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BY JERRY REID
One of the most ambitious racing programs in the history of Virginia International Raceway with a $3,600 purse, gets under way today, and one of 10 area drivers entered in the nine-race event, Tony Rolfe, has set himself one of the most ambitious goals of the weekend.
Rolfe will enter his BMW which earned the only manufacturer's point awarded to the German sedan in the SCCA's Trans-Am 2.5 Challenge Series this season. And Russ Norburn (Durham, N.C.) who Rolfe helped for a season before deciding to race BMW's, will be entered in his super-quick 2002 Ti model.
"We'll run it harder than it's ever been run before," Rolfe said. And he can't afford not to, because "we're giving away maybe 30 horsepower, probably 50," to Norburn's car with a larger engine, he added.
The meeting between the two will take place Sunday at 1:30, with the length of the race set at one hour. Both drivers should be able to sprint all-out for that length of time, as both are used to races of 1-1/2 to 2 hours with no relief.
Another Richmond entrant in the same race will be Vic Matthews in a David R. McGeorge-sponsored Toyota Corolla.
The racing for the weekend, besides the Small Sedan Sprint, will include a full program of seven-lap,sprints for all SCCA classes today, and a "Formula Fling" of 15 laps for Formula SCCA, Formula Ford and Formula Super Vee single-seater, open wheel cars.
Tomorrow's action starts with a 45-minute Sports Car Special race for classes G-H production, and C-D sports racers. Following that will be another 45-minute race, this one for Formula Vee's, a highly restricted single-seat class with power coming from basically stock Volkswagen engines.
Following that on the 3.23-mile course near Danville will be the small sedan race and the weekend will be capped by the VIR 200 Challenge 200 miler starting at 3 p.m.
This race will be open to SCCA classes A through F production, and A Sedans. The cars in those classes range from Camaros and Mustangs and Corvettes through Porsches, Datsuns and Triumphs. The winner of the race will receive $300 for overall, and an additional $40 for a win in group. The cars will be split into two groups for a "race within a race."
The other Richmond and area entries are Fred Rose (Datsun); Richard Lee (Formula Vee); Dave Gordon in the Atkinson Automotive Bugeye Sprite; Bud Lewis (Porsche); "Crow" Reynolds in a Porsche; Scott Fitchley in the Europa House Sunoco Spitfire; and Jerry Reid, driving the Spitfire owned by the VIR Scool of Motor Racing (G production).
Rolfe, a Richmond school teacher, is planning to continue racing next year in the Russ Norburn-Bob Hennig IMSA champ (1971) Javelin. Preparation help will come from Peter Harholt, a VCU teacher who travels under the banner of Hard Art Racing.
The car, burned at Talladega this year in an IMSA event, will be campaigned in the SCCA's Trans-Am series for Pony Cars, due to be restructured to allow Corvettes to run in 1973.
Special to the Herald
MILTON - The field of 120 sportscars raced for regional trophies and a chance at $3,600 in purse money Saturday at Virginia International Raceway.
Four races for purse money will also be held Sunday, beginning at 10:45 a.m.
Durham's Russ Norburn captured first place in the Group Four, B-Sedan Class, with his BMW 2002. Another Durham native, Todd Dickinson, was first in the C-Production Class competition. He was drivmg a Datsun 246.
Other Group Four winners included Jim Deitrick of Laval Md., in a Pontiac Tempest, who won the A-Sedan Class; Bill Harrell of Chestertown, Md., who drove his Diamler to victory in the D-Production Class; Pete Lobianco of York, Pa., winner in B-Sports Racing with a Chevron B-19; and John Sabel of Rockville, Md who captured the A-Sports Racing Class in a Sabel.
Bob Wenz won the $500 Formula Fling, when Tom Tumpley, who led until the last lap, had ' to drop out with suspension problems.
Dan Torrey of Aldephi, Md., edged Jay Mangan for the Group One title, driving a Lola Formula Ford. Kip Laughin of Mclean, Va., beat out Rich Lamb for the Group Threee championship. He drove a Zink Formula Vee.
In Group Two, Eugene Woodruff of Arlington, Va., drove his Royale to victory in the C-Sports Racing class, while Clay CampbeIl Of Charlotte piloted his Pinto to the Showroom Stock Sedan championship.
Pete Vander Vate of Vienna, Va., drove to victory with his Triumph Spitfire in the F-Production Class, while Atlanta's Jack Iewis took the same title in the E-Production class with a Porsche.
Earl Clemenson of High Point captured the H-Production class in his Sprite.
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