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We made our annual pilgrimmage down to Indy this weekend for the running of the World Championship Figure 8 race. For those unfamiliar with this event, it’s a three hour long endurance race. It’s also unlike anything else you have ever seen. For my money, this event is _the_ greatest spectacle in motorsports. Yes, better than the Indy 500, better than NASCAR, better than the U.S. Grand Prix…

The contestants race around in a figure eight, crossing over in the middle. Most people equate this with a demolition derby, but the reality is pretty far from its redneck roots. Many of the drivers are incredibly good at what they do, and crashes are far less frequent than most people expect. Instead what you have is an ongoing assualt of breathtaking near misses in the center, combined with the bumper-to-bumper jostle and shove racing people love about NASCAR.

Anyhow, we had a number of new rookies this year–Nathan Kemler, a college room mate of mine, and Kelly’s family, Roger, Nancy and Candie. If one of the aforementioned rookies is reading this post, be sure to leave your first impressions as a comment
The official winner of the race was the old veteran Bruce Tunny, who announced his retirement upon the win. The torch has been passed to the next generation of Tunnys (there was a son and a nephew in this year’s race).

As to our yearly fantasy figure 8 racing teams, the official results are in from head statmaster Rick Adams:

h2. 2004 Speedrome Recap

OK, here we go sports fans. 2004 at the Speedrome was a different sort of year in many ways. We had lots of rookie team owners with us this year. How did they do? Not bad. On the track lots of the “biggies” were out in short order and they finished with much fewer on the track than typical. Also, us vets noticed a changing of the guard as a lot of the old favorites are now gone (even winner Bruce Tunny announced his retirement at victory circle). Besides Tunny looking mighty impressive all night, I would give a special “Tough Guy” award to 41z (black and orange) Zeke Skages. He was the 7th alternate (he did not start the race and had to wait for 6 other cars to be allowed into the race before he was allowed to start) and he finished 11th! Amazing! And the only one with the vision, foresight and pure racing knowledge wizardry to pick him? Roger Johnson!

On to the results. The following numbers are based on adding the final finishing positions of your team members together, low score win. A perfect score (if your team finished 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th would be 1+2+3+4+5 = 15. No one got a 15 this year (again). For the following groupings the individual team scores for each person on the team were averaged to allow fair apples to apples comparisons. For those fascinated by numbers like me (and/or sure that I did something wrong otherwise they would have won), I have attached my spreadsheet used to compile all the following. It IS possible I made a mistake somewhere.

h3. And the Winners Are (Remember Low # is Best):

h4. Individual Competition… Keen Cheats, Keen Cheats!

Keen cheats (obviously somehow) and (we all hate to say it) wins again. The Johnson clan CLEANED up spots 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th! Wow! Nathan, Ellen and Kyle took the literal Biblical approach (last shall be first).

Total Points

(results#overall)# Keen. . . . . . 48
# Rick. . . . . . 49
# Roger. . . . . .61
# Candie. . . . . 74
# Kelly. . . . . .82
# Nancy. . . . . .85
# Calvin. . . . . 86
# Katie. . . . . .94
# Eric. . . . . . 105
# Kathy. . . . . .111
# Doug. . . . . . 112
# Kyle. . . . . . 116
# Ellen. . . . . .120
# Nathan. . . . . 122

h4. In the Battle of the Sexes–The Men!

Showing great restraint and mercy, the men nobly and gently crushed the women. Nathan and Kyle were the noblest and gentlest men of all, greatly cushioning the blow.

(results#sexes)# Males. . . . . .87.4
# Females. . . . .94.3

h4. In the Battle of the Schools–”Rookie” Schools Dominate!

Mona Shores squeezes by Mt. Holyoke!

(results#schools)# Mt Holyoke. . . 74.0
# Mona Shores. . .75.5
# Taylor. . . . . 87.7
# Calvin. . . . . 90.8
# Ball State. . . 105.0
# Anderson. . . . 111.5

h4. In the Battle of the Kids v. Adults (or Twerps v. The Infirm)… TWERPS Finish Next to Last and Adults finish 2nd!

The Twerps cheated and won somehow. (Note: Official Definition of Infirm = all over 30 yrs)

(results#age)# Twerps. . . . . 88.9
# The Infirm. . . 91.9

In the Battle of the States… The Invaders from the North Win!

(results#states)# Michigan. . . . 84.3
# Indiana. . . . .98.5

*Note:*
Canada (An Official US Wannabe State): No Show
Maryland: No Show. (The Big Yellow Bellied, X – Champion, John Roaming (or something like that) has had his crown nearly officially stripped for refusing to show – again).

h4. Knarled Veterans v. Wet Behind the Ear Rookies … The Vets of course!

(results#experience)# Vets. . . . . . 88.3
# Rookies. . . . .93.2

h4. Battle of the Couples… Roger & Nancy Clean Our Clocks!

Notice however the dominance of the “mature” couples!

(results#couples)# Roger & Nancy. .73.0
# Rick & Ellen. . 84.5
# Kyle & Kelly. . 99.0
# Doug & Katie. . 103.0
# Eric& & Kathy. .108.0

If you haven’t visited the track’s website, here is their report on the race. Still few details about McMurtrey’s quick departure late in the race.

h3. Bruce Tunny wins the 28th Annual World Figure 8

In a test of planning, preparation and survival Bruce Tunny reclaimed the title of World Figure-8 champion at the Blossom Chevrolet Indianapolis Speedrome. Marion-Kay Spices of Brownstown, IN backed the 28th running of the short-track classic that saw over fifty of the finest Figure-8 cars and drivers in the world challenge the historic Indy short track. A packed house and Speed Channel cameras were treated to three hours of sleek cars, tight racing and wild action.

A series of 25-lap qualifying races on Friday locked in twenty of the twenty-eight car starting field for 2004 World Championship 3-Hour Figure-8 Endurance Race. 2000 World Champ Bruce Tunny beat the clock in Saturday’s time trials that filled the field and set the line-up. Curtis McMurtrey, the 2002 king sat outside the front row with Bruce’s son, Mark Tunny, and Doug Greig right behind. Last year’s winner, Bill Tunny, Jr., and the 1988 champ Leonard Basham made the starting twenty-eight as well with 20 alternates available to add to the field as needed.

At the drop of the green and under booming fireworks Bruce Tunny took control and led the snarling pack for the opening 112 laps. Curtis McMurtrey kept Tunny in his sights with Doug Greig, Jeff Shackelford, Tony Anderson and Corey Turner lurking behind. Bill Tunny, Jr., was one of the first to take damage when he was caught up in a pile-up just past the cross-over and lost a lot of time re-building the car’s front.

By mid-race Bruce Tunny and McMurtrey were nose-to-tail with Leonard Basham emerging as a runner-up contender and a strong showing from Anderson after several miscues by Greig and Shackelford. Late in the first half Tunny headed to the pits and fell 3 laps behind McMurtrey while Anderson and Basham ran into trouble.

McMurtrey controlled the run from Lap 192 until pitting on Lap 280 allowing Tunny to move ahead. By the time McMurtrey returned to action he’d fallen two laps behind Tunny and eventually broke on a yellow flag restart on Lap 408 after gaining back his lost laps and preparing to challenge Tunny for the win. Shackelford soldiered home for second with 2004 Speedrome Stock Class champ Corey Turner shocking all with third place in his rookie outing.

Florida’s John LaValle had a career-best fourth for the best run for an “Out-of-Towner” with Indy’s Jeff Hizer and Michigan’s Greg Studt just a lap behind. Early contenders Doug Greig and Tony Anderson lost time in the pits and fell to seventh and eighth followed by Mooresville, IN’s Donnie Garrigus III and McMurtrey, whose blistering pace kept him in tenth spot despite the early out.

Tunny picked up a bonus as the top qualifier, LaValle was awarded a special plaque for his showing and Kentucky’s Zeke Skaggs received the Sonny Thompson Memorial Award for best improvement in position. Skaggs came in as the seventh alternate and finished eleventh to climb twenty-three spots for the bonus. With members of the Eaton family on hand, Corey Turner was awarded the Sonny Eaton Memorial Award for Rookie of the Race and a second prize from Kenny Sizemore of Kenny’s Auto Sales for best performance by a Speedrome Stock Class driver.

Bruce Tunny is a five-time Speedrome Late Model champion and is now a two-time World Champ. He credited the hard work of the crew and the constant support of Troy Motors’ Ed Bishop and Cornerstone Auto Parts’ Tim Harding for the win. Tunny announced his retirement on the winner’s podium and planned to dedicate his time to his business and his family.

And now back to our regularly scheduled rat race…

written by Kyle