Cunningham, Kleinbung Take Pikes Peak World Challenge Wins

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27 September 1997

CUNNINGHAM, KLEINUBING TAKE PIKES PEAK WORLD CHALLENGE WINS


FOUNTAIN, Colo.(September 27) -- Peter Cunningham, of West Bend, Wis.,
extended his SCCA World Challenge T1 Class point lead by capturing the
event at Pikes Peak International Raceway, part of the Children's
Hospital Grand Prix of Colorado. Pierre Kleinubing, of Erexim, Brazil,
took the win in the T2 class.

Cunningham, driving the No. 42 Comptech/RealTime Racing Acura NSX,
took the lead on lap 31 when leader Rob Fellows encountered traffic.
Cunningham never looked back, averaging 76.053 mph for the 42-lap,
58.005-mile contest, finishing 6.504 seconds ahead of Fellows.

"This was a race of survival," said Cunningham. "My NSX handles a
little better than the Mustangs, but they've got the power on me. When
my handling started to go away, I though I was in trouble, but I got a
break in the traffic, and that was the difference."

Fellows, of Ontario, Can., took the lead on lap 28 from Lou Gigliotti,
who suffered a blown head gasket, and held a scant 0.5-second
advantage for three laps until Cunningham took the advantage.

"We all had handling problems," said Fellows. "I had a push in
qualifying, so we loosened the car up -- too much. Cunningham was
tough, and he got the good break in traffic."

Paul Brown, of Phoenix, Ariz., finished third after starting on the
pole by virtue of the World Challenge random lotto-ball drawing for
positions one through five.

"We only run a couple pro races each year," said Brown. "After
finishing the car, we had four goals: qualify in the top-five, draw
ball number one, lead a lap and finish on the podium. We accomplished
all of our goals."

Rounding out the top-five in T1 were Terry Borcheller, of Phoenix,
Ariz., and Michael Pettiford, of Louisville, Colo. Fellows moved past
Gigliotti in the point standings, and is now 14 points behind
Cunningham.

Kleinubing, driving the No. 43 Comptech/RealTime Racing Acura Integra
R team car to Cunningham, ran second for much of the race, but a flat
tire for leader Paul Booher necessitated a pit stop, giving the lead,
and the win, to Kleinubing.

"In the middle of the race I was like 'Okay, I'm going to just finish
second,'" said Kleinubing. "Then, lucky for me, but bad for him, Paul
blew a tire. I had a bearing go at the end and the rest were catching
me by two seconds per lap, but I had a big lead and was able to hang
on."

Walter Puckett, of Shelby, N.C., came back from an early penalty for
spinning Kleinubing's teammate, points leader Michael Galati, to
finish second.

"I didn't want to turn him (Galati) around, but I got hit from
behind," said Puckett. "That's not how we like to do it."

Taz Harvey,of Danville, Calif., finished third.

"This race was a crazy, hectic deal," said Harvey. "I got hit early
and spun out and I used up my tires. There was a lot of hitting going
on -- real close racing. The guy who made the fewest mistakes was in
the best shape."

Rounding out the top-five in T2 were Jim Lovett, of Highland Park,
Ill., and Johannes van Overbeek, of Pleaston, Calif. After failing to
finish, Galati handed the points lead over to Kleinubing, who now
leads by one point heading into the final race in Reno, Nev.

FOUNTAIN, Colo. -- The results from Saturday's 45-lap, 58.005-mile
SCCA World Challenge T1 Class race at Pikes Peak International
Raceway, part of the Children's Hospital Grand Prix of Colorado, with
finishing position, starting position in parentheses, driver,
hometown, car, laps and reason out (if any).

   1. (2), Peter Cunningham, West Bend, Wis., Acura NSX, 45.
   2. (4), Rob Fellows, Ontario, Can., Saleen Mustang, 45.
   3. (1), Paul Brown, Omaha, Neb., Ford Mustang Cobra, 45.
   4. (5), Terry Borcheller, Pheonix, Ariz., BMW M3, 45.
   5. (6), Michael Pettiford, Louisville, Colo., Chevrolet Camaro, 45.
   6. (15), Simon Gregg, Jacksonville, Fla., Saleen Mustang, 44, Mech..
   7. (16), Ron Johnson, Wayzata, Minn., Saleen Mustang, 44.
   8. (7), Grant Carter, Bowie, Md., Chevrolet Camaro, 44.
   9. (8), Thomas Safar II, Point Pleasent, N.J., Chevrolet Corvette, 44.
 10. (10), Scott Knollenberg, Denver, Colo., Porsche RSR, 43.
 11. (9), Doug Frazier, Aliso Viejo, Calif., Saleen Mustang, 43.
 12. (12), Mark Dixon, Goodrich, Mich., Pontiac Firebird, 42.
 13. (11), Jeff Demetri, Omaha, Neb., Ford Mustang, 41.
 14. (14), Felice Bruno, El Paso, Texas, Chevrolet Camaro, 40.
 15. (3), Lou Gigliotti, Garland, Texas, Saleen Mustang, 29, Mech..
 16. (13), Joe McHaney, Arlington, Texas, Mitsubishi Eclipse, 2, Mech..
 Time of race: 45 minutes, 46.271 seconds.
 Winner's average speed: 76.036 mph
 Margin of victory: 6.5039 seconds
 Lap leaders: Lap 1, No. 94 Brown; Laps 2-27, No. 1 Gigliotti; Laps 28-30,
No. 4 Fellows; Laps 31-45, No. 42 Cunningham
 Fastest race lap: Lou Gigliotti, 0:58.726 (79.017 mph)

FOUNTAIN, Colo. -- The results from Saturday's 45-lap, 58.005-mile
SCCA World Challenge T2 Class race at Pikes Peak International
Raceway, part of the Children's Hospital Grand Prix of Colorado, with
finishing position, starting position in parentheses, driver,
hometown, car, laps and reason out (if any).

   1. (3), Pierre Kleinubing, Erexim, Brazil, Acura Integra R, 43.
   2. (2), Walter Puckett, Shelby, N.C., Saturn SC, 43.
   3. (6), Taz E. Harvey, Danville, Calif., Honda Prelude Si, 43.
   4. (5), Jim Lovett, Highland Park, Ill., Honda Prelude Si, 43.
   5. (17), Johannes van Overbeek, Pleaston, Calif., BMW 318Ti, 42.
   6. (4), Paul Booher, Pinellas Park, Fla., Saturn SC, 42.
   7. (8), Alain Chebeir, Pelham, N.Y., BMW 328is, 42.
   8. (11), Dick Read, Hoopeston, Ill., Oldsmobile Calais, 42.
   9. (15), Co VanHerwaarden, Greeley, Colo., BMW M3, 42.
 10. (12), Tom van Overbeek, Pleaston, Calif., BMW 318Ti, 42.
 11. (10), James Sofronas, Pound Ridge, N.Y., BMW 328is, 42.
 12. (16), Fred Meyer, Dallas, Texas, Honda Prelude Si, 41.
 13. (13), Dino Hamilton, Van Nuys, Calif., Dodge Neon, 38.
 14. (7), David Rosenblum, Langhorne, Pa., Saturn SC, 23, Mech..
 15. (14), Peter Schwartzott, Niagara Falls, N.Y., Honda Prelude Si, 3, Mech..
 16. (1), Michael Galati, North Olmsted, Ohio, Acura Integra R, 1, Mech..
 17. (9), Steve Lisa, Scottsdale, Ariz., Oldsmobile Achieva, 1, Mech..
 Time of race: 46 minutes, 25.691 seconds.
 Winner's average speed: 71.629 mph
 Margin of victory: 7.7070 seconds
 Lap leaders: Laps 1-31, No. 3 Booher; Laps 32-43, No. 43 Kleinubing.
 Fastest race lap: Walter Puckett, 1:03.506 (73.070 mph)