Just a quick note about the Atlanta Region SCCA NOPI Solo 2 1999 Champion
of Champions event held, Sunday, November 7th at Atlanta Motor Speedway
in Hampton, Georgia.
First of all, what a GORGEOUS day, we had, with mid-70's, sun and a light
breeze. WOW. The course was very similar to the NOPI Nationals Auto-X
Tournament layout with the head-to-head double elimination format used
for both the Champion of Champions bracket and the Champion of Chief's
bracket. A calculated setback arrangement was used to handicap between
classes.
We had 12 Atlanta Region NOPI Solo 2 champions compete for the overall
title for 1999's running of the Champion of Champions.
DS Charles Stewart - Neon
DSL Renee Hines - Neon
ES Ken Rupp - Honda
FS Jerry Grigg - Camaro (defending Champion of Champion)
GS Alex Muresan - Acura Type R
SS Mike Schoop - Mazda RX7TT
BSP Ben Thatcher - Corvette
CSP Heathcakes McMillan - Honda CRX
DSP J. Brett Howell - Honda Civic
STU Scott Giles - Acura
CP Rich Shafer - mongo Trans Am
FM Dan McMahan - KBS F500
Rich Shafer drove his NASCAR motored Trans Am flawlessly through the
winner's bracket dispatching Dan McMahan (FM), Charles Stewart (DS) and
Alex Muresan to get to the winner's bracket final.
Jerry Grigg (FS) took care of business by whipping up on me (Ben Thatcher
- BSP) then Brett Howell (DSP) and drawing a bye into the final of the
winner's bracket against Rich Shafer. The winner's bracket final was very
close but Shafer took the win to see who could claw their way back
through the loser's bracket.
Heath McMillan (CSP) had coned his first run to move back to the loser's
bracket but he went right to work beating Renee Hines (DSL), Dan McMahan
(FM), Alex Muresan (GS) and Jerry Grigg (FS) to get into the loser's
bracket final.
Ken Rupp (ES) had been responsible for putting Heath in the loser's
bracket on the first round but suffered a loss at the hands of Alex
Muresan (GS) to move himself into the loser's field. Rupp hunkered down
and carved his way through Charles Stewart (DS), Brett Howell (DSP), and
drew a bye into the loser's bracket final against McMillan (CSP). The
setback for McMillan to compete against Rupp's ES car was 233 feet so
they had to line up on course.
Ken Rupp has a solid reputation as a smooth and consistent driver and it
paid off as McMillan coned his run to put Rupp in the overall final
against Rich Shafer's fire-breathing monster Trans Am. Since this is a
dual elimination bracket Rupp needed to beat Shafer twice to take the
championship.
Because of the class differences Shafer was placed 281 feet back of the
start finish line but with 600 NASCAR horsepower, that distance got
erased quickly. However, Shafer had a dirty run for the first time all
day which handed the first win to Rupp even though Shafer was about a car
length in the lead at the finish.
They lined up for the second pass, once again, with Shafer back the
requisite 281 feet. But Shafer stayed clean and fast, this time, to take
the championship by the same single car length.
There was another bracket running, today. The Champion of Chief's "for
fun" bracket. Only three 1999 chiefs signed up to run so the bracket was
opened up to any of next year's chief's, also. Consequently, a 7 driver
bracket was formed with the following competitors.
BS Brett Copeland - Miata
GS Michael Alexander - Acura Type R
GS Tom Simon - Taurus SHO
SS Chris Eckles - BMW M-Roadster
CSP Louis Boustani - Honda CRX
CSP T. B. Muresan - Honda CRX
CP Dick Berger - Corvair
Louis Boustani (CSP) and Tom Simon (GS) worked their way through the
field to make it to the final of the winner's bracket. Boustani besting
Muresan and Berger to get there. Simon took care of Eckles and Copeland.
In the winner's bracket final Boustani overcame a 195 foot setback to
take the win from Simon to advance to the final for the championship.
Dick Berger used his Mirrorkhana experience to set to work in the loser's
bracket beating Eckles and Simon to get to the loser's final. Michael
Alexander mysteriously drew 2 byes and defeated Copeland to advance to
the loser's final and proceded to win over Berger to face Boustani. Dick
Berger was surprised to have advanced so far but he drove very well and
almost made it back for the final.
Boustani stayed undefeated for the day, winning over Alexander and
overcoming a 195 foot setback in the process. Bear in mind that Alexander
was on street tires so watch out in 2000 if he picks up some stickies.
Congratulations to Rich Shafer for winning his second Champion of
Champions trophy in 5 years. In 1994 he won when all drivers were driving
the same car. This time he got to drive his familiar mount.
A note to everyone who competed at the NOPI Nationals. Atlanta Region has
developed a system to eliminate the large number of bye runs in odd
numbered brackets. Today's event was finished by 2:30 PM.
Ben Thatcher
Atlanta Region SCCA Solo 2 co-chair
Apex Benefit Services & Motorsports
Stockbridge, GA
Phone 770.474.1402
FAX 770.474.0938
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