The second half of back-to-back Solo® weekends in the beautiful wilds of Washington saw 120 autocrossers come out to experience the July 19-21, 2024, Tire Rack SCCA® Packwood ProSolo® at Hampton Mills.
The wonderful weekend was further enhanced thanks to SCCA’s Northwest Region, which hosted a Friday night welcome party featuring delicious pies masterfully prepared by Cruiser’s Pizza and served up in the covered grid at Hampton Mills.
Equally fun were the pair of courses designed by Charly Spyksma on the asphalt surface, which sometimes draws interest from local wildlife – like elk.
While things got a little warm for Saturday’s on-course sessions with temperatures reaching the low 90-degree mark, Sunday was far more amenable. That morning started cool and temperatures peaked in the low 70s. Best of all, precipitation stayed away for most of the event with only a slight sprinkle reaching the region just as Challenge competition began.
Thomas Bennett and Jonathan Russell had a special experience in Packwood thanks to the Howard Duncan ProSolo Greenlight Fund, which supplies complimentary first appearances to newcomers at ProSolos. Bennett drove a 2013 Subaru BRZ in the Solo Spec Coupe class, and Russell took part in the Street 4 class behind the wheel of a 1998 Subaru Impreza.
You, too, can help share the fun of ProSolo with others through earmarked donations to the Greenlight Fund made here via the SCCA Foundation.
Martin W. Tanner Award Presentation
Before we get to the event coverage, let’s talk about the Martin W. Tanner Award.
This award is presented to an SCCA worker who displays unusual courage while exposed to danger, with the winner chosen by the Club Racing Board. This award has only been presented 25 times, with the first coming in 1963.
While traditionally bestowed upon a solitary SCCA Road Racing worker, it has been presented to a group on multiple occasions. For 2023, the Club Racing Board recognized the efforts of participants at the 2023 Packwood ProSolo event, and a ceremony this past weekend at Hampton Mills served as the award’s official presentation to that community.
At last year’s Packwood ProSolo, a vehicle continued past the finish line and struck another member and a solid structure, ultimately resulting in the passing of Amber Dawn Jorgensen and Des Toups. Quickly, event participants assumed roles of first responders – fire fighters, medics, and ultimately, grief counselors.
The ceremony this past weekend included remembrances of both Jorgensen and Toups, as well as a somber moment of silence for both.
Packwood’s ProSolo Class Competition
Bump Class competition was in prime form at Hampton Mills thanks to a variety of machinery. There were Mazdas, a Honda, a Subaru, a Chevrolet, and even a shifter kart. Scott Dixon, in a 2015 Subaru BRZ, claimed victory by 0.130sec in the 13-driver class. Dieter Beldi was second in a 2018 Honda Civic Si, and Blake DeWit took third in a 1999 Mazda Miata. The fourth and final trophy went to Dylan Knutso, in a 2019 Mazda MX-5, who was only 0.027sec behind DeWit.
Ladies Class 2 had nine entrants and came down to a margin measured to the hundredth of a second. In a revitalized 2006 Mitsubishi Evo IX, Tasha Mikko took the victory by 0.093sec over runner-up Ewelina Szarkowicz in a 2019 Porsche Cayman. The third and final trophy went to Julie Woodbury driving a 2024 Porsche Cayman.
Tasha was also the designated SCCA Women on Track Driver Development Program coach during the weekend. That initiative aids one randomly selected woman at each Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Tour and ProSolo Series event with an opportunity for a one-on-one, 30-minute virtual coaching session with a top-tier driver from the sport. At Packwood, Laurie Matthews was the recipient of the tutelage to help meet her performance driving goals.
Matthews, competing in Ladies Class 3 behind the wheel of a 2022 Mazda MX-5, finished just outside the trophies in third place. Laurie McCelvey earned the top spot Sunday in a 2019 Mazda MX-5 after swapping places Saturday with Kristen Acharya following introspective course walks during lunch. Acharya held solid in the runner-up spot driving a 2022 Volkswagen GTI.
The seven-driver Ladies Class 4 field ended with the tightest finish of all classes at Hampton Mills. Sitting on her runs from Saturday, Dee Dietz held on to win in a 2013 Toyota FR-S. Only 0.047sec behind was Annie Gill driving a 2014 Scion FR-S, and Holly Schwedler gathered the third and final trophy in a 1999 Honda Civic.
Dallas Cutler, in a 2006 Mitsubishi Evolution, put down two flyers on his final runs Sunday to jump into the Street 4 class lead. Doug Mikko, driving a 2006 Mitsubishi Evo IX, took second in the seven-driver field. Daniel Sutton laid claim to the third and final trophy in a 1998 Subaru Impreza.
The 10-driver Race Tire 3 class was won by Jeff Kiesel in a 2024 KFR Turbo Sprite. His son and co-driver, Zak Kiesel, picked up a bunch of time Sunday on his last runs to take the runner-up spot away from Andy McKee, who was driving a 1993 Mazda RX-7. The fourth and final trophy went to Tom Exley in a 1987 Mazda RX-7.
There was a “first” in the Street 3 class as Ian Claypool, driving a 2024 Acura Integra Type S, put the hustle on in final runs to take the win in his first-ever National Solo experience. Finishing 0.321sec behind in the runner-up position was Yon Visell in a 2010 Porsche Cayman S.
Additional ProSolo coverage from Packwood can be found at the Tire Rack SCCA National Solo Facebook page. A full rundown of class results from the event can also be viewed by clicking the red button below.
Challenge Winners in Packwood
The Packwood Super Challenge featured Daniel McCelvey, in a 2019 Mazda MX-5, and Scott Dixon, driving a 2015 Subaru BRZ. McCelvey advanced to the final after beating Ian Claypool in a 2024 Acura Integra Type S, and Dixon earned his spot by besting Eric Stoltz in a 1992 Mazda Miata. Dixon ended up taking his very first Super Challenge victory, and Stoltz took the third-place spot by beating Claypool in the consolation matchup.
Annie Gill and Julie Woodbury fought their way into the Ladies Challenge final round. Gill, driving a 2014 Scion FR-S, advanced to the final after getting the better of a 2019 Mazda MX-5 wielded by Laurie McCelvey; and Woodbury earned her spot in a 2024 Porsche Cayman after beating Dee Dietz’ 2013 Toyota FR-S in the semifinal round. Gill ultimately took the Ladies Challenge title in Packwood, and McCelvey won the third-place runoff.
The Bonus Challenge final came down to Mark Kettering (2022 Mazda MX-5) and Shelby Redding. The semifinal round saw Kettering beat Andrew Kortegard (2023 Toyota GR86), with Redding reaching the last round after besting Wyatt Martz (2012 Audi TT). After all was said and done, Redding claimed the Bonus Challenge title in her 1988 Honda CRX Si.
Forward to the Finale!
Packwood was the final ProSolo experience prior to the Aug. 30-Sept. 1, 2024, Tire Rack SCCA ProSolo Championship Finale taking place in Nebraska at Lincoln Airpark. Registration for the ProSolo Finale will again occur in three tiers based on the number of ProSolo points individuals have collected this year.
Tier 1 registration opens Wednesday, July 31, at 3 p.m. CT for those who have amassed 34 or more points in the class they enter for the Finale.
Tier 2 ProSolo Finale registration opens Wednesday, Aug. 7, at 3 p.m. CT for drivers who have amassed at least 27 points in the class they enter for the Finale, or those who scored points while participating in at least three ProSolos during the year in the class they enter for the Finale.
Tier 3 ProSolo Finale registration opens Wednesday, Aug. 14, at 3 p.m. CT for those who have scored points in two or more 2024 ProSolos in the class they enter for the Finale.
Those registering after the ProSolo Finale hits its entry cap of 275 people will be added to a wait list, with entrants transferring to the official entry list as cancellations occur.
More info about SCCA ProSolo can be found here. Also, be sure to follow the Tire Rack SCCA National Solo Facebook page for the latest news and updates.
Photo by Aditya Madhaven
