In just a few days, over 130 competitors, in 35 different classes, will arrive at Pikes Peak International Raceway, in Fountain Colorado, for the 2017 Tire Rack SCCA Colorado Championship Tour.
Over the past few years, SCCA national events in Colorado have become known for lower entry numbers but immense competition. The Rocky Mountain Division has been producing National Champions for over 25 years and the thrill of competing in this pool of talent, in the shadow of Pikes Peak, is worth the price of admission.
The largest class in Colorado this weekend will be D Street with 14 drivers registered. Ian Farrell has been dominating the local competition this year in his WRX, and already has one top PAX to his credit. However, locals Jonathan Kuo and Suraj Pradhan in the FRS, have been putting in time on the big stage, preparing for the showdown in September, while Brian Killourhy has been keeping them all honest. Watch for last year’s Colorado Championship Tour STX winner, Andrew McGibbon, from New Mexico, to spoil the all Colorado podium however.
Speaking of STX, there are 10 drivers listed for this year’s Colorado Championship Tour. Coloradan Justin Met has already savored victory locally, and more recently at the Mineral Wells ProSolo. However, he will experience stout pressure all weekend from Utah’s Michael Carpenter as he jumps out of the Focus ST for 2017 to test the BMW 128i.
Not to be surpassed, STU is shaping up to be the three ring circus we expected in 2016, but didn’t get when Lane Borg didn’t make the trip to Colorado. Locals Chris Gladu, in a WRX, and last year’s winner Mark Melchoir, in a M3, will again be in attendance but this year we hope to add the two driver Corvette effort of National Champions Dave Ogburn (the 3rd) and Lane Borg to the mix. Will displacement or forced induction rule in the thin air of Colorado?
There’s also something brewing in STR as class resident Tom Reynolds and class newcomer Paul Dodd, both from New Mexico and both class winners at last year’s Colorado Championship Tour, prepare for the challenge of local competitor Kevin Buchholz in the S2000. Anticipate that Jim Reyenga, who recently moved to Colorado, will make it close throughout the weekend.
Finally, expect an old school vs. new school, ground pounding, throw down when Keith Lamming, in the 2011 Sticky Motorsports Camaro, and Mike Trenkle, in the Fox Body Mustang, go head-to-head in CAM-C. These two have met before and the battle will resume in Colorado this weekend.
Weather for the weekend is expected to be warm and sunny. However, this is spring in the high desert and as we like to say, be prepared for anything. Dress in layers and be sure to bring lots of sunscreen and water.
