The Kumho Tires Grassroots Motorsports $2004 Challenge!

The People

The team

The Usual Suspects.
From left to right: Jeff Cody, Justin Hughes, Tom Huebner, Brian Austin, Dan Comly

This project could never have happened without the help of lots and lots of people. Here's who did what.

The Team

Dan Comly

Obviously this couldn't have even started if Dan hadn't bought the car and been insane enough to give it to the rest of us to tweak up and strip out for him. Dan began autocrossing his SW2 with SCCNH a couple of years ago. The bug bit, and he sold the wagon for a Miata. (Don't worry, there are still a number of Saturns within the family). He has already autocrossed the Miata a bit, and planned to put a roll bar in it to do high performance driving schools. But Dan is fairly tall, and would have problems getting his head underneath the roll bar that's required on convertibles. He started looking into getting a cheap winter beater that could double as a track car - something with a solid roof. After briefly considering a Civic hatchback, Senor Frog came along. The rest is history. Dan admits he isn't that much of a wrench, but the graphics were mainly his department. Though the plan for the Challenge has been very much a group discussion, the final word lies with him. Hey, it's his car.

Interesting Fact: The $2004 Challenge effort is partly Dan's way of celebrating his recent 50th birthday.

Tom Huebner

After discovering the joy of racing at the 2002 Carlisle Custom Compact Nationals, Tom has begun setting up his 1997 SC2 for competition. He has autocrossed with a few local clubs, and at the 2003 Saturn Performance Club Rally at the Saturn factory in Spring Hill, TN. During the Rally, Tom also won the award for the fastest normally aspirated Saturn at the drag strip. Tom did much of the wrenching on the car in preparation for the Challenge, and garaged the car at his house in Connecticut through much of the winter so that work could continue.

Interesting Fact: Tom is the only member of the team who does not currently own a Miata.

Justin Hughes

A good deal of Senor Frog's configuration was Justin's idea, based on his 8 years of autocross experience and 4 years of owning and working on Saturns. He also worked on the car a bit during weekends off from his job as an advanced driving instructor for teens. Though not the highest ranking Saturn autocrosser in SPOCNE, he is the most experienced one attending the Challenge, making him our ace-in-the-hole for the all important autocross event. But no pressure.

Interesting Fact: Justin is the only member of the team who does not currently own a Saturn. He is the only member of the team who owns a Civic, but we try not to hold that against him. Much.

Brian Austin

He's done it all - autocross, drag racing, working on the car, suggesting modifications, running around getting and delivering parts... His G-Tech proved useful in gauging just how much performance the Frog gained from start to finish. Brian's a jack of all trades, and has helped the team whenever and however his hectic work schedule has allowed him.

Interesting Fact: Brian (navigator) and Justin (driver) won novice class in the very first TSD rally they ever entered.

The Crew

These guys are good, but they couldn't do it alone. Help came from all over SPOCNE for this project, and we wish to recognize those involved.

  • Bill Bennert - The car!!!!!
  • Gary "Oldgoat" Brundrett - racing harness (ironically, one he bought from Justin a few years ago)
  • Jeff Cavins - 2.25" mandrel bent cat-back exhaust
  • Brenda Harnish - OEM 1991-1992 header
  • Aaron Lashua - Garage space, wrenching assistance, beer :)
  • Matt Shoop - OEM "sawtooth" 15" alloy wheels, custom alignment, wrenching assistance
  • Cris Thomas - OEM 1995 SC2 front seats

The Sponsors

Many many thanks to these people, companies, and friends of SPOCNE who helped with this project!

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