Welcome
to our 2nd annual awards presentation award summary.
Hyper
Racing, not only supplied the car, but was also instrumental in negotiating the
premium Gas Shock package on the raffle car supplied by Advance Racing
Suspension (ARS). Our many thanks go to ARS for their generosity.
The
great fit of the American Racer spec tire to the racing surfaces has allowed
most teams to only use 4 right rear tires for the entire season and thus all
teams benefited from a substantial cost savings on tires.
For those that might be unaware the exceptional 2008 Sidewinder Sprints Hyper
Racing raffle car won 1st place at the York Dirt Trackin’ Show. Sean
also supplied the fantastic SidewinderSprints.com leading edge wing logo for the
teams.
goals in mind;
We started with the basic 600cc racing rules... and
modified them to achieve the following;
1/ Decrease the cost (OEM standard engines, tire rules,
limitation on cockpit adjustables etc)
2/ Increase the horsepower to make the car more exciting
to drive (who doesn't want more HP?)
3/ Unhook the car to focus on driver and car setup
ability (More HP, Harder tire, Less grip)
4/ Focus on promoting micro racing as a premier division
in speedway racing.
Now to
the controversy…..
Congratulations on the
Best Appearing Car award went to
A lot can be said about this next driver, but he is genuinely one of the nicest
guys in the pits. This driver exemplified the exact qualities that this award
represents. When all the teams were tasked with selling 25 raffle tickets to be
eligible for the bonus bucks, we knew it would be quite a task for some, but we
figured the carrot was large enough for most to make the effort. This one driver
only raced 5 times with us all year and therefore had little if anything to gain
personally from the bonus cash awarded to the eligible top 24 drivers. But guess
what…. He sold his entire book. He understood that it was for the greater good
of the entire class and he wanted to contribute as much as possible.
Congratulations on the
Sportsman Award went to
The
next award can be very subjective. We decided that the fairest way to ensure
consistency with this award would be to measure it on the improvement from last
season to this season in points. One driver finished 19 places higher in the
points this year than last year. He
continued to show improvement throughout the year as his experience and
confidence continue to increase.
Congratulations on the
Most Improved Award went to
When the
teams that voted looked back on the season to find an example of “Hard Luck” it
was obvious by the voting that some incidents stood out from the rest.
Not many teams can claim the fame of destroying 2 cars in one night, let
alone destroying a car again on the first lap in the comeback heat race. Then to
rub salt into the wounds, this drivers bad luck continued, managing to put the
Henchcraft rental car on its side twice during the Gobrecht Memorial. After a
horror 2008 season, it is great to welcome this team back for the 2009 season.
Congratulations , and in this case commiserations on the
Hard Luck Award went to
Mark
Strickler
Last year, we started an annual award. The “Got Funcked Award”. This award was in recognition to everything Gary Funck did during our first year. To put this award into perspective, let me recap on our thinking by sharing once again the original award presentation script from our 2007 awards.
In our
inaugural year… it was obvious that a special award was needed. Sidewinder
Sprints appreciates the extra effort that one particular team put in to support
the most exciting, fastest growing new class ever in the history of micro racing
From the start of the year in Atlantic City to the final race at Path Valley…
They were there.
When we needed to perform an exhibition at Lanco……
They were there.
When cars were being crashed in hot laps……
They were there.
When team cars had a magnetic attraction….
They were there.
When crashed parts needed to be replaced….
They were there.
This award tonight is presented to the one driver/car owner gave tremendous
support to Sidewinder Sprints and especially the parts suppliers.
What better to award the winner than actual parts from H & H Wings that he can
use in the coming season…..
In appreciation for his efforts… we were pleased to announce the inaugural….
Got Funcked Award.
This year, we sought to award this to the team that kept coming back, even after
mishaps that would have spelt the end for many teams. This team had parts break
that put them in the wall at Path Valley. They had further contact with the wall
at Trail-Way. Bad grounds were blamed on bad injectors… the list goes on. The
one thing this team gained this year was experience.
What better to award the winner than a gift certificate from H & H Wings that he
can use in the coming season…..
In appreciation for his efforts… we were pleased to announce the winner of the….
Got Funcked Award.
And the
winner was Patrick Roller
Last but by no means least we come to the Rookie of the year Award. This award
is being presented to the highest points finisher that did not compete in any
points races in 2007. This may come as a shock to many… We even had to check
this 3 times to make sure that We were correct. But when We looked
back on the 2008 season, there was one telling incident where you could
just tell this guy was a rookie……. Well maybe not a total rookie….Even Rookies
know to go to the scales and how many rookies have already won a $10K to win
race???
Congratulations must go to the 2008 Rookie of the Year,
Ryan
Greth
And now
to the Season Points Award winners.
The
first for awards stand out as great examples of sportsmanship. All of these
drivers sold all of their tickets and managed to finish in the top 24 in points
that made them eligible to receive the cash bonuses. Our many thanks goes out to
these drivers for making the effort in tickets sales.
Sidewinder Sprints 21st Place
Sidewinder Sprints 18th Place
Sidewinder Sprints 12th Place
Congratulations to our 12th place points finisher
Sidewinder Sprints 10th Place
This driver started his racing in the 270 class at Selinsgrove. The Sidewinder concept of more speed for less money captured his imagination… After selling out of his 270 equipment, he purchased a chassis and engine and was on his way ! After making his debut in May, he tried his very best to make every race, including the wingless race at Path Valley. By his own admission, the learning curve was a steep one… almost as steep as the increase in the speeds. Always smiling and just happy to be at the races our
Sidewinder
Sprints 8th Place
Some teams start racing because their fathers, uncles, bothers, mothers or sisters race. Some race because they have watched from the stands and wondered what it would be like. Then they help a team and as enjoyable as that can be they soon realize that their desire, their passion is still not being met. The racing bug has bitten and nothing except for driving will cure the disease. This driver fits that description. After starting out in the 600’s he quickly realized that the new Sidewinder Sprints would be the place to be. Improvement throughout the season was obvious to all as this driver learned the trade.
Congratulations to our 8th place points finisher
Sidewinder Sprints 7th Place
A lot can be said about this next driver. His dry sense of humor is infectious. His genuine willingness to help has been proven many times. This year he changed chassis’s from a Probe to a Henchcraft …next year he is changing from a Sidewinder Sprint to a Super Sprotsman.. The super sportsman division are gaining exactly as their name implies….. a super sportsman. Our loss is their gain, but we would like to make sure that this driver knows that after driving the slow bus like creature that is a super sportsman, that we will welcome him back with open arms.
Congratulations to our 7th
place points finisher
Sean Campbell
Sidewinder Sprints 6th Place
This next driver might have found the “holy grail” towards the end of the season. Changes to his chassis helped him become more comfortable in the car. It showed on the night before the Sprint Nationals at Path Valley when he produced his season best finish in only his second time out with the changes..This new found comfort has this driver chomping at the bit for 2009. The cars are always immaculate, and from what I know about this team, I am sure they are already stripped down and in the process of being rebuilt.
Once
again this team went above and beyond to help support this class in 2008.
Gary
Funck
Sidewinder Sprints 5th Place
Part two of the two car team, this driver was able to keep the car on all 4 wheels with one exception…. Wingless practice at Lanco when contact with “the boss” sent him over. With a fast Suzuki under the hood, he showed his potential with a season best 3rd place at Path Valley mid way through the season. A close runner up for sportsman of the year, this driver was always quick to congratulate the winners and by his constant smile, it was obvious to all that he really enjoyed his season.
Congratulations to our 5th place points finisher
Denny
Landvater
Sidewinder Sprints 4th Place
It all started for this driver losing a left rear wheel at Trail-Way. It progressed to broken wheel centers, broken axles, front ends being destroyed and finally flipping his car for the first time. His season finished with another destroyed front axle in the season finale wingless show at Path Valley. 2008 was a very trying year for this driver. He was told last year to focus on taking the small steps of improvement..try and win heat races first..then move on to feature wins. Part one of that mission was achieved with multiple heat race wins. In 2009 he is determined to capture part two of the mission with a feature win.
Rohan
Beasley
Sidewinder Sprints 3rd Place
Last season’s “Bridesmaid” nickname carried over to the 2008 season and never was it more obvious than the last points race at Path Valley. This driver had led the Path Valley points for the entire year only to have Ryan Greth overtake him and win the track championship by the smallest of margins – 4 points. Once again the bridesmaid had the most 2nd places, being tied with Ryan Greth on 6 2nd places for the season. Always a tinkerer, I don’t think there were 2 weeks in the entire season where he started with the same set up. 2009 will see this driver tinkering yet again with a specially built Hyper Chassis, affectionately nicknamed by the Hyper employees…the FU-CAR.
Jason
Morrison
What a sensational points battle our 2008 season ended up being. No one would ever think that the points lead would change 12 different times in only 25 points races. During the year we had 6 different drivers all sharing the points lead at one stage during the season. Between Ryan Greth and Tim Merzt alone, they swapped the points lead an amazing 7 times.
Leading
into the last points race of the year, both Ryan Greth and Tim Mertz were tied
on 1982 points each. It all came down to the last points race of the year. The
feature would line up with Tim Mertz on the pole, Ryan Greth lined up in
position 5. Ryan quickly hustled his way into 3rd and tried to chase
down the leaders on the dry slick track, but to no avail. Tim went on to take
the win and the championship. The effort that Ryan and the team put in despite
the adversity of the mid season scale incident needs to be commended. Many
people would have thrown in the towel at that point, but not the “Grethalyzer”.
With 5 wins for the season and 14 podium finishes for the season the Greth team
bounced back and is looking forward to going one place better in 2009.
Congratulations to our 2nd place points finisher
Ryan
Greth
We
started the year with Hyper Racing as our major backer. How lonely it must have
felt being the only RTS chassis surrounded by all of the Hypers. Last year Tim
showed moments of outright speed, but his year was over shadowed by just plain
bad luck causing numerous dnf’s. What a difference a year can make. Easily the
fastest car during the year at Path Valley, Tim Mertz and team showed that they
definitely learned from their 2007 experiences. Their consistency enabled the
Mertz Team to capture the Trail-Way Championship.
With 8 wins for the season and 12 podium finishes The Mertz Moving team
earned the right to call themselves champions.
Congratulations to our 1st place points finisher and 2008 Sidewinder Sprints
Champion
Our
awards presentation would not be complete without out us extending our thanks to
our contingency award partners.
The
Workshop (
www.workshopwelovesnow.com )
For all of your 4 wheeler and snow mobile needs.
Guhl
Motors( www.guhlmotors.com ) ; For the
best fuel injection conversions ; For a limited time, call Don (717-625-1411)
and ask about the Sidewinder Special for your fuel injection conversions (600
and 1000)
Keizer Wheels ( www.Keizerwheels.com
);The
ultimate in racing wheels
American
Racer / Lias Tires (www.americanraceronline.com)
( www.liastire.com ); For the tires that
provide the best racing action.
SC Signs
and Designs
www.scsigns.net ; For standout vinyl graphics.
H&H Wings...Phone 717-303-8231;
Wings that make you fly ! ; Call Chris now for his winter wing special !
H& H
Wings also provided a special end of year bonus!
H
& H Wings
$300 Gift Certificate for the Sidewinder Sprints Champion - Tim Mertz
The next highest points finisher using H & H wings
Top wing and Nose wing combo - Jason Morrison
Sidewinder Sprints would also like to thank our fellow competitors that had the
guts to take a chance on an idea. We realize that each team place their trust in
us to produce a series that contains costs, increased the Hp and put more
excitement into racing. A huge thank you from us to the 50 different drivers
that participated in 208.
Also,
special thanks must go to Paige Lynch and all of the other volunteers for
helping perform tech inspections during the course of the season.
It has
been a fantastic second year. This time in 2006 we had just 2 cars…This year we
have over 30 and we continue to grow every week. I know that both Jason and
myself have appreciated the encouraging words throughout the year and the
support shown by the teams that joined our 2nd season. Our thanks
must go out to everyone that sold tickets to the raffle car and everyone that
continues to spread the message about Sidewinder Sprints. We will continue to
build on the foundation that continued this season and look forward to racing
with you all in 2009
2009
Information;
Our
schedule is still a work in progress, currently we have 36 dates on the
schedule… some of the important
dates we can confirm;
May 23rd
and 24th – Microracing.com Spring Nationals at Trail-Way
August
21st Top 24 invitational – Williams Grove
Sidewinder Sprints will next appear at Trail-Way Speedway on 03/14/09