The latest episode in SoCal USRA’s 2001 Scale Racing season was held at Foster’s Raceway in beautiful Santa Maria, CA. Home of ToyTech Racing. The clean, well lit raceway featured three tracks, a dragstrip, and an incredible slot car museum. The largest collection of slot racing history I have ever seen.

The Hasse Nillson Paperclip track was used for all classes and was a difficult challenge for many and an old friend for some. The power was mild but the incredibly smooth, swoopy little track provided a great venue for Nascars, Trucks and Sportscars alike.

Amateur 4" NASCAR

Thirteen Amateur 4" Nascars ran the round robin main with BP’s Mike Hudson taking the convincing 14 lap win over Paul Sterrett with Jason Holmes third. Local fast guy Dennis Rios finished fourth with "Big John" Estopellan fifth and followed by Jonathan Forsyth, Terry Thompson, Richard Estopellan, Mike Ganous, "Fast Earl" Wilson, Daniel Hudson, Michael Estopellan and Gene Martin.

Expert 4" NASCAR

Bill Vanderziel and Duran Trujillo took off in the lead and left everybody else in the dust. Bill had amassed a 3 lap lead and was holding off Duran until Bill hit red and lost six to the Santa Ana Ace and almost surrendered second to Gil Rivera. Duran went on to the win, his first under the Kelly Racing banner with Bill second, Gil third, Chuck Panno fourth and TQ with a 3.512 hare lap on green.

Ira Stoker was fifth, Phil Roberson sixth and followed by Roy Hood, and Steve Forsyth.

NASTRUCKS

Nastrucks are getting competitive like the old days before we went to National rules. Roy Hood put a very fast truck on the Paperclip along with truck regulars Crazy Chuck and Duran. Greg Gilbert borrowed a Nastruck from UK’s Tim Hould and entered his first truck race in two years. In the combined round robin main Roy Hood, Duran, Greg and started out fast until Duran had technical trouble and Greg and Roy took over. Greg smoked a motor while leading in the sixth while Duran pulled high heat of 50 to get back into contention.

Chuck Panno came in as the last sit out and looked like he was going nowhere fast. Roy hood looked like the guy to beat until he sat out and Crazy started bearing down. In the end it was Crazy Chuck Panno by three with Roy second, Phil Roberson with a great drive for third, Duran coming up a little short in his comeback attempt and settling for fourth. Steve, Ira and Gil rounded out the experts. Chuck was TQ with an awesome 3.398, a whole tenth faster than the next fastest lap on green.

Amateur was a great race between Paul Sterrett, Richard Estopellan and and Mike Hudson. Paul won out with Richard Estopellan second, Mike Hudson third, Big John TQ and fourth.

Amateur GT-1

Amateur GT-1 drew 11 entries and was a great race between local Greg Noah and President Jason Holmes. In the last five seconds when it looked like Greg had it won he was involved in an incident in the donut and Jason got by to win by segments with Dennis Rios third, Paul Sterrett fourth and Jonathan Forsyth fifth.

Expert GT-1

Expert GT-1 started with a classic Greg G. vs. Duran Trujillo battle for the lead and a close four way battle for third. Bill V moved up to challenge Duran for second as Greg pulled away setting fast time of 3.081 on green. Duran’s motor failed in the last heat as Bill finished second, Former Western States champ Mike Stuart third, Crazy Chuck fourth, Roy Hood fifth, followed by Duran, Steve Forsyth and Gil.

Amateur GT-12

Dennis Rios won a close one over Jason Holmes with Greg Noah third and Jonathan Forsyth fourth. Terry Thompson and Earl Wilson rounded out the field. Jason Holmes was TQ.

Expert GT-12

The semi swoopy Paperclip track was a perfect fit for the fast GT-12 cars with the newer high down force bodies. Monty Ohren, Jason Holmes, Chuck Panno, Steve Forsyth and Roy Hood looked very fast in practice.

Ten entries meant a round robin format would be utilized. The race started with Steve Forsyth and Greg G breaking away until Steve was caught up in an incident under the bridge bending his chassis and leaving Greg alone on his solo breakaway. Greg kept pulling 60+ lap heats but Monty Ohren was quietly racking up the laps. By this time Monty and Greg had 25 laps on third place Jason Holmes and the only question was if Monty could run 61 on red to catch Greg.

Monty gave it a great try but 61 on red is a tall order and Greg Gilbert won with the Big "O" second, Jason Holmes third. Roy Hood was fourth, Mike Stuart fifth, Steve Forsyth limped home in sixth after having a great car early. Bill V, Chuck Panno, Duran and Gil Rivera rounded out the main. TQ was Greg with a 2.733 lap.

Thanks to Steve Foster and Bill Vanderziel foe putting on an awesome show.

SoCal USRA looks forward to their return to Santa Maria!