Agoura Hills race car enthusiast burns the rubber in Nevada
By John Loesing newstip@theacorn.com

HOT WHEELS- Frank Schmidt of Agoura Hills takes a breather with his 1972 Maserati Ghibli SS. Schmidt pushed the Maserati to its limits down empty stretches of desert highway in the Silver State Classic Challenge open road race, a competition that pits exotic sports cars against each other in a race down Nevada's Highway 318.

Each year on the second Sunday of October, dozens of exotic sports cars line up on Highway 318 in Nevada for a 90-mile, flat-out sprint from Lund to Hiko.

The Silver State Classic Challenge is an open road race for every man with a fast car and the skills to drive it. A vehicle must average the speed of the class in which it is entered and the classes run in 10-mile-per-hour increments from 95 to 165. There's also an unlimited class for fully equipped cars.

This year the race celebrated its 20th running.

Frank Schmidt, a real estate investor from Agoura Hills, entered and drove a 1972 Maserati Ghibli SS that featured extreme engine and suspension modifications. The goal in Schmidt's class was to average 155 miles per hour, and according to the race rules he couldn't exceed 175 miles per hour.

"I didn't have too much confidence in my speedometer so I tried not to go past 172 or 173," said Schmidt, who acquired his red Maserati 20 years ago. He also owns a Porsche 930 turboequipped with 500 horsepower.

The Silver State class assignments are based on the driver's experience and the safety equipment in the vehicle, and each class has a maximum allowable speed, verified at random points using radar. The safety equipment on Schmidt's Maserati included a roll cage, race harness, full Nomex suit and an onboard fire extinguisher.

After four months of preparation that included three driving schools, Schmidt said he felt confident to make the Nevada run.

This year's event got underway at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Thurs., Oct. 11 with a driver training and evaluation session. There was classroom work that covered the fundamentals of performance driving. Later there was a reception at the Showboat Hotel and a thorough tech inspection of vehicles and all helmets and clothing.

On Friday, the group drove their cars at the regular speed limit to Ely, Nev. with stops at several key points to discuss the physics of cornering. An expert driver was on hand to offer his advice. Schmidt said the Nevada troopers hit the procession with radar four times in 90 miles to make sure the drivers were behaving.

When the racers arrived in Ely they were greeted by a citizens' reception.

Saturday included a tire inspection and a mandatory display of all cars.

Everyone rose at 5 a.m. Sunday following a restless night. Accompanied by a police escort the drivers proceeded from Ely to the race course starting line.

By 8:15 a.m. they were off, with pulse rates matching engine revs. The cars were started one minute apart- fastest cars first- to minimize passing.

After a few miles the drivers calmed somewhat and Schmidt settled in at a pace of 173 miles per hour on the straights, his speed dropping slightly on a few gentle corners.

"The most challenging part is the curves," he said. "You never sure exactly what you're going to becoming into."

Then, for seven miles of tight turns, the Maserati ran between 90 to 125 miles per hour. Then up to 173, slowing to 145 on the bends, then into a section of rough road. When the course became straighter, Schmidt touched 175 at one point, but slowed back to 173 to avoid exceeding the maximum allowable speed for his class.

While running at 155, Schmidt's Maserati hit an undulation, or a "ski jump" as the drivers call it, which sent the car airborne, but the suspension absorbed the brief moment in flight without bottoming out.

Next came a series of tight turns followed by a straighter section which allowed for some relaxation. At a section called "The Narrows," a series of close turns in a beautiful, high-walled rocky canyon, Schmidt's Italian machine turned in a smooth, 130 miles per hour.

Next came another rough section, again challenging the suspension, a few more turns, and a final sprint to the checkered flag. After handing in their timing cards and finding a place to park, the drivers were happy to shed their hot suits and helmets.

The Maserati averaged 152 miles per hour, not fast enough for a first-place trophy, but good enough for third in its class.

After the dust cleared, the cars paraded down Ely's main street to an awards banquet, which Schmidt said was held in front of city's most grandiose brothel. Refreshments were served.

The highest average speed in the unlimited class was 186 miles per hour. Michele Doria, a restaurant owner, hit 216 miles per hour in a souped-up Corvette.

Schmidt's next race is the La Carrera Classic, a 120-mile race next spring across the Mexican Baja Peninsula from Ensenada to San Felipe. There will be no class divisions in that race and it'll be pedal-to-the-metal for everyone.

Schmidt says he plans to compete in Mexico using his Porsche, which is capable of speeds more than 200 miles per hour.

Speed limits for these guys? Only a distant memory.