Yulia Houghtaling
President
Yulia has a background in professional motorsports and international promotion at the highest level. With her family owned WRC team, ALM Rally. She is a law graduate of Moscow State University and worked in international event promotion as original singer of the popular Moscow pop band, Mobilnye Blondinki.
John Houghtaling
Founder
Houghtaling is an exotic car collector who has been producing Ferrari club events for a decade and a half. He cofounded the Louisiana Chapter of the FCA, along with New Orleans jeweler, Franco Valobra. John and Franco went on to produce the French Quarter Classic from 2000-2007, widely regarded in the national press as one of the best Ferrari events in the country. In 2006, John petitioned the FCA to write and organize club racing rules for Ferrari Challenge car owners and in 2008-2009, he organized 5 exhibition Challenge races with the FCA. In 2009, John founded what is now known as the Challenge Car Racing Championship, (previously referred to as the FCRA). The 12 race Championship debuted at Sebring in 2011, with 42 Ferrari Challenge cars on the grid, believed to be a record for the largest number of Ferraris in a North American race. Now in its second season, the CCR is comprised of over 90 Ferrari Challenge owners and exists as the largest group of Ferrari Challenge owners in the nation.
Peter Argetsinger
Chief Instructor
Peter Argetsinger is arguably one of the most well known and respected driving instructors of our time. Having begun his driving career over seas competing in British Formula Ford against some of the most notable names in racing history, Peter cut his teeth in the competitve environment with enormous success - winning championship and major races throughout Europe and the US. Peter also worked with Jackie Stewart on his corporate outings at Brands Hatch in England, and then went on to instruct thousands of private clients, inluding members of the House of Lords for UK celebrity races, former World Champion Damon Hill, and CART, Formula 1 and NASCAR driver Juan Pablo Montoya.
Experience: Grand-Am Rolex Series, KONI Challenge, American Le Mans, IRL, Indy Pro, FIA GT, PCA, PBOC, SCCA, HSR, SVRA, Historic GP, CHIN
Eric Van dE Poele
Instructor
Eric van dE Poele is a former F1 driver who has won nearly every major sports car race on the planet. Eric has two overall wins at Sebring, an overall win at Petit LeMans, 5 overall wins at the 24 Hours of Spa, and 3 time class wins at Le Mans. In addition to driving for Lamborghini Modena, Fondmetal F1 teams he is a past German Touring Car Champion and factory driver for Nissian, Cadillac and Bentley. Eric has a close racing connection with Ferrari, as a test driver for the development of
the F40 LM, winning Sebring overall in a 333SP, and driving 430GT2 for Risi Competizone and Krohn Racing, and most recently racing a 458GT2 at Spa. In the Ferrari Enzo based MC12 he clinched a record braking fifth win at the 24 hours of Spa.
Eric coaches and oversees driver and series development for CCR.
Mike Stahlschmidt
Photographer
Mike Stahlschmidt has worked in motorsports since the early 90's, as a driving instructor and as a race team marketing director, but most often as a credentialed photographer in series such as Formula One, DTM, Grand Am, Champ Car, IndyCar, ALMS, VLN and the Speed World Challenge. Stahlschmidt owns Sideline Sports Photography, an Official Supplier to Motor Trend, Audi Sport, Porsche and Grand Am, as well as for many race teams and motorsports sponsors. Mike and the Sideline Sports staff of five photographers work at race tracks 45+ weekends per year all across the globe. Offering mobile photography display and sales via a veritable mobile studio trailer, Sideline provides services to the CCR that no other photography company can. When not photography racing, Stahlschmidt is the Official Photographer for the US National and Olympic Soccer Teams Players Association. This summer's London Olympic games will be Michael's fifth straight Olympics, a feat accomplished by only a handful of other photographers, world wide. Michael and his wife, fellow CCR photographer Leslie, reside in Chicago when they are not on the road in their motor coach.
Melissa Pierce
Corporate Secretary
Melissa Pierce is the longtime executive assistant of John Houghtaling, having worked with him for 10 years. Melissa is a highly skilled event professional, having organized over 120 local and national fundraising events which have grossed over 8 million dollars for charitable and political events. Melissa also was instrumental in the organization and implementation of nearly every Ferrari French Quarter Classic and was the director and coordinator of the 2011 FCRA/CCR Championship.
Yulia Houghtaling
John Houghtaling
Franco Valobra
Elio Giulione
Peter Spinella
Peter Argetsinger
Peter Argetsinger
Challenge Car Racing, LLC
3500 North Hullen Street
Metairie, Louisiana 70002
Telephone: 504.559.6100
E-mail: Melissa Pierce
contact@challengeclubracing.com