Hein Houweling Wins WD GT Challenge @ VIR.

[Joe Owens]

The CMS ILMS Divisions have been doing a lot of roller coaster riding lately,first they visited the Algarve in Portugal,and the World Division was at the Virginia International Raceway this last Sunday for its GT Challenge event.
Both tracks are noted for thier elevation changes and sharp uphill bends and dips.
Hein Houweling was the OA and GT podium winner,followed closely by Neal Johnson in second and Steen Franta in third place,also up there and closing was Scott Clark.
The 4 top spot drivers were involved in some very close and exciting racing at this tricky but fun track.
Paul Hamilton was the GTC winner and unfortunately Joe Owens,the other GTC driver just did not have anything to challenge Pauls lead.
We will be back at the same venue for the next WD 3 Class event next Sunday [31st October].

Results
Server Replay

Standings

[baristabrian]

Congrats Hein and Paul, well done.

As expected this is one tough tricky roller coaster of a track. Ive always been lucky here but it ran out today and the old girl finnaly bit me.

Was a fun ride while it lasted (32 laps). In the 1st stint I had an awsome grueling battle with Scott. I could catch up to him and get right on his tail, but never in a place where I would dare to try and pass him.

I eventually ran off track and fell about 20 sec behind him and knew Id never catch him back up unless he made a big mistake. Dont know if he ever did cause on lap 32 I ended my race for good.

Looks like we were pretty evenly matched Scott. Your and my best lap times for the race had a dif of .030.

The top 3 podiums were damn near nose to tail all the way to the checkers. What an awsome show. Doesnt get better than that.

[blackcat77]

A long, long, LONG time ago back when I was just a kid, my grandparents and I would often go down to visit my great-grandparents' farm in southern Indiana. Anyone familiar with my home state knows that southern Indiana is very hilly and my granddad's idea of fun was to accelerate over the crests of the hills actually getting a couple wheels off the ground on occasion only to come banging back down again. He called those hills the "Leapty Dips," which is a take-off on the "Leap the Dips" roller coaster which was in a park just out side our hometown. (See postcard above) I really enjoyed that even if it irritated my grandmother to no end. Granddad would look back at me and wink and then go back to sensible driving again.

VIR always reminds me of the Leapty Dips. It's a great track to drive even if there are times it's exasperating. My race went pretty well this evening with only two big mistakes -- one when I got a wheel in the grass and went around, the second when my tires were starting to go off and lost the rear going over one of those dips. But over the course of the race, I improved my best race-setup laptime by over a full second from my practices.

Fantastic finish at the top of the field -- congrats to everyone for a great race and the patience and respect that everyone showed to my pokey Porsche.

[Joe Owens]

Sorry for the delay updating the standings,but I have not been feeling good all day,fall [winter]chill or something I quess,will get them updated tomorrow.
Joe.

[baristabrian]

Sorry for the delay updating the standings,but I have not been feeling good all day,fall [winter]chill or something I quess,will get them updated tomorrow.
Joe.

Hope you feel better soon Joe.

[Arctic37]

A long, long, LONG time ago back when I was just a kid, my grandparents and I would often go down to visit my great-grandparents' farm in southern Indiana. Anyone familiar with my home state knows that southern Indiana is very hilly and my granddad's idea of fun was to accelerate over the crests of the hills actually getting a couple wheels off the ground on occasion only to come banging back down again. He called those hills the "Leapty Dips," which is a take-off on the "Leap the Dips" roller coaster which was in a park just out side our hometown. (See postcard above) I really enjoyed that even if it irritated my grandmother to no end. Granddad would look back at me and wink and then go back to sensible driving again.

VIR always reminds me of the Leapty Dips. It's a great track to drive even if there are times it's exasperating. My race went pretty well this evening with only two big mistakes -- one when I got a wheel in the grass and went around, the second when my tires were starting to go off and lost the rear going over one of those dips. But over the course of the race, I improved my best race-setup laptime by over a full second from my practices.

Fantastic finish at the top of the field -- congrats to everyone for a great race and the patience and respect that everyone showed to my pokey Porsche.

Hey fellow Hoosier. I grew up in South Bend, IN. Its cool to see that pic of that old rollercoaster. Thanks for sharing.

[Neal Johnson]

Sorry for the delay updating the standings,but I have not been feeling good all day,fall [winter]chill or something I quess,will get them updated tomorrow.
Joe.

Yes get well soon Joe!

[Joe Owens]

Feeling better today thanks!.
The standings have now been updated in the first post link.
Joe.