To round out our Springtime Speedfest, our GT class gave us 23 drivers between six different classes. We had two drivers in GT1, GT2, GT3, and GTU, six drivers in GT5, and GT4 giving us 9 drivers, more than GT’s GT1, GT2, GT3, and Unlimited classes combined. GT1’s Tom Herb set the pace in qualifying with a 2:24.889, with fellow GT1 competitor John Rante third overall. In between them was GTU’s Bill Keeley in second overall, with his fellow GTU competitor Tony Diar-Bakerli starting 14th. GT2’s Jim Hamman started the race from fifth overall, taking advantage of his fellow GT2 competitor Charles Margosian’s 22nd place start, as Margosian was unable to set a qualifying time. GT3’s Bob Noorian started from seventh overall, with his fellow GT3 competitor Thomas Prokop starting 11 positions behind in 18th. Valdas Gaurylius started fourth overall as our leading GT4, with Scott Benning Sr starting a row behind him in sixth overall, but second in GT4. Lastly, Josh Dale’s 12th place overall start gave him GT4 pole, with Mike Keck starting 15th overall, and second in GT5.
The race went green with our 23 drivers racing each other for both their overall and class positions, with a clean start for the whole field. While drivers were jockeying for positions during the first half of the race, Pete Dale was looking to make up for his DNF in the Spec Miata race from earlier. This would come to an abrupt halt on lap five, as Pete Dale was blackflagged because his window net was not secured. On the other side of the coin, Charles Margosian moved from 22nd to 6th overall in the race’s first six laps, giving him ample time to chase down fifth overall, and more importantly his GT2 competitor Jim Hamman. Before Margosian caught up to Hamman, John Mikulski went off track on lap nine, adding to his rough day, having spun out on the first lap of the Radical race earlier that day, this time thankfully able to rejoin the racing surface without bringing out a yellow, pulling in two laps later. On lap 10, Charles Margosian overtook his GT2 competitor Jim Hamman for both fifth overall and more importantly class victory for GT2, giving him an impressive 17 spots gained in the span of 10 laps. In the end, Tom Herb dominated for both GT1 and overall, winning in GT1, just under a minute ahead of second overall, and GTU’s winner of Bill Keeley, nine positions ahead of second in GTU, Tony Diar-Bakerli. John Rante scored third overall, and second for GT1, just over 70 seconds behind Tom Herb. GT4’s Valdas Gaurylius took an impressive 4th overall in GT4, with eighth and ninth overall Scott Benning Sr, and Kirk Cordill rounding out GT4’s podium finishers. Previously mentioned Charles Margosian, and Jim Hamman finished both fifth, and sixth overall, and 1-2 in GT2 respectively, with GT3 winner Bob Noorian right behind them in seventh overall, eight positions ahead of GT3’s second place finisher Thomas Prokop. Our top three in GT5 finished right behind Prokop in the overall race results, with Mike Keck 16th overall, but more importantly winning GT5, just over a second ahead of second place Josh Dale, with Andrew Talandzevius rounding out GT5’s podium.
This weekend was filled with exciting, but great racing. While Springtime Speedfest was enjoyed by many, our Mother’s Day celebration was enjoyed by all one day later! Our next races will be a couple weeks away on May 31st on the North track for both our third round of the Spec Miata series, and the second round of our GT series. We hope to see you guys either at the track, or watching Autobahn’s YouTube channel @AutobahnCC Thank you members for a wonderful race weekend. Until next time, see you guys at the track!
