The “Secret Oktober” fall racing season continues as the “Banzai Runner” sports car championship progresses to “Group B.” The next numerically ordered sequence of 32 cars gathered at the track on Sunday to see who’s boss! The race started off looking as if Ford-powered cars would dominate the field again, but the Ferraris were giving them a good run for the money; several Cobras, DeTomasos and a Lola advanced, but only one Cheetah and only one Corvette made it past Heat 1. As it turned out, that result would be significant.
One Ferrari driver who didn’t have a good day was Scott Radcliff, who’s #45 250GT SWBB blew up just after the start of his race, forcing him to be towed to the pits and ending his day early, but he had several “linemates” make the grade as the field was winnowed down.
Through 3 more competitive heats the field was winnowed down, but by the time the Final Elimination run came, the tables had turned, and there was at least one big surprise! Rookie “Jolly” Roger Jacoby in the #54 Corvette “Overlord” faced off against Ronon “Rumble” Reynolds in the #66 Maserati “Duchess.” This was a shock to long time fans who know that Reynolds has always taken more of an “exhibition” than “competition” stance with his highly original 1959 copy of the 3500GT coupe, but something about the shorter format and more favorable field must have brought out the animal in him, because the way he was driving this time around, he clearly wanted to win! He didn’t, though, being shut down by Jacoby’s lightning fast ‘Vette, but even so, it was a spectacular showing! The second Final Elimination run was a “Ferrari family feud” pitting Michael “Muscles” Morelli’s 250GTO “Belladonna” against Gerardo “Gridline” Giordano’s #46 Dino 206S
“Athena,” a race which Giordano won.
That left the crowd salivating over a “Final Battle” between a Ferrari and a Chevy, without a Ford in sight! It a valiant battle waged by a newcomer in his first race, but when the checkered flag came down, Giodano and “Athena” had won easily, taking home the 2nd trophy for Banzai Runner IV!”
This leaves the final weekend of the sports car races of the “Secret Oktober” fall racing series coming up, when a shortened “Group C” goes to battle; that will be a quick race…in more ways than one!
I can almost hear the crowds in the grandstands cheering. What an exciting race with some surprises. Looks like the cars preformed beautifully after all the work the pit crew at Drag City has put into them!