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HSR Mitty Speedfest 2011 – Report and Photo Gallery

1971 Porsche 908/03

Report and photos by David Ferguson, Rusty Nuts Photography

The HSR Mitty Speedfest 2011 was held April 29 – May 1 at the 2.54 mile, 12-turn Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia. This year’s Mitty saw 302 entries, the largest number in 10 years. The featured marque was Mazda and Mazda racing great Jim Downing was Grand Marshal.

After two days of storms that brought so much death and destruction to the South of the US, the event was graced with perfect weather. The track did not suffer any damage during the storms, but many entrants had to deal with weather related hardships on their way to Road Atlanta.Perhaps the hard luck award goes to Harry Dinwiddie, a former IMSA racer, who towed his equipment through the storm only to have the engine in his Corvette let go in the very first practice session.

There were 12 races over the weekend including two enduros and two motorcycle races, providing a festival of speed, noise and color for the spectators and participants.

George Robinson turned the fastest lap of the weekend in his newly acquired Lola B07. The Judd-powered Lola turned a lap of 1:15.2 minutes for an average speed of 121.6 miles per hour.

Stacey Schepens drove her Morgan to third place in Sunday’s group 2 race to get her first ever podium. The other women participants at HSR Mitty Speedfest 2011 were Brenda Johnson, Debbie Cloud and Debra Graves.

Fred Ritenhour won the prestigious Walter Mitty Trophy which is given annually to the driver who best exemplifies the spirit of Walter Mitty, the James Thurber fictional character. Ritenhour, who races a Toyota Sports Racer in group 3, is a former Toyota executive.

Ari Malkhassian of Houston, Texas won the Mazda MX5 Cup despite furious pressure from Jason Saini and Justin Hall. The margin of victory was .02 seconds. Gunnar Jeannette won both Mission Foods GT3 races, and Keith Carroll won both Cayman Interseries events. There was a vintage motorcycle race which attracted 32 bikes of various sizes, classes and age. Billy Hauser on a Yamaha R1 was the winner.

Brian Johnson, lead singer for the rock band AC/DC raced his Lola T70 Mk. I and his Royale RP4. He perhaps summed up the weekend best when he said, “The Mitty is not so much a race as a festival of speed. It’s lots of fun and everybody is car nuts and a gear head.”

HSR Mitty Speedfest 2011 – Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture)

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HSR Mitty Speedfest 2011 – Race Results

Group 2 – Vintage Production

Race 1
1- Roy Walzwer, 1965 Lotus Elan
2- Bill Bartlett, 1962 Lotus Super 7
3- Andre Herke, 1968 BMW 2002

Race 2
1- Bill Bartlett, 1962 Lotus Super 7
2- Andre Herke, 1968 BMW 2002
3- Theo Bean, 1960 Aston Martin

Group 3 – Vintage/Historic Production

Race 1
1- Joel Quadracci, 1969 Brabham BT-29
2- William Binnie, 1963 Lotus 23B
3- Roy Walzer, 1963 Lotus 23B

Race 2
1- Joel Quadracci, 1969 Brabham BT-29
2- Farrell Preston, 1963 Jaguar E Type
3- Fritz Seidel, 1969 Porsche 911

Group 4 – Small-Bore Formula and B.O.S.S. Super Cup Series

Race 1
1- Mark Brannon, 1997 Lola T97/20
2- David Porter , 1997 Lola T97/20
3- David Sugg, 1997 Lola T97/20

Race 2
1- Mark Brannon, 1997 Lola T97/20
2- David Porter , 1997 Lola T97/20
3- Travis Engen, 2001 Lola T97/20

Group 5 – Historic Production

Race 1
1- Byron De Foor, 1965 Lola T-70 MK1
2- Farrell Preston, 1966 McLaren M1B
3- Larry Ligas, 1961 Jaguar XKE 4.2

Race 2
1- Edward Sevadjian, 1969 Corvette
2- Larry Ligas, 1961 Jaguar XKE 4.2
3- David Porter , 1985 Swift DB2

Group 6/7 – Historic GTP/Group C/WSC Series and Championship of Makes

Race 1
1- George Robinson, 2007 Lola B07
2- Toby Bean, 1990 Intrepid GTP
3- Robert Garcia, 1999 Riley & Scott

Race 2
1- Travis Engen, 2005 Audi R8
2- John Reisman, 1990 Lola B2K40
3- Phil Daigrepont, 1971 Porsche 908/03

Group 8 – Historic Stock Car Series

Race 1
1- Larry Hoopaugh, 2004 Monte Carlo
2- John Finger, 2003 Monte Carlo
3- Mark Furcini, 2005 Charger

Race 2
1- Mark Furcini , 2005 Charger
2- Larry Hoopaugh, 2004 Monte Carlo
3- Brian Norman, 2006 Charger

Group 9 – Historic GT Series

Race 1
1- Donald Soenen, 1995 Mustang Trans Am
2- Phil Lasco, 2000 Mustang Trans Am
3- Dave Machavern, 2001 Corvette

Race 2
1- Richard Howe, 1989 Mustang Trans Am
2- Dale Phelon, 1995 Mustang Trans Am
3- Donald Soenen, 1995 Mustang Trans Am

International – American/RS Challenge

1- Dennis Olthoff, 1966 GT40 MK II
2- Jody O’Donnell, 1969 Corvette
3- Larry Ligas, 1961 Jaguar XKE 4.2

Klub Sport Porsche Challenge

1- Frank Beck, 1972 Porsche 914/6
2- Kevin Wheeler, 1970 Porsche 914/6
3- Fritz Seidel, 1969 Porsche 911

Historic Indy Champ Cars

1- Ken Petrie, 1985 March Indy Car
2- Paul Morgan , 2002 Dallara Indy Car
3- Joel Quadracci, 1997 Lola 97-20

Classic Motorsports Small Bore Enduro

1- Tom Trabue, 1965 Porsche 911
2- Dale Erwin, 1958 Porsche 358 Speedster
3- Andre Herke , 1968 BMW 2002

Louis Chevrolet Vintage Enduro

1- William Binnie, 1963 Lotus 23B
2- Roy Walzer, 1963 Lotus 23B
3- Fritz Seidel, 1969 Porsche 911

Louis Chevrolet Classic GT Enduro

1- Roy Walzer, 1970 Chevron B-16 Spyder
2- Richard Duffey, 1985 Swift DB-2
3- David Porter , 1985 Swift DB-2

[Source: David Ferguson, Rusty Nuts Photography]