01/26/2008
Author: Southwest Rally Series Media
Series Director: Denise McMahon
E-Mail: marymountdenise@aol.com
Banquet Details and Series Announcement:
The 2007 Southwest RallyCup Series recently held its’2nd annual awards banquet hosted at Speedzone Theme Park in City of Industry, Ca. on January 12th. 2008. There were quite a few representatives in each class who came out to enjoy some great food with the surroundings of all motorsports memorabilla from (NASCAR,NHRA,AMA,etc), had some laughs and honored those who went all out to battle for their wins in the series the final portion of the banquet consisted of an all out race between teams of winners, family and volunteers who worked the events.
The series sponsor announcement was made about our newest series sponsors coming on board....Bilstein of America who came on board just the day before the banquet to become the presenting associate sponsor of the series...so the Logo will become...Southwest RallyCup series presented by Bilstein of America. They are thrilled and looking forward to be a part of the series and to help out on contingency funds for the 2008 banquet.
Silverstone of America is coming on board for the 2008 season and will be helping with contingency funds for the competitors. We are fortunate to have them join us.
Our newest series sponsor is Helius Design, who from our website will be having a special discount for all of the series participants on all of their products. They specialize in automotive electronics and contract electronic product development....just mention that you are a SW RALLY SERIES COMPETITOR.
Of course our own Southwest Rallycup winner has become a series sponsor Mitch Williams with Checkpoint Racing who will be presenting the 2008 championship award called the "Darling Cup" named in honor of Mitch’s wife.
The cups and plaques came from another series sponsor...K2 Awards.
Racetech (Racetech bags went out to some lucky winners), Subaru Southwest Region and Rallygrafix (Jen Imai, Bill Holmes and others will be getting their graphics done from the gift certificates sent by Rallygrafix) and of course Rallyboy.com, George Plsek, Danny Sullivan, Eddie Cheever(George,Danny and Eddie are contingency funds contributors to the series) and Doug Chernis from Race Technik as always staying on as a series sponsors and partners. These companies and individuals will be helping out on product and contingency funds for the individual events during the 2008 season.
Motorsport Memories- Bill Rogers was noted and giving a standing ovation for his contribution to the rally community with his fabulous rally pictures. He is the official series photographer.
Of course our own Team O’Neil Rally School for staying to again present for 2008 another $4000.00+ Rookie of the Year award. Blake Yoon won it the first year and in 2007 Jon Rea. Now who will be the lucky one for 2008? It starts at the Seed 9 Rally!
Thank you Bret from Rallygrafix.com for being the webmaster for the series website as always...you are a god-send for all of your help.
Without all of these businesses and individuals...none of this would be possible. I thank you so much....and welcome aboard our latest family of sponsors.
We are looking at over $10,000 in product, contingency funds and gift certificates to be given out again at the 2008 series banquet. At each series event there will be event contingency funds.
Our mission is to help out organizers to get the entrees and competitors to get the support for competing by giving back to them as part of the Rally America Southwest Region.
So who won in the 2007 season? The winners are: Overall – Series Winners
Congratulations to the overall series winners: Bill Holmes-driver from Malibu, Ca and Alix Hakala-co-driver of Lakewood, Colorado. Mitchell Williams-Driver from Denver, Co took second place overall and Kevin Carter took second place-co-driver overall in the series. Between these two teams Mitchell and Bill with co-drivers Alix and Kevin...they went all out in this series. Congratulations to these two teams for having a great 2007 series season. Also overall third place went to Brooks Freehill from Boulder, Co and Brian McGuire as co-driver.
Team O’Neil Rookie of the Year Driver Awarded to:
Jon Rea from Yucaipa, Ca. He was so out of sorts he could not believe he won. He was actually speechless and Mike Nitz (his crew chief) was there to watch his face and it was his highlight of the night watching his friend win the award. He is looking forward to going to the rally school and will be doing a comment report back how his experience was at the school. I am looking forward to hearing his report! Who will be the next 2008 Team O’Neil Rookie of the Year from Southwest RallyCup Series?
Rookie of the Year Co-Driver Awarded to:
Kevin Carter from Simi Valley, Ca. He was totally smiling from ear to ear about being recognized for for his achievement.
2 Wheel Overall Champsionship Awardees are:
Bill Holmes as driver and Brian McGuire as co-driver with Brooks Freehill- driver taking second place and Kevin Carter as co-driver. Third place winning went to Jimmy Keeney as driver and Melissa Keeney as co-driver (both from Colorado Springs, Colorado.)
Open Class Winners are:
1st place driver is Mitchell Williams and co-driver Alix Hakala. The second place winning went to Dr. Scott Clark and his team mate co-driver Marie Boyd both from Bishop, Ca. Third place winning is Lisa Klassen- driver from Alta Loma, Ca and co-driver is John Vitera from Canon City, Co.
Group N Class Awarded to:
The only team that ran in this class was Doug Chernis and his co-driver Craig MacNair which both are from Phoenix, Az. Doug own a race shop and track and his business name is Race Technik; a series sponsor and will be back again as a sponsor for 2008. He will be doing product or prize funds at each of the 2008 series events for the competitors.
Production GT Winners are:
Shea Burns took first place as driver and his teammate Zach Heidepriem as co-driver. The second place winners are Paul Willemsen as driver from San Clemente, Ca and Dean Schlingmann of Covina, Ca. Clive Skelton took third place as driver from Orange, Ca and Adam Kneipp from Centennial, Co.
Group 5 Winners are:
Bill Holmes again as first place winner as driver with his co-driver Kevin Carter. The second place prizes went to Roger Hull and Sean Gallagher both teammates from Prescott, Az. Third place tie went to Christopher Moore and Robert Shibao as drivers and co-driver Bret Norgaard from Ramona, Ca. Bret helped to get us the Bilstein of America 2008 series title sponsor. Thank you so much Bret.
Group 2 Winners are:
Jimmy Keeney and Melissa Keeney from Colorado taking the honors as first place as a team driver and co-driver. The second place prizes went to Brooks Freehill from Boulder, Co. as driver, Tim Moser also tied for second place as driver from Payson, Az. Terry Stonecipher from Los Angeles, Ca. as second place co-driver. The third place winning co-driver was Dick Moser (CRS Director) from San Francisco, Ca.
Production Class Winners are:
Sarkis MazManian from Glendale, Ca as driver and co-driver from his team was Dika Karakashian from Los Angeles, Ca. Second place winning driver is Timo Hayosh of Queen Creek, Az. Co-driver was Michael Mazmanian from La Crescenta, Ca. Third place winning went to driver Tim Meyer from Las Vegas, Nv. and co-driver Angela Dyer from Queen Creek, Az.
Some of the fourth and fifth place attendees came to the awards banquet to accept a medal for their place winnings: Jen Imai fourth place driver in Group 2 and Guido Hamacher fourth place co-driver in Open Class, Donald Shreyer fourth place co-driver in Production GT and Shea Burns fifth place co-driver in Production GT and Dick Moser fifth place co-driver in the 2-Wheel Drive and Overall championship.
The Rally Community Contribution Awardees:
The series honored John Dillon for his services as a competitor and a series director for the Western States Rally Series. John has always put forth his effort to help out the sport of rallying. Another honored that night was George Plsek; who has always been there to help out the Southwest RallyCup Series as a series partner. Thank you so much for supporting the series. George has gone into semi-retirement from rallying and has assured me that he will be coming back as soon as possible. So he was awarded the “Live to Surf” award, acknowledging his “other” sport.
The Best DNF Awardee:
The best DNF story went to Brad Fast who received $25.00 back from his entry fee from Desert Storm rally. He worked so hard to keep his car going during the two day event and then it quit for good at the last moment before the last stage.
Rally Volunteers of the Year Awardees:
Seed 9 Rally –TBD
Desert Storm Rally –Marni and Doug Nagy
Quartzsite Rally – Dave Belcher
Rally Colorado - TBD
There was more happening at the banquet then just giving out awards….we summed up the evening by doing some outright competition. What a better way than at a racing theme park to go out and show your stuff.
The Holmes/Carter team did not stop at winning just awards. Bill Holmes/Kevin Carter and his round of service crew....THE RED TEAM won first place in racing in three areas at the Speedzone....there was a fight to the end between the red, blue and yellow team.
Red Team – Holmes/Carter, family and service crew and my son Michael (1st place winners)
Blue Team - Brad Fast, Don Shreyer, Jon Rea, Eric Hill, volunteers of the year attendees, - (2nd Place winners)
Yellow team - The Mazmanians and service crew....the ever so late to the banquet but got to eat and race.... (Third place winners)-
You had to watch the Maz team...Sarkis was showing what he is made of and somehow was getting spinned out by his teammates....they were just smoking up the tracks and loving every moment.
I would like to say thank you to all of the guests; family, friends, workers, and of course our distinguished guest....the competitors for coming out and enjoying yourselves at the banquet
I think everyone had a blast and already been told...DO IT AGAIN HERE DENISE AT THE SPEEDZONE... well I will be booking it again for the 2008 season...so enjoy the season and good luck at whatever your goals are for 2008...
