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Photos By Shirley Klien
The American V-8
Supercar Series (AV8SS) was in
action at Beaverun Raceway the
weekend of August 6th and 7th. This turned
out to be a spectacular weekend of racing as the series was in attendance as
part of the 2nd annual Muscle Car Spectacular. This included AV8SS, the
Stock Car Road Racing Championship Series as well as a Corvette/Viper
Challenge, time trials, drag racing (in which some of the AV8SS competitors
actually took part in Saturday evening!), and even
karting. There was certainly something for everyone.
 AV8SS did it's part by once again
providing some spectacularly close racing with their "double header" format.
When all the dust had settled, there would be a new points leader in the
AV8SS class, a first time winner in the
Unlimited class, and a dominant car that remains so.
The pole was captured by the always fast 1992 Trans Am of Pete
Johns, the only car in the 1:04's. Behind Pete was David Morrison in his 1988
Mustang, followed by Brian Tone, Barry Kline, Eric
Vickerman, Greg Anderson, Dan
Schlickenmeyer, Mike Krider, Mike
Schlickenmeyer, Gene
Boccabella and
Brion Gluck.
At the drop of the green for the first race, Johns and Morrison led
the pack into turn one. Dan Schlickenmeyer
got a flyer of a start to come from 7th to 3rd. With Johns and Morrison
circulating within a half second of each other, Kline and Tone would get by
Schlickenmeyer and set up what was arguably
the best action on the track. The three ran literally nose to tail, eventually
catching the front running duo of Johns and
Morrison. Eric Vickerman had settled into a
comfortable 6th in his beautiful 2002 Camaro
after a poor start. Only slightly further back, points leader Mike
Schlickenmeyer in his 1979 Trans Am was in
a tremendous battle with 2nd in points Greg Anderson.
Krider and
Boccabella were having their own war as
Gluck was an early retirement. With the battle between 1st and 5th
covered by less than 1.5 seconds, it was anyone's race. This continued until
about two thirds of the way through the race when Tone in his 2004 Mach 1 and
Kline in his 1994 Mustang came together ever so slightly but just enough to
send Tone for a slow spin in turn 11/12 prior to the front straight. One half
lap later Kline spun, promoting Schlickenmeyer to third. Attrition then began
to creep in as Morrison, running in second at the time, right on Johns'
bumper, experienced a transmission problem. Dan Schlickenmeyer, now in second
and setting out after Johns, slowed two laps later with mechanical gremlins.
In the end, Johns took the checker followed by Tone, Kline, Vickerman,
D.Schlickenmeyer, Morrison, Anderson, Krider, M. Schlickenmeyer and Boccabella.
Race two would have the same starting line up. Right from the start
it was obvious that Morrison would not be able to mount a challenge to Johns
due to his transmission woes. The question
was whether or not anyone would be able to answer the call. The answer would
be a resounding yes. The challenge would come in the form of Brian Tone in his
2004 Mach 1. These two took their game to a new level by racing for 30 minutes
and never being more than 1 second apart from the drop of the green to the
checkered flag. The two exchanged fast lap of the weekend no fewer than 9
times with both of them running in the low 1:04 range. Slightly aft of that
battle, Kline and Vickerman had separated
themselves in a fight for third and ran within a few car lengths for the
entire race. Krider, Anderson, Morrison and
Schlickenmeyer battled a bit further
back. At the checkers it was Johns by a scant .9 seconds over Tone, followed
by Kline, Vickerman, Krider, Anderson,
Morrison, Schlickenmeyer, Boccabella and
Schlickenmeyer.
When the results of the two races were combined the AV8 class winner
for the
 weekend was Johns with Tone second, Kline third
Vickerman 4th and Anderson fifth. In
Unlimited Krider would get his first
overall series win with 2nd and 1st place finishes.
With AV8 points leader Mike
Schlickenmeyer dropping out of the second race with a blown motor and
Anderson recording two fifth place finishes, he assumes the point lead with
Kline moving from third to second. Schlickenmeyer
drops to a still in contention third in points. Morrison still remains atop
the points in Unlimited.
With two events remaining, Nashville Superspeedway Sept.3/4 and
Watkins Glen Oct. 9/10, the championship is certainly still up for grabs.
Additional
information can be obtained by visiting
www.AV8SS.com
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