RACE: Formula Vee, Vintage June Sprints report

Party on: Formula Vee, Vintage races crown first champions of Kohler/SCCA Chicago Region June Sprints®

ELKHART LAKE, Wisc. (June 21, 2003) - The Formula Vee and Vintage Formula Vee 40th Birthday Celebration continued on Saturday, highlighted by the day's only two races. In the FV race, defending FV National Champion Brad Stout, of St. Louis, Mo., finished off a perfect weekend by taking the checkered flag in his Goodyear/Noble/LRE/BRP Vortech, just ahead of second-place finisher Steve Oseth, of Leesburg, Va., and his Hoosier/DBM Racing Vortech. After sweeping all three qualifying runs, Stout battled back-and-forth with Oseth, who qualified second behind Stout, finally taking the win after drafting Oseth up the hill after Turn 14 and shooting by him before the finish line. Stevan Davis held off a late charge from Bill Noble to finish third.

"What an incredible honor," said Stout after being awarded the 2003 Brundage Cup -- given annually to the Chicago Region June Sprints® winner. "The guys were absolute gentlemen on the track and they raced their hearts out. The brakes faded really badly, but a lot of guys had problems."

Behind the top two, Davis, of Powder Springs, Ga., started 11th and surged into the top five after only 3 laps. From there, he moved up as far as second after nine laps before settling into a nip-and-tuck race with eventual fourth-place finisher Bill Noble, of Manhattan, Kan. Michael Kochanski, of Inverness, Ill., filled out the top five.

Marking the end of Saturday's schedule, Road America President and General Manager George Bruggenthies emerged as the 2003 Sprints® Vintage champion. Bruggenthies, of nearby Plymouth, Wisc., was never really challenged and led the duration in his Austro-PorscheEFV to capture the win over Lynn Fangue's, of Parker, Colo., Taylor-Stewart ride. Mark Turner, of Westminster, Colo., finished third.

Garrett Van Camp, of Bingham Farms, Mich., and William Bonow, of Plainfield, Ill., completed the top five.

However, the real story of the celebration weekend was the continued, legendary camaraderie of the Formula and Vintage Formula Class competitors. Consistent praise of one another, ultimate sportsmanship on the track and smiles dominated the weekend.

"This is truly an international race," said Butch Deer, organizer of the 40th Formula Vee Birthday Celebration. "We have several racers from other countries here this weekend and we are glad to have them."

One of those foreign competitors (from among countries such as Finland, Canada and Australia) was New Zealander Robin Bennett, who is in the middle of his first trip to the United States and competed in Group One in his Citation 98V.

"This is an absolutely wonderful experience," said Bennett. "This place has beautiful scenery and I love the track. The relationships between the drivers in this group are very special.

"It is much the same in this class in other parts of the world, and I'm glad I was part of it here."

For complete Kohler/SCCA Chicago Region June Sprints® results, please visit: www.scca.com/amateur/club_racing/03junesprints/index.html

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