THUNDERJET CHALLENGE
	DATE	4/24/1999
	RACE	#7	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.	198	37	206	66	404	103
	2	John Peckham	XKE Jaguar	"	202	57	201	34	403	91
	3	Jeff Eve	Lola GT	"	201	66	199	7	400	73
	4	Larry Weaver	Ferrari	"	195	69	200	7	395	76
	5	Steve Dickinson	Ford J	"	202	22	192	32	394	54
	6	Dave Failing	Ford J	"	190	19	202	36	392	55
	7	Andy Meyer	Lola GT	"	195	29	196	23	391	52
	8	Paul Graziano	Lola GT	"	188	60	183	51	371	111
	9	Jamie Vershay	Ford J	"	187	34			187	34
	10	Rick Rumpf	XKE Jaguar	"	187	24			187	24
	11	Rick Kibler	AMX	"	183	13			183	13
	12	Mike King	Dino Ferrari	"	178	35			178	35
	13	John Durbin	AMX	"	178	24			178	24
	14	John Maddock	XKE Jaguar	"	163	57			163	57
	15	Jeff Collins	Ford J	"	158	63			158	63
	16	Vincent King	Ford GT	"	148	29			148	29
	17			"					0	0
	18			"					0	0
	19			"					0	0
	20			"					0	0
	21			"					0	0
	22			"					0	0
	23			"					0	0
	24			"					0	0
	25			"					0	0
	7th ANNUAL THUNDERJET CHALLENGE
	Race Report
		4/24/99 - The "Thunder is back" as a field of stock T-Jets spark down the track at
	Greenbrier Raceway's 7th Annual THUNDERJET CHALLENGE…  this year sponsored by none other than
	MODEL MOTORING INC..
	ROUND 1
		15 return drivers and 1 T-Jet Challenge rookie made up the 16 car starting field.  The first
	go-around would be John Maddock,  Mike King,  Larry Weaver,  and Paul Graziano.  Paul and Larry
	would quickly set the pace in the first 10 minutes with 49 and 50 laps,  respectfully.
		Next in would be Steve Dickinson.  For his first heat,  Steve would actually set the race record
	for laps at 54.  This would not be an 'official' count;  however,  as at one point his car would jump lanes
	and zip threw the lap counter…  making his recorded count ONLY 53 laps.
		The next 2 heats would see last years Champ,  John Peckham,  and another previous TJC
	winner,  Guy Graziano,  turn up the heat by running in the 51 - 52 lap range.   Steve would have a slight
	problem with the Blue lane,  recording a 47 for his 3rd run.  This would put John,  Guy,  and Steve
	'neck & neck'.
		The next couple hours of racing would be exciting,  but without any real show of competition for
	the current 'Top 3'…  that was until another race favorite,  Jeff Eve,  took to the track and started turning
	laps in the 50s.
		At the end of 4 hours of racing  (with each driver now having 40 minutes under their belt),  it was
	evident on just how close this race was going to be.  The 8 drivers that would go into the main were
	now separated by a span of 14 laps…  the Top 4 by only 4!!!
	ROUND 2
		Entering Round 2,  the top 8  (in current position order)  would be John Peckham,  Steve Dickinson,
	Jeff Eve,  Guy Graziano,  Larry Weaver,  Andy Meyer,  Dave Failing,  and Paul Graziano.
		The remaining 2 hours of racing would prove to be some of the most intense Thunderjet racing
	ever at Greenbrier…  along with some of the best entertainment.
		"Cool move(s) of the race" credits go to HO Slotcar DL owner,  Andy Meyer,  when his Ford "J"
	de-slotted,  flew 4 inches,  bounced off the guardrail,  back into the correct slot,  and kept going.  Next
	(just a couple laps later)  Andy entertained us with his reversing abilities by backing down the 15' straight,
	spinning around and making the corner in turn 1…  it was GREAT!!!
		It was obvious;  however,  time for playing was over for John,  Steve,  Guy,  and Jeff.  The jokes and
	fooling around were cut to a minimum as they put on their 'win or die' faces.  For Steve (starting Round 2
	only 35 track sections out of first),  the proverbial 'black cloud' zeroed in by first catching his guide pin in
	a 'track crack',  shearing it off clean.  Then,  his very next heat would have the motor gear spin free,
	forcing another un-scheduled pit stop.
		Nearing the end,  it was the turquoise Lola GT of Guy Graziano's that had everyone's attention.
	It seemed Guy had found the track 'grove'  (no pun intended)  while John and Jeff would kept with their
	usual systematic form,  running consistent laps in the 50s.  The numbers looked promising  (remember,
	Guy had exactly 4 heats to make up a 4 lap deficit),  but could Guy pull it off?
		It's said,  "You only need one".  If you don't believe it,  just ask Guy Graziano…
	This years THUNDERJET CHALLENGE CHAMPION!!!
		Greenbrier Raceway would like to thank everyone involved in making the 7th Annual Greenbrier
	THUNDERJET CHALLENGE the success it was,  and a special thanks to MODEL MOTORING INC.
	for their generous prize donations.