SODA Chevrolet Winter Series [LONG]

SODA Chevrolet Off-Road Winter Series Results Glen Helen Raceway Park San Bernardino, CA Dec. 7/8, 1996

Off road racers from the Wisconsin based SODA organization sought refuge from their regular winter weather by Southern California for the second year in a row with Chevrolet's Off Road Winter Challenge Series held at the Glen Helen OHV Park in Devore, CA this weekend. While most of forest dwellers did their home state proud, the overall championship again went to a local Class 8 driver. El Cajon's Jimmie Johnson took the crown for series sponsor Chevrolet by winning three of the four rounds held over the last two days for broadcast by Marty Reid on ESPNalso over the rest of the winter in 24 taped episodes. The action was fast, furious, and ROUGH as two days of rain prior to the first practice sessions on Friday had made the course surface particularly soft and changable. After two days of drying and being pounded by these, sometimes over 700hp machines, Johnson (as well as all the other drivers and cars/trucks/buggies) was beaten and tired going into the fourth and final 10 minute event. Body panels, wheels, and in a few (very few and none too serious, thankfully...) cases, bodies of the flesh and blood variety were strewn about the San Bernardino hillsides as evidence of the toll taken. The top three in all classes are listed below for each round and BTW, some GREAT ("How come your stuff looks better than what they print in the magazines?" said event announcer and Old Chicago Pizza King, Bruce Flanders) photos will be posted at:

http://home.earthlink.net/~fugawi/soda.htm/

(shameless plug mode: OFF)

Many thanks to those SODA regulars and their families who have taken the time to travel out west to run this series. Despite the obvious meterological benefits mentioned, it's still a long haul and the fan's reactions ("You got the best fans out here..." stated one SODA official.) to the quality and feriousity of the racing said it more than all the words (12 at last count...(G)) this humble scribe has in his vocabulary. Watch the ESPN2 listings in your area for air dates and times, and...uh...would someone mind taping a couple of them for those of us who happen to be in areas monopolized by a 'duece-challenged' cable company?

Salud, j.l.

Fugawi MotorSports http://home.earthlink.net/~fugawi/soda.htm P.O.Box 6761 Torrance, CA 90504-0761 voice:(310)542-4148 email:fugawi@earthlink.net

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Dec. 7, 1996 AM First Round

Pro Trucks Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle/Tire 1 Steve Barlow Thousand Oaks CA Ford/BFGoodrich 2 Chuck Harris Las Vegas NV Chevrolet/BFGoodrich 3 Bud Feldkamp Redlands CA Chevrolet/BFGoodrich

Class 8s Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle/Tire 1 Sean McKenzie Pacific Palisades CA Chevrolet/Goodyear 2 Dan Cannon Covina CA Ford/BFGoodrich 3 Mark Stein San Diego CA Ford/BFGoodrich

Class 3 (one entry only) Pos Driver Hometown 1 Todd Gatrell Prescott AZ

SODA Lites Pos Driver Hometown 1 Bob Briggs Alta Loma CA 2 Norman Ludwig El Cariso Village CA 3 Josh Hulsebosch Alta Loma CA

Pilots Pos Driver Hometown 1 Denise Wittman Scottsdale AZ 2 Clint Wolsey Tulare CA 3 Andy Wald Concord CA

Odyssey (one entry only) Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle/Tire 1 Chad Houck Vista CA

Class 1/2 Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle/Tire 1 Brian Collins Las Vegas NV 2 David Bonner Riverside CA 3 Ryan Thomas

Class 7 Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle/Tire 1 Russ Jones Santa Barbara CA Ford/Goodyear 2 Tim Carroll Long Beach CA Ford/Goodyear 3 Steve Ghaman San Dimas CA Toyota/BFGoodrich

Class 7s Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle/Tire 1 John Greaves De Pere WI Toyota/BFGoodrich 2 Art Schmitt Pittsburgh PA Nissan/Goodyear 3 Ramiro Gonzales Indio CA Ford/Goodyear

Class 1/2-1600 desert Pos Driver Hometown 1 Mark Ruddis Orange CA 2 Larry Folsom Sparks NV 3 Gary Bussjaeger Stevenson Ranch CA

Class 1/2 1600 short course Pos Driver Hometown 1 Steve Bishop Riverside CA 2 Dan Mathews Buena Park CA 3 Sean Ziegert Culver City CA

Class 4 Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle/Tire 1 Greg George Lake Elsinore CA Dodge/BFGoodrich 2 Curt LeDuc Cherry Valley CA Jeep/Goodyear 3 Jack Flannery Wisc Dells WI Chevrolet/Goodyear

Class 8 Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle/Tire 1 Jimmie Johnson El Cajon CA Chevrolet/BFGoodrich 2 Dan Vanden Heuvel Appleton WI Chevrolet/BFGoodrich 3 Scott Taylor Belvedere IL Ford/BFGoodrich

Class 13 Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle/Tire 1 Evan Evans Riverside CA Chevrolet/Goodyear 2 Jason Taylor Hemet CA Chevrolet/Goodyear 3 Johnny Cameron Anaheim CA Dodge/BFGoodrich

Heavy Metal Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle/Tire 1 Greg George Lake Elsinore CA Dodge/BFGoodrich 2 Curt LeDuc Cherry Valley CA Jeep/Goodyear 3 Jimmie Johnson El Cajon CA Chevrolet/BFGoodrich

Class 9/10 & Super 1600 Pos Driver Hometown 1 Tommy Bradley Las Vegas NV 2 Aaron Hawley N Las Vegas NV 3 Wes Elrod Gilroy CA

Class 9 Pos Driver Hometown 1 Mark Bunderson N Las Vegas NV 2 Derek Ahern Orange CA 3 Pete Saldana Fontana CA

Class 11 Pos Driver Hometown 1 Robert Henderson 2 Toby Thiel Dana Point CA

Class 5 (two entries only) Pos Driver Hometown 1 Jerry Miller Rancho Mirage CA 2 Lyn Mocaby Irvine CA

Class 5-1600 Pos Driver Hometown 1 Dave Anckner Grand Terrace CA 2 Sean Bennett Crestline CA 3 Jeffrey Hantz Lake Elsinore CA

Second Round Dec 7, 1996 PM

Pro Trucks Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle/Tire 1 Craig Stewart Lakeside CA Dodge/BFGoodrich 2 Chuck Harris Las Vegas NV Chevrolet/BFGoodrich 3 Ryan Thomas El Cajon CA Ford/BFGoodrich

Class 8s Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle/Tire 1 Sean McKenzie Pacific Palisades CA Chevrolet/Goodyear 2 Mark Stein San Diego CA Ford/BFGoodrich 3 Dan Cannon Covina CA Ford/BFGoodrich

Class 3 (one entry only) Pos Driver Hometown 1 Todd Gatrell Prescott AZ

SODA Lites Pos Driver Hometown 1 Bob Briggs Alta Loma CA 2 Rennie Awana Cerritos CA 3 Norman Ludwig El Cariso Village CA

Pilots Pos Driver Hometown 1 Clint Wolsey Tulare CA 2 Andy Wald Concord CA 3 Denise Wittman Scottsdale AZ

Odyssey (one entry only) Pos Driver Hometown 1 Chad Houck Vista CA

Class 1/2 Pos Driver Hometown 1 Cory Witherill Encino CA 2 Jimmy Nichols Alpine CA 3 Brian Collins Las Vegas NV

Class 7 Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle/Tire 1 Tim Carroll Long Beach CA Ford/Goodyear 2 Russ Jones Santa Barbara CA Ford/Goodyear 3 Steve Ghamari San Dimas CA Toyota/BFGoodrich

Class 7s Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle 1 John Greaves De Pere WI Toyota/BFGoodrich 2 Art Schmitt Pittsburgh PA Nissan/Goodyear 3 Ramiro Gonzales Indio CA Ford/Goodyear

Class 1/2-1600 desert Pos Driver Hometown 1 Mark Ruddis Orange CA 2 Larry Folsom Sparks NV 3 Becky Freeman Henderson NV

Class 1/2 1600 short course Pos Driver Hometown 1 Tom Surface Mays Landing NJ 2 Steve 3 Randy Jones Simi Valley CA

Class 4 Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle/Tire 1 Curt LeDuc Cherry Valley CA Jeep/Goodyear 2 Jeff Holtger Coleman WI Ford/Goodyear 3 Walker Evans Riverside CA Dodge/Goodyear

Class 8 Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle/Tire 1 Jimmie Johnson El Cajon CA Chevrolet/BFGoo 2 Dan Vanden Heuvel Appleton WI Chevrolet/BFGoodrich 3 Brian Collins Las Vegas NV Chevrolet/BFGoodrich

Class 13 Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle/Tire 1 Evan Evans Riverside CA Chevrolet/Goodyear 2 Jason Taylor Hemet CA Chevrolet/Goodye 3 Johnny Cameron Anaheim CA Dodge/BFGoodrich

Heavy Metal Pos Driver Home 1 Jimmie Johnson El Cajon CA Chevrolet/BF 2 Curt LeDuc Cherry Valley CA Jeep/Goodyear 3 Dan Vanden Heuvel Appleton WI Chevrolet/BFGoodrich

Class 9/10 & Super 160 Pos Driver Hometown 1 Larry Foddrill Glendale AZ 2 Pat Dean Las Vegas NV 3 Tommy Bradley Las Vegas NV

Class 9 Pos Driver Hometown 1 Mark Bunderson N Las Vegas NV 2 Pete Saldana Fontana CA 3 Derek Ahern Orange CA

Class 11 Pos Driver Hometown 1 Robert Henderson 2 Toby Thiel Dana Point CA 3 Dennis Sletten Indio CA

Class 5 (two entries only) Pos Driver Hometown 1 Jerry Miller Rancho Mirage CA 2 Lyn Mocaby Irvine CA

Class 5-1600 Pos Driver Hometown 1 Dave Anckner Grand Terrace CA 2 Jeffrey Hantz Lake Elsinore CA 3 Paul Borio Westminster CA

Third Round Results Dec 8, 1996 AM

Pro Trucks Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle/Tire 1 Ryan Thomas El Cajon CA Ford/BFGoodrich 2 Bud Feldkamp Redlands CA Chevrolet/BFGoodrich 3 Craig Stewart Lakeside CA Dodge/BFGoodrich

Class 8s Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle/Tire 1 2 Dan Cannon Covina CA Ford/BFGoodrich 3 Todd Wittman Scottsdale AZ Ford/Goodyear

SODA Lites Pos Driver Hometown 1 Rennie Awana Cerritos CA 2 Josh Hulsebosch Alta Loma CA 3 Norman Ludwig El Cariso Village

Pilots Pos Driver Hometown 1 Denise Wittman Scottsdale AZ 2 Clint Wolsey Tulare CA 3 Johnny Flud Con

Odyssey Pos Driver Hometown 1 Chad Houck Vista CA

Class 1/2 Pos Driver Hometown 1 Brian Collins Las Vegas NV 2 Aaron Hawley 3 Doug Fortin El Cajon CA

Class 7 Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle/Tire 1 Tim Carroll Long Beach CA Ford/Goodyear 2 Russ Jones Santa Barbara CA Ford/Goodyear 3 Steve Ghamari San Dimas CA Toy

Class 7s Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle/Tire 1 John Greaves De Pere WI Toyota/BFGoodrich 2 Ramiro Gonzales Indio CA Ford/Goodyear 3 Jerrod Wedell Orange CA Toyota/BFGoodrich

Class 1/2-1600 desert Pos Driver Hometown 1 Jeff Kawell Crestline CA 2 John Hulsebosch Alta Loma CA 3 Jesse Rodriguez Tustin CA

Class 1/2-1600 short course Pos Driver Hometown 1 Steve Bish 2 Ric 3 Randy Jones Simi Valley CA

Class 4 Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle/Tire 1 Jack Flannery Wisc Dells 2 3 Jeff

Class 8 Pos 1 Scott Taylor Belvedere IL Ford/BFGoodric 2 Dan Vanden Heuvel Appleton WI Chevrolet/BF 3 Jim Smith Orange CA Dodge/Goodyear

Class 13 Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle/Tire 1 2 Evan Evans Riverside CA Chevrolet/Goodyear

Heavy Met Pos Driver Hometow 1 Jack Flannery Wisc. Dells WI Chevrolet/Goodyear 2 Greg George Lake Elsinore CA Dodge/BFGoodrich 3 Scott Taylor Belvedere IL Ford/BFGoodrich

Class 9/10 & Super 1600 Pos Driver Hometown 1 Gary Gall Fontana CA 2 Tommy Bradley Las Vegas NV 3 Pa

Class 5-1600 Pos Driver Hometown 1 Dave Anckner Grand Terrace CA 2 J 3 Sean Bennett Crestline CA 4 Paul Borio Westminst

Class 5 Pos Driver Hometown 1 Jerry Miller Rancho Mirage CA 2 Lyn Mocaby Irvine CA

Class 9 Pos Driver Hometown 1 Mark Bunderson N Las Veg 2 Derek Ahern Orange CA 3 Pete Saldana Fontana CA

Class 11 Pos Driver Hometown 1 Robert Henderson 2 Toby Thiel Dana Point CA 3 Dennis Sletten Indio CA

Fourth Round Dec 8, 1996 PM Pro Trucks Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle/Tire 1 Steve Barlow Thousand Oaks CA Ford/BFGoodrich 2 Chuck Harris Las Vegas NV Chevrolet/BFGoodrich 3 Bud Feldkamp Redlands CA Chevrolet/BFGoodrich

Class 8s Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle/Tire 1 Todd Wittman Scottsdale AZ Ford 2 Sean McKenzie Pacific Palisades CA Chevrolet/Goodyear 3 Dan Cannon Covina CA Ford/BFGoodrich

Class 3 (one entry only) Pos Driver Hometown 1 Todd Gatrell Prescott AZ

SODA Lites Pos Driver Hometown 1 Doug Goodenough Chino Hills CA 2 Stacy Fay Chino Hills CA 3 Josh Hulsebosch Alta Loma CA

Pilots Pos Driver Hometown 1 Clint Wolsey Tulare CA 2 Johnny Flud Concord CA 3 Denise Wittman Scottsdale AZ

Class 1/2 Pos Driver Hometown 1 Jimmy Nichols Alpine CA 2 Doug Fortin El Cajon CA 3 Ryan Thomas

Class 7 Pos Driver Hometown 1 Tim Carroll Long Beach CA Ford/Goodyear 2 Steve Ghamari San Dimas CA Toyota/BFGoodrich

Class 7s Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle/Tire 1 John Greaves De Pere WI Toyota/BFGoodrich 2 Mike Falkosky Escondido CA Ford/BFGoodrich 3 Chris Brant Council Bluffs IA Ford/BFGoodrich

Class 1/2-1600 desert Pos Driver Hometown 1 Jeff Kawell Crestline CA 2 John Hulsebosch Alta Loma CA 3 Larry Folsom Sparks NV

Class 1/2-1600 short cou Pos Driver Hometown 1 Dan Mathews Buena Park CA 2 Steve Bishop Riverside CA 3 Tom Surface Mays Landing NJ

Class 4 Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle/Tire 1 Curt LeDuc Cherry Valley CA Jeep/Goodyear 2 Greg George Lake Elsinore CA Dodge/BFGoodrich 3 Jack Flannery Wisc Dells WI Chevrolet/Goodyear

Class 8 Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle/Tire 1 Jimmie Johnson El Cajon CA Chevrolet/BFGoodrich 2 Brian Collins Las Vegas NV Chevrolet/BFGoodrich 3 Dan Vanden Heuvel Appleton WI Chevrolet/BFGoodrich

Class 13 Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle/Tire 1 Evan Evans Riverside CA Chevrolet/Goodyear 2 Jason Taylor Hemet CA Chevrolet/Goodyear

Heavy Metal Pos Driver Hometown Vehicle/Tire 1 Curt LeDuc Cherry Valley CA Jeep/Goodyear 2 Jimmie Johnson El Cajon CA Chevrolet/BFGoodrich 3 Greg George Lake Elsinore CA Dodge/BFGoodrich

Class 9/10 7 Super 1600 Pos Driver Hometown 1 Jimmy Nichols Alpine CA 2 Chad Hord Iron Mountain MI 3 Larry Foddrill Glendale AZ

Class 9 Pos Driver Hometown 1 Mark Bunderson N Las Vegas NV 2 Derek Ahern Orange CA 3 Pete Saldana Fontana CA

Class 11 Pos Driver Hometown 1 Robert Henderson 2 Toby Thiel Dana Point CA 3 Dennis Sletten Indio CA

Class 5 (two entries only) Pos Driver Hometown 1 Jerry Miller Rancho Mirage CA 2 Lyn M

Class 5-1600 Pos Driver Hometown 1 Dave Anckner Grand Terrace CA 2 Jeffrey Hantz Lake Elsinore CA 3 Sean Bennett Crestline CA