I remember learning to drive in my mom’s little stick shift, stalling, bucking, and pleading for her patience. Soon, my dad would take my brother and me out in snowstorms to slide around, exploring car control. When I first joined the SCCA, I drove my E36 325is and M3 exclusively until a local friend forced me to drive his Miata and, soon after, the S2000. It was the same unyielding encouragement that got me into other cars and eventually to the Tire Rack Solo National Championships in 2014. I am all-in now, fueling my methodical quest for improvement in STR.
In association with the Joe Deluca & Linda Gronlund Freedom Majors, Track Night in Ameirca will take place on Friday, May 26.
Heat one began with temperatures in the mid 40s, but sunny skies quickly warmed things up. In C Street, Keith Scala led the class in his 2009 Mazda RX-8 after first runs. Scala maintained his lead, and put down a 45.750 on his fourth run for the class win. Steven Berrodin and Tamra Hunt rounded out the podium.
E Street saw an intense battle between Nick Babin in his 2003 Toyota MR-S and Serafin Tinapunan in his 1999 Mazda Miata. Both struggled to stay clean on first and second runs, but Babin grabbed the lead on his third run and stayed there. His 48.373 was the fastest in class by nearly half a second. Tinapunan held onto second place, and Nicholas Rivadeneira took third.
In CAM-T Jeffrey Darbig (1983 Ford Mustang GT) and Christopher Collucci (1988 Pontiac Firebird) went back and forth between positions one and tow. Darbig’s 47.948 on run three was good for the win, with Collucci only 0.028 behind.
In heat two the competition grew fiercer as the temperature continued to rise. A Street action was intense, with less than one second between the top five drivers. Yun Ng (2008 Honda S2000 CR), Chris Drabouski (2015 Porsche Cayman), and Cy Lee (2004 Chevrolet Corvette Z06) all traded places at the top of the list throughout the first four runs. On his fifth run Justin Lau (2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06) cleaned up his act and put down a 45.649 to win the class.
G Street also saw close action, with less than a second between the drivers on the podium. Jeff Taylor led the class in his 2013 Volkswagen GTI for three runs. On his fourth run, Joseph Lagdao (2015 Ford Focus ST) moved into the lead by over 0.7 seconds, and held on for the win with a 48.017 as both Taylor and Fred Kratzel (2013 Ford Focus) found time and dropped into the 48s.
Heat three competition was dominated by the Pro class, with less than two seconds between the top 15 drivers. It was a Porsche-filled podium, and the top six drivers were all driving Super Street cars (one on Hoosiers). Pat Salerno and Brian Conners took the one-two finish in Conners’s 2011 Porsche GT3. Perry Aidelbaum (2015 Porsche GT4) was only a tenth behind and took the third podium spot. These three also took top PAX.
As temperatures plateaued in the mid 50s the drivers of heat four enjoyed the day’s peak grip. Street Touring action was some of the day’s best. In STS it was battle of the co-drivers, with Mike Kobialka and Michael Roleira piloting their Mayhem Miata. Roleira led after first runs and held onto that 
lead for the entire heat, winning with a 45.697. Kobialka made him work for it, though, finishing only 0.059 seconds behind. Maciek Samsel (1997 Mazda Miata) took third.
In STX it was Ken Houseal (2013 Subaru BRZ) with a 45.945 over Jose Tatad (2013 Subaru BRZ) by 0.279.
STR was exciting as usual, with the only a second between podium finishers. Tim Kong (2008 Honda S2000 CR) took the win with a 43.895 on his fourth run. Josh Lipman (2008 Honda S2000 CR) was only 0.148 behind, and Hezron Laluces (2005 Honda S2000) took third.
Michael Mitchell (1998 BMW M3) was the fastest Novice, with a 47.664.
The day’s fastest run was a 42.191 by Evan Schickel (2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport).
