2004 * Event 1
* Event 2
* Event 3
* Event 4
* Event 5
* Event 6
* Event 6
* Event 7
* Event 8
* Event 9
* Event 10
* Event 16
* Event 11
* 2004 Standings Bill Fischer Sr. Chops Down the Tree for his First ECS CC Win in Event #6
Englishtown, NJ, 08/07/04 -
At today's East Coast Supercharging Corvette Challenge, had you told me it was August without my looking at the calendar, I would have said you were crazy. Amidst all of the fanfare of the biggest Corvette day at Raceway Park was a beautiful fall like day with almost no humidity and the temperature barely eclipsing the 60's and turnout was spectacular. Not only did we have our sixth race of the ECS CC season in the starting at 3 PM, but the morning event, Vette Magazine East Coast Show & Go saw many of our racers have great success in that Go portion of the event. Our event featured a side "Gambler's" entry of $20 for those who wished to participate, with half of the pot slated to go to help fellow racer, Mike Carr, who continues to slowly progress slowly from brain surgery.
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| Runner-up John Panuzzo
| John Mackey, runner-up John Panuzzo, winner Bill Fischer Sr. and Bob Trieschmann
| Winner Bill Fischer Sr. with son and tuner Eric
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As stated before, attendance was super today with 72 Corvettes participating (although only 66 made first round) in our race after many went deep in the morning event. Drivers appearing in finals of their classes included Rob Farley defeating Vic Gandhi, Ellis Gray defeating Neil Fine, Al Betz winning his class and Eric Fischer, driving his father's Collector Edition 96 to a victory in his class. That is correct, the Fischer racing CE won twice in one day with two different drivers.
| | Event 6 Ladder
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Well Bill Fischer Sr.'s day started with a first round win over Jim Kovitch when both drivers cut lights in the .08's and Bill ran closer to his dial, 11.621 on an 11.60 to get the win. Incidentally, Kovitch just simply rebounding by winning the Real Street event that night! Round two was an even tougher challenge against, Al Conner (a top 5 contender). Fischer made his intentions for the night clear when he hit Conner with .010 light and a .03 over 11.610 on 11.58 dial. Round three was the ladder round and Bill came into it seeded number two with the .010. He faces Ron Higgins and cut his only bad light of the night. Fortunately, yet another tight package go him the win with 11.606 on an 11.57 dial. His number two seed earned him a bye in round 4 so he took the time shot and to keep himself ready for the next round. And now a showdown in round 5 with points leader Rob Farley. Farley too the lead at the tree with a .076 to Bill's .086 but with Bill running so well, it would come to who would drive the finish line better. As I stood there trying to take the picture of the finish I hear screeching brakes. It was Farley trying not to take too much stripe, but it was too late. Farley ran .09 under his dial beating Fisher to the stripe but handing him the win. One more round before the final and Fischer would have to face another driver who was looking determined to get to the final, Sheila Murchan. Murchan took a shot at the tree and was just on tiny thousandth from perfect lighting the red light by just -.001. and Fischer was in his first final in the ECS CC. Also worth noting that on this run, the dial in number posted by the track was NOT correct and Fischer picked up on it and made track officials aware so that they can correct. A lesson well learned by Bill as this has happend before and drivers have lost races because of it.
John Panuzzo, on the other hand, chasing Farley for the points lead coming in three back, was also looking very determined coming in fresh off of his win the Top 4 race held just three days ago. JP rode a first round red from Glenn Murphy into round two where he cut a .006 to edge out Bill Fischer Sr. for the number one seed in the ladder, which was a key to today's race. Panuzzo's victim in round 2 was current defending champion, Joe Blass. That number one seed earned JP a bye in round 3. On to round 4 where JP would face Don Peppler. Was JP sharp? I would say yes because took the tree down again with his second .006 of the night leaving Peppler with no choice but to "run it out the back door" and break out as well. Round 5 was against Vic Gandhi, who runner-upped in the morning race in his class. Gandhi got the advantage on the tree by .043. However Panuzzo's dial was tight enough at 12.870 on a 12.85 dial to cause Gandhi to break out. Here is the surprising part of JP's number one qualifying position in the ladder. The three semi finalists had already received a bye in eliminations. So JP gets a second bye into the final to meet his fate his third Final of the season.
The final showdown was set with the drivers totaling over 125 years of age together (this is no you man's sport anymore). Fischer dialed in at 11.62 will have to wait for Panuzzo, dialed 12.85 to leave. Panuzzo left and Fischer waited patiently and when that tree dared to come down, smacked with .006 (take that Mr. .006 JP). Fischer finished it with an 11.784, I am guessing on the brakes, to JP's 12.873 but not enough as a fairly late light left JP with nowhere to go. Fischer took the stripe by .1091.
Discuss this race here.
Corvette Challenge does a benefit Gambler's race to help Mike Carr
Mike Carr has been hospitalized for some time now after having surgery for a brain aneurysm. He is making some progress but recovery can take over a year. Good friends, Tony Abbruzze, Dennis Kazimir and Frank Schear, put together a $20 gamblers race with half the pot going to Mikie's family to help out in the tough time. 37 racers put the money in the pot totaling $740. Bill Fischer was one of them and before the race even started he told Frank and Tony, "If I win, don't even think of giving me that money" and his sentiment was felt by many others. Bill Fischer gave his half back to Mikie. In addition, two racers who did not participate in the race, Bill Wilson and Artie Sabatino, made cash donations. Raceway Park officer Tim Blair, who we help out with our Toys for Teens & Tots also put in $100 from today's $50/50 on behalf of the organization for a grand total of $885 collected today for racer friend in need. In addition, Dennis and Tony will put in additional funds in order to make it an even $1000 to present to Mike's wife. If Mikie could thank us himself I am sure he would be deeply touched by our support.
Mike has recently been moved to JFK in Edison NJ where they have a unit that specializes in this type of recovery. Mike can receive visitors but be sure and contact the hospital for visiting hours. Also, Tony visits him and read Corvette Forum posts to him so if you would like to say hi and cannot make it, please post here.
Summary of driver Dial-In times
| Time |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
Total |
| # |
1 |
9 |
31 |
30 |
5 |
66 |
| % |
1.52% |
13.64% |
31.82% |
45.45% |
7.58% |
100% |
Clubs and RookiesTeam CCDV, once again came out on top and padded their points lead in the Club Challenge standings with Ellis Gray earning the team the bonus points by not going down until the fourth round. David Sanders earned the bonus for CCA1 with a third round appearance. CCDV gained eight points for attendance to CCA1 earning four. With the new club points system doing its part to keep the race close, CCA1 really needs to step it up and get more members out to the races to make a late season surge. Club Challenge Standings.
Our top two rookies did not change although both made first round exits. Lynwood King was the victim of a late light and a breakout against fellow rookie Jason Anderson and George Geipel suffered the same late light/breakout situation against Don Peppler. Two rookies however made strides to the top each picking up three points. Gerardo Muniz, fresh off of buying last event winners, Joe Signore, hardtop for his convertible added some mods to his car and was running mid twelve’s with new found confidence. In the first round, not only did he take our fellow rookie Rick White, but he did it with the best RT of the first round, .014, which earned him a bye for the second round in a addition to the John Panuzzo Jr. Memorial Trophy and cash. Ronald Higgins left with three points today in his best showing of the season. The interesting thing is that Higgins' two wins came exactly the same way. First round he face Dave Tortolani who broke out by .001 (one thou) and second round he defeated Edgar Perez by the exact same .001 breakout! No such luck in round three when event winner, Bill Fischer Sr., put him away. See rookies denoted with (r) in the standings.
Other Awards Handed Out at this Event
- Event winner Bill Fischer went home with $250 cash, a $100 gift certificate from Pro Torque and winner trophy.
- Runner-up John Panuzzo went home with $125 cash, a $50 gift certificate from Pro Torque and runner-up trophy.
- Semi-finalists included Sheila Murchan and who won $60 cash.
- Gerardo Muniz won the 'John Panuzzo Jr. Memorial' trophy and $50 cash was presented by Team Panuzzo Racing for the best winning reaction time in the
1st round. Gerardo Muniz was quickest on the tree in the 1st round when his RT was
.014.
- Frank Fiori won the 'Almost Perfect Award' with a loss
in the 1st round with the red light closest to .000 (Almost Perfect). Frank Fiori's light was
-0.003 and was rewarded a trophy from Old Bridge Township Raceway Park recognizing the effort put forth to try and capture a perfect light but just slightly red.
- John Trescott won the 'Closest to Dial Award' by running only .002 off his dial. John Trescott was awarded a trophy from Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
 Rick White won the 'Ohh so Close Award' presented by Zaino when being edged out in the 1st
round by the smallest margin of victory of .0041. That number is the MOV number on your time
slip. Although suffering a loss in the 1st round by the smallest Margin of Victory, Rick White earned a Zaino starter package that includes Z1, Z2, Z6, Z7 and a polish pad.
- All winners of the first round were awarded a trophy sponsored by United Racing. With 72 cars making this event, United Racing gave out quite a few trophies or 1st Round Trophy Upgrade Program credits.
Next race
We race again on September 4th at with gates opening at 9 AM. This date will mark the return of The Vette Doctors Pro 8 heads-up racing with hopes for some very competitive heads-up racing. Visit http://www.racewaypark.com to view the schedule.
East Coast Supercharging Corvette Challenge helps Toys for Teens & Tots
In addition to our regular 50/50 collection at our race, we held a giveaway at the morning Show & Go. There were five prizes to be given way with a Karaoke Machine, Radio controlled truck, battery operated lantern with TV, Raceway Park jacket and a portable CD player. Tickets were $5 each and we sold 45 tickets for a total of $225 in donation to the Toys for Teens & Tots.
The 50/50 raffle was held at the track and the racers and spectators hopeful of
winning the money while helping out a worthy organization put together $360. Half of the collection, $180, was donated to the St. Peters church in
Jersey City to Sister Grace for the Toys for Teens & Tots fund from the East Coast
Supercharging Corvette Challenge. However, the winner of the other $180 did not show up to collect so Tim Blair donated $100 of those dollars to the Mike Carr fund and the rest went to The 50/50 is held at each of the ECS Corvette Challenges. That brought today's total donation $485. To date we have donated $131, $258, $186, $146, $125 and $485 for a total of $1,331 to the organization for 2004. Thank you for your continued support.
Corvette Challenge Multimedia
Pictures
Edgar pictures taken from the finish line. Some are from the Real Street Race
We couldn't do it without our sponsors
The Corvette Challenge gives thanks to all of its supporting sponsors for whom without
this series cannot be possible. Thanks go out to
East Coast Supercharging |
United Racing |
The Vette Doctors |
Team Panuzzo |
Spectrum Voice & Data |
Simple Man |
Marotta Racing |
CCDV |
Mufflex Performance |
Quick Time Performance |
Neverlift Racecraft |
SLP |
Furnakit.com |
CFM Racing |
Tortolani Racing |
Anger Management Racing |
FINEST RACING |
Pro Torque |
Zaino Bros
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modified: September 17, 2006 - 1:44 am
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