion and current Mt. Washington Hillclimb Record Holder David Higgins recently, “but racing up the Mt Washington Auto Road is very different. The road itself is the biggest battle and one I can’t wait to fight again. The Mt. Washington Auto Road has it all; Tarmac, gravel, fog, crazy weather and not to mention the scenic drops! It is an immense challenge that is also steeped in history.”
Organized and sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of New Hampshire, the 2014 Subaru Mt. Washington Hillclimb will take place at the Mt. Washington Auto Road in Pinkham Notch, Gorham, NH on June 26-29, 2014. The window for accepting entry applications from potential competitors will open at 12:01am on December 1, 2013 and close at midnight on December 31, 2013.
Thompson Speedway honored its 2013 track champions and celebrated its 73rd season of racing at its annual awards banquet Friday evening. Champions in all five NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions took center stage as they put an exclamation point on a season defined by competitive racing in spite of a rain-plagued year. Keith Rocco of Meriden, Conn. led a contingent of drivers to earn series crowns with a championship in the coveted Sunoco Modified division.
Other champions included: Rick Gentes of Burriville, RI in the Late Models, Cam McDermott in the Lite Modified division, Steve Kenneway in the Xtra Mart Limited Sportsman division, and Monster Mini Stock Champion Eric Bourgeois.
Mini Stock driver Mike Viens of Seekonk, Mass. and Late Model driver Marc Curtis, Jr. of Worcester, Mass. were the recipients of the Chief Starter’s Award presented by Tim Bennett. The award recognizes sportsmanship displayed by drivers in the NASCAR Whelen All American Series divisions.
The Sunoco Modified division crown was decided in a highly contested battle that went right down to the last lap of the last race. Rocco, who held a mere two point lead heading into the final regular season event, finished second that night to Woody Pitkat of Stafford Springs, Conn., whose race win tied him for the championship.
Rocco’s division-leading five victories served as the tie-breaker and catapulted Rocco to the head table for Friday night’s festivities to celebrate his fourth Thompson Speedway track championship. Rocco accomplished a total of nine top-five finishes throughout the season. Cassie Rocco shared in the honors as the championship car owner.
Rocco’s accomplishments at Thompson and throughout the state also earned him the title of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Connecticut State Champion and will also be honored by NASCAR in Charlotte in December.
“This championship was different because it was my first as a car owner. Without the people behind me – this team, the people who show up every Thursday – this championship wouldn’t be possible,” said Rocco. “It was a short season, but we made sure we had fun. We laughed, we joked. The people on my team are just awesome and they make this sport fun.”
Rocco also said he would be returning to Thompson for another full season in 2014.
Special awards were presented to Sunoco Modified Most Improved driver, Jason Sundeen, and Rookie-of-the-Year, Paul Newcomb of Plymouth, MA.
Rick Gentes of Woonsocket, R.I. added to his auto racing legacy with the 2013 Late Model championship after taking it down to the wire.
The division title was decided on the final regular season event in which Glenn Boss of Danielson, Conn. entered the race with a four point lead over Gentes. His brought home his No. 70 machine in the seventh position to claim the crown over Boss and earn his fifth Thompson Speedway track championship.
In total, Gentes earned three victories, six top-five and nine top-10 finishes throughout the season. Gentes’ accomplishments put him second on the tracks all-time win list with a total of 72 career victories.
Special awards were presented to Late Model Most Improved driver, Marc Curtis, Jr., and Rookie-of-the-Year, John Lowinski-Loh, Jr.
Cam McDermott of Scituate, RI. earned his third consecutive Thompson track championship with a crown in the Lite Modified division for the second straight year.
McDermott began his title streak in the Thompson Modifieds, and continued it even after moving to the Lite Modified division in 2012. McDermott’s season was dominating with six victories and nine top-five finishes. McDermott, who will move to the Sunoco Modified division next season, finished the season 22 points ahead of John Studley of Framingham, Mass.
Special awards were presented to Lite Modified Most Improved driver, Joseph Boivin, and Rookie-of-the-Year, Bob Vojtila. Lowell, Mass. native Steve Kenneway and Norwich, Conn.’s Banta Racing, owned by Charlie and David Banta, celebrated their first Thompson Speedway track championship in the Xtra Mart Limited Sportsman division.
Kenneway entered the final race of the season with a 12-point lead over Jason Chicolas of Sutton, Mass. Kenneway suffered a flat tire early in the race but rallied to a sixth place finish to secure the division crown. Banta Racing, who has fielded cars in the division for the last 14 seasons, enjoyed one victory, five top-five, and eight top-10 finishes in only their second year with Kenneway behind the wheel.
Special awards were presented to the Xtra Mart Limited Sportsman Most Improved driver, Kevin Mason, and Rookie-of-the-Year, Travis Jurcik.
Eric Bourgeois of East Haddam Conn. waited nine years to celebrate a second Thompson Speedway track championship. The 2004 Monster Mini Stock Champion earned his second title after entering the final event of the season with only a six point lead over defending champion Chad Baxter. Bourgeois, who lost a championship bid last season to Baxter by eight points, wasn’t about to let his efforts of the season slip away. Bourgeois took down the win that night and, in doing so, secured the division crown.
In all, Bourgeois and car owner Bruce Stevens earned a total of two victories and never placed outside the top-five all season long.
Special awards were presented to Monster Mini Stock Most Improved driver, Nathan Taylor, and Rookie-of-the-Year, Anthony Comforti.
The evening concluded with the presentation of the John Hoenig Memorial Award. The award, which recognizes one individual for their hard work and dedication to the Speedway, was presented to Richard “Mouse” Morrill.
Morrill has worked for the speedway for 47 years in various capacities, but it best known for his role as leader of one of the very best track crews in the country. Thompson officials have depended on his leadership to keep them informed on track conditions. He directs accident scenes and the cleanup that follows.
He has earned the respect of not only every race official at Thompson Speedway, but has received rave reviews from touring series directors for his ability to deal with on-track problems and to accurately report back to them the exact conditions that exist on the track surface.
SUNOCO MODIFIED FINAL POINT STANDINGS: 1. Keith Rocco, Meriden, CT; 2. Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs, CT; 3. Kerry Malone, Needham, MA; 4. Dennis Perry, Pawcatuck, CT; 5. Ryan Preece, N. Falmouth, MA; 6. Todd Ceravolo, Gales Ferry, CT; 7. John Catania, Ludlow, MA; 8. Matt Gallo, Berlin, CT; 9. Paul Newcomb, Plymouth, MA; 10. Jason Sundeen, Douglas, MA.
LATE MODEL FINAL POINT STANDINGS: 1. Rick Gentes, Burriville, RI; 2. Glenn Boss, Danielson, CT; 3. John Lowinski-Loh, Jr., Milford, MA; 4. Chad LaBastie, Uxbridge, MA; 5. Marc Curtis, Jr., Worcester, MA; 6. Damon Tinio, Mendon, MA; 7. John Falconi, Oakham, MA; 8. Derryck Anderson, Jr., Coventry, RI; 9. Louis Romiza, E. Falmouth, MA; 10. Bob O’Connell, Jr., Wrentham, MA.
LITE MODIFIED FINAL POINT STANDINGS: 1. Cam McDermott, Scituate, RI; 2. John Studley, Framingham, MA; 3. Dylan Menditto, Brooklyn, CT; 4. Joseph Boivin, Belchertown, MA; 5. Glenn Griswold, Vernon, CT; 6. Nikki Ouellette, East Granby, CT; 7. Bob Vojtila, Southington, CT; 8. Robert Palmer, Lisbon, CT; 9. Danny Gamache, Jr., Woonsocket, RI; 10. Ryan Pellerin, Dayville, CT.
XTRA MART LIMITED SPORTSMAN FINAL POINT STANDINGS: 1. Steve Kenneway, Lowell, MA; 2. Scott Sundeen, Douglas, MA; 3. Corey Fanning, Mapleville, RI; 4. Jesse Gleason, Lisbon, CT; 5. Bill McNeil, Preston, CT; 6. Jason Chicolas, Sutton, MA; 7. Kevin Mason, West Warwick, RI; 8. Scott Fanning, Mapleville, RI; 9. Travis Jurcik, Chaplin, CT.
MONSTER MINI STOCK FINAL POINT STANDINGS: 1. Eric Bourgeois, East Haddam, CT; 2. Chad Baxter, Pascoag, RI; 3. Dave Trudeau, Mansfield, CT; 4. Mike Viens, Seekonk, MA; 5. Joe Baxter, Pascoag, RI; 6. Nathan Taylor, Wauregan, CT; 7. Louis Bellisle, Lisbon, CT; 8. Scott Michalski, S. Killingly, CT; 9. Alicia Thatcher, Pascoag, RI; 10. Steve Michalski, Brooklyn, CT.
We got the Vermont based ACT Tour schedule for 2014 and we’re surprised to see the rumored two races that were expected to go to the restructured Thompson Speedway in Connecticut not included. Obviously the two parties couldn’t get together.All of the ACT races will be in northern New England and northern NY State. Also the ACT Invitational will be part of the September NASCAR weekend at NHMS in Loudon, NH. The were rumors to the contrary.