Speedvision World Challenge News

ONE WEEK OUT OF MOSPORT, ENTRY NEARS 75: Continuing with the tradition started at Lowe’s Motor Speedway at the end of March, the Speedvision World Challenge Championships have eclipsed 70 cars for the two classes, meaning huge fields will again take to the track in separate races for the Speedvision GT and Speedvision Touring Car Championships.

“We’re just short of what we started with in Charlotte, and that’s a really good number considering many teams have foregone border crossing in the past due to the logistics,” said Mitch Wright, Speedvision World Challenge General Manager.

ARCHER INKS IQUEST AS MAIN SPONSOR: Defending Speedvision GT Champion Bobby Archer has signed IQuest Internet’s new motorsports division on as the title sponsor of the No. 32 Viper Speed Dodge Viper. Additionally, Archer has enhanced his associate sponsorship program with Cyclo to include the Rally Wax and No. 7 product lines.

“We’re very excited about the recent turn of events,” said Archer, who took the 1999 title by a single point. “IQuest has developed a new motorsports division to create company awareness. They will be the major sponsor on the car, and President Bob Hoquim has left a lot of room to grow this relationship into more programs relating to the Speedvision World Challenge and SCCA Pro Racing.”

IQuest Internet, LLC has been providing dedicated Internet access to commercial and government interests since 1986. Initially helping Indianapolis based government agencies meet their networking needs, IQuest's dedicated access has grown to include multinational corporations.

“Cyclo has been a supporter of mine for a long time, and its Rally Wax and [new acquisition] No. 7 logos will be prominently displayed on the car,” he added. “We’re also working on a couple other programs which will be of great benefit to our team as well as the Speedvision series.”

WHITE, RIPPIE SET TO DEBUT NEW CAR WITH NEW SPONSOR: Vancouver 1999 Speedvision GT race-winner Scotty B. White will unveil his new Doug Rippie Motorsports-built Chevrolet Corvette C5 at Mosport with a brand-new sponsor—West Coast Corvettes.

White, who was forced to campaign a nearly-stock C5 at Charlotte while his new mount was being finished, likes his chances with the combination of a big sponsor and a DRM-built car.

“We are thrilled to have West Coast Corvettes as a sponsor,” said White, who scored the Corvette C5’s first win in Speedvision GT competition. “They have such a strong presence in the market and they are a real stand-up operation. Because we both share the same business ethics, it is a good match.”

The 15-year Placentia, Calif.-based Corvette dealership specializes in high-quality service and high-performance Corvette products. White's distinctive black, silver and screaming neon green-liveried C5 car will prominently feature the West Coast Corvettes graphics for the balance of the 2000 Speedvision GT season.

DRM initially established itself as a top Corvette builder in the late 1980s with the Corvette Challenge—winning that championship in 1989 with driver Bill Cooper, as well as the 1992 World Challenge A Class title with R.K. Smith.

TOURING CAR DRIVER MEYER TABBED BY BUSH FOR TOP REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION POSITION: RealTime Racing driver Fred Meyer has been appointed chairman of the Republican National Convention Victory 2000 campaign by presidential candidate George W. Bush.

Meyer was chairman of the Texas GOP from 1988 to 1994, helping the state party reverse years of Democratic rule. He was a senior adviser in the 1996 presidential campaign of Sen. Phil Gramm.

Driver of the No. 45 BuySellorHold.com /RealTime Racing Acura Integra R, Meyer, 72, has amassed 35 career Speedvision World Challenge starts, recording a best finish of eighth (Watkins Glen, 1996).