Familiar Faces Make The Cover of SportsCar Magazine!

By Melissa Mauro

I’m not sure about you, but I’ve never been on the cover of a magazine before [editor's note: Melissa has been on several 'wanted' posters].  Since this most recent issue of SportsCar magazine, if you’re Justin or Eric Peachey, you can’t say the same.

It was great to see these familiar faces when I got my issue this month!  These guys are so deserving of the cover story, and I’m thrilled that they got the recognition they did. 

If you haven’t gotten your copy yet, or read the online version, you can read it here.  Next time you see these guys - make sure to tell them Congrats!

RallyCross Member Spotlight: Justin Greenidge

By Jared McGahen | Photo Courtesy of Tom Hamm Photography

Justin Greenidge began his love for racing back in 2013 during college testing FSAE cars. However, it wasn't until 5 years later in 2018, that he finally was able to experience the rush firsthand. In 2017, Justin bought his 2016 Ford Fiesta and a year later began racing it. Like most Fiesta owners (myself included), he started out running HS but then the mod bug bit. In May 2018, after wanting something a bit different than autocross, Justin attended a RallyCross event at the Farm Show. It was through the encouragement of regulars like Mike Chilcote that he stuck around and began modding his Fiesta for RallyCross. After installing a turbo upgrade, he realized that more RallyCross-specific mods were needed to remain competitive in the modified front wheel drive class. He began with smaller gravel tires which helped immensely. In 2020, during the pandemic downtime, he fabricated a small lift kit to help his car handle even better. Brakes, shocks, fluids, traction control, e-brake, and a skid plate were all modified to cope with the intense nature of RallyCross. Justin won MF in the shortened 2020 season and looks to run that again in 2021 with an extremely capable car.

Autocross Member Spotlight: Sean Michael

By Jared McGahen | Photo Courtesy of Tom Hamm Photography

Hyundai isn't really a brand you'd associate quick cars with, especially not in autocross. But 21-year veteran Sean Michael begs to differ. Sean has been racing his 2019 Hyundai Veloster N in DS with us for a few years now. And even against the mighty Civic Type R, this car holds it's own. Sean began racing many years ago after coming to Farm Show races with his father on their way home to Halifax. They often just stopped along Cameron Street to watch the cars. Fast forward to today, and you can find him carving through cones in his DS Veloster N. Equipped with Yokohama A052 tires and a good alignment, he not only places well in PAX, but well overall. Sean narrowly missed out winning DS this year when corded tires sidelined him for the final event, relinquishing him to second place in DS for the 2020 season. When asked what keeps him coming back to race for so many years, he responds with "the value of friendships and acquaintances I've made over the years." Keep an eye out on DS this year as it's just to be just as competitive as last year with an equally competitive driver.

Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals

By Alan Lesher

The Import Show is a go at Carlisle Productions this year. There may be a few spaces available to display an autocross car at the show adjacent to the PHA display. If interested, be advised they are looking for competition cars with roll bars, numbers, etc. They may be able to include a few autocross cars if space is available. Click the link to apply, and send a picture of the car as it would race. Inclusion is at the sole discretion of the show.  Here an abstraction of the PHA  announcement:

Again this year, the PHA will be represented at the Carlisle Nationals - the largest import/performance car show in the U.S.A. Our display will be located under roof in the large open-sided pavilion in the newly established Race Car Paddock at the East side of the fairgrounds. Participation for us is totally free. This includes driver credentials, tow vehicle including passengers, race car and trailer parking. There will be adequate space for all our tow vehicles and trailers to park in close proximity to the pavilion for the weekend. Show hours are from 12 noon to 5 p.m. on Friday, May 15, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, after which time the show closes. We need about 25 PHA cars for our exhibition. In past years PHA cars attracted much attention and interest from among the thousands of car enthusiasts attending the show. This year we hope to increase the number of cars so we can attract even greater numbers of visitors in our attempt to publicize and promote the PHA and its activities.  If you plan to participate, please complete the on-line application by clicking on the link www.CarlisleFeatures.com fill out the application, add a picture and send it back to Carlisle Productions as soon as possible so a picture of your car can be included in the event program. In order to be accepted to show with the PHA, on the application in the space under car history you must indicate that you car is a PHA race car - no other information is necessary for us. While the application asks for several pictures of your car, one picture will be sufficient for PHA cars. If you intend to show your car on both days you may either leave it overnight Friday in your paddock display space inside the pavilion or return it to your trailer for safe keeping. Carlisle does provide security throughout the weekend. To show each day you need to arrive prior to 9 a.m. Drivers may show on Saturday only.  There is no tent camping in the area where trailers and tow vehicles are parked. Drivers whose cars are accepted will be notified on-line by Carlisle Productions with instructions as to where upon first arrival at gate three you go to pick up admission credentials for their race cars, tow vehicles and trailers plus occupants. 

Susquehanna Season Opener/Test & Tune Recap

By Jared McGahen

The first event started off with a misty fog and light drizzle at the Elmerton Lot.  With a full turnout and wide diversity of cars, our first autocross event gave us all some great insight as to how this season might play out.

With B Street having 4 champion drivers last year, it is sure to be competitive again this year. Defending champion CJ Crawford had his hands full battling Jason Felty and his brand new Camaro. The two battled hard for the first 3 runs then on their final runs only 5 hundredths separated the two with Jason narrowly edging ahead. I can't wait to see more of these two all season.

C Street had just as tough competition as well. With Jason Keener returning in his 350z, he was providing tough competition for everyone today. Geoffery Wolpert was co-driving with veteran CS driver Chris Benfer, and Wolpert lost by the slightest of margins; only 6 hundredths of a second.

H Street was wide open today with only Natalie Limm returning from last year. Long time street prepared driver Dan Oyler entered the 7 driver fray on Saturday beating former CAM-S driver Alex Pankiw but half a second. Only 2.5 seconds separated 1st to 6th in HS.

Ron Gross was back again defending his Street Touring Ultra title. This time accompanied by his brother making the jump from FS to STU. Norm Flowers and Derek Colton have reentered the STU battle this year. Only 7 tenths separated first place Ron to fourth place Derek. All being decided on their final run.  This should be another tough class of tight racing to follow all year.

After spending all winter making a better Street Touring Hatch Fiesta, Quinn Slonaker came out prepared to defend his title and knock off the rust. Chris Hyde had other ideas today. Three Subaru WRXs battling two Ford Fiestas made for intense competition all day. With Chris Brown battling mechanical issues and Quinn retiring early as well, Chris Hyde took first place for the day with Quinn a close second and Chris Raymond in another WRX coming in third.

XS-A ended up being the largest class of the day with 12 total entrants. XSA might be one of the few classes with such incredible diversity in cars due to it's intended design to allow more cars and less rules to modifications. The returning quartet of Jake Limm, Andrew Lobb, Kenny Adam, and Evan Keegan all returned today. But they were having their hands full with the 2020 STR champion David Myers in his Subaru STI and a co-driven Chevy Cobalt and Honda Civic. Only 6 tenths separated first to fourth on this non-points event which certainly is a good sign of things to come for a fun competitive season in this fun competitive class.

Susquehanna Region Drivers Break Out the Equipment at Summit Point Majors

 By Alan Lesher | Photo courtesy of Bill Stoler Photography

Round one of the Northeast Conference Majors Tour was held March 20 & 21 on the 2 mile track at Summit Point, WV. Four of our drivers competed; and one of them did double duty in the same car in 2 classes. A fifth driver withdrew due to ongoing rehabilitation issues.

Don Walsh drove his E/Production Mazda RX7 to second place both days, despite being down on power with a new but out of tune engine. Peter Phillips competed in SpecRacer Ford 3. These are the open cockpit, full body cars built by SCCA. Peter improved over the weekend finishing 7th on Saturday and moving up 2 positions to 5th on Sunday. Chip Herr drove in the Super Touring U class and picked up 2 first places. This is the same car he drove in the World Challenge a decade ago; and he was able to find it and re-fit the car to current club racing rules. Ryan Heishman was the iron man of the weekend racing in both Spec Miata and Touring 4. He walked away with four, yes four, wins. Good job by all the drivers, their crews and the workers of the DC Region. 

April Regional Meeting

April 22, 2021 - at 7:00pm

WE’RE BACK AT APPALACHIAN BREWING COMPANY! ...COVID STYLE

Our next meeting will be held on the second floor at Appalachian Brewing Company, 50 N. Cameron Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101. All members are encouraged to attend. Come an hour early for dinner (and a drink) with other members.

We’re not exactly sure how ABC is handling the upstairs section of the restaurant at this point with the ever-changing COVID regulations.

Dinner will be either at our normal table area downstairs (and if they have the upstairs opened up, we will eat and have our meeting upstairs).  Best case is to ask the host where the SCCA meeting is being held.

Susquehanna Region - COVID-19 Guidelines

Please make sure to read the below document regarding the policies and guidelines we have in place for any upcoming events we have during the COVID-19 pandemic.  We have used input from other Regions, as well as SCCA National’s guidelines they have made available to us.  If you have any questions on this, please make sure you reach out to me by email - mmauro@scca-susq.com.

Susquehanna Region Gift Certificates for MSR are Available!

Do you have someone who’s hard to shop for? Are your family and friends always bugging you for birthday ideas? ...We have the solution!  We now have gift certificates for Motorsportreg.com available!  You can send someone a gift for a special occasion or receive credits for some free racing events from your loved ones.

News from SCCA

2021 Rules