Matthew pulled off a big Production GT win in Pennsylvania this weekend in some slippery conditions. It rained hard all night before the race, and it was still coming down the morning of, though it stopped a few hours before the race began. However, the roads in the area are predominantly clay and shale, so they are
slick when wet, and they were
quite wet! The Stony Fork stage, which ends with a major stream crossing and is the most popular spectator location, was cancelled due to the rain. The maximum safe crossing depth is 8", and it was measured at 22".
MJ's win was not without drama. On Stage 2 he lost 3rd gear, but it didn't get stuck in 2nd like last time, so he was able to keep up a good pace. Then on Stage 3 he hit a bank and broke a control arm, losing more than a minute. Fortunately there was a service following Stage 3, and they were able to fix the control arm.
Here's where things really get interesting. Since Stage 4 (the stream crossing) was cancelled, that gave them 2 services back-to-back. They decided to use this double service to swap transmissions. Only trouble was the services were in different locations! So they started pulling the bad tranny out at the first service, then got a flat tow from PGT competitor Eric Langbein into town, where the longer service was, and they were able to complete the swap within the prescribed time. Interestingly, the transmission they swapped
in was one that MJ loaned to Langbein at the last event in Oregon, and Langbein had brought to STPR to return.
Back at full speed, he set about to making up lost time. Within 4 stages he had made up the minute deficit, and then some, helped by the fact that leader Tanner Foust hit a bank on Stage 8, bending
his control arm costing
him more than a minute.
On Stage 9, Matthew his another bank, bending his front control arm on the other side, and making the wheel rub against the bodywork. The stage ended up being thrown due to a serious crash by the brothers Sprongl from Canada (both were OK), so it all came down to the final stage, #10. Matthew, with his damaged suspension, had to defend a narrow 23-second lead over Foust (with his damaged suspension) and 34 seconds over Langbein (with good suspension).
MJ overcame the handicap, and he and Langbein tied, to the tenth of a second, on the stage, leaving him safe from that threat. But Tanner's suspension damage was worse, and he fell back another 30 seconds over the 10-mile stage, giving Matthew nearly a minute win over him.
With a little luck, in-car video from the event should be available on
Matthew's website by early next week. I'll keep y'all posted!
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He finished 14th overall at STPR in a car he said was pretty much decaying around him now. Amy Feistel (as in Anders and Amy) co-drove out west for Andrew last year in an Evo VIII where they finished 2nd overall. You can check out some of Andrew's shenanigans at 
Only difference was mine was a standing puddle (not running water) and I didn't know it was that deep. 
Sucks for the Jeep though, even though he's high enough that there probably wasn't much wrong afterwards. 