By David Seibert, Pictures © 2004 Christopher McNeil Photography.
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Tom Price, pictured here at Lime Rock, won the drum brake outright in his Maserati 200si s/n2416, at Sears Point.
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March 21st. Ferrari Testa Rossas were the story of the second round of the North American Shell Ferrari/Maserati Historic Challenge this weekend at Infineon Raceway near Sears Point, California. Spectators and competitors alike were able to appreciate the full range of the development of the TR, with Chuck Wegner's four-cylinder 625 LM, the predecessor to the range, Nick Colonna's 500 TRC, Mike Callaham's 625 TRC fitted with a 250 TR-spec engine, Jon Shirley's 250 TR prototype, and David Love's later pontoon-fendered 250 TR. Among the 12 cylinder TRs Mike Callaham won his class on Saturday, with Jon Shirley taking the honors on Sunday. Tom Price used his driving skills and a perfectly set up Maserati 200 SI to take a pair of class and overall wins among the Drum Brake Group; not satisfied with that track time, he also ran exhibition laps in his ex-Sir Stirling Moss "offset" Maserati 250 F, and won the Consistency Challenge in his Alfa Romeo 8C 2300. Peter Giddings, a perennial winner in the pre-war class, won on Saturday but suffered mechanical ills on the second day, giving Bruce Trenery (Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza) the victory.
Among the Disc Brake group Todd Morici took a pair of wins, one in his 512 BB/LM and on Sunday in his 250 LWB Spyder California Competition. Other dual winners in the Disc Brake races were Chuck Wegner (196 SP) and John Goodman, who drove an ex-Paul Newman/Budweiser Racing Ferrari 308. Goodman has restored not only the car but the original transporter as well, which was used as a paddock display.
In addition to the winner's trophies, special awards for sportsmanship and the spirit of the Challenge were presented by sponsors Bose and Piaggio Aero to Chuck Wegner, Peter Le Saffre, and David Love. The next event in the 2004 North American Shell Ferrari/Maserati Historic Challenge will be at Le Circuit at Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada, on June 26-27.
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Ferrari of Quebec's Emmanuel Anassis hauls ass down No Name Straight at
Lime Rock last year. This year he won the opener at Sears Point.
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Meanwhile, Emmanuel Anassis couldn't have done any better at the opening of the 2004 North American Ferrari Challenge season presented by Motorola. The Montreal, Quebec, resident took pole position in qualifying, led every lap and won the 30 minute preliminary Saturday race. That win gave him the pole for Sunday; Anassis again led every lap en route to the victory in his Ferrari 360 prepared by the Ferrari of Quebec dealership. The pair of wins continued Anassis's streak; he also won the final race of the 2003 season, and finished second in the 2003 championship.
Still, Anassis had to work for his wins. At the start of Saturday's race Todd Morici (former Shell Ferrari/Maserati Historic Champion appearing as a guest driver in the Motorola entry) took the lead into the first corner of the 12-turn 2.53 Infineon Raceway, at Sears Point in Northern California. Anassis regained first place only a few corners later, though, and while Morici could get close he never again could challenge for the lead. Morici finished second, ahead of John Krieg (Ferrari of Houston), who had a race-long fight for the position with Kurt Buchwald (Ferrari of Washington), driving his first Challenge race. Anassis had an easier time on Sunday, never facing a serious challenge as he led from flag to flag in the 45 minute final race. Morici held a strong second, and Krieg could never get close enough to attempt a pass. Michael Pontoriero (Ferrari of Long Island) had moved up to a strong fourth place, but mechanical problems ended his day. There was substantial action further back in the 16 car pack, but at the end it was the same podium: Anassis, Morici, and Krieg. In addition to the podium winners, special awards for sportsmanship and the Challenge spirit were presented by Challenge sponsors Bose and Piaggio Aero to the father and son team of Michael and Joe Pontoriero, Kurt Buchwald, Joel Quaid, and Michael Louli. Next race in the North American Ferrari Challenge Presented by Motorola will be at Road Atlanta, on May 15-16.
