by Greg Cheney, KCR SCCA Board member
SCCA RallyCross is one of the fastest growing groups of competition in the Midwest. Along with fun-times-had-by-all in the dirt, some incredibly creative team names have sprung up across the area along with a significant social media presence. Names like Bluegill-Dingus Racing, Misfit Racing Team, Boost Brother’s Garage, consist of our local competitors loving and slinging dirt! Below we identify some of the teams and competitors involved for your reference.
Grunch Bunch Racing consists of Reuben Samuels, in his Genesis braap-braap machine along with Collins Reynolds and Stephen Cook, as well as Andy Sheehan in his 10,000 RPM Honda.
RTR Racing began with Ryan, Toby and Richard, but last we heard it consists of Ryan Redenbaugh, Ian Jennings, Richard Thompson and Keegan Wilhelm, and we are sure some other Toyota fan boys. They race different vintage models, but have a collection of similar (old) Toyota engines they can cross pollinate. Of course Keegan is not always in a Toyota; he sometimes brings out the boat, aka 1979 Lincoln Continental. These guys are usually found in a garage somewhere fixing and/or replacing parts and pieces!
Speaking of always in the garage fixing things, David Williams and his son Garrett run a Dodge Neon, or parts of several Dodge Neons flying in close formation, with the aptly named Williams Rallye Team.
Dan Colburn and Cameron Case make up Boost Brothers Garage competing in a Subaru this year, including some real, big time stage rally. For the past several years they tried and failed miserably to blow or break apart a 1992 Dodge Shadow ES. It still exists driven by Vincent Woska and Alex Nelson.
Hot Hatch Racing includes Erik and Clarissa Votipka in a Mini Cooper, and there is rumor some family members got so excited at the last KCR rallycross they are going to start competing with a Not-Miata Mazda.
On the Kansas region side Ben Hanke, Will Wilson and Caleb Maggard make up Misfit Racing Team in a multi-color Subaru and a silver 1996 Honda Civic. Perennial competitor Mark Hill and Jayhawk Racing comes to all events from Lawrence, definitely needing eight tires for grip, but is relegated four.
Trofeo Rally Team’s Nefty Bloom holds the #Drives_the_most_miles_to_rallycross record as he brings his Subaru from Wichita Region to all of the local events.
In every racing group there is always #badnews and it comes from our area in the form of Steven Bright and SBX Racing. Bad News consists of a pair of Audi TT Quattro Coupes. One red and one yellow so he can tell the difference.
Then there is Larry G, Forrest and Candyce Smith of Bluegill-Dingus Racing rallycrossing whatever is parked closest to the street on Sunday morning.
And yours truly drives the Molten Orange Ford Fiesta ST under Wahoo Racing. Wahoo! is all you ever need to know if you have a question about rallycross! Come join us, put your team together and let’s get dirty!