Congratulations to Hudson Champlain member John H. Shafer for winning the 2016 Class C Porsche Club of America Club Racing championship. It’s John’s third consecutive victory driving his 1984 928S. Here’s a press release announcing John’s victory:
LAKE GEORGE MAN WINS NATIONAL ROADRACING CHAMPIONSHIP
A Warner Bay, Lake George, man has won the Class C national championship in the Porsche Club of America Club Racing program for 2016, for the third year in a row. The award will be presented on Feb 2 at a dinner in Sebring, Florida prior to the first Porsche Club Race of 2017.
John H. Shafer, 79, in his third year competing, won the award by accumulating the highest number of points nationally over several road races on four different race tracks. The second place driver is from the Rocky Mountain Region of the Porsche Club of America. Shafer drives a 1984 Porsche 928S that has been modified from a street GT car to a race car fully meeting the Porsche Club’s stringent equipment safety standards. Points are awarded for entering and finishing a race as well as for finishing position in each race. Shafer earned points in two races at
John’s son passing him on No Name Straight during this year’s race at Lime Rock Park. Photo courtesy CVR.
Lime Rock Park in Connecticut and at Summit’s Point Raceway in WVa. He also earned points in races at Watkins Glen International and at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in Mosport, Ontario, Canada. Again in 2016, Shafer and his 928 also was given two Corner Workers Award, one at Mosport and one at Summits Point. These awards, coveted by the racers, are based on voting by the dozens of volunteers staffing the safety flag stations around the race track. Voting is based on the cars appearance, safe driving during the race and other personal factors.
To enter Class C, with a weight to horsepower rating of about 13, the Porsche 928S has to be basically stock and weigh a minimum of 3401 pounds. In addition to a roll cage, harnesses and other safety equipment, modifications may be made only to the suspension and exhaust systems. At each track, several classes compete in the same races. Most classes are faster than Class C, and as an example, Shafer says: “At Watkins Glen I’m on track racing with 70 other cars. Reaching over 120 miles per hour and being passed by other cars in faster classes is a great adrenalin rush, even at my age”. “PCA officials love to see the 928 racing as there are not many still competing with the newer models. With headers and a straight exhaust, that aluminum V8 sounds like a NASCAR, everybody loves the sound”, Shafer said.
Shafer’s son John S. also races a Porsche, most time in the same races. Shafer Sr. says: “it is a great father/son activity. While I have more horsepower, I still can’t keep him behind me, particularly in the corners. He’s a better driver and thank goodness he is in a different race class”.
Prior to his current position as President of Spectra Engineering, Architecture & Engineering, PC, Mr. Shafer retired from the position of Executive Director of the New York State Thruway Authority where he is credited with rebuilding the travel plazas, several highway safety features on the superhighway and also bringing EZPass to the Thruway and the toll roads in the northeast.