Garrett (
63Corvette) sent me his write-up about the 2006 Wine Country Classic, as follows:
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2006 Wine Country Classic
Thursday, June 1st
We arrived at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma at 2PM on Thursday June 1st. We found our friend Ted Filer already taking the car to our assigned paddock space, and helped him set up our pit area. Then we found race officials and got our car through tech inspection. We left the car under a tarp and went to supper at Los Guetarros Mexican restaurant in Novato, and awaited the arrival of our daughter Sarah, by plane from Seattle. This was Sarah’s first visit to the Sears Point event, and we were pleased to see her arrive safely at midnight.
Friday, June 2nd
After breakfast, we drove to the track, picked up our tech sticker, and prepared for our first practice at 9:30AM. We were inadvertently entered in the wrong race group for our first practice, and just as well, as I was rusty, and drove in a very sloppy manner. I immediately ran lap times in the 2:01 range, but was very inconsistent, and decided to pit after only 3 laps to take stock and refocus. I came in for a consultation with Ted, but the car would not restart, so we sat in the hot pits while Ted diagnosed the trouble as a bad (new) battery. While we were there, Bruce Leven’s 66 Corvette blew the high pressure hose off of his oil cooler, and dropped 9 quarts of oil on the track, so that was the end of our practice. Pat and Sarah went to town to get us a new battery, which ended our electrical problems.
When they returned, Ted installed the battery, and we ate lunch from a local fast food kiosk at the track.
Our second practice was at 3:45PM. Our car ran very well, and I was able to pass various competitors at will, and ran a string of 2:01 laps. However, on the 3rd lap, I ran over something in the Turn 7 hairpin, and shortly after, there was a full course black flag, so we all slowed and returned to the hot pits. I found I had lost my driver’s side exhaust sidepipe (collector), and that’s what I ran over. They returned our damaged pipe, and allowed me to continue to practice without it, so I continued to gain experience until the end of practice. Ted straightened my damaged pipe and reinstalled it on Saturday morning.
After practice, we cleaned up, secured our paddock area and went up to the hospitality suites overlooking the track for the traditional competitor’s dinner, catered by the Napa Valley Vintners.
Saturday, June 3rd
We had an early breakfast prior to our mandatory 7:30AM driver’s meeting with organizer Steve Earle. (Sarah slept in, and met us at the track later). Saturday was VERY HOT!
Our first practice was at 9:30AM, and we ran very well, dropping our lap times below 2 minutes for the first time. I ran some laps at 2:00.6 as I became more comfortable with the car’s handling, and with somewhat deeper braking points allowed by our new rear brakes. Ted installed a complete Dick Guldstrand suspension package (springs, shocks, and sway bars) in December, and “tuned” the suspension and brake settings in a series of races with the Texas Corinthian Sports Car Club at TWS, Hallett, and MSR, making the handling “balanced” and much easier to drive fast.
On lap 7, my engine quit while exiting turn 7 just as I was about to pass Bill Neu’s Corvette. I coasted off the track, and awaited the end of practice and a tow vehicle. They came and towed me in, and Ted and Doug van Dorsten’s mechanic Roger (?) diagnosed my problem as a broken rubber O-ring bringing engine vacuum to my fuel injection. Roger gave us a spare O-ring, and Ted quickly had us running again. Our car ran perfectly for the rest of the weekend.
For lunch, Pat and Sarah bought food from one of the local fast food kiosks. Ted and I ate in the driver’s lounge.
Our second practice at 3:45PM was actually “Qualifying” for Sunday’s race. Right before I went out, Ted noticed that I had broken the pivot bolt for my alternator, and made a temporary repair that lasted through qualifying. I started right behind Tom Sakai’s yellow Sunbeam Tiger (Sunbeam sportscar with a factory installed 289 Ford engine). Tom is a very smooth and talented driver, with very consistent lap times. I ran nose to tail with Tom for 10 laps, but concentrated on mimicking his line through the turns and did not attempt to pass him. This resulted in my best lap times to date, including some laps in the 1 minute 59 second range, and (we later found out) a starting place of 14th OA on the grid. Tom and I both greatly enjoyed this dice, and had a long talk about it at the party in Sonoma. We cleaned up after practice, and drove into Sonoma for the party at the town courthouse square, where wine and gourmet food were provided for all. We renewed acquaintance with several of our friends and competitors including Anthony Wang (Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa), David Love (250 TR), Lynn Park (63 Cobra), Tom Sakai (Tiger), and Tom McIntyre (T/A Camaro), whom we have known for 25 years.
Sunday, June 4th
We slept late, ate a good breakfast, and arrived at the track about 8:30AM. Our first practice (properly called “warm up”) was scheduled for 9:30AM. After we lined up, I started second behind the Cobra of Larry Bowman. On the first (yellow flag) warm up lap, he simply disappeared over the horizon, while I warmed up my brakes and tires. I was never passed during this session! I ran very well, and the car handled perfectly, and was very confidence inspiring. During this practice, I eventually caught and passed the very fast “lightweight” (factory aluminum) E-type Jaguar of Philippe Reyns. Three years ago this car made global news when it was found in a garage, bought (by Philippe) for $1.6 million, and restored for vintage racing. Philippe is very aggressive, and we had a good dice for a couple of laps until I outbraked him into Turn 4 leading to the Carousel. Similarly, I was able to overtake every car that I actually caught during this warm up period. Ted was very pleased. His stopwatch got me at my best lap times ever of 1 minute, 58.2 secondsJ For lunch, Pat and Sarah went to a large tent sponsored by the Napa Valley Vintners, which featured dishes cooked by chefs from local gourmet restaurants, matched with appropriate local wines. Ted and I ate in the driver’s lounge.
THE RACE
Our Group 8 race started 36 cars at 4PM (late). As usual, the first 2 green flag laps were a madhouse of four-wide entries into the turns, until traffic started getting sorted out. Finally I was able to start passing people from my 14th position. I passed Tom Sakai under braking into Turn 4, then caught and passed several other cars before our competitors cars started breaking. There was a flurry of unfortunate mechanical failure and offtrack activity, including: Terry Gough, who lost a cylinder and retired on lap 2, Doug van Dorsten, who’s engine died exiting Turn 7, and finally, Susan Armstrong (who had a poor handling car all weekend) broke the right rear spring bolt on her 63 Z06, and spun off the outside of turn 1, fortunately without injury to herself or the car…..but it was a very scary moment. This spin brought out the safety car, and a full course yellow. We (survivors) followed the pacecar around for 3 laps to allow the safety crews to remove the cars from dangerous areas. Finally the green flag was waved, and racing recommenced, with the attendant first lap four-wide confusion, as slower cars couldn’t get out of the way, and were lapped. Tom Sakai got by me on the outside of Turn 1, and I had to pass him again at Turn 4J I was able to pick off various Alfa GTAs and other cars until I caught up with two VERY fast Lotus Super 7s (1200lbs). I caught one of them, but could not overtake. After the white flag (1 lap left), I tried very hard to pass him; catching right up on him at the turn 11 hairpin. As we closed on the checkered flag in the turn 12 sweeper, I pulled off-line to the inside to try again to pass him (as I had a really good closing rate on him). Unfortunately MY car didn’t like taking that curve on the “wrong” line, and the rear end stepped out BIG TIME, and I crossed the finish line sideways for 7th place OAL Fortunately, I got it straightened out again, and the 6 cars which finished in front of me were: the 2 Cobras of Don Lee (1st), and Larry Bowman(2nd), Bruce Leven’s Corvette (3rd), John Morton’s Tiger (4th), and the two Lotus Super 7s. I was tired after 14 laps of a 10 lap race, but elated that we placed better than ever before. Ted was happyJ We went around to the other drivers to congratulate each on a safe/fun race, then cleaned up and changed for prize giving. Ted and I watched the final (and best) race, the Trans Am race, from the Trans Am garage. Pat and Sarah watched from the grandstand. Then we met at the winner’s circle for the traditional champagne and silver cups given, one to a member of each (of 8) race groups, and a larger bowl for “Best of Show”. Jim Lustman got the silver cup for our Group 8 race, for his beautifully prepared 63 Cobra. After prize giving, we cleaned up our paddock area, loaded our car on the trailer, and returned to Novato for our final dinner together. Pat, Sarah, Ted and I had dinner at a wonderful Italian restaurant, before Sarah had to leave for the airport, to catch her plane back to Seattle.
Monday, June 5th
We were up at 5AM, said goodbye to Ted, and left at 5:24AM, for our long drive home to Richland, where we arrived safely at 5PM. We called Ted to thank him, and found he was still in California, at Palm Springs, where the temperature was 116 degrees F. He arrived home safely today (Wednesday). We had a great time, and hope to see you all there next year.
Garrett, Pat, Sarah and Ted Filer
Group 8
Car No– Car Disp DRIVER City State
3 1964 Ginetta G4R 1583cc Robert Forbes Redwood City CA
6 1963 Corvette Z06 5415cc Susan Armstrong Issaquah WA
8 1964 Ferrari 250 LM 4506cc Steven Read Berkeley CA
8 1965 Alfa Romeo GTA 1590cc Marlies Castaing Bloomfield Hills MI
9 1967 Alfa-Romeo GTA 1600cc Dick DeLuna Woodside CA
11 1963 Elva Courier MkIII 1798cc Bud Byrnes Santa Monica CA
13 1965 Alfa Romeo GTA 1600cc Robert Paltrow Armonk NY
15 1964 Jaguar E-Type 4200cc Jason Len San Luis Obispo CA
16 1962 Cobra 4737cc Lynn Park La Canada CA
17 1963 Cobra 4732cc Fred Galloway San Diego CA
18 1965 Iso Daytona 5358cc Richard Mattei Shoreline WA
20 1965 Alfa-Romeo GTA 1750cc Heather Mozart Palo Alto CA
21 1964 Alfa-Romeo GTA 1750cc Ashley Mozart Palo Alto CA
23 1963 Jaguar Lightweight E- 3800cc Philippe Reyns Chandler AZ
25 1964 Cobra FIA 4700cc Lawrence Bowman Redwood City CA
32 1965 Sunbeam Tiger 4700cc Chris Gruys Healdsburg CA
37 1965 Shelby GT-350 4737cc Jim Schield La Habra CA
40 1965 Sunbeam Tiger 4261cc Dave Lipsky Sonoma CA
51 1963 Cobra 4727cc James Lustman Denver CO
55 1966 Shelby GT-350 4739cc Christi Edelbrock Torrance CA
63 1963 Corvette Z06 5360cc Garrett Waddell Richland WA
65 1965 Lotus 26R 1600cc Victor Avila Corona Del Mar CA
65 1965 Sunbeam Tiger 4785cc Tom Sakai Big Bear City CA
74 1964 Sunbeam Tiger 4736cc John Morton Manhattan Beach CA
75 1965 Corvette 5359cc Terry Gough Reno NV
77 1964 Corvette 5330cc Doug van Dorsten Ross CA
81 1964 Mercury Comet FIA 4739cc John Kerby-Miller Kentfield CA
85 1966 Alfa Romeo GTA 1600cc Bob GettBoston MA
86 1964 Corvette 5359cc Bruce Leven Mercer Island WA
89 1964 Cobra 4737cc Don Lee Portola Valley CA
97 1967 Saab Sonett 1500cc Paul Perry an Jose CA
106 1957 Austin-Healey 100-6 2995cc Jim Gregg Carmel CA
117 1962 Lotus S7 1500cc Jay Embree Granite Bay CA
118 1966 Shelby GT-350 4736cc Jim Reed Newport Beach CA
166 1965 Corvette 5359cc Bill Neu Pleasant Hill CA
181 1967 Porsche 911R 2341cc Ed Matsuishi San Rafael CA
228 1962 Lotus 7 1500cc John Mahall Cotati CA
Garrett (left) and pit crew.
Thanks Garrett. Sounds like you had great fun.
You meet the nicest people in this sport.
