So, what’s a little water gonna do? Stop an event? Not! Read what Steve Town and Ryan Moore have to say about our wet weekend at Buttonwillow. Also, in this issue, Andrew Weyman interviews two members, Anders and Alexandra Hainer...you’re going to want to read this article, for sure. Finally, Bob Chang took a walk through the paddock and came up with a nice little article that’s basically for the dogs, which we were happy to include:)
All this and more in your March ‘23 Velocity.
Enjoy Don
VELOCITY Staff
Editor / Art Director
Don Matz
Contributing Writers
Steve Town
Andrew Weyman
Bob Chang
Ryan Moore
Contributing Photographers
Luis Vivar
Andrew Weyman
Anders Hainer
Bob Chang
Karen Robinson
Don Matz
POC Board of Directors
John Momeyer President
Scott Craig Treasurer
Nathan Johnson Secretary
Joe Wiederholt VP Motorsports
Dwain Dement Chief Driving Instructor
Eben Benabe Time Trial Director
Steve Town Sponsorship
Jim Salzer PDS Director
PORSCHE
Cover Photo: Luis Vivar
February ‘23
Buttonwillow
Buttonwillow
Vivar/Matz
Buttonwillow
Photo: Luis Vivar
February ‘23
Rain, Fog, and Lakes
by Steve Town
Welcome to Buttonwillow POC in 2023! The 2-year gap to running Buttonwillow clockwise (CW) meant that many drivers planned on Friday practice, and it was going to be well attended. Was going to be, until Mother Nature with her wet, cool winter of 2023 reminded us that she’s still present. The rain Friday in the greater Bakersfield area started early and kept up until mid day, so given the Friday conditions and expectation of a dry Saturday and Sunday, most drivers either stayed off the track or put in just a few laps in the afternoon. Have you ever had that sinking feeling at a race track? No, I’m not referring to a rough session, a car or a tire(s) problem. I’m referring to Lake(s) Buttonwillow. I can’t recall ever seeing a track with “lakes” (ok ponds) on the edge of a race track, but let’s just say, Buttonwillow was not designed with rain drainage in mind. It holds water like we’d like all SoCal reservoirs to. And a multi-day Buttonwillow rain will hold your few-inches-off-the-ground race car or street car too.
In the driver’s meeting, Joe Wiederholt made it a point to address the conditions just off the track surface. In short, if you go off, you’re very very likely not coming back on the track until the tow arrives. This was definitely a “you better have a tow hook on your car” weekend. And nobody wanted to shut down a session or race going off into the Buttonwillow swamps and invoke a 4x4 mudders session.
GT1 front runners, Mike Monsalve and Alexandra Hainer
Back in the paddock, I noticed some big RV’s. Having RV’d to Buttonwillow numerous times I was wondering how some of the class A’s were doing over in the camp sections without concrete pads. It turns out all was fine by Sunday but Friday evening and Saturday morning I was starting to wonder just how big a tow would be needed to get a 35,000 lb motorhome out of the bog. Thankfully, Sunday sun showed up, while not hot in temperature, that good old desert “heat” was felt by all.
One of the things over time you look for on race weekends is track records, and whether anyone really puts down a special qualifying or race lap. This year at CW BWR, the track records were safe in the Orange and Red racers groups. The combination of the weekend factors left the Orange and Red racers looking to the future for track record attempts. A rain-out Friday and so little or no practice after not being on the CW circuit for 2 years made record breaking impossible. Saturday morning fog left the track slippery for the balance of the morning. In the afternoon BSR race, mid-race rain slowed the field, and by Sunday afternoon with good conditions, tires had been used up by all the prior qualifying and race(s). However, we don’t need track records for good wheel-to-wheel racing, and that we had.
Lets start with the BSR Orange group, and another big field. Thirty-three Boxster specs lined up Saturday, just shy of the POC field record from a recent Willow Springs event. I have a feeling we’re going to have a 35-car field soon, and break 40 at some point with the momentum of the BSR car class. That will definitely set the bar out of reach for any spec Boxster race on the west coast. Only a huge Watkins Glen or Road America PCA field would come close or measure up.
For the weekend, Anders Hainer ran the table of all 3 races, which isn’t too surprising, frankly. Well done Anders. While there were racers nipping at Anders’ bumper through the weekend, not in race 1 Saturday. Anders ran away with this one, while Dallas Carroll slipped by Chris MacDuff for 2nd, with Chris holding off
Photo: Luis Vivar
Riley Giacomazzi just at the line, and Satakal Khalsa rounding out the top 5.
Saturday race 2 was cut short by spins off the track, thankfully no significant damage, but given the conditions just off the track surface, cars were quickly disabled and could not move in the water or mud. This led to a too-slowly executed double yellow, then a black flag. On the restart Riley Giacomazzi, who started P5, kept close to Anders Hainer’s bumper, but Ander’s took the win, and Chris MacDuff again nabbed a podium. Dallas Carroll ran a close 4th, with Joe Wiederholt 5th.
Sunday race 3...
Anders Hainer and Satakal Khalsa were the class of the field in qualifying and then in a close race, Anders took the win by 1.2 seconds. Chris MacDuff knocked off his triple crown of podiums in all 3 races with a 3rd place in this race. Dallas Carroll and Joe Wiederholt rounded out the top 5.
Congratulations and welcome Satakal to the top of the 2023 POC BSR group. He is immediately taking it to the field and pushing the top 5 racers hard. Given the Sunday afternoon results a race win may not be far off, as with several of these guys. Although I think Anders will have an opinion on that!
In the Orange race, the GT5 and GT7 fields were small, but ran competitively.
In GT5, the 3-cars that are battling each race, charged through the BSR field. Aspasia Zouras had a big weekend, winning all three races. Congrats Aspasia who, along with husband Chris, took home podiums in all their races over the weekend! Hambis
Charalambous took 2nd in race 1, with Don Kravig 3rd. Hambis and Don changed finishing positions in the 2nd race, with Don running very close to Aspasia...less than a second at the finish line. In race 3 on Sunday, Don ran 2nd, while Hambis had car problems and did not start.
Photos: Luis Vivar
In GT7, a two car field of John Adams and Randy Bergum raced hard, with Randy winning race 1, and John taking race 2 and 3.
In the GT fields, there were also close races. Black pavement brake zones (into Star Mazda), and an attempt at challenging the physics of running 2 GT3 cars flat out through the esses just didn’t work.
The GT1 cars had some very fast and close racing. In race one the top 2, again, were Mike Monsalve and Alexandra Hainer, with Dan Aspesi 3rd. This top driving trio of long-time POC racers finished 1.6 seconds first through third, racing hard and pushing each other as they often do. It’s always an impressive sight seeing late model Cup Cars running a tight race, with passing being a supreme challenge for all. In the second GT1 race, Mike pulled away from Alexandra, this time by 8.5 seconds, with Dan running 3rd.
In GT2 race 1, Ana Predescu ran away with it after Razvan Sporea had an issue exiting the last turn and made the save of the weekend, catching a spin that looked like potential serious damage – great catch Raz! Roland Schmidt was 2nd and Paul Barnes 3rd. In the second GT2 race, Ana and Razvan went wire-to-wire, with Ana just barely taking it by half a second. Roland took 3rd, for a good double-podium weekend. Congrats, Roland.
In the GT3 series, again the largest of the GT fields, Duane Selby continued his last 3-race weekend dominance, winning both races comfortably. Congrats Duane on this 6-race run! In race 1, Eben Benade just held off James Buck by three tenths to finish 2nd with James in 3rd. In race 2 Brad Keegan ran a strong 2nd place, with James Buck 3rd.
In the GT4 races, Jim Salzer, Jim Steedman and Tom Stone again worked a competitive race weekend between the 3 of them. On Saturday, Jim Salzer got
Photos: Luis Vivar
the win, Tom 2nd and Jim Steedman running 3rd with some car issues. In the Sunday afternoon race Jim Steedman came back and pulled off the win in a close and well-raced competition. Tom ran 2nd and Jim Salzer 3rd. All three drivers ran very similar lap times and again showed how close the podium places are in GT4 with these 3 drivers.
In the Blue Time Trial group, Point-by Passing, a track record was set by Stephen McClure in the Stock 4 classification. His 2:13.28 bested the old record of 2:17.77. Congrats Stephen.
In the Green Time Trial group, Open Passing, there was another fine lap set, and a record for Modified 3 at Buttonwillow CW, by Roth Desko. Roth ran a 2:04.027. That’s not all. In the “tough luck run” of the TT group, Gerrit Wesseling also set what was a record for Modified 3 at 2:04.2, only for Roth to be slightly quicker. What is remarkable is that these times were both set in the same session, Sunday morning in the “warmup.” Both drivers went on to beat the original record again later on Sunday, but just 10ths off of their morning record times. Well done gentlemen. Craig Booth held the prior record at 2:04.353...Very close TT’s in Modified 3. It never ceases to amaze me how much happens during race weekend, on and off the track. It’s a wonderful spectacle of race and street cars with drivers all pushing themselves to win, get a top placing, improve, set personal bests, or just get started in this remarkable “hobby.” It would surprise me if anyone drives home Sunday evening thinking anything but: how time flies, surprises happen (good and bad), game plan has to change, goals revised...and yet feel thrilled about it all. It’s a helluva ride, so to speak, for all of us.
Lastly, join me in sending Danna Van Noy well wishes as she recovers from an unfortunate accident in the paddock. All our best Danna for a speedy and healthy recovery, and that you and Bryan are back soon.
See you at the track!
Steve
Photo: Luis Vivar
Bryan and Danna Van Noy
Photos: Luis Vivar
BUTTONWILLOW WEATHER REPORT
RYAN MOORE
Hello, Dear Reader, and welcome to the post-event BUTTONWILLOW WEATHER REPORT. Although Buttonwillow is no stranger to rain nor humidity, we were treated to an especially subtropical weekend for our March race this year. Traveling to the track on Friday was quite the journey fraught with heavy rain showers, visible snow, and bemused SoCal motorists. Passing through the track gate we were greeted by the aroma of tar and fresh pavement as we navigated around the roadwork in progress.
Friday night, after enjoying a few beverages with friends, Katie and I were treated to something special. Trudging through the mud to our trailer, we were greeted by an absolute chorus of frogs that had moved into the newly formed pond directly behind our home for the weekend. Was this a race weekend or a Princess and the Frog moment? Were we in Buttonwillow, or Florida? Are there even frogs in Florida?
After sleeping in what sounded like the Bayou section of the Pirates of the Caribbean, Saturday was a perfectly humid day to complete the experience. That humidity combined with heavy rains from the day prior formed what I would consider the title sponsor for the weekend - MUD. It was everywhere, at all times. An ever-present force both on and off the track.
Trackside, the inclement weather provided some new forms of entertainment. Many of the runoff areas were now fully formed lakes, which was a beautiful sight while driving on track and provided some extra incentive not to overcook your brakes into Cotton Corners. Still, many cars had to be extracted from axle-deep mud. In Race 1 of the BSR series, we got the green flag under dry conditions but the heavens opened up on lap 1, providing the competitors with an exciting set of mixed conditions. As the rain fluctuated, so did the grip on track, creating a challenging but exciting race. At one point, more than half the field lost the rear on the final corner - there’s a video of it out there!
Sunday rewarded us with beautiful, sunny weather. There’s nothing quite like enduring rain to make one appreciate the balmy weather we are so used to here. Until next time, Buttonwillow.
Photo: Karen Robinson
Contestant #1...John Deere Award 2023
Photo: Karen Robinson
it Rained...
But, then
Photo: Luis Vivar
then it Stopped!
Photos: Luis Vivar
Photos: Luis Vivar
Photos: Luis Vivar
Photos: Luis Vivar
Photo: Luis Vivar
Photos: Luis Vivar
Photos: Luis Vivar
NO COMPROMISES.
Don’t Crash. Be Consistent.
ANDREW WEYMAN
During my career as a television director, I always came to the soundstage prepared. As part of my preparation, I created a production roadmap with details about everything I could think of. I knew where I was starting from, my destination, and how I was going to get there. I often encouraged cast and crew members to share their ideas. Sometimes an idea or the answer to a question might lead me to rethink my map and take an ‘alternate route’ or a ‘freeway’ I’d never driven. I would shove my roadmap aside and take a creatively exciting road trip.
I approach my writing the same way. My story maps have a beginning, middle, and end. They detail my premise, characters’ points-of-view, relationships and ultimate fate. I prepared a story map for my interviews with Anders and Alexandra Hainer. While talking with them, they led me on a detour to an unexpected freeway of fun. I shoved my map into the shredder. Anders Hainer has been a member of the POC since 1996. I did the math. That’s 27 years ago. His daughter, Alex, joined 10 years ago, at age 15. Anders wrings every rpm out of his Spec Boxster and has won a gazillion championships (only a slight exaggeration).
From time to time, he chooses to start DFL and make his way through the pack. By lap three, he’s usually battling the frontrunners. Alex is a seriously fast driver and has a natural feel for racing. She laser focuses her GT1 super-sonic transport squarely at Mike Monsalve’s exhaust tips in nearly every race. She describes 2nd place as the worst place to be. 1st loser. Alex is determined to win the GT1 championship by embracing her competitive mega-powers and employing her race craft to the max. Watch your mirrors, Mike.
Photo: Luis Vivar
When I first sat down with Anders, he expressed his appreciation for good writing and complimented me on my contributions to Velocity. It’s nice to know that people actually read this stuff. He shared that he grew up in Sweden, that English is his second language, and a well-written sentence is something very special. His love of cars exploded when he was a young boy, along with his love of skiing. At age eleven, Anders rode his bicycle to ski practice at night while wearing his ski boots. He has always been uber-competitive. “Skiing taught me to be consistent and on the edge. You just have to send it.” He was clocked at 135 mph during a downhill, mile-long run. I asked if there were any parallels between skiing and driving. He explained that in mastering downhill slalom, you set up turns the same way you do on the track. Entry, apex, exit.
At eighteen, he strapped his feet to the roof rack of a turbocharged Volvo rally car and crouched down as if he was skiing. The driver then pushed the car to 130 mph with Anders fighting g-forces he didn’t anticipate. On a ski hill, gravity works with you. Not so much on top of a car at a buck thirty. After lots of stunts and skiing mishaps, i.e. crashes, injuries and surgeries, Anders had to slow it down a bit. By that, he meant focus on his racing, modelling career and dancing at Chippendales. You read that right. Chippendales.
Anders is a very successful businessman but that never entered our conversation. He kept bringing our talk back to Alex, whom he clearly adores. His love, admiration and respect for her flows freely. He’s one proud papa. Alex is one of the very few drivers with whom Anders feels comfortable when she’s behind the wheel and he’s sitting in the passenger seat. He can’t be a passenger in a race car without throwing up. It’s nice to know Alex doesn’t nauseate him.
Anders tries his best to mentor Alex by keeping it fun and without pressuring her. “Being at the track together is such a gift. Sharing our passion strengthens our bond.”
Father and daughter are also travel buddies and hang out as pals. Alex considers her dad to be a real good friend.
In 2005, Anders drove the Rolex 24 with POC members Dwain Dement and Kevin Roush. He was Grand Am Cup Champion in 2006, driving with the Turner Motorsport team (in a BMW M3) along with Boris Said and Bill Auberlen, the winningest driver in IMSA history. Anders also competed in the Pirelli World Challenge and MX-5 Pro Cup Series. In 2012, he powered the first Audi R8 in America during the Long Beach Grand Prix. When Alex and her sister, Jasmine, were each about 4 years old, they accompanied dad to the track and attended many of Anders’ Grand Am races. Julie, Anders’ wife, has always been very supportive of his racing and handled the chaos at home with aplomb.
Photos: Anders Hainer
She supports Alex with the same commitment she generously offers her hubby. Anders’ competitive spirit is a powerful force. “My life has always been about competition and being number one. Alex has taught me not to take life so seriously. She can tease me and call me an idiot.” Alex describes herself as supercompetitive, but she doesn’t let it control her. COVID interrupted her training for pro racing in the MX-5 series, under the auspices of Indy Car. Dealing with sponsors and the intense pressure took some of the fun out it for her, so it was just as well. “I learned that I’m very influenced by my environment. I’m more relaxed and have the most fun with the POC.”
Alex enjoys employing the fundamentals of racing while behind the wheel. She’s a quick learner and is proud of it. She’s only been racing for five years and yet, has come so far. Alex considers the POC part of her family and feels like many club members have watched her grow up. I told her that it’s been great seeing her growth and how she continues to flourish. Her creative outlet is photography and photo retouching. Her competitive outlet is racing.
Anders enjoys his man cave/dream garage in the San Fernando Valley where he houses a SIM and only cars he enjoys driving. He doesn’t consider himself a collector. He keeps several motorcycles and ATVs at his getaway in Idaho where
Photos: Anders Hainer
he has a motocross track. Talking about any type of machine with a motor, transmission and wheels makes his eyes light up. Alex is the same way. When she was around ten, she told her mom, Julie, that their Cayenne was her favorite of all their cars. Alex’s brother, Erik, a software engineer, has shown little interest in motorsports. Her sister, Jasmine, is semi-intrigued. Jasmine did competitive horse jumping for many years and was excellent at it. It’s interesting to note that jumping employs the same corner set-up strategy as skiing and car racing. Alex’s boyfriend, Jacob, a pilot, has never really been a car guy. On a family trip to DirtFish rally school, Jacob turned in some very competitive lap times. He and Julie will be participating at an upcoming DK Racing School event with Dwain Dement and Martina Kwan. Alex looks forward to Julie’s and Jacob’s reactions to the school. Not wanting to hurt her feelings, Alex jokingly described her mom as a McLaren driver doing 60 mph on the freeway when the speed limit is 70. She’d love to see her mom and Jacob become part of the POC family. Fingers crossed.
The Hainers take part in the Sun Valley Tour de Force, a closed road, no speed limit rally event. Last year, Julie showed her stuff and pegged her speedometer at over 200 mph. Anders is looking forward to breaking 230 mph this year in his turbo-charged Porsche. The event raised $700,000 for charity in 2022.
The Hainer family is unique and I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about them. It was an unmapped journey that was a heck of a lot of fun. I smile when I think about how Anders summed up racing for me. Don’t crash. Be consistent.
Pets in the Paddock
Commentary and photos: Bob Chang
Racing is a family sport. When our family and friends come out to support us, it gives us just that little extra push to do well. What makes it even more special is when our fur babies are there to share the moments of jubilation. Even on those days where nothing seems to go right, all is better when we see their cute ears, fluffy tails, and those heartwarming eyes greeting us. They seem to say, “ It’s ok. We’ll get ‘em next time.“ Keep an eye out for these delightful and cuddly faces in the paddock throughout the season.
Rocky’s parents, Diane and Dave Jansen, came to Buttonwillow to offer their support for Brett Gaviglio.
Mabel is always at the track with Daniel Rozenblatt. She is 6 years old and loves lamb chops with rosemary but prefers it cooked to medium rare.
Bryan and Danna
Van Noy take a break from racing to pose with their furry friend.
Toby and Cooper came with Pam and Bill Durant. They like all kinds of treats and early morning walks around the paddock in the cool breezy air, as the roaring and rumble sounds of engines fire up for the first session of the day.
Luke just turned 11 this year. As a Brittany Spaniel, he has little interest in other dogs as his true love consists of food and birds, hands down...and of course, his favorite race car driver, Darin Moore.
And then there’s this...
Karen Robinson
Luis Vivar
911 Design is a full-service repair and restoration facility located east of Los Angeles in the city of Montclair.
In addition to offering standard service, repair and restoration for all Porsche® models, we are known for and specialize in custom fabrication, design and performance upgrades.
All of our services are vertically integrated which means we keep all repair, fabrication and auto-body in-house.
Porsche News
Porsche at Le Mans 2023
Porsche prepares
The Porsche Penske Motorsport works team will tackle the 24 Hours of Le Mans with three Porsche 963s. Together with the two hypercar vehicles from the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), the squad will also compete with a hybrid prototype from the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Porsche is determined to maximize its chances of scoring its 20th overall victory at the 24
“While the choice to commit to Le Mans with three cars increases our chances, it also presents us with enormous challenges,”
Urs Kuratle, Director Factory Motorsport LMDh
for 24 Hours of Le Mans
Hours of Le Mans. To this end, the Porsche Penske Motorsport works team has entered a third Porsche 963 in the long-distance classic. We don’t have to look far back in Porsche Motorsport’s history to see evidence of this: in 2015, the third Porsche 919 Hybrid handed us victory at Le Mans.” said Urs Kuratle, Director Factory Motorsport LMDh
The 24 Hours of Le Mans was first contested in France 100 years ago. This 91st running will be held on June 10/11. In the bid for overall victory in the new Hypercar class, Porsche will go up against Ferrari, Cadillac, Toyota and Peugeot in addition to other manufacturers.
Now you can order your favorite POC garments and other specialty items “Online” simply by clicking on any one of the above photos!
A brand new track that we’ve never run before, and it’s in Arizona...that should get ya goin’!
Dont miss this opportunity to set a track record!
Register Today!
And, don’t miss the Official POC Facebook Page with photos, videos and comments from our members.
SPRING MOUNTAIN
May 12-14, 2023
Let’s head back to Pahrump for another go-of-it. We’ll be racing once again on the new Charleston Peak track! Sign up early, this one will be a sell-out!
Registration Open Soon!
Be sure to check out the POC website for our 2020 schedule of events and to stay current on PDS, Time Trial and Cup Racing standings.
