2006 was another great year for Oregon Region Spec Miata. There was a mix of priorities as at least 3 very fast teams had announced plans for Topeka. Even so, and with heightened levels of experience and preparedness we had to go 5 weekends to have a repeat winner. Last year there were only 3 winners all year – this year there were 6 different winners; 4 of which were first timers in Oregon. Race winners were Ken Sutherland, Andrew Caddell, Will Schrader (3), Gary Bockman (2), Brian Towey, and Kevin Brinkley. Results

There were new faces, as well. At the legendary SM Winter BBQ we met Andy Robottom who immediately became part of the local SM community. Ed Iverson, Ted Reese and Gerald Murch all showed up late and earned a bunch of points.

This year the early buzz was all about motors and the runoffs. There had been pro built engines floating around for a while, but it was still possible in 2005 to win with something like in Ken Sutherland’s or Jon Davies’ cars (which were “home built” but with a substantial amount of care). With Davies on a very much abbreviated schedule and Caddell (in the ex-Mike Davies, Fenn Bourland car) and Sutherland defecting to Rebello it seemed that the cries about the sky falling deserved consideration. – More on this subject at a later date.

Surprise of the year must be Kevin Brinkley. It seems that only yesterday he was simply a really nice guy that didn’t warrant much worry when looking at the qualifying sheets. Fact is that he’s had his moments but just hadn’t put a whole weekend together. Anybody at the top of the points was finally forced to take notice and at the final race of the year Brinkley delivered – on the last lap, at the line he beat Brian Richards by .005 of a second. He had lost by the comparatively huge margin of .067 in September. Yeah, really, racing SM in Oregon is that close.

The championship was a matter of consistency. Will Schrader showed up every weekend, won multiple races and never finished worse than 5th. This forced the other favorites, most of which were headed to Topeka, to either stress their equipment by running all of the races or to simply concede. In the end the National Championship hopefuls had too much at stake to risk it all for Regional wins. It came down to the final race and Will prevailed (pun intended) in a deserving finale to a great season. Schrader is champion, second is Kevin Brinkley and third Fenn Bourland.

We had the pleasure and challenge of racing with 3 former Miata Cup race winners and the man who would be the first Spec Miata National Champion. Not too shabby for “Club Racing”.

A slightly abbreviated schedule, scoring tweaks and some new cars will make 2007 even better.

Brian Towey, Oregon Region Spec Miata Class Advisor