The HSR Mitty Speedfest 2017 was held on April 20-23 at the Road Atlanta racetrack in Braselton, Georgia. Porsche was the featured marque at the 40th edition of the Mitty, with eminent Porsche racer Hurley Haywood serving as the Grand Marshal.
Early in 1978, the Atlanta Jaguar Society asked Road Atlanta if it was possible to set up an event to drive their cars on the track. Back in January of 1974, Richard Nixon signed into law a national speed limit of 55 MPH, which was very frustrating to drivers with fast cars. That spring, along with the local Aston Martin and Ferrari club members who were invited to help with the cost of the track rental, some 40 drivers showed up to the ‘Walter Mitty Challenge’.
Sanctioned by Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR), the 40th running of what is now called ‘The Classic Motorsports Mitty’ weekend took place at the 2.54-mile, 12-turn Road Atlanta track. Over 250 cars showed up for this year’s event, divided into eight racing groups. Participants also ran in one of three one-hour enduros, as well as the Bob Woodman International/American Challenge. There were two Porsche-only races, one for pre-1975 models and one for 1975 and later models. A total of 80 Porsches participated in this year’s event.
The weather was picture perfect for the first three days, but the rains came on the last day. Despite this, the HSR Mitty Speedfest 2017 offered some outstanding races, with many well fought battles throughout the classes. Among races that stood out included a battle in Group Two between Andre Herke in a BMW 2002 and Alan Tosler in a Lotus Super 7 that saw Herke prevail by less than a second after a race long battle.
In Group Five, there was a stirring battle between Jody O’Donnell in his 1969 Chevrolet Corvette, Curt Vogt in his 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302, Mike Donohue in a 1963 Chevrolet Vette and Todd Treffert in a 1974 Porsche 911. Lap after lap the cars were sliding through the corners, tires flying over the curbs, drivers steering with the throttle. O’Donnell was atop the podium in the end by less than a second over Treffert.
Group Three had a four-way battle for the lead with George Balbach’s Porsche 911 holding off a Royale, a Lotus Super 7 and an Elva Mk VII until he spun coming out of Turn Five. The three other drivers managed to avoid hitting him. Craig Chima won the race in his Lotus Super 7, ahead of Brian Johnson’s Royale and Roger Cassin in the Elva. Balbach recovered to finish fifth, behind Russell Gee’s Jaguar E-Type. That’s five different makes in the Top Five.
While not always racing together, Theo Bean in a 1988 Nissan ZX-T GTP and Gunnar Jeanette’s 2007 Lola B07/18 took turns setting fastest time of the weekend, with Jeanette taking the honor late Saturday afternoon, lapping the track with a 1:13.7. It was great fun seeing the two cars, 20 years apart in age, so close in speed.
The Group 11 race saw 17-year-old Spencer Brockman taking the victory, while 21-year-old Bailey Monette finished third. That in itself makes interesting news, as it shows that there is an infusion of youth at vintage events. (There are others, including Theo and Patrick Bean and Willis Woerheide). Now, the organizers had brought in the Jackson County High School Cheerleading squad to carry the flags for the opening ceremony and to assist with the trophy presentations. Well, as one would suspect, they were quite impressed by the race winner, and I am sure Brockman did not mind being surrounded by the young ladies asking him to pose with them for pictures.
As in years past, the Mitty Speedfest 2017 was more than a series of vintage car races. It was a gathering of car enthusiasts and their cars, and the spectator area had enough interesting cars parked there to put on a high quality auto show. These enthusiasts are just that. A driver that raced on Sunday said that he was blown away by the fans cheering and waving at him despite the miserable and rainy conditions. And that, in a nutshell is the appeal of The Mitty.
—
Similar to 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, Sports Car Digest also documented the 2017 Mitty Speedfest, with photographer David Ferguson offering the following pictures from Road Atlanta.
HSR Mitty Speedfest 2017 – Photo Gallery (photos: David Ferguson)
Porsche was the featured marque.
Mustangs in paddock
Mayo Smith, 72 Porsche 911 ST
Gary Schultz, 72 Porsche 914/6GT
John Deford, 70 Porsche 914/6
Tom Trabue, 65 Porsche 911
Brenda Johnson, ’70 Porsche 914/6, leading her husband Brian Johnson in a ’70 Royale RP4.
Craig Watkins, 68 Porsche 911
James Murray, ’60 Porsche 356b
Dickson Rathbone, 66 Mustang 2+2 leads two Porsches through turn two.
Patrick Sesseions, ’66 Shelby GT350
Christopher Sloan, 67 MGB
George Calfo, 65 Porsche 911
David Jacobs, 66 Lola T70 Mk II
Robert Blain, 76 March 762
Oh my! Two lovely Lolas.
Michael Moss 69 Lola T70 MkIIIb
Scott Dick, 05 Dallara IL-6
Justin Frick, 76 Osella PA8
James Cullen, 68/10 Lola T70 Mklllb
Two Lola T70 Mk lllb’s heading into the Georgia woods.
Two Lola T-70’s and a Ford GT40.
James Cullen, Lola T70 Mk lllb and Jeff McKee, Ford GT40.
Alex Welch, 12 Porsche 997 GT3 RSR
Patrick Mullaney, 06 Ford GT-R
Josh Simpson going through turn 7 in the always popular ex Flying Lizzard Porsche 997 RSR.
Andrea Robertson, 06 Ford GT Mk 7
Chris Cook enters turn 7 in the ex Gene Felton 1980 Chevy Nova.
Dick Howe, 89 Ford Mustang T/A, spinning out in turn 7.
Lyonel Kent, 86 Eagle Corvette GTP
Travis Engen, 05 Audi R8 LMP
Cliff Murray, 55 Porsche 356
Mike Zubko, 61 Porsche 356
Christopher Sloan, 67 MGB
Douglas Hagopian, 68 Porsche 911
Byron DeFoor, 69 BMW 2002
Jerry Peters, 74 Porsche 914/6
Debbie Graves, 63 Jaguar XKE
Robert Hieb, 64 Porsche 356C
Damon DeSantis, 66 BMW 2000CS
Randy Williams, 67 Jaguar XKE
Fred Schulte, 73 Porsche 911 IROC
Craig Ross in his smokin’ 72 Ford Boss 302
Blake DeFoor, 73 Porsche 911S
Bernie Chodosh, 59 Corvette
David Raab, 74 Porsche 911 RSR
Charles O’Brien lll & lV, 74 Porsche Carrera RSR
Angus Rogers, 73 Porsche 911 RSR
Robin Ward/Nick Adams, 63 Ford Falcon Sprint
Larry Ligas, 61 Jaguar XKE
Willis Woerheide, 73 Porsche Carrera RSR
Tom Turner, 79 Mazda RX7
Chuck Bentley, 67 Camaro
Simon Lane, 68 Chevy Camaro
Carlos Dominguez, 99 Porsche 911/996.2 Cup
Keith Frieser, 09 Oreca FLM09
Theo Bean concentrating hard on driving the 88 Nissan ZX-T GTP.
Howard Turner, 88 Jaguar XJR 7/8
Gunnar Jeanette, 07 Lola B07/18
Travis Engen, 05 Audi R8 LMP
Jacek Mucha, 06 Swift JMS-061P
Theo Bean, 88 Nissan ZX-T GTP
Pollen-coated Lotus 18 Formula Jr. hiding in a trailer.
Mike Donohue, 63 Corvette
Angus Rogers, 73 Porsche 911 RSR
David Roberts, 69 Camaro
Bill Keith, 73 Porsche 911 RSR
William Hubbell, 09 Coyote/Corvette DP
The Bean family’s fast stable at rest.
Nissan ZX-T GTP
Andrea Robertson, 06 Ford GT Mk 7
Frank DePew, 93 Porsche 964 Turbo S
Justin Frick, 76 Osella PA8
Ward Witkowski, 89 Lola T89/90
Phil Daigrepont, 78 Toj SC
Tom Shelton, 65 Lola T70 Spyder
Jeff McKee, 66/15 SPF GT40
Mac McCombs, 68/09 SPF GT40
Hawley Chester, 84 Royale RP38/42
James Cullen, 68/10 Lola T70 Mk lllb
Byron DeFoor and Michael Moss Going through turn 12 in their Lolas.
Michael Eitel, 71 Lola T212
Harry McPherson, 69/09 SPF GT40
Bill Thumel, 68 Lola T70 Mk lllb
Mac McCombs, 68/09 SPF GT40
Greg Dietz, 76 Datsun 280ZX
Clark Stephens, 74 Datsun 260Z
Danny Burnstein, 70Porsche 914/6
Tom Cotter, 64 Corvette
Randy Williams, 66 Jaguar XKE
John Sybrandt, 66 Sunbeam Tiger
Russell Gee, 63 Jaguar XKE LW cpe
Carl George, 59 MGA cpe
Douglas Campbell, 64 Ginetta G4
Angus Haig, 69 Porsche 911 and Neil Bedwell, also in a 69 Porsche 911
Dave Bondon, 64 Morgan 4/4
Dean DeSantis, 76 BMW 2002
Bob Leitzinger, 69 Datsun 510
Renee Brinkerhoff waits in her 56 Porsche 356A
Waiting for the track to go back to green.
Patrick Bean, 91 Chevy Intrepid
Howard Turner, 88 Jaguar XJR 7/8
Mike Banz, 74 Porsche 911 RSR
CH DeHaaan, 73 BMW CSL 3500cc/turbo
Bernie Chodosh, 59 Corvette
Simon Lane, 68 Camaro
Gary Moore, 66 Shelby GT350
Vintage VW’s
Porsche 962
Jay Stephenson, 66 Cheetah
Bernie Chodosh, 59 Corvette
Group 5 heading into the Esses.
Todd Treffert, 74 Porsche 911 IROC, leads the pack through the Esses.
Jody O’Donnell steering his 69 Corvette with the gas pedal.
Greg Sproles, 66 Mustang 2+2
Bernie Chodosh, 59 Corvette
Jay Stephenson, 65 Cheetah
A dozen Porsches off assorted sizes and colors.
Michael LeVeque, 66 Yenko Stinger
Linwood Staub, 72 Datsun 240Z
Scott Dick, 05 Dallara IL-6
Patrick and Theo Bean parading the awesome Chevy Intrepids.
Patrick (car 64) and Theo Bean.
Angus Rogers, 73 Porsche 911 RSR
Flying through turn 3
Clair Schwendeman, 68 Corvette
Theo Bean, 88 Nissan ZX-T GTP
Mitchell Eitel, 65 Elva Mk 7S
Russell Gee, 63 Jaguar XKE LW cpe
54 Porsches waiting for the start of the Classic Porsche Feature RaceA.
A nice day for watching races.
Jacek Mucha, 06 Swift JMS-016-P
Visiting friends while waiting for the rain to stop.
Peter Dolan, 66 Ford Mustang 2+2
Mike Banz, 74 Porsche 911 RSR
Frank Beck, 72 Porsche 914/6 takes turn 12 real sideways. He managed to straighten the car out.
Mayo Smith, 72 Porsche 911T leads a 14 car field to the green flag.
Oh my! Two lovely Lolas.
The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
