The East Coast Honda Challenge made its second visit to the Shenandoah Circuit at Summit Point for round 1 of the 2006 points season. The circuit was new to most of the competitors in attendance, and would make for some very interesting racing!

In H1, Pete Curpier started from the pole in his Curpier Motorsport LS-Vtec Civic coupe by 2.4 seconds over the Hondaworks LS-Vtec Civic hatchback driven by Kevin Helms. Todd Reid rounded out the H1 field in 3rd place on the grid. About halfway through the initial lap, Curpier lost fire to his Civic, and sat powerless on the side of the track, while Kevin Helms in his Civic Hatchback was now in the H1 lead and would be for the majority of the race. After losing what seemed to be an insurmountable amount of time to Helms, Curpier was able to miraculously overcome the gap, and take the win just before the checkered flag! Curpier also set a new H1 lap record with a time of 1:38.2. Unfortunately, Todd Reid in his K20 Civic hatchback was forced to retire after encountering mechanical trouble. 

In H4, Andrew Zimmermann's Integra started from the pole by approximately six seconds over the nearest competitor, Trevor Melville in his Prelude. Ryan Jenkins, a rookie running his first Honda Challenge points race in his H4 Integra, was unable to obtain a qualifying time due to a coolant/radiator issue. Jenkins was able to pass Melville for 2nd place, but there was no besting Zimmerman for the win. Zimmerman and Jenkins posted a fast lap time of within .05 seconds of one another in the race, while Zimmerman was able to obtain the H4 lap record with a time of 1:43.1.

In H5, Adam Mouradian in his CRX would start on the pole by nearly a full second over David Lee, another Honda Challenge rookie, in his Integra. Beno Rubin and Zephyr Belski would round out the H5 field. Driving like a madman, Belski would be able to pass both Rubin and Lee for 2nd place, while Mouradian would hold on for the H5 win. Belski was also able to set a new H5 lap record with a time of 1:46.3.

Sunday was a very warm and sunny day that was sure to bring more great racing.

Unlike the previous day, Helms had claimed the H1 pole by .7 seconds over Curpier. Todd Reid had picked up his pace from the day before and had qualified into a solid 3rd position. John Oldt, a Honda Challenge rookie that had just passed his competition school the day before, would start in the 4th H1 spot. Due to John Oldt having just completed his competition school, John would start from the back of the Honda Challenge field. Early in the race, Helms would be forced to pull off due to engine trouble, and Curpier would be able to cruise to another win. Curpier again bettered the H1 lap record with a speedy 1:37.7. After passing multiple cars, rookie John Oldt would tail Todd Reid for the majority of the race, but Todd wouldn’t be denied and would claim 2nd place with John earning 3rd.

Another “reversal of positions” occurred in the H4 field. Honda Challenge rookie Ryan Jenkins would qualify on the H4 pole with a blistering 1:42.5. Zimmerman and Melville would qualify 2nd and 3rd respectively. Jenkins never looked back, and raced to the checker obtaining his first Honda Challenge H4 win. Melville was able to get past Zimmerman for 2nd place.

In H5 on Sunday, Adam Mouradian once again had the pole. David Lee was just .6 seconds behind in 2nd, while Belski and Rubin would round out the field. Beno would storm from 4th in the H5 field to 2nd, while Mouradian once again would take the H5 win. Mouradian was also able to better the H5 lap record set by Belski on Saturday, with a very quick 1:45.6. David Lee and Zephyr Belski would finish 3rd and 4th respectively.

The East Coast Honda Challenge ventures to Mid-Ohio Raceway for Round 2 of the 2006 points season on April 22 and 23. For more information, please visit www.honda-challenge.com.

The East Coast Honda-Challenge would like to thank King RAT Motorsports, NASA-Mid Atlantic, Summit Point Raceway, all corner workers, drivers, crew, and spectators for making Round 1 so enjoyable.