THUNDERJET CHALLENGE
	DATE	2/22/1997
	RACE	#5	Race Report below
		DRIVER	VEHICLE	ROUND	ROUND  1		ROUND  2		TOTAL
		NAME	BODY STYLE	TIME / LANE	LAPS-SEC.		LAPS-SEC.		LAPS-SEC.
	1	Guy Graziano	Lola GT	10 Min.	199	32	195	38	394	70
	2	Jeff Eve	Lola GT	"	198	13	195	46	393	59
	3	John Peckham	XKE Jaguar	"	201	52	191	6	392	58
	4	Steve Dickinson	Ford J	"	191	55	190	20	381	75
	5	Tim Traynor	Ford GT	"	181	51	181	12	362	63
	6	Rick Kibler	AMX	"	179	63	181	55	360	118
	7	Paul Graziano	Lola GT	"	176	62	183	21	359	83
	8	Rick Rumpf	AMX	"	172	31	172	7	344	38
	9	John Maddock	XKE Jaguar	"	171	62	173	3	344	65
	10	Scott Sylvester	XKE Jaguar	"	146	7	166	38	312	45
	11	Don Nielson	Ford GT	"	151	10	159	54	310	64
	12	Mike King	Lola GT	"	141	29	151	7	292	36
	13	Yoda	Ford J	"	178	1			178	1
	14	Junior M.	Mako Shark	"	167	20			167	20
	15	Steve Wessie	Mako Shark	"	166	62			166	62
	16	Steve Mayo	Porsche 906 GT	"	157	41			157	41
	17	Scott Wise	Chapparral 2F	"	153	35			153	35
	18	Vincent King	Ford J	"	141	45			141	45
	19			"					0	0
	20			"					0	0
	21			"					0	0
	22			"					0	0
	23			"					0	0
	24			"					0	0
	25			"					0	0
	5th ANNUAL THUNDERJET CHALLENGE
	Race Report
		2/22/97 - What once started as a ‘just for fun’ club race has quickly become a regional event.
	The prestige of Greenbrier Raceway’s THUNDERJET CHALLENGE,  a mini-enduro for box stock T-jets,
	has spread not only across town, but out of state!!!
		As in the past,  Greenbrier’s 5th annual Thunderjet Challenge will not be forgotten any time soon...
	only this time,  not for the reasons you might expect.
		First, as the name implies,  Greenbrier’s Thunderjet Challenge is just that…  an Aurora Thunderjet
	race using 95% Box Stock T-jets.  Some aftermarket replacement parts are allowed due to vehicle
	age,  but in general, all cars are to be in #7 condition or better.
		Being a mini-enduro,  many ‘enduro’ style regulations are enforced...  such as no lap corrections,
	no track calls,  and maintenance to vehicles allowed ONLY under ‘Green’ (driver’s race time).
		But maybe the most unique aspect of Greenbrier Raceway’s Thunderjet Challenge is the race
	format itself.  All drivers are required to drive each of 4 lanes TWICE!!!  At 10 minutes per heat,  this puts
	the total race time per driver at 80 minutes (4 lanes X 10 min. X 2 segments).
		Half way into the race (first segment),  drivers take a short break as names are re-drawn
	(driver rotation order is changed) for the second half (second segment).  This means drivers will not
	race the same people per heat the entire race (short of luck of draw).  The advantages;  breaking up
	‘team’ racing,  and having a better overall ‘mix’ in drivers for a more competitive race.
		Race day itself started normal enough...  9:00 am drivers started filing in for last minute practice,
	my loving wife prepared snacks,  and the dog wouldn’t stop barking.  By 11:00, 18 racers and friends
	filled my club track basement to capacity as the weather out side started getting a ‘bit’ more windy than
	reported/expected.  Who cares about the weather, you ask…  not me...  UNTIL........
		About 11:45,  just as we were about to start the race...  IT HAPPENED!!!!  Wind gusts up to 80mph
	threw over 3/4 of town,  and Greenbrier Raceway,  into total darkness from down power lines!!!
		As we all crawled out of the basement into daylight,  it amazed me how everyone seemed to get
	a kick out of the situation  (I myself was in shear panic!!!).  After a short discussion,  it was decided we
	had only one option...
		To make a long story short,  it took about an hour to secure a generator…  during which time it
	was decided to hold a small ‘candle light’ swap meet,  something planned for half time...  but without
	the candles.
		Once the race got underway,  it was a sight to behold!!!  Hurricane winds, a town with no power,
	and a basement full of HO racers working in candle lit pits while a generator echoed outside powering
	only essential track lighting and systems!!!  (Di-hard HOers?  You decide)
		The race itself turned into one of our best,  with a finish even more dramatic than the beginning.
	The entire race had been close…  REAL CLOSE!!!  I personally was feeling good about a win when in the
	last 2 minutes of my final run,  my motor gear let loose  (get the feeling it wasn’t my day).
		As I crawled to a 3rd place finish,  Jeff Eve slipped by to take 2nd…  finishing a mere ONE lap up!!!
	Add another lap and we had a winner!!!
	Congratulations to Guy Graziano…  this years Thunderjet Champion!!!
		I would like to thank all involved for their cooperation and understanding in making
	Greenbrier Raceway’s 5th Annual Thunderjet Challenge the success it was.  And a special thanks to
	our sponsors for their help and support over the years:
	NJ Nostalgia Hobbies
	Slot Car Trader
	Our own HOSCAR racing club
	Guy Graziano.