The Willis Woerheide Wonhundred track event

Johan · #1 (**permalink**) 04-16-2002, 08:44 AM

As some of you know, I hosted, and missed, an open track event last 3rd of July at Roebling Road roadrace course in Savannah Ga. My wife called me at 3:00 a.m. the morning of the race and said "come home now, we are having the baby 2 weeks early". I made it to Atlanta in 2 hours 40 minutes and beat Willis' arrival by 19 minutes, running out of gas in the hospital parking lot.
This year we are having the "Willis Woerheide Wonhundred" on July 3rd, 2002, at Roebling Road, followed by a 4th of July BBQ and CAR SHOW on Hilton Head Island, SC.
While I do understand that most of you guys do not want to race your cars, there will be plenty of track time available for those that want to experience the thrill of track driving, and for holders of competition credentials, there is the 100 kilometer race for the "Willis Cup", following qualifying sprint races for grid position.
I will structure this event depending on how much interest I get from this group. The racing and track time portions will be run by World Championship Auto Racing Series ( www.worldcarz.com ), but it is really just a fun casual excuse to get out on the track.
The paddock at Roebling Road (www.RoeblingRoad.com)is a beautiful place to get together whether or not you want to run your car. There is a Holiday Inn on Hilton Head Island within a good burnout or 2 of my house. I plan to pressure Kieth Mcfarland to help me organize this in exchange for me letting him drive one of my cars if his is not yet ready.
The DSCC Wet n' Wild II was so much fun, I can't wait a whole year to get together again, and just tell your woman you are taking her to the beach for the 4th and leave it at that.
Are any of you guys up for this ?
J.W.

jerry rowley · #2 (**permalink**) 04-16-2002, 09:19 AM

Boy, do I wish I could do that! I will think hard, but, medical problems will keep me here THIS year John. I would like to come and see it though, I'll kep that in mind. Keep posting the arrangements as they come along.

Jerry

patrija · #3 (**permalink**) 04-16-2002, 09:36 AM

Count me in!!!!!

Mike I · #4 (**permalink**) 04-16-2002, 09:40 AM

JW,
Two questions:

1) Will I have to get my girlfriend pregnant and then drive 2 hrs and 40 min to Atlanta at 3 AM to witness the premature birth, beating Willis by 19 min and run out of gas in the hospital parking lot in order to attend? Because I don't think I could do that....

2) Do you have an approx. cost yet for this event? I'm surely interested and would like to open track my car.

Mike

Johan · #5 (**permalink**) 04-16-2002, 09:44 AM

If you do not hold a valid comp lisc. , then I will have to get your girlfriend pregnant while you drive us down there.
Jerry,the track is only 20 minutes from Savannah Airport. You could rent a Mustang from Avis and get the extra insurance rider.......
Speaking of insurance, the street group is not timed and your car insurance should apply as "drivers education" event. Goofballs that do not understand the street group rules get black flagged quick. The insurance for the event is under Worldcarz as the organizer. I believe the cost will be 195.00 for the day if driving your car. The cost to get into the track and spectate is something like 15.00 if you want the lunch, and there is beer after the last race engine shuts down for the day. Then we will have some sort of a grilled dinner at the beach. We will be cooking a pig anyway and just sort of throw other stuff on a grill to make it seem like we are not drinking so much.
The next day is the fourth of July, and I propose we continue cooking a pig in my yard and having a combination car show and beach day.This is not a "bring your own pig" event,as that is what happened last year and I hear it got pretty out-of-hand pretty quick.
J.W.

CobraDan · #6 (**permalink**) 04-16-2002, 10:23 AM

I think I might be to old to get anyone pregnant and I know the wife wouldn't let me try. I would like to be a spectator at the track and maybe I could see more of your toys. Keep us posted.
Dan

Johan · #7 (**permalink**) 04-16-2002, 12:48 PM

Dan, spectating is o.k. with me, but Mike or his girlfriend might have a problem with it. As far as the toys, what ya see is what ya get, I don't have any more toys to speak of. Lets use what we have.
So far we have 7 racers and 4 street people. Mike Geng where are you ? Bring that 944 race car, as this is the perfect track for that car (talk about toys,....) Jason, glad you are interested, Engineer Ed get on this train,
O.K., I'm gonna get a really small pig.
J.W.

Mike I · #8 (**permalink**) 04-16-2002, 12:57 PM

besides, after me she'd just be disappointed with anyone else...

BTW, can I get me one o' them thar "competition licences" over at the Home Depot so's I can go'n race fer the Willis Cup too?

patrija · #9 (**permalink**) 04-16-2002, 01:32 PM

BTW, I'm definitely a street and not a racer :-) you don't want someone that dangerous on the track ... would love some driving advice though!

excelguru · #10 (**permalink**) 04-16-2002, 01:46 PM

You're killin' me, John... you're KILLIN' me...

My wife and I are currently planning to run the Peachtree Road Race on the 4th. It's a big tradition with us. I'm still happy to help you plan/organize the event, though.

Hmm... what's the driving time from Roebling to Atlanta for a "normal" speed? Let's see here... if I attend Roebling on the 3rd and travel to the AmeriSuites Hotel on Peachtree Road that evening... I can still run the race on the 4th... hmm...

Let me think about it a bit... I may give you a phone call tonight.

I'm starting to reach my spouse-induced limit for Cobra-related activities for the year.

But your invitation to drive one of your cars is damned inticing! Being in the dog house for a while might just be worth it!

I'll call ya tonight.

Keith

Johan · #11 (**permalink**) 04-16-2002, 02:00 PM

Jason, the only driving advice I can give is "do not try to pass the yellow Pinto". Seriously, the yellow Pinto is gonna be tough to beat.

aumoore · #12 (**permalink**) 04-16-2002, 09:39 PM

How do you get a comp license? And is it $195 for street cars and the racers.

Mike I · #13 (**permalink**) 04-17-2002, 11:02 AM

Ruble, I hear Piggly Wiggly has em' for $13.95, if you acts right now...that's where I'm gettin' mine....

Dave Crace · #14 (**permalink**) 04-17-2002, 07:32 PM

John,
This sounds to good to pass up! I'll just tell the wife and kids we are going on a 4th of July vacation and just happen to tow the Cobra (my wife does know about mine). I am definitely interested in the street class track time and any of the other extra curricular activities.

DC

Engineer Ed · #15 (**permalink**) 04-18-2002, 05:23 AM

Damn !!!
John, I already made plans for the 4th weekend.
Why is this happening to me?
You have no idea how upsetting this is. I hate to miss another event. Arrrrrgh !

I think I'm out of any track events until I get our house sold.
This sucks!
June 8th in Gainesville may be it for a few months.
John, please tell me you are going to make Gainesville.
I need another GT40 fix.
Anything happening not so distant from Tampa?
I'm dying over here!
I know there is always next year or next month, but I've got it bad. I can't stop thinking about the 40.

I called Gordon Levy on Tuesday and he is sending me info on the RF GT40.
I've got an itch that needs scratchin.
If I were to sell the Cobra, would you guys still keep me in the family?

Thanks for posting John.
Please keep the events coming. After this house sells and we get moved into another, that should free up some of my weekends.

Cheers,
Ed
FFR1997K

CobraDan · #16 (**permalink**) 04-18-2002, 06:04 AM

Ed,
GT40 ownership will keep you in good standing with the club. Hell, we still have guys like Jim who change their ride everytime we see them and most have nothing to do with Cobras.

You only have to be an Enthusiast to be in our club and come to our annual meetings rain or shine.
Dan

Johan · #17 (**permalink**) 04-18-2002, 06:11 AM

A competition liscense is issued by SCCA(Sports Car Club of America), HSR (Historic Sportscar Racing), SVRA (Sportscar Vintage Racing Association), NASCAR etc, and their requirements vary, but at a minimum a three day racing school must be completed and they "sign off" on you.
No competition liscense is required for open track sessions, which will make up almost half the event. The typical open track
(street car) schedule begins at 8:00 am with a short drivers meeting during which passing rules, flags, "rules of the road", and driving tips are discussed. This year we are fortunate to have Gene Felton, former IMSA and Trans Am champion, as a participant, and if we can get him out of bed and sobered up, he will help out with some instruction. The first street session will go out on the track in a "lead -follow" group, like ducks in a row driving the racing line going a little faster each lap, so that new comers see where they should be on the track.
After that, you just basically try to either keep up with or pass the car in front of you (Duh).The morning is made up of alternate 1/2 hour sessions between the race group and the street group. Passengers are permitted in both groups, so when you are not driving, you can ride with someone in the other group. Passing is allowed in both groups, but limited to the straight sections in the street group with a "wave by".
Ed and kieth, you will be missed, as I was really hoping you guys could make it. Forget driving and fly to Savannah ?
Jason and Dave, maybe it will just be us from Club Cobra this year
Mike, Ruble,Jerry,Dan, no need to decide now,as I'm going to feel dumb whether I burn up my sod trying to roast a pig all by myself, or have a bunch of people show up and I have no food to offer.Don't feel guilty picturing me sitting out there with 400 lbs. of rotting pork trying to start a fire, tripping over beer cans all by myself. I just hope it does not rai.....no I'm not even going to say it.
J.W.

CobraDan · #18 (**permalink**) 04-18-2002, 06:17 AM

It seems the Atlanta area is centrally locted for our 8 state group. I was wondering do you know of a place we could meet next year under roof about the size of a football field?

It would have to be an all concrete floor so we could do burn outs and figure eights. Of course I could cancel the poncho order and go back to t-shirts. Although I already had some spring breaker women ready to help us wipe down our WET Cobras.

I need DRY weather, this is a Cobra outing we are planning.
Dan

Johan · #19 (**permalink**) 04-18-2002, 06:37 AM

Yes Dan, the infield at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and the pit garages, would be perfect. World Championship Auto Racing Series (www.worldcarz.com) rents the track every April and it is only 12 miles from downtown Mcdonough Georgia. The Cobra get together could be held in conjunction with the WCARS track event. This works well. For instance, next weekend is the Walter Mitty Historic Races at Road Atlanta, and the featured marque for the weekend is Corvette, with all the national Corvette clubs taking up the infield at Road Atlanta for their car show, and then they do some parade laps at lunch time. We were only one weekend apart this year.....
I do not recommend Atlanta Motor Speedway as the place to learn to drive on a track, however. Only those highly trained drivers that made the Willis Woerheide Wonhundred at Roebling Road would stand a chance of success .....
J.W.

jerry rowley · #20 (**permalink**) 04-18-2002, 06:47 AM

Ed, you think you are in bad shape, at least you did get a ride in that GT40 Spider! I didn't even know it was going out! Hey, you are still part of the club if you are an enthusiast towards any Shelby car, Mustang, Cobra, GT40, Daytona Coupe or Tiger. You don't have to own one (but I can't imagine being without my cobra)! You should check with Alan Weaver at Unique. he has built 10 or so GT40s for customers. I believe they were all GTDs from England. Call him and tell him I said to call. He'll tell you about his experiences ( he's a perfectionist for detail, you'll be right at home).