Greenbrier Raceway's 25th Annual THUNDERJET CHALLENGE
Race Report
 (Scroll down for race score card and photos)





4/1/2017 – 2 ½ Decades… ¼ Century… or simply 25 years… no matter how you look at it, Greenbrier Raceway Park has reached a Milestone in 2017 with its 25th Annual THUNDERJET CHALLENGE !!!

Once again, the whole WORLD got the chance to join in on the fun as the entire 10 hours of racing was web cast LIVE on Livestream.com - thanks to the efforts of Steve Dickinson. (portions of this race are still available to watch on livestream by following the following link - https://livestream.com/accounts/18498904/events/7183389/videos/153137613 )

In addition, many more got a chance to see portions of the race live on Facebook (when we were able to keep the cameras going – LOL).

           

This years rule changes took the cars back to ground “0” – which is to say everything about the car had to be 100% stock ThunderJet. Over the years we’ve allowed ThunderJet “like” parts (e.g. AFX motors, JL magnets, aftermarket silver brushes, etc.) This year Gears, Motors, Magnets… all had to be right out/off of an original T-Jet, making the 25th TJC a true 100% BOX STOCK ThunderJet race.

 

Race format was the same as last year… qualifying for all (5 min. heat per lane), where the top 6 would go into the Main. 2nd chance qualifying for everyone else (5 min. heat per lane), with the top 2 filling out the remainder of the 8 car Main (20 min. heat per lane).

The Main would actually consist of 2 Rounds – 4 and 4. It is often asked why not a final 4 person Main, the answer is simple… with qualifying over, things start to thin out around Greenbrier. With a 2 round Main, the last 8 drivers would HAVE to stick around – giving us 4 drivers and a guaranteed minimum 4 MARSHALS.

With 15 entries, qualifying was broken up into 3 rounds of 5 drivers (there would be 1 sit-out in each round).

 

Qualifying started off with Orest (Big “O”) Ohluk, John Peckham, Fran Thorn, Jeff Eve, and Jamie Vershay. 26 seemed to be the number to hit in laps as John P. and Jeff E. would finish with only sections between them…103 laps/71 sections for Jeff, 103/53 for John.

 

Round 2 was Bob Dickinson, Chris Mathewson, Larry Weaver, John Durbin, and Dave Failing. While most made the 26 lap mark, Dave Failing upped the anti turning 28 laps, for a Qualifying lead of 113 laps.

 

Final round of qualifying would be Steve Mayo, Joe Saccomanno, George Vianco , Rick Kibler, and Steve Dickinson. Again, another round of close racing with everyone starting off in the 24-26 lap range. However, Steve D. would increase his laps into the 28s, finishing at the top of round 3 with 110 laps.

 

All this would see Dave F., Steve D., Bob D., Larry W., Jeff E., and John P. sit out as the top 6 qualifiers, while everyone else would once again race for the chance to fill the remaining 2 openings for the Main… with Fran T. and John D. picking up the final 2 spots.

 

With Qualifying over, it was time for refueling (FOOD!!!) and to hand out Door Prizes supplied by our many generous Sponsors.

 

It was about 6:00 when actual ‘Racing’ began at Greenbrier Raceway Park. Greenbrier’s first half of the finals (Main – pt.1) would be John D., Fran T., Larry W., and Jeff E..

Starting with a great lead in heat 1 with 112 laps, Jeff Eve’s laps started to dwindle as Larry Weaver ran a nice consistent 109 average placing him in the lead in the first half with a final of 434 laps.

 

The last race of the day (Main - pt.2), would be Steve D., Dave Failing., John P., and Bob D.. Steve came out swinging as he turned a 118 on the Yellow lane in heat 1 (Yellow seemed to once again be the Hot lane of the race). Heat 2 now had Steve on the Red lane and Dave on Yellow turning a 117 to Steve’s 114. Bob Dickinson ran in the 105 – 110 range while John Peckham had problems from the start (seemed the top end dried up – John said "run it ‘till it blows”)

 

            In the end it was Dave Failing squeezing out Steve Dickinson for another Greenbrier THUNDERJET CHALLENGE win by ONLY 4 LAPS…. 465 to 461.

 

Greenbrier Raceway Park would like to thank everyone involved in Greenbrier’s 25th Annual THUNDERJET CHALLENGE… one of the smoothest running races held to date - And a special thanks to all the Sponsors for helping support the hobby, and really for making Greenbrier's THUNDERJET CHALLENGE the race it is !!!





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Greenbrier Raceway's 2017 Trophy

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Special Door Prize Supplied by Sea Breeze Speedway (Dave Failing)

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Just some of our Generous Sponsor supplied Door Prizes

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Special 'First Place' prize supplied by Small Scale Replicas (Steve Dickinson)

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Joe Saccomanno - Store is open

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As usual... pits are FULL

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Once again, Greenbrier's THUNDERJET CHALLENGE was broadcast LIVE
on the web via livestream.com


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Steve Dickinson does a quick visual inspection of the cars and marks the chassis that it has passed
(This is NOT to say all cars are legal - final 'teardown' inspection will be done at race end)


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The 2017 field of 15 cars

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Hey, wait... there is an extra car in line !!!

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Someone tried to sneak a 'FREY' car into Greenbrier's BOX STOCK race
(Officials quickly had it removed)


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Gentlemen......  "START   YOUR   ENGINES"

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Between Qualifying and the Main, Drivers took a lunch (supper) break as Door Prizes were handed out

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Dave Failing's winning Pennzoil "J"

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2 - Steve Dickinson           1 - Dave Failing             3 - Larry Weaver

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2 - Steve Dickinson           1 - Dave Failing             3 - Larry Weaver





  Once again, Greenbrier Raceway would like to thank all involved in making Greenbrier’s 25th Annual THUNDERJET CHALLENGE the success it was, and a special thanks to this years FEATURED sponsors for their generous donations:
(Click on Sponsor to go to their site)

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GREENBRIER RACEWAY PARK

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VRP

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Fantasy
          Raceways

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Sea
        Breeze Speedway

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Super Tires

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Greg's
            Garage

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Joe Saccomanno

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SSR

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lucky bobs raceway

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9 finger hobbies

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slotsnstuff
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