Can 458 Evo's race in 2016 CCR and Maranello Cup?

yes to question one. I will defer to others concerning the second one

 

I can speak from experience as I run the Porsche series with these guys and plan on doing some Ferrari races this coming season. Compared to CCR this is much more fun. A lot less of a dictatorship, more of a family friendly party . Everybody is there to have a good time , not be a half ass Ferrari challenge series like CCR. I have no affiliation other then good experiences with the staff. Yes you can run any spec 458 in the group, I have already confirmed this although there may be different awards for winning in an evo car. Anyone interested should get in touch with Ken Fengler, super nice guy and I promise you after speaking with him you will want to check out an event.

 

To be fair to both series, it is probably too early to have this discussion.

Jerome is correct that 458 evo's can race in both series.

Maranello Cup has had it's first race at Sebring last December with 5 Ferraris (3-458's, 1-430, and 1-355). The Ferraris run with the Porsches in the Stuttgart cup. Friends who went enjoy racing against the much larger Porsche field.

While CCR has hosted over 60 races since 2011, Joe Foster has been hired as series manager for 2016. It is going to take some time for Joe to implement all of the changes he has planned. CCR has changed the race weekend to a 3 day format to include a Friday practice day in addition to 2 races, qualifying and practice on Sat and Sun. Except for the first race with partner David Murry, CCR will have its own run groups. CCR Membership includes OMP race suit shoes gloves etc. Nice benefit.

Options are great to have. Both series seem to be committed to providing a better experience for challenge drivers. Each will need time to make it happen.

 

I've raced both (won the first three races in maranello cup in 458 at Sebring) and also run Ferrari Challenge now. CCR is a joke the way it's dictated by John and he's lost numerous drivers over the years. They're so desperate for driver count they're calling all the old teams and drivers trying to get people to race. They even called me and I'd never race with them agains and know a dozen others who feel the same way. Maranello Cup will likely turn out to be a far bigger series because it's ran side by side with a legit Porsche series with big car counts. It was a ton of fun racing the Porsches at the same time. It's also a real race series vs. CCR which is supposed to be more of a just go have fun and protect the cars series. If ur serious about really racing, Maranello Cup or Ferrari Challenge is the place to race these cars

 

At the risk of feeding the troll. Here goes: Chuck rotaryswinggolf ran one event in CCR. After getting his butt handed to him, he protested all the 3600s that beat him, including CCR veterans Bruce Ledoux, Peter Catellana, and Ken Matin who he accused publically of cheating. He smashed into CCR veteran Ken Martin who he could not pass safety. And then misrepresented his dyno results to try to account for his poor performance. His team manager and coach asked subsequently if he was welcome back and I told them no unless he matured as a driver and could act as a gentleman. Since then he has continued to bad mouth and troll CCR and promote running with a mix of cars in other series. His criticisms are untrue and unfair and modivated by him being ousted.

We've hosted over 50 Ferrari challenge races over 8 years with a great safety record and a great grid count. Ken Fengler ran out CCR races in '11 and '12. (It's great that he's allowing Ferraris to run with his Porsches and I wish him luck, more). CCRs mission is unique we host the only venue exclusively for vintage Ferrari Challenge cars. We have an annual budget of over half a million dollars. Iv subsidize the series by hundreds of thousands over the year to keep costs down. The series is not run for profit. It was envisioned as a Ferrari challenge series that could be run as a gentlemen series with an emphasis on preserving the vintage Ferrari challenge cars. Yes we are heavy handed about overly competitive drivers, Drivers with bad attitudes and car contact.

Chuck is correct that CCR is not the series for you if competition is your main goal. It is more about preserving the cars. And running with comraderie and fun. We don't run with other cars. only Ferrari challenge cars. While competition is not our main goal. Competitors who run safely and as gentlemen are welcome. No less than 4 past 430 Challenge champions, Alfred Ciola '12, Joe Rubbo '13, Martin Burrows '14, and Peter Castellana '15 are taking the grid at our first race at Sebring. With large corporate sponsorships this year, we have the largest budget than in the 8 years we've done this. And Joe Foster, who was partners with Patrick Dempsey, is running the series. Joe has hit the ground running with great communication with the drivers.

If you are interested in the grid counts, what the series looks like there are videos of the races and photos that can be found on the websites from the last years.

I'm a busy guy and I'm not going to respond the the snipes of someone I have very little respect for as a person or a competitor, and I'm leaving this thread. I've spent a lot of time and money over the year subsidizing a hobby for over 70 Ferrari challenge owners over the years. Not for profit or any other motive other than to create something great. And over the years we have proven naysayers wrong. Very few people have an agenda who have participated. But if you do something long enough I assume this will happen.

My advice for Chuck is to move on pal. You apparently have other places you are happy with so go there.

 

As usual John spouts lies. Anyone that goes on the attack like this looks pretty guilty In my opinion. Enter at your own risk. Ask jim booth how he feels about it

 

F Challenge is put on by Ferrari itself and each dealer can operate a team. Ferrari North America operates the series here in the US, but you can race in Europe and Asia as well. It's on an entirely different level in terms of competition and quality of the way the series is operated. We just raced at Daytona as a support race for the Rolex 24hr, we are also the support race for the Montreal F1 race. If you're serious about racing a Ferrari, it is the best place to run. There's no cheating allowed so it's not like the BS you see in CCR with hopped up ECU's etc. They check everything, camber, wing angle, ecu, weight, etc. It's a proper race series and there is a pro class with guys who run PWC, Blancpain, etc. There's an abundance of talent in the upper two classes, but if you're new, there's also a Coppa Shell class that requires no experience.

 

I'm not sure why some people can't just appreciate one race series without trashing another. Some people can enjoy Marnaello Cup and appreciate the fun of racing against both Ferraris and Porsches; some can appreciate the Ferrari Factory Challenge series and appreciate racing against the very fastest latest most sophisticated Ferraris in luxurious style (while spending $500k-$1M in annual expenses); some prefer HSR or SVRA; some like club races; some prefer CCR; Some race in multiple series. Its all good.

Having experienced several of these race series, I can say that the trashing of CCR by one person (and its virtually always the same one person) is simply incorrect, uncalled for and unwarranted. CCR may not be perfect for everyone. Its true that there is no banging and bumping allowed and if that's your definition of "real racing" than you are better off racing someplace else. This is a group of people who work to afford their hobby. And it's true that CCR has been established and is operated as a gentleman series run by those who race. People give their word (and sign a piece of paper) that their car is stock - as opposed to the very detailed inspections that go on in some series. (I'm not aware of a single case of cheating in CCR, although there once was one (and only one) accusation of cheating by the same one person who periodically trashes CCR - which, after inspection, turned out to be totally false. That individual accuser has now moved onto another series more to his liking. That's ok. It is win-win.

For me, CCR has proven to be a great group of gentlemen racers who respect and actually like each other - and enjoy racing multiple classes of Ferrari simultaneously (355s, 360s, 430s and now 458s (with Aero). I enjoy other series too - and sometimes participate. But CCR is unique, awesome to watch, and a blast to participate with. The people are great, they race on some of the the best tracks in the country - and do so in a way that is relatively affordable - and they have fun. But its not for everyone.

Some people like to bang and bump when racing - let them go where that's the norm. Its their right. Some people don't particularly care about the concept of gentlemen racers, or gentlemen in general - that's ok - let them let them go where they like. But there is no reason to trash CCR - its a fun, clean affordable, all-Ferrari race series that is run by the racers, has been going on for six years and a bunch of people do quite enjoy.

 

Ken has four posts on here. He only pipes in when John calls on him to defend the series and is one of the few that will remain with CCR. just watch the car count this year and that will tell you everything you need to know. The proof is in the pudding

 

I agree that the proof in the pudding and what you do not the keyboard warrior. Our record speaks for itself. Franco Valobra and I have hosted over 100 Ferrari non profit events in the last 20 years. For the last 8 years the Ferrari challenge racing organization has hosted over 50 Ferrari Challenge races, with consistent full grids each year. All of it was non profit events with no agenda other than a good time with gentleman Ferrari enthusiasts. And over those two decades I've met wonderful people and developed the closest friendships of my life. Chuck Quiniton, who began racing in '14, and attended one event, was the only member in all of those years who managed to get banned from one of our events, and has spent his free time trolling us ever since.

If anyone is interested in the past, present or future of the series you can visit the website on the web or contact our president Joe Foster.

I will now head advice of the emails I've been receiving from our members today and stop feeding the Troll. The fact I have been baited thus far is a tad embarrassing as it is.

Good luck racing in other series Chuck. I hope you learn not to allow your ego to endanger yourself and that the purpose of gentlemen racing is to enjoy relationships with the people you do it with.

 

Lol!!! Ur so funny John. Only you take yourself seriously. We both know the truth about your reputation so let's not play games here. Yes my poor driving you seem continue to mention qualified me 2nd at Daytona this week with Ferrari Challenge, so clearly I have no idea what I'm doing lol

 

Gents, put the handbags down, this is not FC style.
I´ve been organising race events in europe for several years in a row and it took lots of time, money and personal risk to create this series. I pull my hat for everyone who´s got the balls to give a bunch of amateur racers the platform to race their beloved cars.
Please, live and let live. And keep racing!

 

I have, more than once, forgotten what it means to be able to wake up on any morning and be at any race track anywhere and get to drive something as amazing as a Ferrari around it, in any series......its very easy to get lost in the minutiae of this incredibly challenging business. But I do know that what makes a champion is how one responds when things are going poorly, not when they're going well. And that no benefit will ever come from the time wasted denigrating someones team or series etc..that is just wasted time improving yourself or your process.

Racing is a cruel business and filled with bad luck and highly educated guesses that win or lose. But taking the risks and putting yourself out there is part of what makes this sport so awesome. John and Yulia have spent years on CCR, held so many great events.....and yes actually sponsored everybody in CCR to some degree (trust me I've seen the books!) And, like any series that's lasted this long, there have been mostly good days and a few very bad days.

I have come to manage the CCR Series with the blessing, or curse, of very little emotional connection to the past seasons, people and agendas and just a strong desire to use my experience to make these events great. Its my job, everyday, to analyze each minute that a CCR racer is at an event and do what I can pre, during and post that event to make sure that he/she is safe, having fun, learning something and that the value received from the weekend exceeds expectations.

So, I admit, all the arm waving and finger pointing about this or that series is just lost on me, white noise. Conjecture about the future? White noise. What I DO know is that the CCR events in 2016 will be, due to the investments by John and Yulia, run by a small but dedicated group of professionals who have been doing this a long time. Will they be perfect? Probably not, nobody can claim that.....but there is money, experience, talent and desire being poured into this series that is undeniable. So I know what direction its going.

But if you own a Ferrari and you get to drive on any race track in any series anywhere this year then you're one of the luckiest people ever and I encourage you to go and race at any event that makes sense to your objectives, your logistics and your budget. Now back to work.

 

Agreed! Once heard the line, "the slowest guy in the slowest car on race day is having more fun than anyone in the stands".

 

Enjoy the learning, your plan is great.....keep your wallet in your front pocket for a while and enjoy your car

 

Three classes now? I know there was TP and CS, but what's the new one?