Episode 406
August 7, 2022
Loring Super Motorsports Saturday
Summer is too short and being in two places at once just is not working. Race events at the former SAC Air Force base did allow me to do exactly that. Several times Saturday, I looked across the turnout at 2-mile mark and saw a wonderful site; race cars doing autocross to my left going north while land speed enthusiasts heading south on my right.
Both start line were within a hundred yards from each other allowing me to quickly walk to where I needed to get photos. Needless to say, I enjoyed that set up. MassTuning’s Armin Mejia said he had forty entries and CMC autocross chair Rick Drangmeister said they had over ninety entries both days.
Another dilemma persisted however, every person at the track has a story and time or circumstance limits whose story I am able to share. Following is a few of those stories. Do not be discouraged, both groups said they will be back next year and Lord willing so will I.
Massachusetts racer leads the charge for more women in local motorsports
While taking photos at the MassTuning land speed mile run start line, I noticed a brash sounding Dodge Challenger as it made its way to the start line. When it got closer, I glanced at the driver an noticed a pert young lady at the wheel. When the starter gave her the ok to go signal, she aggressively left the line and quick shifted her way up the course to attain a top speed of 153 mph.
Her enthusiasm for motorsports and women in motorsports became evident from the start of the interview until the finish. She recently finished up a job in the automotive dealership industry and was in the process of entering the heavy equipment construction business.
Victoria did not grow up in a racing family, however, her mother and father were muscle car fans. They often would point out a Hemi-powered car, SS, or any car they considered “hot” to their daughter. She soon was noticing those types of cars on her own.
Racing is expensive and at times the exclusive territory of those with large amounts of disposable income. Johnston was not a rich young lady. She liked cars yet assumed her experience with racing might be limited to spectator or possible race official.
When Armin Mejia, one of the founders of the group Mass Tuning, invited Johnston in 2016 to be a corner flagger at Canaan Motor Club track Canaan, New Hampshire, she accepted.
The sounds and sights of the cars at speed pipped her desire to get behind the wheel and try her skills on the track. In 2018 she made the transition from spectator to participant when she brought her 2010 Dodge Challenger to a track day event at Canaan where she got help with race lingo and on-track techniques.
Since that time, she and her fiancée have visited several tracks where she gained valuable seat-time experience. Tracks include New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Palmer Motorsports Park, Club Motorsports, Thompson Speedway, Nelson Ledges, Carolina Motorsports Park, and now Loring in Maine.
Club Motorsports has topped her list of favorites especially turns 6 thru 9 on the 2.5-mile 15-turn course which features 250-foot elevation changes and some of the most spectacular views of any track in the states. The g-forces experienced on the run down the hill and powering up through turn nine are thrilling according to the Massachusetts racer.
Attributed as mentors along her motorsports path were fellow racers, Rachel Eaton, Amy Dilks, and Margaret Sharron. Mentioned also was Lady Driven New England Facebook group who will be hosting ladies only track day September 3 followed by track day for all on September 4th. Hosting track will be Canaan Motor Club.
Johnston and her fiancée Parks drove Saturday all night to be at Central 44’s 4th Annual All Mopar car show in Raynham, Massachusetts. She said she was going to leave her car unwashed with remnants of grime from Loring and tire flecks on rear fenders.
Fastest in the mile
Both sides bonus
Mega-Autocross Concurrent with MassTuning event
Cumberland Motor Club has held their largest autocross of the racing season, a two-day event, for several years at the former air base at Loring. One of the largest venues in the states allows their members a chance to drive at speed over a mile while slicing through the cone filled course.
The younger members of the club camp out along the runway, swap stories, and cookout over a camp stove. It seems the experience adds to the intrigue of the event. Members pitch in and lend a helping hand where needed.
Sunday results: Fastest raw time; Braelan Creswell, Yarmouth, Me, 2017 DR Kart M99 #55.
Fastest car; Rick Drangmeister, Brownfield, ME, 2004 Mazda Miata #125.
Fastest PAX time (handicapped); Patrick DeArmott, Old Town, ME, 2004 Infiniti G35 #16.
Fast female: Janet Adamczak, Old Orchard Beach, ME, 2018 Ford Focus ST.
Cone Killer (the driver who wiped out the most cones): Tim Case, Bangor, ME, 2015 VW Sportswagon SEL TDI #53
Only County racer
Will be back
Both Armin Mejia, MassTuning and Rick Drangmeister, CMC remarked that they were pleased with the way both events ran over the weekend at Loring. Drangemeister commented, “The Loring autocross weekend went well. The collaboration with MassTuning to run the land speed event in conjunction with the CMC autocross went off smoothly. A few drivers had runs in both the autocross and the land speed races on Saturday.”
“Weather was a little threatening Sunday afternoon but the rain held off until after all runs had been completed. We all love coming up to the county to get away and enjoy a weekend of racing. Already looking forward to next year.”
Other racing news
More about Sting Rays race here:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022) – Linus Lundqvist showed why he is the class of the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires field this season, leading all 35 laps from pole Sunday to win the Indy Lights Music City Grand Prix on the streets of Nashville.
Lundqvist earned his series-leading fifth victory this season in the No. 26 HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing entry, beating second place Sting Ray Robb to the checkered flag by 7.2221 seconds in the caution-free race. Lundqvist expanded his series lead to a commanding 95 points with just four races remaining this season.
SEE: Race Results
Swedish driver Lundqvist was fourth quickest in both practice sessions this weekend but started from pole when the field was set by entrant points after qualifying was canceled Saturday due to thunderstorms.
“So excited and so, so happy,” Lundqvist said. “We showed that we had the pace on street courses. In practice, I just had to dial myself in a little bit. Obviously, we got maybe a little bit lucky with qualifying, but I think we showed in the race that we had the pace to win.”
Andretti Autosport teammates Robb and Hunter McElrea finished second and third, respectively. Robb passed McElrea on Lap 32 for second, the highlight of a stirring duel between the duo for many laps on the 11-turn, 2.1-mile temporary street circuit that includes two trips per lap over the Cumberland River via the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge.
Matthew Brabham finished fourth in the No. 83 Andretti Autosport car, with Christian Rasmussen rounding out a 2-3-4-5 result for Andretti Autosport in the No. 28 Road to Indy/Stellrecht entry.
McElrea stayed close to Lundqvist for the first six laps around the tricky, bumpy circuit. McElrea nearly hit the rear of Lundqvist’s car in Turn 4, exiting the bridge, on Lap 5 as he tried to look for an opening.
But Lundqvist gradually pulled away, growing his lead to .9513 of a second on Lap 10 and 6.3779 seconds by Lap 25.
Lundqvist’s checkout from the rest of the field shined a spotlight on the fierce race for second between teammates Robb and McElrea.
Robb looked for a way past many times over the closing half of the race. He finally made the decisive pass on Lap 32 as both drivers exited the bridge and headed toward Turn 9. Robb’s No. 2 Sekady car and McElrea’s No. 27 Andretti Autosport machine made contact, but Robb quickly gathered himself and dove under McElrea for second place.
McElrea’s car appeared damaged from the contact, and Robb drove away to beat his teammate to the finish by 3.1723 seconds.
While Lundqvist holds a lead of nearly two races’ worth of points over second-place McElrea, the tight duel between Robb and McElrea mirrors the race for second in the standings. McElrea leads third-place Robb by just eight points, with Andretti Autosport teammate Matthew Brabham is just 20 points behind McElrea in fourth.
The next Indy Lights race is the second and final oval race of the season, Saturday, Aug. 20 at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois, just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. Live coverage starts at 4:15 p.m. ET on Peacock Premium and the INDYCAR Radio Network.
Car Show opportunity this week
Let’s go racing,
Tom Hale
Soli Deo Gloria (Matthew 5:16)