The second race on the IGSA calendar in 2009 is The Graveyard Call.
Organised after the cancellation of Almabtrieb, not much was known about the road by most racers on the tour.
Argonnay is the main village that the road goes through. Located 40 min from Geneva. The race is called the Graveyard Call because the road ends near the cemetery where there is a final big corner that should be the demise of most racers.
The track starts out very narrow at only about 4 meters (12′) in width and works it’s way through dense forrest. There is a long straightaway followed by a tight left hand hairpin. After the hairpin there is another straightaway followed by a high speed right hand sweeper. This is followed by hard ninety degree left and two more hairpin corners, and series of esses that take you by a cemetary and finally a hard, ninety degree left that sends you onto the finish straight.
(above) Jacko speed check going into a hairpin
Qualifying
The course is a combination of speed and technical corners.
Team Orangatang again displayed their death defying skills by using standup speed checks into the corners.
(above) James Kelly floating on air with a little help from some sticky orange stuff
Orangatang partners in crime Louis Pilloni and James Kelly qualified one and two
1. Louis Pilloni, USA, 2:08.451
2. James Kelly, USA 2:09.155
3. Martin Siegrist, SUI, 2:09.492
4. Christoph Batt, SUI, 2:11.505
5. Mischo Erban, CAN, 2:11.702
6. Patrick Switzer, CAN, 2:12.414
7. Scott Smith, CAN, 2:12.843
8. Robert Nicholas, SUI, 2:13.333
9. Stefan Ruefli, SUI, 2:13.512
10. Yvon Labarthe, SUI, 2:13.789
The fastest Aussie was Corey Leeson. Showing that he has been working on his hairpin cornering during the off season.
Race Day
Due to the narrow course, a two man format was used, bring a new dimension to this event.
After some epic racing, the final race was between Scoot and Mischo. Scoot edging out Mischo in a close race. Read about race day and all the drama on Marcus’ race report (link below)
Top Eight Results
1. Scott “Scoot” Smith, Canada
2. Mischo Erban, Canada
3. Nicolas Robert, Switzerland
4. Patrick Switzer, Canada
5. James Kelly, United States
6. Louis Pilloni, United States
7. Christoph Batt, Switzerland
8. Boris Schinke, Germany
Aussie results
17. Corey “leeso” Leeson
19. Jackson “Jacko” Shapiera
26. Adam “yatesy” Yates – riding for Canada in this race
28 Ashley “Ash” Donaldson
Racers we claim as our own
13. Aussie Ramon Konigshausen
46. Eddie Spearing – racing for the NZ province
Other news
Marcus in his race report said
The race was halted for nearly on hour when Nathan Aveyard (AUS) crashed on the top section of the course in his first round heat and suffered a severly broken collerbone. Aveyard actually got up after his crash and completed the run before receiving medical attention. He was undergoing surgery at the hospital in Annecy on Sunday night.
We will find out more on Nathan’s condition tomorrow.
Race Reports
IGSA race report on the final
IGSA Race Report on the qualifyings
