EWC Driver Information Needed

[Rob Howden]

Hello EWC competitors...

I am starting early assembly of driver information for this year's East-West Challenge. I would appreciate you either posting your entry intentions here or sending me an e-mail message. It might be more exciting if it was posted here so that we could get some excitement and momentum building.

I would like to get name, number, class, hometown and chassis marque in each post so that I can have all the information I'll need for the preview and the regular race reports.

Thanks,

Rob Howden
FormulaCar Magazine
rhowden@formulacarmag.com

[Steve B]

Rob: Here's who has checked in with me so far. The pre-season EWC entry list is now up to 50 drivers....

Wes Allen, Merlyn Mk25 and/or Porsche GT3 Cup car, CFF, E
Tom Tipsword, Van Diemen RF81, CFF, E
Dave Harmison, Royale RP21, CFF, E
Ron Tebo, Van Diemen RF78, CFF, E
Brian Duncan, Tiga FFA-78, CFF, E
Steve Beeler, Lola T-540, CFF, E
Jon Hirst, Ferret MkIV, CFF, E
Erik Shepard, Hawke DL12, CFF, E
Jennie Morsch, Crossle 30F, CFF, E
JP Montoya, McLaren M23, CFF, E
Michael Baden, Zink Z-10C, CFF, E
Michael Neylon, Zink Z-10 and/or Lola T-440, CFF, E
Frank Vella, Crossle 32F, CFF, E
Dave Woodmancy, Euroswift SC93F, FF, E
Francis Kennette, Euroswift SC97, FF, E
Jon Adams, Van Diemen RF98, FF, E
Dan Binks, Van Diemen RF92, FF, E
John Wagner, Van Diemen RF98, FF, E
Joe Fisher, Van Diemen RF84, FF, E
Dan Faust, Van Diemen RF93, FF, E
Bob Beasley, Van Diemen RF98, FF, E
Ralph Zuponcic, Van Diemen RF94, FF, E
Bill Ehrlinger, Van Diemen RF80, CFF, W
John Haydon Jr, Tiga FFA-80, CFF, W
Terry Lenhart, Tiga FFA-80, CFF, W
Hans Iwand, Eagle, CFF, W
Bruce Drenth, Eagle, CFF, W
Pete Wood, Crossle 32F, CFF, W
Alan Murray, Crossle 45F, CFF, W
Brian Mika, Citation Z-16, CFF, W
Marc Blanc, Swift DB-6 FF and/or Crossle 35F CFF, W
R Barrichello, Ferrari 312T, CFF, W
Tony Foster, Swift DB-1, FF, W
Jim Nash, Van Diemen RF98, FF, W
Dave Hopple, Piper DF-2, FF, W
Jim Roberts, Swift DB-1, FF, W
Allen Wheatcroft, Van Diemen RF98K, FF, W
Loren Tieman, Reynard 83F, FF, W
Gary Payne, Reynard 88F, FF, W
Mark Blythe, Van Diemen RF97, FF, W
Bill Bergeron, Van Diemen RF90, FF, W
Paul Reineck, Van Diemen RF86, FF, W
Tad Lenhart, TBD, FF, W
Ian Lenhart, Van Diemen RF87, FF, W
John Vlasis, Piper DF-2, FF, W
John Luxon, Piper DF-2, FF, W
Todd Rhoades, TBD, FF, W
Alex Murray, Swift DB-1, FF, W
Andy Graff, Van Diemen RF97, FF, W
Tom Stillwell, Swift DB-1, FF, W

Steve Beeler
Lola T-540 HU44
home: (734)416-8865 sbeeler@wowway.com
office: (313)390-1818 sbeeler@ford.com

[Bill Bonow]

Rob: Here's who has checked in with me so far....

JP Montoya, McLaren M23, CFF, E

I know that guy, that Club Ford of his is really pushing the "original bodywork" rule. I think somebody needs to tear him down.

[Gary Payne]

Rob: Here's who has checked in with me so far....

Gary Payne, Reynard 84F, FF, W

Steve Beeler
Lola T-540 HU44
home: (734)416-8865 sbeeler@wowway.com
office: (313)390-1818 sbeeler@ford.com

Rob and Steve, Just a slight correction, Reynard 88F rather than an 84.

[Dave Hopple]

I would like to get name, number, class, hometown and chassis marque in each post so that I can have all the information I'll need for the preview and the regular race reports

Ok guys let's give Rob some help here (not many replies) if you want to promote FF racing and the EWC etc, here is your chance! -Dave


Dave Hopple
22 FF
Minneapolis, MN
Piper DF-2

[JHaydon]

I hope to be running #65 on the Tiga again this year. Still living in Kenosha, but still consider myself "from" Milwaukee.

[Rob Howden]

John...what's the full name of the Tiga?

RH - FCM

PS - And thanks Dave...we need to get these guys on the ball!

[JHaydon]

Long story on that (I could probably write you a whole article if you need some filler)... the actual chassis type is currently being debated and researched with the help of Howden Ganley, the original designer of the car.

It's registered as an "FFA80", but some of the suspension parts have "FFA79" on them, and it's somewhat different from another FFA80 chassis I compared it to. The legend is that it was a factory test car for the 1980 model, thus built in '79 as a 1980. It was also registered as having no chassis number, which Mr. Ganley tells me could not be the case.

I'm going to dig out the car this week and get some photos to England. I'll get you more information as I can.

[Rob Howden]

Very interesting stuff, John.

I spoke with Howden at the PRI show about both the Tiga program and the origin of his first name. Turns out that his mother's maiden name was actually Howden and she gave it to him to continue the family name as she was the last of a family full of girls. Maybe we're related...

Please keep me posted on this. We will be developing the stories of many of the marques throughout the year for eventual publication.

Rob Howden - FCM

[DUNCAN]

Rob,

I'll add my entry to the EWC Series here. I have a FFA78 Tiga That I plan on running in three of the four events this year BHF, RA, and M-O. Grattan is up in the air at this time.
Look for Silver #33.

Copied from the Net
January 1976: Founded TIGA RACING CARS in partnership with Tim Schenken.� COmbined racing, testing and car designing.

At this website
http://www.brdc.co.uk/brdcarchive.cf.../member_id/109


Thanks for the coverage

Brian Duncan

[fkennette]

Assuming I'm done the rebuild in time, I'll be doing some of the events.

Francis Kennette
Belle River, Ontario

Euroswift SC97, FF

[Steve B]

Here are the latest people to check in. I'll edit my previous post to reflect the entire list.

Mark Blythe, Van Diemen RF97, FF, W
Bill Bergeron, Van Diemen RF90, FF, W
Erik Shepard, Hawke DL12, CFF, E
Francis Kennette, Euroswift SC97, FF, E
Jennie Morsch, Crossle 30F, CFF, E

Steve Beeler
Lola T-540 HU44
home: (734)416-8865 sbeeler@wowway.com
office: (313)390-1818 sbeeler@ford.com

[Ron Tebo]

Does anyone remember the Carly Simon song "Anticipation".... The highlight of my weekend was trying to get my snow blower to work. Yuck... I would much rather be hanging around with the EWC folks, I'm sure looking forward to Grattan.

Ron Tebo v.d. RF78 (29)

[eaglefordracer]

Hans C. Iwand
Nebraska Region
Omaha Nebraska

AAR Eagle FF

Frame Number 007 (Now just so you know, neither Gurney nor Dells kept records of the numbers that were stamped on the frame, but that's what's stamped!)

Car #48 (c'mon all Eagles have to be 48)

Given my region, I'm hoping to do the Black Hawke and Road America races.

[Ian Lenhart]

I'll add a few more - possible entries out of the Lenhart Motorsports garage:

Ian Lenhart car: Van Diemen RF87 FF Hometown: Brown Deer, WI Team: West
Sponsor: Lenhart DeSignWerks
Notes: sponsor of the 2005 EWC


Tad Lenhart car: TBD FF or CFF Hometown: Mequon, WI Team: West
Sponsor: Tad Lenhart Design


Terry Lenhart car: Tiga FFA-80 CFF Hometown: Cedarburg, WI Team: West
Sponsor: Advanced Energy of Wisconsin

Paul Reineck car: Van Diemen RF86 FF Hometown: Chicago, IL Team: West
Sponsor: CCVIDEO.COM / IN CAR VIDEO SYSTEMS & Duff Beer

[Steve B]

I just heard from Jon Adams at Adams Racing. We can expect to see Jon in a Van Diemen RF98 at all four EWC weekends. Dan Binks (Van Diemen RF92) will make one or more guest appearances when not busy with ALMS Corvettes. John Wagner is also planning to run some of the series in his Van Diemen RF98.

I'll update the 2005 pre-season EWC entry list (see above) with these names and those from the recent posts.

Steve Beeler
Lola T-540 HU44
home: (734)416-8865 sbeeler@wowway.com
office: (313)390-1818 sbeeler@ford.com

[Steve B]

Four more drivers checked in last night: John Vlasis, John Luxon, Michael Baden, and Michael Neylon. See an earlier post in this thread for the complete list.

Steve Beeler
Lola T-540 HU44
home: (734)416-8865 sbeeler@wowwway.com
office: (313)390-1818 sbeeler@ford.com

[kbee00]

Hello all,

Is it just me, or do I see a skewing in the EWC regarding FF vs CFF? Yeah, I know - DUH! - there are more FF in the W than the E and vice versa for CFF... The question is why? As an EWC newbie - I wonder what impact this has on the drivers and the EWC and the ability to get more open wheel drivers into the EWC - assuming of course that one of the overall goals for the EWC is to increase participation. My questions were prompted after reading the "participation" thread in the apexspeed general section. Seems there is some thoughts out there that we are suffering diminishing participation in the open wheel classes - at least some of the classes anyway. How can we use the "clout" of the EWC to grow our ranks? Steve has built us all a great foundation - now we as members need to carry this to the next level (pun intended) - any thoughts out there??? Maybe the snow is starting to get to me....

Loren

[Steve B]

Eight more drivers checked in over the weekend bringing the pre-season EWC entry list to 44: Frank Vella, Joe Fisher, Dan Faust, Pete Wood, Todd Rhoades, Alex Murray, Andy Graff, and Bob Beasley.

Additionally, Steve Zemke (Stohr 98FF) is possible if his broken leg heals up from a skiing accident. Curt Rehder is also possible if his Lola T-440 recovers from a disagreement with the inside wall after the Kink. Best of luck to both Steve and Curt.

See the post above for the complete list.

Steve Beeler
Lola T-540 HU44
home: (734)416-8865 sbeeler@wowway.com
office: (313)390-1818 sbeeler@ford.com

[csrazzle]

Just recieved some exciting news/confirmation. EWC CF driver,East team member Wes Allen's GT3 team finished in the top ten at the recent Rolex event in Daytona. I am sure that Wes will be happy to fill us in with many great racing stories when the snow finally melts and we get to the track. Better have the campfire burning and the ice chest ready. Seriously, this is cool and I know Wes is excited and a number of us will be waiting to hear all about it. Good job Wes!

[Rick Iverson]

See post below

[Rick Iverson]

I am quite certain Bruce Drenth will most likely participate, following a 1 year hiatus to rebuild his Eagle.

I also spoke with Curt Rehder on the progress of his car. I suspect he'll be in the hunt as well.

Iverson

[Steve B]

I''ve heard from some more EWC drivers in the last week or so. Alan Murray's Murray Motorsports trailer will be full of cars: Alan's Crossle 45F CFF, Tony Foster's Swift DB-1 FF, Tom Stillwell's Swift DB-1 FF, and Brian Mika's Citation Z-16 CFF. Also, Marc Blanc's hard working crew has completed their Swift DB-6 FF conversion project. Marc's first priority is earning a Runoffs invitation but he promises to do a couple of EWC weekends in either the new Swift DB-6 FF or his familiar Crossle 35F CFF.

The complete pre-season list of EWC drivers is on an earlier post in this thread. I've forwarded all this good news to Rob Howden for FormulaCar Magazine's EWC preview article.

Steve Beeler
Lola T-540 HU44
home: (734)416-8865 sbeeler@wowway.com
office: (313)390-1818 sbeeler@ford.com

[kbee00]

Ok Steve - that list is getting VERY big - great news! Now how about going out on a limb for us and giving us your pick as pre-season favorites? Anyone want to put some odds on this? Ya know, for our gambling friends in Vegas...

Enquiring minds want to know.

Loren

[Steve B]

I shared my thoughts on this year's favorites with Rob Howden...you'll just have to read the EWC preview article in FormulaCar magazine. Two things are for sure: (1) everyone wins when car counts are up and (2) this year's EWC car counts are going to be way up.

See everyone at the Grattan test day...100 days and counting!

Steve Beeler
Lola T-540 HU44
home: (734)416-8865 sbeeler@wowway.com
office: (313)390-1818 sbeeler@ford.com

[Dave Hopple]

JP Montoya, McLaren M23, CFF, E

I'd like to announce that, R. Barrichello, Ferrari 312T, CFF, W has signed a rather large retainer to run for the West to counter act the the JPM McLaren threat from the East... also listed as tentative for the west team is, Claude Duvall, Snipe 75BS, CFF, W. -Dave



P.S. Is Wes running for the Porsche Cup or the Lamont Cup this year?

[Steve B]

I've added R Barrichello (Ferrari 312T, CFF, W) to the West team's pre-season roster. The entry for Claude Duvall (Snipe 75BS, CFF, W) has been rejected under the "commissioner's discretion" section of the EWC supps.

Steve Beeler
Lola T-540 HU44
home: (734)416-8865 sbeeler@wowway.com
office: (313)390-1818 sbeeler@ford.com

[Wes Allen]

It's closer to the Porsche Cup right now,the Merlyn's still completely apart. Although I've been thinking of hanging lights on the Merlyn and talking Steve B. into a 24 hour East vs. West Formula Ford race! Daytona was so COOL!!!
Wes

[mblanc]

Hey Wes,

Great job at Daytona, looked like fun. Good luck on getting the Merlyn back, I assume it will be as beautiful and fast as ever when finished.

Steve, You must reconsider allowing the Snipe in the EWC. I'ts a fantastically beautiful car, though few people have ever actually seen one. I've always preferred the 76FoS vs the 75BS, but each to his own. They're very fast, and some would even say elusive. I don't think theres anything in the EWC rules that should keep the Snipe out, though you might have a tough time getting close enough for inspection. I know of one guy that's looking for one, has been for quite a while. He gets close some times, but somehow its always gone before he quite gets there.

Besides, the West team needs a couple extra entries, to bring the LaMont cup back to the West where it rightfully belongs.

Marc

[Dave Hopple]

Marc, I'm afraid I have bad news from the Snipe factory in Smackington En Wall, England. I received a telex from the Factory late last night. It appears they have lost the homolgation papers for their pit cart and with the prospect of driving a pit cart around the paddock with a paper wristband, track fees, lack of a proper crushbox on said cart and then being forced to run the "Yanks" rocket fuel in the pit cart, it was just too much for the Snipe "works" team to overcome. If the papers are not found soon, they will not be running in the EWC this year.

-Dave

[JHaydon]

Collective "Awwwwww."

[Steve B]

Ralph Zuponcic (Van Diemen RF94, FF, E) checked in last night. The pre-season EWC entry list is now up to 50 cars. The complete list is near the top of this thread.

Steve Beeler
Lola T-540 HU44
home: (734)416-8865 sbeeler@wowway.com
office: (313)390-1818 sbeeler#ford.com

[John Nesbitt]

EWC entry list is now up to 50 cars. The complete list is near the top of this thread.

"JP Montoya, McLaren M23, CFF, E"


A ringer, perhaps?