(Carlisle, Pa) May 18, 2003 by Donald J. (Zee) Zaroda

Despite early rain and cool temperatures, four early-1980's Volvo 240's took to the Carlisle Fairgrounds road course timed trials to challenge the slick circuit in a SCCA autocross track event at the anual Import/Kit/Replicar Show Sunday.

Dave Davies of York, Pa turned in the best times of the four Volvos with single lap best times 26.807 and 27.042 seconds Sunday afternoon, breaking his personal best single lap time of Saturday by two seconds. Davies is an experienced auto-x'r who participated in Saturday's driving instruction session, led by SCCA instructors.

On a rain-soaked course Sunday morning, Volvo enthusiasts Ken William turned a single lap best time of 31.667 in his 1981 Volvo 245, but did not finish, while Terry Tichy, Jr of Virginia Beach, VA piloted his 1981 245 for a best single lap time of 30.634

The autocross/timed event conducted annually by the Susquehanna Chapter of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) consisted of two, three-lap single-car on course timed trials following the five practice laps allowed for each driver.

Each car was first inspected for safety by a SCCA technical official and classified according to SCCA rules to provide a handicapping system which enables entries ranging from bone-stock to purpose-built cars to compare on the basis of driving abilites of drivers. The handicap time is shown as PAX.

This was a friendly, no-ranking, no-trophy Solo II track event. Solo II is the SCCA brand name for autocross competition. Solo II events are driving skill contests that emphasize the driver's ability and the car's handling characteristics. This is accomplished by driving a course that is designated by traffic cones on a low hazard location, such as a parking lot or inactive airstrip. While speeds are no greater than those normally encountered in legal highway driving, the combination of concentration and car feedback creates an adrenaline pumping experience. Carlisle Fairgrounds had built its closed driving course about two years ago.

Davies car, a 1982 Volvo 242 Turbo, was classed G-Stock, as are all turbo models with minimal, allowed modifications.

WWW.Brickboard.com's frequent contributor, Donald J.(Zee) Zaroda, Easton, Pa debuted his driving skills in his near-stock 1986 Volvo 240DL "daily driver" with 210,000 miles on the clock. Zee posted a best single-lap time of 30.531 to edge out Tichy, Jr. by .103 seconds. Zaroda's entry was classified as H-stock, NOC. This class is limited to factory installed options. Volvo P1800's receive H-Stock classification. His only modifications are turbo sway bars and rear wagon springs. Zee competed on stock-sized, 185/70-14 Yokohama Avid Touring tires.

Most Volvo 120,140, 240 models receive F-Street Prepared classification due to the wide variety of dealer options that were available to these models.

Other SCCA Solo I & II event can be seen or entered into around the country.
(See: www.scca.org for schedule, regional divisions, and chapters near you)



Sunday Solo II Autocross/Timed Trial Results:

Lap 1 Lap 2 Lap 3 Time PAX

Davies 27.311 27.299 27.042 81.652 63.851
26.807 27.55 27.812 81.168 63.873

Zaroda 31.248 31.217 31.481 93.945 73.089
31.025 30.531 31.096 92.652 72.08

Tichy, Jr* 30.634 93.976

William* 31.667 95.566 DNF

* reflects driver's best times/best total in 2 heats of three laps. DNF (did not finish) occurs when car leaves track or knocks down pylons.