[Fot] A message to the FOT from the 2023 Kastner Cup Co-Chairs: Brian Garcia and Mark Alexander -Please feel free to repost and share

Wed Jul 27 23:48:21 MDT 2022

FOT,

Let me start by letting everyone know I truly enjoyed my experience as Kastner Cup Race Chair for the past two years, and I'm so pleased that Mark and Brian have stepped up to Chair the race next year.  The chair position ideally should rotate each year to a person familiar with the local track and Triumph club contacts if possible.  This will make FOT a stronger (non) organization with a lot of qualified folks getting involved.

Road American is on my bucket list of tracks and I can't wait to get there next year.  Thanks for the opportunity to serve with so many other FOT members on the 2021 and 2022 Kastner Cup Race Committees.

Sincerely,

Curt Johnston
curt.johnston at comcast.net mailto:curt.johnston at comcast.net
707-249-1667

>     On 07/27/2022 3:01 PM Mark Alexander via Fot <fot at autox.team.net> wrote:
> 
> 
>     The 2022 event at Pittsburgh International Raceway (PIR) marked the 20st running of the Kastner Cup. As most of us are familiar, but for those new, the race celebrated the 70th year of Triumph sports car in competition. The Kastner Cup was named in recognition of the career accomplishment and legacy of R.W. “Kas” Kastner who passed away on April 11, 2021 at the age of 92. Kas Kastner was one of the most influential individuals responsible for the racing success of Triumph sports cars from the late 1950’s through 1970 and beyond. To this day, his series of Competition Preparation Manuals are a must read for competitors in Triumph sports cars. Later in his career, Kastner directed the Nissan IMSA GTP team that won the manufacturers’ championship three years in a row and the drivers’ championship four years in a row; a remarkable achievement.
> 
>     As much is likely to be written in the coming weeks and months about the 2022 Kastner Cup it is worth mentioning the PIR race maintained the familiar quality of all previous 19 Kastner Cups; a competitive family reunion bringing in Triumphs and drivers from the United States, Canada, and Germany.  A big thanks to Curt Johnston for carrying on the legacy over the past 2 seasons for both the events at Portland International Raceway and Pittsburgh International Raceway.  Curt has not only maintained the legacy and spirit of the Kastner Cup but has also improved operational processes along the way.
> 
>     Speaking of last year’s Portland Kastner Cup… conversations yielded a common theme  with many drivers expressing the idea of Road America as the 2023 location of choice.  Getting the Kastner Cup back to the centrally located, storied, beautiful….and very fast venue of Road America made complete sense.  2023 will mark a full 10 years since the Kastner Cup was last held at Road America.   The event in 2013 resulted in an incredible grid of 36 cars, consisting of four TR3s, thirteen TR4s, two TR4As, two TR250s (including the famous Peter Brock and Kas Kastner created TR250K), three TR6s, four Spitfires, four GT6s, a TR8, a Peyote MKII Special, a Devin bodied TR4, and a TVR 2200S.  Solid evidence indicates we will have an even greater turn-out in 2023 to include many of the usual and important suspects from both coasts, across the US and Canada.  Moreover, we are currently coordinating efforts for drivers and/or cars from the UK, Germany, and Australia!
> 
>     Lots of positive social media chatter already.  Great to see so many excited to attend! 
> 
>     Of course, more information will follow, however, here are a few key points in preparation for next year's 2023 Kastner Cup!
> 
>     Dates: July 14-16, 2023
> 
>     Location: Road America Elkhart Lake, WI https://www.roadamerica.com/?fbclid=IwAR3rdjeyd_HRNoyVcu-TO2pUti4dWeXZ7RXJH2B4XnRdX_RPXisgGB5l5XU  
> 
>     Event:  Weathertech International Challenge (WIC) with Brian Redman -Known as one of the one of the largest Vintage Events in the country typically drawing 350 to 400+ race registrations
> 
>     Triumphs will be the featured Marque
> 
>     2023 Kastner Cup Grand Marshall:  Joe Alexander
> 
>        Road America is repaving all 4 miles of racing surface after this season
> 
>        All cars will run in their respective classes for (3) qualifying sessions, (1) Qualifying Race, (1) Feature Race
> 
>        The Kastner cup will be on Sunday for all Triumphs and is in addition to the above
> 
>        Friday night concourse for race cars - drive your car from the track to Elkhart, park, and enjoy 2 hours of 5000 spectators walking among the cars and talking to the drivers. 
> 
>        For those that have not driven, or spectated at Road America the combined event of the  Weathertech International Challenge is life changing.
> 
>        One last thing….
> 
>     We are excited to announce Brian Garcia’s return as a Kastner Cup Co-Chair for the 2023 event!  Brian Garcia was the Event Chair for the 2017 Kastner Cup at Blackhawk Farms Raceway.  A self-proclaimed “Friend of a Friend of Triumph”, Brian got involved with Triumphs crewing for Jason Ostrowski’s Friendly Ghost Racing GT6 in 2011.  The following year, he attended his first Kastner Cup at Road Atlanta and instantly liked the camaraderie he found in the FOT paddock.  He earned his nomination to FOT the following year at the Road America Kastner Cup after leading Christian Marx and Peter Bulkowski on a scavenger hunt around Sheboygan County looking for parts to fix Peter’s (now Christian’s) TR8 which ultimately led to a colorful but happy ending.  Buy him a beer at the Cup next year and he’ll gladly retell the story. 
>      
>     Brian actively campaigns a 1965 Cheetah Roadster and a 1967 Plymouth Barracuda in Vintage Racing events and hopes to have both of them at Road America next July to keep him busy in between Kastner Cup duties.  He finally was able to solidify his place as a true FOT member when he drove fellow FOT’er David Amys’ Spitfire at the VSCDA Blackhawk Classic last month.
> 
>      
> 
>     All the best and more to come:
> 
>      
> 
>     Mark Alexander: 952.412.6683, markurthuralexander at gmail.com mailto:markurthuralexander at gmail.com
> 
>     Brian Garcia: 847.452.2246, cudapilot at comcast.net mailto:cudapilot at comcast.net
> 
> 
>     --
> 
> 
>     Mark Alexander
>     ARE
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