Spring Jefferson 2024

Spring Jefferson 2024 was held May 24-25, 2024 on the Jefferson Circuit track at Summit Point Motorsports Park in Summit Point, WV.

(You might think that this is an odd picture to show case for the event. However, it shows exactly what our events are like with everyone helping out everyone else.)

We had 66 entries and 14 class records were set. While it was a bit hot and humid for the drivers, the weather was almost perfect for racing, and the track stayed dry.

Bill Feist had FTD in his 2006 Stohr WF1 that he runs in S1, running a 72.292:

At one point on Sunday, the top 6 cars were separated by only .7 seconds, and Bill really had to work to make FTD. Congratulations Bill!

The only door slammer in the top 10 was Michael Robinson in his SSM Chevrolet Corvette (or rather in his wife Donna’s Corvette). This track really favors open wheel / purpose built race cars, so his time is quite an accomplishment, with a 78.313, about 6.5 seconds off first place. I didn’t find a picture of Mike, but here is Donna running her car.

Michael Company placed 2nd overall in his 2008 Stohr F100, setting a class record in Prototype 2 with a 72.405, and only .113 seconds out of first place. I think Bill better watch out!

Mark Aubele came in 3rd overall. Wait you might say, I thought you just said the only door slammer in the top ten was Mike Robinson. That is correct — Mark ran his 2012 Wolf GB08 in Special 2 for the first time at this event. He is still shaking the bugs out, but even so, he placed .704 seconds from first, and also set a class record in Special 2 with a 72.996. I’m looking forward to seeing what he does with the car over the season.

In 4th place was Bill Feist again, running his 2008 Stohr F1000 in Formula S, with a fast time of 73.199.

There were a couple of drivers who took advantage of the discounted entry fee to run a second car. Eli Sharp was one, running her 1969 Austin Healey Sprite in Historic 4, and also co-driving Jim Swift’s car (a 2008 Swift Special JRS) in Formula S. In both cases she beat her co-driver, which I personally think is excellent! 🙂 (sorry Vince & Jim)

Speaking of the 1969 Austin Healey Sprite, it was great to see Vince Wieczorek back out! He did a great job running the car and I’m sure he will keep Eli on her toes for the rest of the season.

This was also my first event racing after my incident at this very track last year. I do finally have my GT3 Scirocco back, and it feels great.

Unfortunately, last year’s incident is still messing with me, especially as I am not quite sure if it was me who did something stupid or if something on the car broke. I did walk the course Saturday evening and found my tree (which seems to be thriving, and that makes me happy), and I’m pretty sure it was a mechanical malfunction, but there is still some lingering doubt. Thanks to Jason and Clair who found me out there during their own course walk, and helped me work through a lot of it!

My times were really terrible. I came in dead last by quite a bit, and was at least 30 seconds slower than my average time on this track. I will tell you that by Sunday, it started to be fun again, even if I was slow. I hope that it was this track that was the problem, but I guess I’ll find out at Weatherly.

One really big highlight from Spring Jefferson. I was podded up with Clair Harris in the beginning because she was almost as slow as I was, running her very first event ever. Clair dropped almost 20 seconds from her first to last run, and I was really impressed. I can’t wait to see what she can do at Fall Shenandoah!