The 250GT SWB is driven by Nick Colonna.
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Ferrari Historic Challenge
Past series champion Jim Fuchs, driving a 1979 Ferrari 512 BB/LM, put on a driving exhibition as he took a pair of hotly contested wins in the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge.
The races were held at Infineon Raceway in the California wine country as part of the Ferrari Racing Event at the track. In the first race for the newer Disc Brake Group on Saturday Fuchs started behind Lawrence Stroll, driving the ex-Roger Penske/Sunoco Ferrari 512M, and Todd Morici, in an almost identical 512 BB/LM. Morici, another past series Champion, took the lead on the first lap as Stroll faltered with electrical gremlins.
Morici held the lead with Fuchs never more than a second behind, until the last lap. Fuchs took the inside line out of Turn Ten as Morici suffered fuel problems, and Fuchs made a perfect pass by holding the inside line at Turn Eleven, the “Horseshoe” and leading the last few hundred feet to the checker. Stroll was still a class winner, as was Peter LeSaffre in a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB/Comp and Chuck Wegner in his 196 SP.
Peter Giddings, usually driving an Alfa, tries the ex-Whitney Straight Maserati 8CM.
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In the first race for the older Shell Historics fitted with drum brakes, the race was again determined on almost the last lap. Peter Giddings, another former series champion, was quick off the line at the start, but almost immediate mechanical problems brought his famous ex-Whitney Straight Maserati 8CM into the pits. Michael Callaham took the lead in his Ferrari 625/250 TRC and held a comfortable lead until just before the last lap when he too took to the pits. Chuck Wegner’s Maserati 200 SI took the win, the first overall win for the former champion.
Peter Greenfield won the pre-war class in his Alfa Romeo 8C/35, and Peter LeSaffre defended his 2005 championship with a class win in a Ferrari 250 TdF berlinetta.
Whitney Straight, an American raised in England, was a successful pre-war racing driver. His Maserati featured the unique grille seen here.
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In Sunday’s race for the Disc Group Fuchs started from Pole Position with Stroll several places behind, but Stroll was immediately on Fuchs’s bumper in Turn One. Stroll promptly spun, allowing Fuch to take a lead of almost 20 seconds over the Sunoco-blue 512 M. Stroll charged back through the field, in one lap taking almost five seconds off Fuchs’s lead, and with one lap to go had caught the leading BB/LM. Stroll’s electrical gremlins returned, though, causing a quick spin, and Fuchs was unchallenged for the win. Stroll took another class win, as did LeSaffre and Bert Skidmore, both driving 250 SWB Competition berlinettas.
Callaham had no problems in the second Drum Brake Group race, leading from flag to flag. Giddings was again a brief threat, but the mechanical problems left him parked by the course for almost a lap, ending any chances of a win. Greenfield repeated his class win in the 8C/35 Alfa. Piaggio Aero, one of the series sponsors, presented a special award to David Love in recognition of his long-term appreciation for the Ferrari marque. Love purchased his pontoon-fendered 250 TR in 1964, and has raced it ever since, even doing much of the mechanical work himself.
The Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge will next compete at Le Circuit at Mont-Tremblant on June 16-18.
Ferrari Challenge
Kurt Buchwald totally dominated the second round of the 2006 Ferrari Challenge. The Ferrari of Washington driver took pole position and led every lap in both races at Infineon Raceway this weekend. . With the pair of wins Buchwald takes the lead in the 2006 Ferrari Challenge Championship.
Steve Winfield in #07 leads Steve Pruitt in #14.
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Buchwald qualified his Ferrari 430 Challenge on pole position with a new track record for the 2.53 mile course, and a two second margin over Ferrari of Beverly Hills’ John Horejsi, who shared the front row for the first race. Horejsi, the Auto Gallery teammates Rusty West and Steve Goldman, John Krieg (Ferrari of Houston), Allie Ash (Buchwald’s teammate) and Joel Quaid (Ferrari of Orange County) swapped positions behind Buchwald for most of the race. Goldman moved into second and held the spot, but late in the 30 minute race Lawrence Stroll, driving for Ferrari of Quebec, moved up from his 11th starting spot to take third place from Quaid in the 430 race.
The older Ferrari 360 Challenge cars were competing as well, and while Steve Pruitt, another Ferrari of Washington driver, qualified on pole Mike Louli (Ferrari of Ontario) took the 360 lead early in the first lap. Pruitt held second until near the end when an incident cost him the spot. Alex Quaid (Ferrari of Orange County) came from last on the grid to finish second on the 360 podium, with Pruitt holding on for third.
Buchwald’s win in the first race gave him pole position for Sunday’s race, and he took full advantage by leading every lap for the win. Goldman maintained second place until late in the race when Stroll passed, but the Quebec driver almost immediately suffered electrical problems, dropping him out of the race. Joel Quaid took the third place trophy.
Ferraris attract attention. Always have, always will.
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Louli again led every lap in the 360 Class, with Pruitt moving into second early in the race. Alex Quaid was slowed with mechanical problems, but was able to finish on the podium, ahead of Jimmy Pugliese and Mandy Reimert. Special awards were presented by Bose and Ferrari North America to Anassis, Neil Fairman, and Steve Winfield. During the event each had in some way exemplified the spirit of the Ferrari Challenge. The Ferrari Challenge is organized by Ferrari North America. Drivers compete in specially built racing versions of the Ferrari 430 and 360 Modena, with preparation and race support handled by teams formed by authorized Ferrari dealers in North America. Preparation rules are very specific, and the series is intended to emphasize driver skill among lady and gentleman drivers. Sponsorship and support for the series comes from Motorola, Bose, Piaggio Aero, Pirelli, and Shell. The Challenge will next compete at Le Circuit at Mont-Tremblant on June 16-18, and then one week later will serve as the support race for the 2006 Canadian Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal.
