While racing in most of the country started months ago, the Northern Conference had to patiently wait for spring to open up its SCCA Majors Tour. It finally got under way Saturday at Blackhawk Farms Raceway in Illinios. Drivers in 25 classes started with 25-minute sprint races on Saturday, then 24-lap races of the 1.95-mile circuit on Sunday.
Spec Miata kicked off the sprint races with a big win by Voytek Burdzy in the No. 41 Advanced Autosport Mazda Miata. Burdzy started on pole, but fell behind Tom Brown’s No. 27 Advance Autosports Miata at the start.
Brown led the opening two laps, but downshifted into the wrong gear on lap three, losing the lead to Burdzy and nearly crossing up in front of the chain of cars behind him. Though Brown made the save for himself, Burdzy had an opening, and once in front was gone for a six-second win in the 18-lap race.
Michael Novak emerged from the pack of four behind Burdzy with his No. 9 Roush Caldwell Race Prep Miata in second place at the finish and Brown in third.
Jon Brakke opened his season with an E Production and overall runaway win in the No. 89 Margaret Peterson Bars Mazda Miata. He backed it up on Sunday with another victory.
After side-to-side contact with Michael Hart’s No. 36 Deefield Engineering Turner 1500 and Michael Sturm’s No. 48 Sturminator Design/Hoosier Mazda Miata at the start, Hart ran the opening laps in front of the F Production battle. Sturm stayed close, applying pressure lap after lap, until Hart spun on lap 14. With the opening, Sturm was able to get to the finish for the win.
Rich Walke kept his No. 61 Creative Technology Mazda RX-7 in front of the Super Touring Lite battle, but it took his full effort for the entire distance. Breton Williams’ No. 00 First Wealth Financial Group Mazda RX-7 was charging hard, looking for a way around.
Williams best opportunity may have been in Turn 1 at the end of the front straight, one of the prime passing spots on the track. That corner was covered for the last seven laps by a local yellow flag, however. Walke used that to his advantage for the STL win.
Jim Ebben was Sunday’s Touring 4 winner following a tough battle with Ralph Porter. Porter led early, but coming through the sweeping left hander was moved wide by an F Production car on the inside coming through. Ebben, just behind, used that opportunity to move his No. 8 Mazda/Hoosier/Lamers Racing Mazda RX-8 alongside Porter, and then outbraked him into the following turn to move in front. Once there, Ebben kept his Mazda on the point and took the checkered flag.
The Northern Conference Majors Tour continues May 30 – June 1 at the BFGoodrich® Tires Mid-Ohio Super Tour at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for Round Three and Four.
SCCA Northern Conference Majors Tour
Blackhawk Farms Raceway
South Beloit, Ill., May 3-4
Round 1 Mazda Winners
| Class | Driver | Hometown | Car |
| E Production | Jon Brakke | Fargo N.D. | Mazda Miata |
| F Production | Michael Sturm | Grafton Wis. | Mazda Miata |
| Formula Mazda | Brian Lift | Crestwood Ill. | Formula Mazda |
| GT-3 | George Cichon | Rockton Ill. | Mazda RX-7 |
| Super Touring Lite | Rich Walke | Hawthorn Woods Ill. | Mazda RX-7 |
| Spec Miata | Voytek Burdzy | Shiller Park Ill. | Mazda Miata |
Round 2 Mazda Winners
| Class | Driver | Hometown | Car |
| E Production | Jon Brakke | Fargo N.D. | Mazda Miata |
| F Production | Michael Sturm | Grafton Wis. | Mazda Miata |
| Formula Mazda | Brian Lift | Crestwood Ill. | Formula Mazda |
| Super Touring Lite | Rich Walke | Hawthorn Woods Ill. | Mazda RX-7 |
| Spec Miata | Voytek Burdzy | Shiller Park Ill. | Mazda Miata |
| Touring 4 | Jim Ebben | Appleton Wis. | Mazda RX-8 |