Although the modern day series just doesn’t resonate with me as it once did…
Not sure why I got so wrapped up in this? But
speaking ‘O Mark Donohue! Once again your humble No Fenders scribe Tomaso slid
down another Wabbit’ Hole…
Hey, I suppose that’s what happens when the
IndyCar season has been over for nearly a month’s time. Formula 1 seems
anti-climatic and Thars nothin’ but Football on Thy Telie’, Spew! Along with
some Taxicab Bombers Playoffs when you’re struggling to upgrade your Desktop
Confuzer’ to Windows 11 Assimilation…
It all started when reading about the recent
IROC reunion at Laguna seca this August, when Tony Drissi won the 10 lap
Monterey Motorsports Reunion’s race. As I’ll admit, I’d totally forgotten about
Messer Drissi, whom presumably I knew about a quarter of a century ago…
Although funnily, Ye ‘Ol memory machine Ain’t quite
as sharp as I like to think it is! Since I knew Drissi raced in Trans Am, but
incorrectly associated Him with the Tommy Bahamas Qvale Mangusta Trans Am
racecar. Which Brian Simo drove to the 2000 title for Huffaker Racing.
I especially delight over Drissi’s Bio’ noting
that although He began racing vintage cars in the early 1990’s. His driving
style was to aggressive for the spritely machinery! Making His professional
racing debut in the 1999 SCCA Pro Racing Trans Am Championship. Where He won
the Rookie Of the Year driving a Ford Mustang Cobra.
For 2000, Drissi apparently joined forces with
Claudio Burtin and their newly formed racing team. Acquiring Paul Gentilozzi’s
Rocketsports Racing’s 1999 championship winning Ford Mustang Cobra’s. As
Rocketsports had switched to the soon to be Uber’ menacing Jaguar XKR. Winning
five straight championships between 2001 to the series demise at the end of
2005.
Although keep in mind, all of this era’s
racecars were Silhouette body’s over tube frame chassis. And it appears that
the Rocketsports Jaguar XKR’s were simply updated Ford Mustang chassis with the
requisite Jaguar body…
Drissi appropriately won His maiden Trans Am
race at His Home venue, i.e.; Long Beach, winning the 2000 race in
controversial style. Initially being declared the winner of the 35 lap race,
before the Chief Steward took the win away and gave it to Johnny Miller, when
reverting back to lap 34’s standings.
Yet a protest was filed by another competitor,
and the results were overturned. As Miller had won after the One Hour maximum
time allotment had expired! And Hence the win reverted back to Drissi.
It would be Drissi’s lone W’ of the season,
finishing sixth overall.
In 2015, in a “One-off” Trans Am race at
Mid-Ohio. Drissi would be suspended from Trans Am competition for one year, due
to multiple incidents on-track, including colliding with points leader Amy Ruman.
Hang on a moment, as Y’all may be saying what
does this have to do with Mark Donohue, Eh?
Well it was none other than Paul Meathedz’ Gentilozzi
who broke Donohue’s leading Trans Am career wins mark at Toronto in 2005,
scoring the 30th of His eventual 31 Trans Am victories. As Donohue’s record
stood for an amazing 33 years.
Gentilozzi made His Trans Am debut upon His
Home turf at Detroit in 1987. Then scoring His first Trans Am victory on the
Streets of Long Beach the following year.
And in further irony, Drissi would claim the
2009 Trans Am Championship driving for RSR Racing, i.e.; Paul Gentilozzi’s
renamed Rocketsports Pacing team in one of His Jaguar XKR’s. With Drissi
claiming a further win at Portland enroute to the title. that season.
Although I’ve never been a fan of Gentilozzi’s,
and His disgusting behaviour towards Ryan Hunter-Reay didn’t help!
Which ultimately, RHR’, The Dude! Ergo Ryan
Hunter-Reay successfully won His 12 year lawsuit a further two plus months
later, in May 2017…
Sniffing round the All knowing Intrawoods’, I
came across the news that Chris Dyson has just tied Donohue’s record for second
most Trans Am wins, when capturing His 29th victory at Virginia International
Raceway. (VIR) Driving from last place to first!
And I’d like to think that its only a matter of
time until Dyson surpasses Gentilozzi’s career wins record…
Ironically, Tony Drissi once again was causing
controversy at Virginia. Having initially been classified third, before
receiving a post race penalty for Avoidable Contact with Yuhs guessed it, Amy
Ruman in Her Corvette!
As what is it that Drissi has against Ruman,
Eh?
Thus Drissi was demoted to fourth, with Adam
Adretti claiming third.
Yes, Adam Andretti is the son of Aldo Andretti,
and younger brother of John Andretti. And has been racing in the Trans Am
series since 2014.
Meanwhile, its another former NASCAR driver
named Paul Menard who Dyson made that bold pass upon race leader and pole
sitter (Menard) to claim His 29th Trans Am victory.
As Menard held a 46-point lead over Adam Andretti following Virginia, with two races remaining. Appropriately ending at the Circuit Of The Americas over Halloween weekend…
