[Spridgets] SMRS Gingerman Highlights and Results

[stanbmason at aol.com]

  Spridget Lovers and Racers!
Below you will see a summary of last weekend's race at Gingerman along with attached results.
Gingerman Highlight 2024

What a great weekend for Sprite Midget Race Series with 20Spridgets racing making it the 2nd largest attendance from 21 in2021.  It is always so great to kick offthe season here with the uniqueness of flowering fruit trees and Lake Michiganair mixed with race gas and rubber making for a perfect bouquet of aromas.   We had one of largest gathering of Spridget DriverStudents ever of Dan Parson and his Bug Eye that we remember from 20 years ago,August Schmitz, Bruce and Greg Newcomer Father and Son team, Jeff Porada fromWinner Circle Spridget Performance.

I always enjoy reflecting on the past as part of mygeezerliness and it is exciting to see SMRS expand or at least maintain theirnumbers.  I interviewed one of ourStudent Driver’s and they volunteered saying that he wanted to race with usbecause we have the largest gathering of Spridget Racing in the US (yes we do!).  The demographics are changing as well withyounger families bringing their toddlers. We have our own SMRS Toddler Jensencoached by Ashley and Nathan Burress with surrogate Grandparents in the SMRSPaddock.

 

SMRS Posters by Jeff Carloss are always special, and thisyear is no exception with group pics of the past  and a focus on the upcoming Road AmericaHealey Challenge in September 13-15, 2024 followed by Austin Healey ClubConclave.  Please support SMRS by buyingthese cool posters to adorn your favorite trailer or Sports Car Cave.  They are $10 and go towards our end of yearawards.

Thanks to Rick Fisk for compiling results of SMRS Season2024 (see attached).  You will notice a Pin front of some drivers that cars have not been evaluated for classificationwithin SMRS.

 

Safe racing is always my biggest concern as Group 2Representative.  

SMRS’s Most Respected Driver Award says it best and needs tobe reviewed often:

I.                   Criteria: A driver that exemplifies the meaningof a Vintage Sports Car Driver includes:

a.      Predictable (Stays on racing line points racersby when being passed or when passing makes sure that over taking driver knows theyare about to be passed and allows room and good judgement),

b.     Confident & Observant (Uses mirrors and isaware of others racing near)

c.      Respectful (Confirms that their race car ismechanically sound and will not cause others to be injured from impropermaintenance.  Can sit down with othercompetitors and enjoy their company after any session) 

d.     Objective (open to others comments) and DrivesDefensively (adjusts for conditions safely regardless of other driver’sinteraction).

 

VSCDA and I consider Safety the biggest concern forcontinuing Vintage Sports Car Fun.  Therewere 3 incidents at GMan 2024 in Group 2 with Spridgets.  Two of those were cars coming in contact withother cars that were spinning.  This is adifficult situation not knowing where the spinning car is going to move andevery situation is different. 

The VSCDA Driver’s School teaches thatif a car spins in front of you drivetoward the spinning car by the time you reach it, it will havemoved.  Direction of the spinner is difficult to predict.  So, aimingfor the spin will most likely mean that it has moved by the time you reach thepoint where you first observed the spin ! 

My personal experience has observed that most spins occur onthe out board side of the turn and as the car spins it slows down and usuallycrosses back over the track to the inboard side of the turn.  This is a problem if you are followingclosely behind, but most generally keeping your momentum may help you bygetting through before the car starts moving across the track to theinside.  If you are further behind andsee it happening slowing down immediately is probably a better alternative.  Self-appraisal is important for all of usafter an incident to replay how you could have avoided or improve the conditionand put in your tool bag for the future. If there is anyone that has further insight please share.

The other incident could have been avoided if those involvedwould have been less aggressive and held back and passed safely.  Sanctions were imposed to those that wereconsidered unsafely racing.

TheDriver's Committee asked me to express:

TheDriver’s Committee and vintage traditions are guided by the fact that VintageRacers are not supposed to or expected to lose control of your car.  Ityou do spin, you are driving faster or more aggressively than is appropriate"

Next stop in the SMRS best 2 of 3 series is Blackhawk FarmsJune Father’s Day Weekend.  Supported bymany SMRS members and Lead by Tom Wilcox. More details as we get closer.

 

Stan Mason


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