The third of 10 Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA® Super Tour (HST) weekends for 2025 has started in Braselton, GA. This March 7-9 meetup hosted by SCCA’s Atlanta Region is running on the 12-turn, 2.54-mile course that is the magnificent Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
Part of the Summit Racing Equipment SCCA Road Racing program, things got rolling Saturday morning with 15-minute qualifying sessions for all seven run groups in wonderful conditions. Sunny skies and temperatures in the low 70-degree range continued throughout the day as 25-minute races filled the afternoon and decided the first set of winners.
McAleer is Certified Fast
The Formula Atlantic (FA) class produces some of the fastest cars on track during any given HST gathering, and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta is no exception. The sleek sleds come with wide tires and plenty of aero assistance that allow drivers to be quick. In fact, one FA driver at this weekend’s event holds an actual world speed record.
John McAleer, 57, is from SCCA’s Atlanta Region. Since joining the Club in 2014, he has played in Prototype 1, Spec Racer Ford Gen3 and Formula Enterprises. More than a dozen HST victories have been gobbled up by McAleer over the years, so there’s no denying he’s fast. But a paper certificate in his possession stands as testament to just how quick and determined he can be.
The paper document, issued in Aug. 2024 by Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme, states McAleer is the World Record holder for the distance of one mile with a flying start on a motorcycle classed as Category 1/Group A1/Non-Streamlined with an internal combustion, spark ignition, naturally aspirated, 250cc, twin-cylinder engine. A speed of 142.863 mph was the mark McAleer set back then on the Bonneville Salt Flats.
“This is a halo record because it’s so hard to get,” he said. “We didn’t break the record until the final runs.”
Built from the ground up, McAleer’s bike was powered by an ex-MotoGP engine. While 142 mph may not sound fast if you think about Formula One or IndyCar, achieving that speed on a cycle was a harrowing experience due to the power.
“It’s the greatest accomplishment that I’ve ever done in my life,” proclaimed McAleer, who also holds the Prototype record around Road Atlanta with a 1:16.419 lap. “That paper document … I’m more proud of that than of any diploma, any certification or anything I have received in my life. It was a very big accomplishment.”
In the No. 68 Swift 016 car Saturday, McAleer added another HST trophy to his pile with an FA victory.
Keeping the Tradition
SCCA Hall of Famer Bob Sharp passed away a little more than a week ago. He was a successful and influential SCCA driver in the ’60s and ‘70s, and his impact can still be seen this weekend in the form of red, white and blue Nissans traversing Road Atlanta.
The No. 58 T-Rex Racing Nissan 350Z driven by Tristan Smith in Touring 3 is one of those cars that brings back fond memories of Sharp. Smith, 61, of SCCA’s Atlanta Region, said he has always raced Nissans because while growing up in the ‘70s, Datsuns/Nissans were the car to have if you wanted a cool, sporty import.
Now racing with SCCA for more than three decades, Smith has always held true to the color scheme used by Sharp five decades ago. His first racecar was a Datsun 200SX used for Improved Touring B races. That was followed by a Nissan 240SX for Improved Touring A, then a Nissan 300ZX for fun in Improved Touring R.
“The 300ZX was also sold at the same time as the 200SX, and the proceeds went to building my current 350Z,” Smith stated. “As you can see, the car’s paint job was influenced first by Bob Sharp cars, and then the Nissan GTP cars.
“Bob Sharp was one of the greats as far as bringing Datsun and eventually Nissan into the winning circles of racing,” Smith continued. “Nissan actually changed their official colors probably a decade or so ago to the black and red. But to me the red, white and blue will always be Nissan, man.”
With Sharp’s colors bright as could be in the Georgia sun, Smith grabbed a trophy Saturday by finishing third in class. The T3 race winner was Nic Hammann in the No. 41 Carbotech/NISMO/ParagonPerformance Nissan 370Z.
Thank You, Drivers!
You always hear drivers give thanks to SCCA volunteers who come out and make race weekends happen. That appreciation was further displayed at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta as many competitors from the paddock actually paid for lunches supplied to volunteers Friday and Saturday.
According to Race Chair Clark McInnis, SCCA’s Atlanta Region tried something new for the first time this year. Within the online event registration, drivers were asked if they’d like to purchase worker lunches and have that cost included in their entry fee.
Thankfully, nearly 45 drivers took advantage of the opportunity, buying anywhere from five to 10 lunches each. One driver who had to withdraw from the event at the last minute actually even told McInnis to keep the lunch money.
“A lot of drivers bought five lunches,” McInnis said. “It didn’t cover the cost of all the lunches, but it did cover most of them.”
Each boxed lunch – which contained a fresh sandwich, chips, snack and drink – had an adhesive label on it that let diners know exactly which competitor paid for that particular meal. Many volunteers then chased down their food benefactors to say thanks throughout the weekend. So it was a wonderful mutual admiration society around the circuit all weekend. Of course, lots of drivers also left Sunday with many new supporters as well.
Being an SCCA member and volunteering at events comes with a lot of perks. It puts you right in the action with an entire world of adventure and excitement awaiting. Learn more about volunteering with SCCA by clicking here.
Saturday Race Winners
Below are provisional race winners from Saturday’s Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour conducted at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Each entry includes Car Class: Driver Name, SCCA Region, and Car.
American Sedan®: Gregory Eaton, Washington DC Region, Ford Mustang
B-Spec: Josh Schmidt, Central Carolinas Region, Chevrolet Sonic
E Production: Peter Norton, North Carolina Region, Caterham Seven
F Production: Ken Kannard, Atlanta Region, Acura Integra
H Production: Chuck Mathis, Southern Illinois Region, Volkswagen Rabbit GTI
Formula Atlantic®: John McAleer, Atlanta Region, Swift 016
Formula Continental®: Carter Sheets, Mahoning Valley Region, Van Diemen F2000
Formula Enterprises® 2: Franklin Futrelle, Atlanta Region, SCCA Enterprises FE2 Mazda
GT-1: David Pintaric, Mahoning Valley Region, Ford Mustang
GT-2: Jared Odrick, Susquehanna Region, Chevrolet TA2 Camaro
GT3U: Tony Ave, Central Carolinas Region, Honda Civic
Spec Miata: Ethan Goulart, New England Region, Mazda Miata
Spec MX-5: Ethan Jacobs, Milwaukee Region, Mazda MX-5
Spec Racer® Ford Gen3: Brian Schofield, Central Florida Region, SCCA Enterprises SRF3
Prototype: Wade Richardson, Alabama Region, Stohr WF1
Super Touring® Lite: Mike Taylor, Atlanta Region, Acura Integra
Super Touring® Under: Richard Astacio, New England Region, Lotus Exige
Touring 1: James Candelaria, Central Florida Region, Chevrolet Corvette
Touring 2: Raphael Assuncao, Atlanta Region, Porsche Cayman
Touring 3: Nic Hammann, Kansas City Region, Nissan 370Z NISMO
Touring 4: Marc Cefalo, Northeastern Pennsylvania Region, Mazda RX-8
Sunday Broadcast from Road Atlanta
Another whole day of HST competition from Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta is on tap starting 8 a.m. Eastern Time on Sunday. The day’s races will be either 19 laps or 35 minutes for each of the seven rung groups.
The forecast for Sunday predicts temperatures will be a lot cooler, and the possibility of rain could make things very interesting. Be sure to tune into the HST video broadcast produced by DriversEye Live found at the SCCA YouTube channel. Announcers Gregg Ginsberg and Brian Bielanski will be back as well to supply corner-by-corner commentary, and Sunday victory podium celebrations can be viewed at the SCCA Road Racing Facebook page.
Don’t forget that live HST Timing & Scoring is found throughout the weekend at scca.com/live.
Photo: John McAleer claimed victory in Formula Atlantic Saturday during Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour competition at Micheline Raceway Road Atlanta.
Photo by Jeff Loewe
