2004 New England Challenge Series Wrap-Up
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The second season of the New England Challenge (NEC) series for Formula Ford came to a successful close at Watkins
Glen in September. The series is designed to attract a significant field of Formula Fords at each of the tracks
throughout the Northeast Division (NEDiv) of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), offering close competition
and the chance for social interactions. To increase the attraction, the series offered over $13,000 in contingency
awards from series sponsors. The series, run in conjunction with scheduled SCCA Regional race weekends, featured
three classes: FF, CF (Club Ford with no tire specification ) and NCF (Club Ford with the NARRC tire rule). The
three class format has been adopted to encourage fuller participation because the Club Ford tire rule varies from
track to track in NEDiv.
Sixty-one Formula Ford drivers took part in one or more events in the series with 32 in FF, 21 in NCF and 9 in
CF. The average entry for an NEC event was 16 cars, compared to less than 10 cars for non-NEC Regional events
in NEDiv. The largest field was 32 cars at the May 31st "RACER Magazine 35 years of Formula Ford presented
by RedMist" at Lime Rock Park, which was part of the Mohegan Sun Grand Prix weekend there. The season finale
at Watkins Glen in September also had a large 19 car field. Only the event at BeaveRun, which is at the extreme
western boundary of NEDiv drew less than 10 entries for an NEC event.
The NEC opened at the Summit Point Regional in April with Tom Raber (FF), and Chuck Van Nostrand (NCF) taking home
checkered flags. The second stop of the series was the Pocono Regional in May where Davey D'Addario (FF) and J.
D. King (NCF) were victorious. The next stop in the series was the Formula Ford 35th Anniversary event at Lime
Rock where the rains intervened and aided Mike Rand (FF), Rob Weiner (NCF), and Steve Roux (CF) in gaining victories.
The fourth stop was again at Lime Rock in June where Arthur Foster (FF), Steve Roux and Rich Droller prevailed
for victories. At NHIS in July, Don Drislane (FF) and Rod Kendall (NCF) were the winners. The August event at
BeaverRun saw Dan Pyanowski (CF) and Bob Lutz (FF) bringing home checkered flags. The NEC finale at Watkins Glen
in September just escaped hurricane Ivan's wrath for the Saturday race where David Petzko (FF), Dan Pyanowski (CF),
and J. D. King (NCF) were victorious. The Sunday event on the NASCAR short course saw the same three drivers,
Petzko, Pyanowski and King, as winners again.
All of the 2003 NEC series Champions, Bob Lutz (FF), J. D. King (NCF), and Steve Roux (CF), successfully defended
their titles for 2004. Ray Boyer (FF), Rod Kendall (NCF) and Dan Pyanowski (CF) earned series runner-up awards
while Davey D'Addario (FF), Rich Droller (NCF) and Don Costa (CF) were third place series finishers.
The NEC continues to accomplish its goals of attracting significant fields of Formula Fords at different tracks
throughout NEDiv, which led to close competition for all of the competitors, and social interactions that led to
new relationships in the NEDiv FF community. The series has received high marks from a number of the competitors
who not only enjoyed the spirited competition and the chance to travel to new tracks, but also for the chance to
meet and race with FF drivers from all over NEDiv.
The series sponsors (in alphabetical order) deserve a huge note of appreciation: Justice Racing Engines, Moroso
Performance, Quicksilver RacEngines, Racing Flow Development, "Roz" Rosintoski Motorsports Photography,
Snapdragon Engineering, and SRP Engineering. Twenty of the twenty-six drivers registered for the NEC series earned
at least one award from the series sponsors.
Planning for the 2005 version of the NEC has already begun. Some changes to the format will be made for 2005 based
on competitor feedback and lessons learned in the first two seasons. The 2005 version should offer even greater
racing rewards than 2003 or 2004.
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New England Challenge Update - August 2004
The 2004 New England Challenge (NEC) series for Formula Ford is just past the halfway point. With 5 of the scheduled
8 events completed, the entries for 2004 are slightly above 2003 and there is yet to be a repeat winner in FF or
NCF (Club Ford with spec tires). At the April Summit Point Opener had 10 entries and it was Tom Raber in FF and
Chuck Van Nostrand in NCF taking home wins. The mid-May Pocono event, Davey D'Addario (FF) and J. D. King (NCF)
were victorious in the 14 car field. The 32 car starting field for the Memorial Day FF 35th Anniversary event at
Lime Rock had Mike Rand (FF), Rob Weiner (NCF) and Steve Roux (CF- no spec tire) at the front when the checkered
flag fell. In mid-June, Lime Rock was again the site of the fourth round of the NEC with Art Foster (FF), Rich
Droller (NCF) and Steve Roux (CF) coming out on top of the 13 car field. The latest round was at New Hampshire
International in July where Don Drislane (FF) and Rod Kendall (NCF) topped the 20 car field.
All of the podium finishers who registered for the NEC series have taken home some nice contingency awards courtesy
of Racing Flow Development (% Curtis Boggs), Snapdragon Engineering (% David Brano), Rosintoski Motorsports Photography
(% Roz), and SRP Engineering (% Joe Stimola).
The series points standings in both FF and NCF through 5 races are extremely tight as they drivers vie for the
series contingency awards from Quicksilver RacEngines (% Sandy Shamlain), Moroso (% Joe Marcinski), Racing Flow
Development (%Curtis Boggs), and Justice Racing Engines (% Jim Justice). In FF, Ray Boyer occupi9es the top spot
followed closely by Bob Lutz, Davey D'Addario and Ed Callo. In NCF it's J. D> King on top followed by Rich Droller,
Rob Weiner, Rod Kendall, John Merriman and Chuck Van Nostrand. Steve Roux sits atop the CF standings with no real
challenges in sight.
The next stop on the 2004 NEC schedule is BeaveRun in Mid-August followed by the Watkins Glen "Fun One"
finale in September.
Photography, SRP Engineering, Ltd. And Snapdragon Engineering.
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Updated 08/01/2003
12:51 PM