Scotty Beckett's Lo-Test Special Buick / Allard J2X Le Mans c/n 3153

Land O' Lakes Region SCCA, Southport Airport races

Land O’ Lakes Region SCCA was established in 1953, and Bill Peters, Sr. was the chapter's founder. The organization is based in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, and is part of the Central Division of SCCA. The Region has a long history of organizing and hosting local RallyCross, PDX/Solo, Road Rally, and Club Racing events. It's home track for club racing is Brainerd International Raceway, MN, which opened in 1968.

Southport Airport, Mankato Airport, Breezy Point and Metropolitan Stadium, were some of the temporary tracks used before Donnybrooke raceway (now Brainerd International Raceway) became Minnesota's premier race track, when it opened in 1968. The name Donnybrooke was formed from the names of Donny Skogmo and Brooke Kinnard, who both died at Road America in 1966.

Racing at Southport Airport, Apple Valley, MN.

Below is an excerpt about SCCA racing at Southport in the 1960s, from EAA Chapter 25, Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN newsletter (June 2006) called, "Southport Airport, A Time Forgotten" by Noel Allard.

The Sports Car Club of America, Land-O-Lakes Chapter, staged annual sports car races at the field from 1963 through 1968 using the runway and taxiways. In 1969 the races at Southport were discontinued and moved to the newly completed Donnybrooke racetrack at Brainerd. I attended the Southport races and one year watched them while orbiting overhead in a Cessna 150 belonging to the Cloud 7 Flying Club out of Flying Cloud Airport. Forrest Lovley flew overhead one year and when he wanted to land, chose a break in the races and landed, catching hell from the organizers. Scotty Beckett, the winner of the 1963 race, told me that the racing arrangements were handled between the club and Chuck Doyle.

Below are two aerial photos that I edited and added all notes and labels.

More fascinating items here: Southport Airport Sports Car Races, SCCA Land O' Lakes Region

Stair-built Chevrolet Monza race ready and for sale

Ken Perrotti and his brother Chris rebuilt the car together, and did an exquisite ground-up restorative job. The engine is a 600 hp Chevy 358 cubic inch V8, which is topped by a large Holley carburetor, and has a $5,000 custom stainless steel crossover header exhaust.

The racecar was built in 1980 by Pat Stair of Minneapolis, and still has its original Borg-Warner Super T-10 4-speed, which is coupled to a Schiefer quick-change rear differential. When Perrotti acquired the Monza, it came with Hurst/Airheart disc brakes, which he changed over to a new Wilwood 6-piston type.

This born-again Monza weighs in at 2,400 pounds, as was the target weight on the IMSA AAGT racecar in the 1970s, giving it a neck-snapping ratio of 4.00 lbs/hp. That's essentially identical to the Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach Package having 3,616 lbs and 887 hp, or 4.08 lbs/hp for the street production sports car.

The Monza, formerly driven by Carl Shafer, Dick Kantrud, Marshal Kirkof, and Rick Balderson was trailered to Lime Rock Park in August for the annual vintage festival, but Perrotti chose not to run the car. They discovered the new engine was had a high oil pressure issue and didn't want to risk damaging in the race. Since then the problem has been fixed. Perrotti also said he is going to sell the Monza, and move on to a new project car.

We hope to see the old JRS Racing Monza on the vintage circuit, and is sure to be a crowd pleaser. It would be fitting if the next owner(s) brought the car back home to Minneapolis, Minnesota. We shall see what the car's future provenance will be.

Restoration of Pat Stair Trans Am Chevrolet Monza nearly done

Ken and Chris Perrotti's total rebuild of the Pat Stair-built SCCA Trans Am Chevrolet Monza is nearly done. The car is looking absolutely fabulous, with its livery backdated to 1980, when it was first driven by Carl Shafer with the number 21. The Monza road racing chassis was originally built by Pat Stair of Minneapolis for Jack Sandberg's "Metal Masters" racing team and their 1980 SCCA Trans Am effort. John R. "Jack" Sandberg was owner of J.R.S. Racing and Metal Masters of Minneapolis, and a notable Reno airplane racer. 

The Pat Stair Chevrolet Monza was driven once by Carl Shafer in the 1980 Trans Am race at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit in Tulsa, Oklahoma. However, Shafer retired early in the race due to electrical problems. The car was sold the following year to SCCA racer, Dick Kantrud of Minnesota. Dick raced the Monza in both SCCA Trans-Am and SCCA Club races in 1981 and 1982, before selling the car to Marshall Kirkof.

The Stair Monza saw more track time in the 1980s when owned and driven by Rick Balderson, of the Central Florida Region SCCA. The car was sold to Mike Perrotti in 2012, and since then, has undergone a meticulous rebuild.

Thirty eight years and a few owners later, the Stair-built Chevrolet Monza has been returned to it's original red/yellow livery and car number 21.

Ken Perrotti says they will debut the car at Lime Rock Park's Historic Festival 36, August 31 to September 3, 2018. His son Mike Perrotti will be driving the Monza at LRP's vintage race that Labor Day weekend.

* See more photos of the Monza at this link: Stair SCCA Trans Am Chevrolet Monza

Land O'Lakes Region SCCA 1954 Winter Carnival Ice Race

A cold blast from Minnesota's ice racing past, February 7, 1954 to be exact. This quaint clip has actually been floating in the YouTube-sphere for a few years.

Film of the Winter Carnival Ice Race on Lake Phalen in Saint Paul, Minnesota, was made 66 years ago, written and directed by SCCA club race driver, Thomas C. Countryman. Hosted by Land O' Lakes Region SCCA, the event was "the third annual running of the sports car race on ice." It was also covered by the NBC network and noted news commentator and Timex watch pitchman, John Cameron Swayze. His tag line for Timex was, "It takes a licking and keeps on ticking."

The 5-lap Pennzoil Trophy Dash was held on frozen Lake Phalen in Saint Paul. However, the 1.25 mile ice course was lightly covered with gravel. Obviously studded tires were not too plentiful in the earlier days of auto ice racing. There was also no Environmental Protect ion Agency around until the Nixon administration either. A fun fact, Richard Nixon was the second President in U.S. history to face impeachment, but to his credit he actually started the EPA and did give a hoot not to pollute.

Meanwhile as a pre-race ritual, to reduce the loss of finish on cars from the constant barrage of flak by gravel, drivers taped off their chrome and paint on what are now highly collectible and ridiculously expensive sports cars. Also, one can imagine at least a few minor body parts are stuck in the muck at the bottom of Lake Phalen. (Perhaps a Timex watch with the initials J.C.S. is also submerged.) As far as I know, no one has mapped the lake bed with Ultra-HD side-scan sonar.

The first two minutes in this clip are old shots from Watkins Glen and airports once used by the Strategic Air Command. It is advanced to the Land O'Lakes Region ice race which begins at 1:40.

Saint Paul Winter Carnival ice race on Lake Phalen, Feb. 7, 1954. Presented by Land O'Lakes Region SCCA.  
Film by Thomas C. Countryman. (Posted by Porsche356Registry.)

Starting lineup for 5 lap "Pennzoil Trophy Dash" as told by narrator

1. Jaguar #27 Cecil R. Behringer
2. Jaguar  #4, Dr. Daniel "Doc" Halvorson
3. 1953 Chevy Corvette #20, Russ Lee
4. Oldsmobile Special #6, Bill Peters
5. Supercharged MG #12, Chuck Huntington
6. Jaguar  #21, Chris Tanida
7. Jaguar  #7, Bud Stahel
8. Ford Special #17, Johnny Crea
9. Chrysler Allard #3, Don Skogmo
10. Jaguar Coupe #26, Ted Hotchkiss

All led by a "beautiful Studebaker" as the pace car.

Tom Countryman #10 Porsche is shown in film but not mentioned along with a few other drivers in the 15-car field. In this film Doc Halvorson won race, followed by Chris Tanida in 2nd and Johnny Crea in 3rd position.

Stair chassis Chevrolet Monza GT car

Carl Shafer entry at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, OK June 1, 1980

As mentioned in a previous post, Mike Perrotti is current owner of the Chevrolet Monza GT racecar originally built by Pat Stair. The car is still undergoing a top to bottom rebuild, and Perrotti recently mentioned the project is now nearing completion.

Carl Shafer was the first to compete with the new Chevrolet Monza but only drove it briefly in 1980. It was designed and built by Pat Stair for Jack Sandberg's "Metal Masters" SCCA Trans-Am racing effort.

Second owner of Monza Dick Kantrud #15 at Road America 1982

The second owner of the Stair-built GT Monza was Minnesota SCCA pro racing driver, Dick Kantrud. The car assumed a striking and pleasing livery of yellow over blue, with red and orange accents. He and his dedicated crew campaigned car no. 15 in SCCA Trans-Am series and SCCA club racing for the 1981 and 1982 seasons.

Mr. Kantrud sold the GT car to another Minnesotan in late 1982. Marshall Kirkof took delivery, renumbered and repainted it as car 66, red.

Third owner Marshall Kirkof at BIR SCCA May 28, 1983. 
(Jerry Winker photo, courtesy of www.comicozzie.com)

Kirkof raced the car only once or twice, in SCCA GT-1 class, at Brainerd Int'l Raceway in 1983. The Monza met with an abutment at Turn 9 on Brainerd's 3.1-mile Donnybrooke course. Thus ended the owner's relationship with the Stair Monza.

In 1983, Rick Balderson of Florida purchased the car from Kirkof after repairs from the crash at Brainerd were made. The Stair Monza saw more track time than at any other time in its history.

Fourth owner Rick Balderson at Daytona SCCA in 1985.
(R. Balderson photo)

Rick successfully campaigned the Monza with SCCA between 1985-1989, where he ran in some eighteen regional, divisional, and national races in Florida. In 1986, Balderson qualified with 77 other cars at the 12 Hours of Sebring, IMSA Camel GT endurance race, but he had problems starting. 

Rick parked the Monza in 1989, and it was stored in a central Florida warehouse for nearly 23 years. His crew chief, Art Sierzanga, owner of Corvette Tech, Inc. in Debary, FL, had possession of the car until its sale in 2012. Mr. Balderson then described the Monza as a "basket case" but restorable.

Fourth owner Rick Balderson at Daytona in 1987.
(R. Balderson photo)

Today, Pat Stair's old Chevrolet Monza GT racer is being fully rebuilt, head-to-toe, for vintage racing by current owner Mike Perrotti of New York. And, it is a work that is truly progressing.

Bare chassis of Stair Monza some time after Mike Perrotti took delivery. Dec 8, 2012. (M. Perrotti photo)

In 2012, Mike took ownership and has persevered with the car's restoration since. "Things are taking much longer then expected but we are excited about how the car is going to turn out. Few more things to touch up and then off to paint." says Perrotti.

Initial primer coat before additional metal work on chassis, Dec 23, 2012. (M. Perrotti photo)

Many new parts including rack and pinion steering, May 17, 2014. (M. Perrotti photo)

A reminder of what a Chevrolet Monza GT car looks like, Nov 16, 2014. (M. Perrotti photo)

Exhaust chute showing crossover pipes and collectors terminating into one large torch tip, Jan 9, 2016. (M. Perrotti photo)

Cockpit view showing instrument panel, Jun 3, 2017. (M. Perrotti photo)

Nearly ready to roll, the Stair Monza as shown on Jun 3, 2017. (M. Perrotti photo)

According to Mike, about the only thing left is the car's exterior paint work. However, as many Monza maniacs are no-doubt wondering - how will the car's livery appear?

 

Monza Thunder

Bob and Andy

Andy took his GT Chevrolet Monza to an open track day at Thunder Hill Raceway Park, CA. Despite the "freezing cold" temps of a latest polar plunge, the weekend saw some heat on the track from Andy's well groomed and sounding machine. The cold didn't stop the fun or a visit from Bob Brandle, who was with the Agor Racing Team in the 1970s when they campaigned an IMSA Monza piloted by Warren Agor. Andy reports, "...his Monza ran like a monster. It sounds real cool out on the track." And, even though fuel was at $10 a gallon, he was too excited at the time to worry about it.

"Release the Kraken"

The Monzster

Andy's Chevrolet Monza rolls out of the race shop.

Small-block Chevrolet 350 ci with Crower stack injection.

New Crower stack fuel injection and ready for action. Next up is dyno test.

Behind the wheel of the Kraken

Restoration of Stair chassis Chevrolet Monza GT car

Second owner Dick Kantrud #15 Road America 1982

This GT Monza was designed and built by Pat Stair for Jack Sandberg's "Metal Masters" team for SCCA Trans-Am racing in 1980. John R. "Jack" Sandberg was owner of JRS Racing and Metal Masters of Minneapolis. Carl Schafer was the first driver of this car. Shafer, a well known driver of Camaros, only drove the Monza at the 1980 Hallett Trans-Am race.

The current owner, Mike Perrotti, acquired the car in late 2012 and is now restoring the car for vintage racing. Progress photos of the project will be ongoing as more are received.

Provenance of Stair Monza
(Built in 1980)

	Owner	Driver	Date	Appearance
1.	Jack Sandberg (MN)	Carl Shafer	1980	#21 red/yellow
2.	Dick Kantrud (MN)	Dick Kantrud	1981-82	#15 yellow/blue
3.	Marshall Kirkof (MN)	Marshall Kirkof	1983	#61 red
4.	Rick Balderson (FL)	Rick Balderson	1983-1989	#69 white, white/orange
4.	Art Sierzanga (FL)	(stored indoors)	1989-2012	-
5.	Mike Perrotti (NY)	(restoration)	2012- present	To be determined

More about the car has been compiled by Stacy Scharch on his web page for Stair Monza

Monza at Thunderhill

Andy's Monza dives into "The Cyclone" turn at Thunderhill Raceway Park, CA.

This past weekend was the Nor Cal SAAC Fall Classic 2012 Open Track at Thunderhill Raceway Park, The event was hosted by the Shelby American Automobile Club on Saturday and Sunday, October 20-12, 2012.

Andy had his Monza at the the event and a great time. "The Monza ran like a monster," as he put it. He and his friend, a professional driver, both took turns piloting Andy's '70s era tube-frame road racer. They had it "blasting around the track" and wore out the tires. According to Andy, "The Sting Rays and Jags and (Cobras) were so far behing we took the Monza out of gear and coasted to the line. We both had big smiles on our faces."

A couple of issues with the car were ironed out. They discovered the cause of a mysterious shaking in the steering. Lap after lap, the lug nuts came loose and had to be re-torqued. Andy explained, "I had the centers of my BBS wheels powder coated a while back. The guy didn't take off the old coating and he coated the back of the rim where it butts up to the hub. The coating would get hot and start melting causing the lugs to loosen up." And added, "This would happen after about a lap." Also, the track bar on the rear axle needed to be refitted so the back end of the car could be lowered 2 inches, which helped improve handling.

There are still a few other items on the car's to-do list as Andy continues his restorative efforts with his Chevrolet Monza silhouette racecar, which has come a long way in the last year.

Chevrolet Monza Road Racer

Thomas' Monza at Laguna-Seca track day Nov 25, 2011

This 1975 Chevrolet Monza silhouette bodied tube-frame road racer belongs to Andy Thomas. He lives in California and has owned the car since 2009. He has invested time, money, and plenty of joy into returning the car to its former state as a high-powered V8 Monza road racing machine.

It is more likely the car was built for SCCA Trans-Am racing, given that it has a Trans-Am bulkhead. A protective firewall with a window port behind the front seats separates driver from fuel cell. It didn't come with a log book or sales records, but is believed to been built by a well known road racer from Oregon in 1980.

The history of this chassis and its past ownership is a little fuzzy.  Andy purchased the car from Richard Stice through Gary Eichman. Stice was owner of Ricks Hot Rods in Oregon, but only drove it on the street to local car shows. Puttering around town in a '70s muscle car with wide slicks and no power steering was probably a bit challenging.

Purportedly, the car was built by a well known racer in northern Oregon who built his own cars. The last name is thought to be St. John, but has not yet been confirmed. According to Thomas, "He made the chassis, roll cage etc. For some reason he never raced it." The car was placed in storage for a few decades before Stice got it.

Thomas continues to make restorative improvements to his Monza like a new Borg Warner Super T-10 4-speed transmission. More recently a stack type fuel injection system was added.

So far, Andy's Monza has seen on open track days with the possibly for other future events. He'd love to see a racing legend drive his beastly Monza, perhaps Greg Pickett, Willy T. Ribbs or maybe Tony Adamowicz.

New Race Track! The Ridge Motorsports Park

New track is almost complete and ready for 2012 season.

Who says you can't go racing in this economy? Well, developers of The Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, Mason County, WA seem to think so.

The new 2.5 mile (counter-clockwise) road racing circuit is located just about 25 miles Northwest of Olympia, WA. It would only be about 10 miles if not for Puget Sound being in the way.  It is an easy drive or tow from Seattle –Tacoma, Portland and Vancouver, B.C. The 170-acre property is in a beautiful remote rural “park like” setting with spectacular views of Mt. Rainer and the Olympic Mountains. Rental garages, control buildings, fuel sales, quality food services, camping and other amenities will be added later this year.

The Ridge Motorsports Park track includes a 16-turn, 2.47 mile road course that is 40 feet wide with an elevation change of over 300 feet. The Ridge Complex drops 60 feet in less than 300 feet. It will has a minimum of 50 feet of runoff in most areas, averaging 100 with some exceeding 300. It is a five-year ongoing project that will see continuing progress with amenities.

Steve Crawford, who designed Thunderhill Raceway Park, in Willows California, designed it. The signature Ridge Complex along with the Leemer Complex will keep drivers wanting more. Add to that the Carousel (turn 6) and the down hill turns that lead to the blind turn in to turn 10 and you are going to be grinning from ear to ear.

Pending certification, NW Region SCCA will host their inaugural race on this track on April 14-15, 2012.

BMW M3 in-car: video
Read more at: www.ridgemotorsportspark.com

Group 44 Dodge Dart - Rags to Riches

The very first SCCA Trans-Am race was won by Bob Tullius in Group 44's Dodge Dart.
More about Group 44's Dart at: Tony Adamowicz's website

Out-cornering the Ford Mustang despite less horsepower (and body roll) the Dodge
Dart won the first SCCA Trans-Am race at Virginia Int'l Raceway in 1966.

Land O’ Lakes Region - Results of Jack Pine Sprints

2011 Jack Pine Sprints - was hosted by Land O' Lakes Region SCCA at Brainerd Int'l Raceway, MN on July 9-10, 2011.

Race Results

Over 72 entrants in 6 groups competed in this regional event, which included vintage race cars. There was also an "Australian Pursuit" trophy dash for all closed-wheel cars. Each driver was given a handicap based on their best time for this 7 lap race, which took place at the end of day Saturday. Faster cars started from the back, giving every one a chance to cross finish line at same time. A few more laps were needed for the dash on BIR's 2.5 mile road course. It was different and very interesting to watch.

Land O’ Lakes Region SCCA - Jack Pine Sprints

2011 Jack Pine Sprints

Land O’ Lakes Region SCCA - Double Regional 

Brainerd Int’l Raceway, MN 

July 9-10, 2011 

Club course 2.5 miles, 13 turns 

Land O' Lakes and CenDiv SCCA Championship Points

ALSO... 

"Australian Pursuit" Trophy Dash

Last session Saturday (open to all closed wheel cars)  

Registration drivers and volunteers: Register here 

Official Entry and Supp. Regulations: Forms here 

Weekend Schedule v3.1: Here
List of Entrants: Attendees

BIR Test and Tune Day
Friday, July 8, 2011
Contact Gary Curtis at: gary@birperformance.com

Land O' Lakes Region SCCA - Memorial Day Results

Harvey West Memorial Day Classic - was hosted by Land O' Lakes Region SCCA at Brainerd Int'l Raceway, MN on May 28-29th.


Over 80 entrants competed for regional and national points.  Race results

Land O' Lakes Region SCCA - Memorial Day Races

"Harvey West Memorial Day Classic"

Presented by Land O’ Lakes Region SCCA
 

Regional/Rational races at

Brainerd International Raceway, MN

Saturday, May 28 - Regional races

Sunday, May 29 - Rational races

Ra-tion-al  n.  a Sports Car Club of America sanctioned club race with both regional and national licensed drivers racing together for respective points.
Register here for Club Racing  (volunteer workers too)

PDX (Performance Driving Experience)  Both days during lunch break. Perfect if you have a race car and a crew, or family member who would like to drive (easy) miles in a safe environment.


View Larger Map

Brainerd International Raceway - Paddock Map

Map work I did for Land O' Lakes Region SCCA. This is the competition paddock area for BIR's 2.5 mile competition road course at Brainerd Int'l Raceway.  I starting with part of an existing track map and added some access roads, technical areas and buildings.

It shows competitors and race officials the locations of parking, information, tech inspection, scales, false grid (car line-up), pit areas, and post-race impound for race cars. All areas necessary for the function of SCCA club racing.  (By Stacy Scharch)

Land O' Lakes Region SCCA - 2011 Road Racing

Land O' Lakes Region SCCA - 2011 Schedule
Club Racing at Brainerd Int'l Raceway




May 28-29 - Regional/Rational races w/ Level 2 - Club Time Trials
July 09-10 - Double Regional, "Jack Pine Sprints"
Sep 02-04 - SCCA Trans-Am Pro-Racing

2.5 mile course at Brainerd Int'l Raceway, MN

IIRA Ice Race - Madison Lake, MN

Round 4, International Ice Racing Association on Madison Lake, MN,  February 12-13, 2011.  This was the perspective from my corner while working flagging and communications.  The cars really do get this close. Mark Utecht's Impreza #83 (below) won Sunday's Enduro. These cars run on studded wheels and grip lake ice as good or better than on dry pavement, so there are some G-forces felt.  Drivers slide through turns at a slip angle of 30 degrees or more, often with wheel hang on inside rear. The course was over a mile in length with several left and right hand turns.  I was able to snag a ride in one of Mayhem Racing's Subaru Imprezas, identical to one featured below.

Suburu Impreza #83 sliding into frame of photo from left.