2002 * Event 1
* Event 2
* Event 3
* Event 4
* Event 5
* Event 6
* Event 7
* Event 8
* Event 9
* Event 10
* Bonus * Top 4 * Final Standings Tom Dulski wins the 10th and final event of 2002 Cartek Corvette Challenge
| Event 10 Winner Tom Dulski
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| John Mackey, winner Tom Dulski, runner-up John Panuzzo and
Bob Trieschmann
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The 2002 season came to a close on a spring like day on November, 9 2002 with the
temperature around 65 degrees and skies clear and sunny, (far cry from the snow we saw in the in Event 1). It was a welcome change to the
previous event's very cold weather. Being this was the third weekend in a row with a
Corvette Challenge the turnout was good. Even on the 10th event of the
season, we saw drivers getting involved for the first time. It was Tom Dulski, for the 1st
time in the Corvette Challenge with his 2002 Electron Blue Z06 with only 2000 miles on it.
Dulski got to the track early to being only a few miles from Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in
Monroe, NJ. He put his car at the head of the lanes right next to where we usually find
John Mackey. Dulski recently decided to trade in his 1999 Corvette when he realized at the
Corvette Show & Go in August that his attempts of tweaking it with bolt-ons still
could not amass the horsepower of the 2002 405 HP flagship of Corvettes, the Z06. Dulski
on street tires and still fiddling with finding the proper launch technique on the Z06 was
battling tire spin and wheel hop issues so he was dialed in throughout the event a
conservative low 13 second ET (elapsed time).
Dulski's opponent in the final, John Panuzzo, Somers, NY, got a free pass into the final
and sat out the semi-final run (was granted permission by the other semi-finalist)while
Dulski had to face Al Betz, Warrington, PA. Betz has missed a few events due to work
related travel but made it here for the final event and was looking to finish it with a win. It
was an exciting race as it was almost heads up with Betz' dialed his 1999 Nassau
Blue Coupe at 13.28 and Dulski 13.25. Betz got off to a reaction time of .642 and Dulski .645
meaning for a split second, the cars were dead even. But at the top end Betz took the stripe
only to find the win light go off on Dulski's side as he ran under his dial at 12.271,
only 9/1000th too quick.
Dulski did not change the dial for the final as he lined up next to Panuzzo who dialed
12.88 in his 1996 Torch Red Coupe. This was Panuzzo's second final in 3 events as he went to the final in Event 8. Dulski got
off to a clean start with .596 light but Panuzzo's light was too early leaving with a .476
reaction time turning on Dulski's win light. Dulski had successfully gone through the
field to win his first eliminator with the Z06 in it's first time out. Along the way,
Dulski's toughest race was round 1 against John Mackey. Dulski and Mackey dueled at the
top end with Dulski crossing the finish line by only 3/10,100th of a second (.0003) of a
second ahead of Mackey.
Thanks to all of our long distance travelers for coming out to race with us. Ken
Colucci, Weston MA (Boston Area) traveled over 250 miles to race in the Corvette Challenge.
Ken earned a first round trophy. Ken brought his 1966 Red 427 cubic inch C3 running low
12's. Other long distance travelers included one of our sponsors, Tom Gaul, Spectrum Voice
& Data, from Granby, CT. Gaul traveled ~200 miles with friend Michael Hayes. This does
not discount the many drivers that travel over 60 miles to every one of our events that we
equally appreciate. Today's event featured 48 cars making first round. The 2003 schedule
will be announced just as son as it is finalized. Please return to this web site for
the schedule announcement.
Some statistics from Corvette Challenge Event 10
| Time
| #
| %
| 
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| 11
| 4
| 8%
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| 12
| 18
| 38%
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| 17
| 35
| 49%
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| 14
| 7
| 15%
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| 15
| 2
| 4%
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| Total
| 48
| 100%
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| (above) dial-in times for 1st round.
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Congratulations to the drivers that made the ladder in round 3. Making the ladder means
these drivers got down to the final 16 or less of the event. This week's ladder featured
12 drivers of which 6 were in their first ladder of the season. This season saw 61 (sixty one) different drivers make the ladder throughout our 10 events. Good job drivers.
Cash and Prizes awarded drivers courtesy of our sponsors.
- Event winner Tom Dulski went home with $200 cash and a $100 gift certificate from Pro Torque and the Event Winner Shore Motorsports sponsored
Trophy. Shore Motorsports is located in Howell, NJ and can be reached at 732-370-2067 or
on the web at www.shoremotorsports.com. Cartek Racing is in Garwood, NJ and can be
reached at 908-317-4496 or on the web at www.cartek.net.
- Runner-up John Panuzzo went home with $100 cash, a $50 gift certificate from Pro
Torque, and the event Runner-up Vette Doctors sponsored Trophy. The Vette Doctors are
located in Amityville, NY and can be reached at 631-841-0779 or on the web at www.thevettedoctors.com. Pro
Torque, in Bohemia, NY can be found at www.protorque.com or by calling 631-218-8700.
- Al Betz was the sole semi-finalist and won $50 cash.
- All winners of the first round were awarded a trophy sponsored by CFM Racing. With 48 cars making 1st round Chris Coriell, Frank Schear, (Mr Mojo) and Mike Moran gave out 24 trophies.
 George Esposito,
Staten Island, NY, won the Closest to Dial Award sponsored by Walden Farms by running a
13.167 on a 13.17 dial. This is the second time Esposito has won this award having won
it previously in 2002 Event #3 Please notice you do not
have to win the round in order to win this prize. The prize consisting of a beautiful
gift package from Walden Farms filled with low calorie low carbohydrate products will be
shipped directly to the drivers home. You can purchase Walden Farms products at local
grocery stores or on the web at www.waldenfarms.com.
 John Mackey won the "Ohh so Close Award" sponsored by Zaino when he was edged out in the
1st round by the smallest margin of victory. That number is the MOV number on your time
slip. Although he lost in the 1st round by the smallest Margin of Victory the .0003
(this is not a type-o) earned a Zaino starter package that includes Z1, Z2, Z6, Z7 and a polish pad. How ironic
that Mackey should win this package as "waxing" is the lowest priority usually on his
list. Perhaps his 1996 Torch Red Coupe will have a new gleaming shine next season. Zaino products can be purchased
online at www.zainobros.com or at
Shore Motorsports on Route 9 in Howell.
- Dave Tortolani, Skillman, NJ won the Almost Perfect Award sponsored by Roybuilt
Racing when he took himself out in the 1st round with the red light closest to .500.
Tortolani's light was .497 and for that he earned a $50 gift certificate to the Raceway
Park Souvenir store donated by Roy Johnson of Roybuilt
Racing .
 John
Gurrieri III, Fairfield, CT, won the "John Panuzzo Jr. Memorial Trophy" donated by Team Panuzzo Racing for the best winning reaction time in
the 1st round. Gurrieri was quickest on the tree in the 1st round when his RT was .502
taking the win easily as his opponent's light was much worse. This was Gurrieri's 1st
ever round win in the Corvette Challenge. John drives a 1992 Black Convertible with a
hardtop. He not only got the Best RT trophy and 1st round win trophy but he also earned
a 2nd round bye run and his first appearance in the "ladder".
Edgar's pictures
We couldn't do it without our sponsors
The Corvette Challenge gives thanks to all of its supporting sponsors for whom without
this series cannot be possible. Thanks go out to
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modified: September 17, 2006 - 1:44 am
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