FFinale04

Fall Finale

LOUIS LOPEZ & NEIL SIMPSON TAKE TOP TWO SPOTS

JOE FUSTOLO, MATT STAS,

BRIAN STAS & MARK RUDNER

FINISH IN A DEAD HEAT FOR THIRD

BRIAN SEYMOUR WINS SPORTSMAN

OCTOBER 17, 2004 – WORCESTER, MA -Eighteen contestants were on hand for this, the sixteenth annual running of the Fall Finale Combat Tournament at Boynton Park in Worcester, Massachusetts. This contest was the fifteenth and final stop on this year’s New England Formula GX circuit, the end of the 2004 regular season. The weather was cool and breezy with temperatures toping out in the fifties.

Round one got off to a smooth start with several pilots posting good scores the four best of which belonged to Mark Rudner, Louis Lopez, Brian Seymour and Dick Sherman. Ken Hargreaves and Matt Stas were in close pursuit with 620 point scores of their own. Round two started with a match up between Mark and Louis that ended in a one cut apiece draw. In the next match Dick earned a one cut win over Brian Seymour. Going into round three it was Dick at 1345 points, Mark at 1240 points, Louis at 1235 points and a myriad of additional pilots within range. Round two started with a mid-air between Mark and Dick that hurt both their cumulative scores. In the next match Louis had to settle for an airtime win over Brian Stas, when the later crashed early in the match. Meanwhile Neil Simpson, Joe Fustolo, Jeff Vader and Roy Glenn all used good round three wins to move closer to the leaders. Going into the final round it was Louis (1750pts), Jeff (1650pts), Dick (1545pts), Neil (1535pts), Roy (1530pts) and Mark (1440pts). Five other pilots were sitting with scores in the 1300 cumulative point range, it was still anybody’s contest for the taking. Early in round four Matt Stas used a three cut win to become the clubhouse leader, finishing with 1950 points. Next, both Joe Fustolo and Brian Stas matched Matt’s cumulative total with one cut wins over Brian Seymour and Paul Kubek respectively. In the next match Neil Simpson and Mark Rudner flew to a one cut apiece draw giving Neil the contest lead at 2045 points and allowing Mark to to post the fourth cumulative total of 1950 points. The contest looked like it would be decided in the final two matches. The first of these matches, between Dick Sherman and Roy Glenn, ended in an early mid-air, dropping both pilots out of contention. In the final Louis Lopez and Jeff Vader squared off. There was good action early with Louis getting a cut, however, a mid air late cost Jeff a better finish and also limited Louis’ cumulative score. When the dust had settled Louis had just enough with 2055 points finishing ahead of Neil who accumulated 2045 points. Joe, Matt, Brian and Mark finished tied for third with 1950 points. Brian Seymour accumulated 1525 points getting the sportsman division win in the process.

Thanks go out to all the guys who shared the thankless job of co-judging the event. Gentlemen please know it’s appreciated. Also thanks to Roy Glenn and Louis Lopez, who made long trips, to make this contest better through their participation.

Fall Finale Combat Tournament -Formula GX Combat

18 contestants (13 from MA) (1 from CT) (2 from NH)

(1 from NJ) ( 1 from DE )

36 matches (7 mid-airs )

(E) Louis Lopez-Hockessin, DE