Bob Woodhouse
Enthusiast
27/2004
Mid Ohio Speed TV World Challenge GT Race
as seen from the Woodhouse Viper windshield.
Round Three of 2004.
Forgive me for being slightly Viper slanted in this report.
There is no question that the Dodge Vipers have created an air of presence in the WCGT series this year. Of 34 entries at Mid-Ohio, 13 were Vipers. As the week-end began unfolding, things looked good for a fine Dodge result too, three Vipers qualified in the top 10.
And results we got; with Tommy Archer carrying the Dodge colors to a 4th place finish behind the Audi’s and a Cadillac. You already (maybe) saw the results on speed channel so I won’t be redundant with explanations of Audi and Cadillac performances.
Here’s the report from there back, the cheaper seats (well sort of). Three Vipers finished in the top ten, a good viper day, regrettably I was not one of them.
This; Viper friends is a phenomenal effort considering that 5 of the top 10 finishes were occupied by factory teams. Our hats need to come off to the wonderful professional people that are not always shown the credit, I speak of Bob Raub and the entire 3R team along with Dan Fiffack and the McCann team and I am personally so grateful for the amazing effort that Rick Maxwell and Nancy Shanno do for me and the Woodhouse Auto Family. The contributions of these people are equal to anything we drivers bring to the table.
With that said, and all of these drivers being of great caliber, don’t think for a minute WCGT drivers make less mistakes than club racers, me included. By the 4th lap this track they call Mid-Ohio was beginning to look like a wrecking yard. There were cars off on all sides of the track. Carnage started at turn one on the first lap when Phil McClure made contact with a Porsche. He came out on the short end of the stick. Then Tim Wiens Viper put a humungous oil cloud out on turn one a lap or two later creating a “no see” situation that in Stan Wilson’s description was capable of causing vertigo. That put up the mid-race full coarse caution as the cloud caused contact events for a couple of cars including one of our black Vipers from the east. I get confused; Adel Aseyed and the two Diller brothers all look similar with their three black Comp Coupes. I think it was Warren. The wreckers worked on clean up while we got to “putt” around the track for 5 laps. When the course went green it was intense. All were bunched up leading to more rubbing and pushing. My “un-luck” (new term, whadyathink?) came exiting the carousel onto the main straight. In third gear at 91 mph and 4800 rpm (love that Motec data); the transmission calls it a day. I am in a “huh, what happened state of mind” when I feel a Kaawhump, from behind as the engine is winging itself to 6200. That noise was Jon Groom in the AXA Porsche 911 Cup car giving me an enema, err love tap. Now in a confused state of mind (more normal); I pull the car into 4th and it keeps moving albeit when I get to corner one I realize it is the only option in the gear box.
I get on the radio to advise Rick Maxwell and Nancy Shanno of our plight. This took multiple attempts; possibly due to my red-neck language, chipmunk chatter and a measure of red mist. Mr. Groom’s kamikaze attack on the posterior of my car left me spewing barn door sized quarter panel and diffuser chunks, and rear valence remnants for the better part of the next lap. By the way, I happened to notice Mr. Groom’s AXA Porsche in the grass at the end of the down hill straight. I could go to hell for this but I just couldn’t muster any compassion at that moment, I think something like “yes” slid out between my teeth. Now I hate myself.
So there I am circulating the track in fourth gear looking like a butt-shot pheasant from a 20 gauge shot gun when Rick informs me we need a pit stop. “No Rick, not possible, I repeat, we only have 4th gear, we won’t be able to re-launch the car”. His convincing sentence went like this: “You either have to come in or SCCA says you are disqualified.” For littering I assume. “OK OK I am coming in.” I waited five excruciatingly long laps while Rick and Nancy frantically removed all the floppy butt feathers and we make a clutch punishing launch out of the pits. We were amazed to see the car put 1.34 second lap times down with just 4th gear. Only in a Viper.
After the Woodhouse Viper Team qualified in 8th position and finished 25th; we had no honor to bring to the Dodge camp but many of our Viper associates did. Perhaps the most outstanding of those is Stan Wilson. Short of Mr. glass smooth Tommy Archer, here is a fellow that may pack the most driving potential our Comp Coupes have to offer. He is young and in the beginning of proving his mettle. I hope we see a sponsor step up and give him a shot, he has the ingredients: natural driving talent, genuine nice guy, outgoing; and understands he is not the only person living on this planet. His result was the most spectacular of the Vipers. He killed the motor on the start taking his 18th starting position to 25th then at race end lands in the top 10. Good solid drive.
Mike McCann did a great job, finishing 9th after sliding through the grass at the end of the long straight, stellar save. Brother Jim placed 13th. The man everyone respects for his demure personality, Sonny Whelen put his GTS 17th with “Muzzy” Rich Marziale bringing his spanking clean and fresh blue/silver Comp Coupe in 18th. You gotta see Rich’s helmet. On the back of it is this wild looking face of a guy, like a devil, and at the bottom it says “Muzzy’s alter ego”. Like Muzz said “Hey, it’s true?”
Mike Hartley, is continuing to bring his red white and blue GTS up to potential and he finished next at 19th. Lenny Dillar and Adel Asayed finished running while Warren Diller had some trouble, unsure but I think he was a smoke victim. Geez I wonder if Speed Channel would consider paying for Tim Wiens engine? That had to be the most spectacular oil cloud ever televised. What a spectacle, in fact, if you haven’t watched the broadcast, you must, the most exciting racing in recent memory from beginning to end. Kudos to the production team. Go to www.speedtv.com for the rebroadcast next week. Get this; since the last GT race here, over half the field is below the track record for the class.
I will be sending you another report after the races on the west coast, Infineon and Portland. God bless to all.
Bob Woodhouse, Woodhouse Auto Family
for the Viper Club of America and car enthusiasts everywhere.
Mid Ohio Speed TV World Challenge GT Race
as seen from the Woodhouse Viper windshield.
Round Three of 2004.
Forgive me for being slightly Viper slanted in this report.
There is no question that the Dodge Vipers have created an air of presence in the WCGT series this year. Of 34 entries at Mid-Ohio, 13 were Vipers. As the week-end began unfolding, things looked good for a fine Dodge result too, three Vipers qualified in the top 10.
And results we got; with Tommy Archer carrying the Dodge colors to a 4th place finish behind the Audi’s and a Cadillac. You already (maybe) saw the results on speed channel so I won’t be redundant with explanations of Audi and Cadillac performances.
Here’s the report from there back, the cheaper seats (well sort of). Three Vipers finished in the top ten, a good viper day, regrettably I was not one of them.
This; Viper friends is a phenomenal effort considering that 5 of the top 10 finishes were occupied by factory teams. Our hats need to come off to the wonderful professional people that are not always shown the credit, I speak of Bob Raub and the entire 3R team along with Dan Fiffack and the McCann team and I am personally so grateful for the amazing effort that Rick Maxwell and Nancy Shanno do for me and the Woodhouse Auto Family. The contributions of these people are equal to anything we drivers bring to the table.
With that said, and all of these drivers being of great caliber, don’t think for a minute WCGT drivers make less mistakes than club racers, me included. By the 4th lap this track they call Mid-Ohio was beginning to look like a wrecking yard. There were cars off on all sides of the track. Carnage started at turn one on the first lap when Phil McClure made contact with a Porsche. He came out on the short end of the stick. Then Tim Wiens Viper put a humungous oil cloud out on turn one a lap or two later creating a “no see” situation that in Stan Wilson’s description was capable of causing vertigo. That put up the mid-race full coarse caution as the cloud caused contact events for a couple of cars including one of our black Vipers from the east. I get confused; Adel Aseyed and the two Diller brothers all look similar with their three black Comp Coupes. I think it was Warren. The wreckers worked on clean up while we got to “putt” around the track for 5 laps. When the course went green it was intense. All were bunched up leading to more rubbing and pushing. My “un-luck” (new term, whadyathink?) came exiting the carousel onto the main straight. In third gear at 91 mph and 4800 rpm (love that Motec data); the transmission calls it a day. I am in a “huh, what happened state of mind” when I feel a Kaawhump, from behind as the engine is winging itself to 6200. That noise was Jon Groom in the AXA Porsche 911 Cup car giving me an enema, err love tap. Now in a confused state of mind (more normal); I pull the car into 4th and it keeps moving albeit when I get to corner one I realize it is the only option in the gear box.
I get on the radio to advise Rick Maxwell and Nancy Shanno of our plight. This took multiple attempts; possibly due to my red-neck language, chipmunk chatter and a measure of red mist. Mr. Groom’s kamikaze attack on the posterior of my car left me spewing barn door sized quarter panel and diffuser chunks, and rear valence remnants for the better part of the next lap. By the way, I happened to notice Mr. Groom’s AXA Porsche in the grass at the end of the down hill straight. I could go to hell for this but I just couldn’t muster any compassion at that moment, I think something like “yes” slid out between my teeth. Now I hate myself.
So there I am circulating the track in fourth gear looking like a butt-shot pheasant from a 20 gauge shot gun when Rick informs me we need a pit stop. “No Rick, not possible, I repeat, we only have 4th gear, we won’t be able to re-launch the car”. His convincing sentence went like this: “You either have to come in or SCCA says you are disqualified.” For littering I assume. “OK OK I am coming in.” I waited five excruciatingly long laps while Rick and Nancy frantically removed all the floppy butt feathers and we make a clutch punishing launch out of the pits. We were amazed to see the car put 1.34 second lap times down with just 4th gear. Only in a Viper.
After the Woodhouse Viper Team qualified in 8th position and finished 25th; we had no honor to bring to the Dodge camp but many of our Viper associates did. Perhaps the most outstanding of those is Stan Wilson. Short of Mr. glass smooth Tommy Archer, here is a fellow that may pack the most driving potential our Comp Coupes have to offer. He is young and in the beginning of proving his mettle. I hope we see a sponsor step up and give him a shot, he has the ingredients: natural driving talent, genuine nice guy, outgoing; and understands he is not the only person living on this planet. His result was the most spectacular of the Vipers. He killed the motor on the start taking his 18th starting position to 25th then at race end lands in the top 10. Good solid drive.
Mike McCann did a great job, finishing 9th after sliding through the grass at the end of the long straight, stellar save. Brother Jim placed 13th. The man everyone respects for his demure personality, Sonny Whelen put his GTS 17th with “Muzzy” Rich Marziale bringing his spanking clean and fresh blue/silver Comp Coupe in 18th. You gotta see Rich’s helmet. On the back of it is this wild looking face of a guy, like a devil, and at the bottom it says “Muzzy’s alter ego”. Like Muzz said “Hey, it’s true?”
Mike Hartley, is continuing to bring his red white and blue GTS up to potential and he finished next at 19th. Lenny Dillar and Adel Asayed finished running while Warren Diller had some trouble, unsure but I think he was a smoke victim. Geez I wonder if Speed Channel would consider paying for Tim Wiens engine? That had to be the most spectacular oil cloud ever televised. What a spectacle, in fact, if you haven’t watched the broadcast, you must, the most exciting racing in recent memory from beginning to end. Kudos to the production team. Go to www.speedtv.com for the rebroadcast next week. Get this; since the last GT race here, over half the field is below the track record for the class.
I will be sending you another report after the races on the west coast, Infineon and Portland. God bless to all.
Bob Woodhouse, Woodhouse Auto Family
for the Viper Club of America and car enthusiasts everywhere.
