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STUCK WINS NEW BEETLE CUP

© Bonnie Quick

The New Beetle Cup made its American Debut last weekend at Road Atlanta, September 28-30, as part of the American LeMans Petit LeMans experience. World class drivers drove especially prepared New Beetles in a contest designed to amuse the crowd and raise money for a worthy charity. Hans-Joachim Stuck, Bill Adam,Hurley Haywood, Scott Sharp,Danny Sullivan and a host of other well known drivers,sports writers and celebrities Perry King and Tim Allen, suited up for the event.

The race started out with a field that resembled a handful of M&M's all rounded and colorful in red, blue, green and yellow. As the checkered flag went down, they came across the finish line in a group as serious as any other racers,to wide grins on the faces of the spectators.

Lap one proved a problem for Perry King who wound up in the Kitty Litter and the rest of the field went yellow. At re-start, coming off turn twelve, Stephen Cox and Hurley Haywood contacted in a spectacular crash just short of the start/finish line and wound up in the wall. Thankfully the drivers walked away, unhurt, but the cars were hauled off looking a lot less than super, in a tangle of red and blue.

Since it was timed race, of only half an hour, these two incidents did not leave a lot of time for racing, but the last few laps were exciting as Hans Stuck quietly and steadily gained the front of the pack, followed closely by Jack Baldwin and Bill Adam who came in second and third.

On the podium, the smiles of the drivers spoke volumes. They all said they felt like kids again and hadn't had so much fun racing for a long time. The fans felt the same way. Stuck was his characteristic self and smiled broadly as he said."The cars were so equal in preparation that I just got in a rode full out."

Baldwin grinned broadly and said, "A green Beetle is my daughter's favorite car, so this is for her."

And, a check for $100,000.00 was presented to the Shepherd Center, a specialty hospital founded in 1975 by Harold and Alana Shepherd as a six bed unit for the care of victims of catastrophic spinal cord and brain injuries, multiple sclerosis and other neuromuscular or urological disorders.

All during the weekend, in a special paddock area, the fans were treated to the opportunity to ride in a new Beetle Car or take an interactive ride in a racing simulator, with all proceeds going to the charity.