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At the SCCA Double National in Phoenix, January 17th - 20th 2002, Gary Gist with his E-Production RX-7 took 1st place in the first place and took the pole and 3rd place in race 2.
Dan Selznick in his Formula Atlantic took 2nd in race 1 and 3rd in race 2.
Mike Henderson, in his GT-3 car, crashed in the first race and didn't finish, but came back strong in the second race, taking the pole and victory.
Eric Morehouse, racing in his SSB Miata, took the pole and victory in the first race and also won the second race.
We'd like to thank Ron Davis Racing Products, for supplying a radiator, and also Gary Gist for supplying his spare front end, to Mike Henderson after he crashed in the first race, enabling him to come back and take first place in the second place. What a great show of sportsmanship!
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| Gary Gist's EP RX-7 |
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Ben Beasley's Formula Atlantic (formerly Dan Selznick's) |
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On September 17th, practice and qualifying began on time for the SCCA National Championship Valvoline Runoffs. Over 700 amateur drivers converged upon Mid Ohio Sports Car course, competing in 24 different classes in seven categories in the SCCA National Championship Valvoline Runoffs. Each race is only 20 laps, so drivers have to make the best of their abilities without delay.
The Runoffs are by invitation only. Competitors spend all season accumulating points just to qualify to go.
AWR has helped to prepare several cars that attended the 2001 race.
 The entire race iwas filmed by Speedvision starting September 21st through the 23rd. The SCCA has posted the Broadcast Schedule for these events.
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The Runoffs in 2001 were very exciting and a wonderful victory for Mazda and the people who drive them.
E production
Gary Gist Driving the #50, 86 RX-7 seen on our main cover page and on this page.
SSB/SSC
Mazda did very well this year in Showroom Stock B, taking 6 of the top ten places.
J. Randolph Saucier. Randy took first place, claiming his National Championship in SSB two years running. AWR did not prepare his car, but would like to congratulate Randy on his fine accomplishment.
David Roush David has been consistently improving his driving skills. He took second place in SSB. David also raced a Mazda Protege ES this year in SSC where he claimed 1st place. AWR designed and builds the 'trunk package' suspension that David used on his SSC Mazda Protege.
Eric Morehouse AWR helps to keep Eric's Showroom Stock Miata in tip-top condition. Eric claimed a third place finish in SSB at the runoffs this year. Wow! congratulations.
Paul Bonaccorsi Paul, who's been racing Mazdas for several years now placed fifth in SSC this year. in his 'spare time' he also races a Protege in the Speedvision World Challenge series.
Formula Atlantic
Though no rotary-powered Atlantics had a podium finish this year, just making it to the runoffs, and finishing is a huge accomplishment.
Ciff Cappos drove the #27 1990 Swift DB/4 sponsored by Stone Brew, in which he placed 11th.
Jacek Mucha competed in a 1996 Ralt RT-41 at the runoffs. Jacek finished 10th. Jacek, also competed in his Formula Atlantic, with alternate body work installed, converting into a CSR competitor, where he finished 2nd. SCCA was still debating the legality of the bodywork change in Tech, when we left. Whether the placing sticks or not, we applaud Jacek on his inventiveness.
Dave Vande Berg will be participating in a Ralt RT-4. David finished thirteenth in this highly competitive field.
Dan Selznick 93 Ralt RT-40 #49. Although Dan had been invited to participate, and he had planned to be at the Runoffs, his car was severely damaged the weekend of September 8th. Too recent to have repaired the car in time.
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The SCCA runoffs are over for 2001, with Mazda claiming many victories.
AWR has partnered with MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development on many occasions to help bring victories to Mazda using AWR's expertise and specially built parts.
Read the following press release from Mazda North American Operations.
For Release: September 24, 2001
Contacts: Mike Caudill, Mazda Information Bureau, (800) 248-0459, (949) 223-2303
Kevin Twer, Mazda Information Bureau, (800) 248-0459, (949) 223-2330
MAZDA RACES INTO THE MIDWEST TO DOMINATE VALVOLINE RUNOFFS
-- Mazda Wins Six National Championships at Ohio Event --
LEXINGTON, Ohio. –As the smoke lifted and the strong smell of burnt rubber and exhaust fumes began to clear the air Sunday evening, Mazda emerged victorious at the 38th running of the Valvoline Runoffs—one of amateur road racing’s largest and most celebrated events. Mazda took home six national championships during the three-day event presented by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA). The Valvoline Runoffs were recently named by Car and Driver Magazine as one of the top-10 racing events in motorsports.
Mazda walked away from the weekend’s racing competition with six out of the 24 national championship medals awarded, including two wins on Friday as the event got underway. The opening “winner-take-all” sprint race was captured in wet conditions by Ben Beasley in his Beasley B-7 powered by a Mazda rotary engine, while David Roush, of nearby Shelby, Ohio, took the checkered flag in Showroom Stock C in a Mazda Protegé ES.
“It feels great,” said Roush, who completed the first leg in his attempt to sweep the Showroom Stock classes at the Runoffs. “I’ve been second twice before, but this is my first win. The Mazda Protegé ES is new to us this year…we got it right today.”
Roush, steering a Mazda Miata the next day, was unable to complete the sweep, however, falling to yet another Mazda, a Miata piloted by Randy Saucier. Roush and Eric Morehouse, also in a Miata, dueled for second place for the majority of the sprint as Saucier, the pole sitter, put the hammer down early en route to his second straight Runoffs crown.
In addition to wins by Beasley, Roush and Saucier, Mazda also came up victorious with wins by Marc Hoover (Cheetah with Mazda Power), Pratt Cole (Mazda Miata) and Keith Roberts (Star Mazda). Mazda also took the honor of having the most wins of any brand in “head-to-head” classes.
MAZDA RACING HERITAGE
“Zoom-Zoom” is not just a new slogan for Mazda. It has been a way of life since the auto manufacturer began racing its cars in the 1960s. Since then, the Japanese company has boasted a strong presence in the world of auto racing in an effort to support its products. From Mazda’s international racing debut in the 72-Hour Marathon de la Route endurance competition with the Cosmo 110S, the company’s first rotary-engine sports car, to the triumphant win of the coveted LeMans race with the Mazda 787B, the company continues to be a leader in motorsports.
Mazda’s racing history has spanned more than three decades claiming victory in some of the world’s most renowned races. And 2001 marked another pinnacle move by Mazda when it inked the title sponsorship of one the world’s most demanding street courses – Laguna Seca Raceway.
Mazda’s Zoom-Zoom spirit is evident in many vehicles currently racing in American motorsports series, including the SCCA Speedvision World Challenge and Star Mazda Series. The company also is title sponsor of the upcoming NHRA World Import Finals.
Mazda’s motorsports roots run deep. Following the success of the Cosmo 110S, the Japanese auto manufacturer continued to make its mark in the world of motorsports with the rotary-powered RX-2, RX-3 and RX-4.
In the late 1970s and 1980s, the Mazda RX-7 quickly established itself as the dominant car in the class, ultimately becoming the most successful model in International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) history. During its run, the RX-7 gathered more than 100 victories and more than 10 manufacturers’ championships.
Mazda raced at the famed LeMans circuit in France throughout the 1980s, finally capturing the overall victory in the world’s most famous endurance race in 1991. Powered by the four-rotor engine, the 787B made Mazda the first and only Japanese manufacturer to win the prestigious race.
Since its introduction in 1989, the Mazda Miata has dominated SCCA Showroom Stock racing, first in Showroom Stock C and, more recently, in Showroom Stock B.
Mazda North American Operations is responsible for the sales and marketing, customer parts and service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., MNAO has over 700 dealerships nationwide.
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