Solo®: an exciting frontier. This is the story of starship SCCA® on its never-ending mission to explore strange new autocross worlds, seek out thrilling new experiences, and boldly cone like no driver has coned before.
SCCA Solo landed in Romulus – a town in New York, not the planet from Star Trek – for an Aug. 2-4, 2024, rendezvous with fun at Seneca Army Depot during the Tire Rack SCCA Romulus Solo National Tour.
Nearly 245 thrill-seekers, one of which was Bill Gelinas in a 2002 Ferrari 360 rarely spotted at autocrosses, attended the event hosted by SCCA’s Finger Lakes Region. Despite rain moving in for Friday night’s welcome party, Nick Pasternack still managed to make an amazing meal materialize that featured smoked pork loin, Cajun sausage, and delicious sides that got the sold-out crowd fueled up for two days of competition. Adding to the weekend’s good grub was an appearance from a Puerto Rican food bus that doled out some equally flawless cuisine served to diners with the option of enjoying their meal while seated inside the bus.
Courses designed by Sam Strano provided a good balance of elements that tested driver skill across a surface that was primarily asphalt with a small stretch of concrete for good measure. Mother Nature added a bit to the challenge by offering slightly wet conditions late Saturday. But Sunday was pretty gorgeous with temperatures being fairly common for summertime in Western New York.
Abby Stockton had a stellar experience thanks to the SCCA Women on Track Driver Development Program. 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.
This level of coaching is aimed at helping drivers meet their performance driving goals, and Stockton’s guide in Romulus was Eric Peachey. She used the tutelage to finish quite admirably in the Ladies Street Tire class driving a 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1.
Out-of-this-World Competition
D Street, the largest field of the weekend with 24 entrants, saw Mark Daddio emerge the winner in a 2022 Subaru BRZ after a back-and-forth battle with Alex Piehl. Daddio managed to find a half-second on Sunday’s third run to cement a 0.667sec victory over Piehl’s 2022 Toyota GR86. Additional Toyota GR86s claimed the next two spots, with DJ Alessandrini finishing third and Dave Potocki fourth. Just 0.009sec further back in fifth was Gil Paulo Gabriel in another Subaru BRZ, followed by Chase Helm driving a 2019 Honda Civic. The seventh and final trophy went to Peter Schnore, who was co-driving with Alessandrini.
The Ladies Street Tire class was good sized, too, with 13 entrants. Shelly Monfort took the win driving a 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1, followed by Amy Houseal in a 2009 Mazda RX-8, and Emily Brown in a 2019 Mazda Miata. The fourth and final trophy went to Victoria Butler in a 2014 Scion FR-S.
A couple other women had fantastic finishes at Seneca Army Depot. Tina Reeves took the top spot over husband Brian Reeves in D Prepared, with both sharing a 1990 Mazda Miata. Tamra Krystinik, driving a 2000 Legrand Dragon, also came out on top in B Modified by besting co-driver and husband Andrew Krystinik. Brad Fish, in a 1981 Ralt RT-5, finished third in that class to claim the final trophy.
Street Touring® Xtreme provided lots of excitement as Darian Taggart set the pace Saturday in a 2014 Scion FR-S. After three runs on the opening day, Taggart had a 0.328sec advantage on fellow Scion FR-S driver Evan LeBlanc. On Sunday, however, LeBlanc picked up the pace to earn the top spot. Ken Houseal was on pace to challenge for the victory in a 2009 Mazda RX-8 but coned away a quick time on Sunday’s third run to finish 0.1sec back in second place. Taggart came home third, and Cody Hunt got the fourth and final trophy in another Scion FR-S.
Two other classes had even closer finishes, with the margin of victory being 0.066sec in both. One of those contests was Solo Spec Coupe, where François Langelier was the leader in a 2013 Toyota FR-S after Saturday runs. Chip Manuel then fought back on Sunday to earn the victory over runner-up Kevin Buchholz, with both men also driving 2013 Toyota FR-S machines.
Street Touring Roadster (STR) was the other class with a 0.066sec margin of victory. Josh Luster led the 10-entrant field on Saturday. A quick third run Sunday, however, clinched a victory for Evan Schickel and demoted Luster to the runner-up spot, with both men driving 2019 Mazda MX-5s. Brad Fiore finished third in a 2017 Mazda Miata, and Jacob Glover grabbed the fourth and final STR trophy in a 2019 Mazda Miata.
Additional coverage from Romulus can be found at the Tire Rack SCCA National Solo Facebook page. A full rundown of all results from the event can be accessed by clicking the red button below.
Warp Speed to Indiana
The Solo National Tour now heads to Bunker Hill, IN, for the Tire Rack SCCA Grissom Solo National Tour taking place Aug. 9-11, 2024, at Grissom Aeroplex. That will be the final stop on the 2024 Solo National Tour calendar prior to Solo Nats in Nebraska at Lincoln Airpark.
The 2024 Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships hit its entry cap a while ago, but you’re always invited to jump on the registration wait list and keep your fingers crossed. In preparation for the big event, SCCA’s Solo Department rolled out its alternate equipment trailer in Romulus for a near flawless shakedown, meaning the team is ready to go, go, go at Solo Nats.
Solo life moves fast the next several weeks, with important announcements on the way. Be sure to follow the Tire Rack SCCA National Solo Facebook page for the latest news and updates.
Photos by Alan Claffie
