Genesis

Long visualized by team principle Roger Troxell, the foundations of the Casa de Amigos Racing solidified late one night around the kitchen table at the home of John and Elizabeth Burkhard. With the encouragement of the Burkhards, Troxell realized that his goal of bringing race-winning performance at an affordable price was within reach. More importantly, Roger, Beth and John recognized that a team based on mutual respect and a profound friendship could draw on the diverse talents of its members. Working as a team, the members could obtain results that, as individuals, would be out of reach.

Troxell had a vision of what he wanted to accomplish with the team. From his experience as a member of his stepfather’s factory Triumph team, Troxell understood that on-track performance begins with off-track excellence. Drawing on that background, plans were laid out and a strategy for the future arose.

The Team Takes to the Track

Perfection, however, takes time and it was 2005 before the seeds that were planted in 2001 saw the light of day. In April of that year, the first Casa de Amigos ITC Honda – piloted by John and supported by Roger and Beth – hit the pavement and placed 4th in the first MARRS Championship race of the year. It would be the worst finish of Casa de Amigos’ inaugural season. One month later, at Virginia International Raceway, the team took two wins and dominated the MARRS ITC field. By the end of that year, the Casa de Amigos team took one more victory, and finished on the podium a total of six times on its way to winning the 2005 MARRS ITC Championship. Four months later, John’s peers recognized his performance by awarding him the 2005 Paul H. Norair Trophy, given to the driver who showed the most improvement during the year.

That First Off Season

Even though the season had ended, the Amigos did not rest on their laurels during the off season. For 2006, Troxell intended to field cars for not only John, but for himself and Beth too. The team spent long hours preparing the three cars to Troxell’s exacting standard. To complicate matters, a fourth car for Jeff Janoska appeared late in the off season. Janoska, convinced that he lacked both the mechanical ability and the deep pockets needed to go race, underwent an intense lobbying effort that changed his mind. The lobbying effort highlights three aspects of why the Casa de Amigos team works so well together – their strong friendship, their ability to work together as a team and Troxell’s leadership.

2006: The Year of Amigos

From the moment the 2006 MARRS season began, Casa de Amigos Racing embodied an unstoppable force. Team drivers won the first 8 races of the season on their way towards placing first in all but one of the 2006 MARRS events. Casa de Amigos stood on a podium position in more than one-half of the available spots and, not only repeated as the 2006 MARRS ITC Champions, but also finished as the 2006 MARRS ITC Runner-up. Capping their season, the team traveled to Virginia International Raceway where it took a class victory in the grueling 2006 13-Hour Charge of the Headlight Brigade, an endurance race for sports cars and sedans. The 2006 Washington DC Awards Ceremony offered Casa de Amigos the chance to be recognized by their competitors. John Burkhard was, again, presented the ITC Champion’s Trophy. Beth Burkhard stood next to John to receive the 2006 ITC Runner-up Trophy. More importantly, Beth’s efforts were recognized by her co-racers when they awarded her the 2006 Paul H. Norair Trophy given to the driver who shows the most improvement during the year – the first time that spouses were awarded this trophy.

2007: Off-season

The team continued its off-season tradition of keeping the skills sharp by visiting Allsports Grand Prix on a weekly basis. The Amigos had discovered that the venue in Dulles, Virginia provided an excellent location to perfect their car control skills and hone their race craft. As it turned out, the time at Allsports Grand Prix not only improved the racing skills of the Amigos, but it also garnered them the support of the facility. As the off-season was ending, Allsports agreed to join the Amigos as their major sponsor. As 2007 began, the team once again expanded at the last minute with the addition of Martin Burk. Burk, a veteran driver and car developerer, saw the advantages of combining efforts with the Amigos. Burk brought yet another ITC Honda to the team’s stable.

2007: Amigos Dominate

With the checkered flag on the first 2007 MARRS race, it became apparent that Casa de Amigos had not softened in the off-season. On her way to winning the 2007 ITC MARRS Championship, Amiga Beth Burkhard took 4 class victories and stood on the podium in 7 of the 8 MARRS ITC races. Team Principal Roger Troxell took victories in 2 races and stood on the podium for all 4 races he challenged and Jeff Janoska placed third in the 2007 Championship. Rounding out the team’s accomplishments, Labor Day Weekend saw the debut of new member Gregg Ginsberg’s ITA CRX with a second place finish in the highly competitive MARRS ITA class. Ginsberg demonstrated that this was no fluke when he placed second in the final MARRS event of the season.

2008: Changing Priorities

The new season saw the Amigos change their focus towards car and driver development. Long-time ITC competitor John Burkhard sold his championship-winning ITC Honda CRX and began searching for his next challenge. Reigning ITC Champion Beth Burkhard decided she would not contest her championship and would, instead, focus on the June Sprints and MARRS races when the need to race was too great. Outside interests and demands led Martin to a year-long sabbatical. Jeff and Gregg trekked to Wisconsin over the winter to pick-up Jeff’s newly purchased ITB Honda CRX Si that would need sorting out. Ginsberg, though consistently fast, was still sorting out his new CRX. The only constants were Roger’s guiding hand and the support of Allsports. Despite the regrouping, the year was a success for the team. Ginsberg would be a constant front-runner in ITA the entire year, finishing on the podium in every race he contested and taking second in the 2008 MARRS ITA Championship. Janoska’s car would be sorted out by the final race and he managed to turn the second fastest ITB race lap – only one-tenth of a second off fastest lap.

2009 and Beyond:

The Amigos have big plans for the 2009 season. The team will campaign five full-time drivers, one more than the hectic 2007 season and two drivers intend to race part-time. The Amigos intend to bring home two championships in 2009. The team also is hard at work on a dedicated ITA endurance car which they hope to debut for the 2009 13-Hour Charge of the Headlight Brigade. The performance of The Amigos has left them with high standards to uphold. Greener and new pastures always await. Where those might be is not yet known, but the team is confident that the strengths behind the team – friendship, partnership and Troxell’s leadership – will make them winners.