This time next week, we will be in the midst of the second practice session for the Speed Touring Cars.  I am leaving the Atlanta area on Monday and stopping in to see RikWriter for breakfast Tuesday morning.  

Will arrive at the SCCA compound about 1500 or so on Tuesday and set up the camper, including my DishTV.

Will try to keep everyone updated with my laptop, depending on how good a signal I get.  I hope Sebring has EVDO, but don't know for sure.

I will, of course, post photos as I am able, again depending on what kind of speed I have on my air card.

Be sure to watch on Saturday, the 18th, on Speed.  They will have all 12 hours on.  I will be working turns 14 and 15 so if something happens there, y'all will know I am then having fun.

If anyone is interested, you can go here to see our schedule:

www.cfrscca.org/notices/PW0306.pdf

This is the one we are issued, it's not the one the spectators get.  It is, as usual, subject to change and it usually does.

bump

All right!


It's about time the real sports cars get into action.

I don't think I've been more excited to see a racecar to premier than the R10.



We're expecting lots of pics Larry.

Quoted: All right! It's about time the real sports cars get into action. I don't think I've been more excited to see a racecar to premier than the R10. We're expecting lots of pics Larry.

Don't I always.

It will be very interesting to see how that R10 sounds.  I'll find out between 1015 and 1115 next Wednesday.

Well,the fun starts at 0800 in the morning.  Looks like I will be running Turn 14 by myself until Saturday, which is fine with me.  Sitting in my camper watching the previously recorded "In Harm's Way" while the local news (Atlanta) is recording.

I will try to upload some pics tommorrow night but this air card is kinda slow.  Gotta get up at 0600, corner meeting at 0700.

Can't wait to see the R10 in the morning.

Hey, when the Penskes have their back turned, hop into that new Porsche and take it for a spin.

Larry, is the Audi R10 going to be there?  I think I heard it was using Sebring as a warmup to Lemans, but I wasn't positive.  I'm curious as to how its diesel will do.

Do it for Us poor stiffs up North where it's still Winter
I'll be lookin' for Ya on Speed channel, since it's 'sposed to maybe snow, & I was gonna go sighting-in the new 16" carbine. Guess I'll be staying home & reoading with one eye on the TV.

The Ol' Crew Chief

Hmm.. The Porshes and the R10s are slower than I expected, so far.


Wednesday afternoon's results
1 #1 LMP1 Biela/Pirro/Werner 1:48.598 (122.654 mph) Audi R10/TDI Power.
2 #16 LMP1 Weaver/Leitzinger/Wallace 1:49.117 (122.071 mph) +0.519 Lola B06/10/AER
3 #2 LMP1 Capello/Kristensen/McNish 1:49.153 (122.031 mph) +0.555 Audi R10/TDI Power.
4 #20 LMP1 Dyson/G.Smith 1:49.415 (121.738 mph) +0.817 Lola B06/10/AER.
5 #37 LMP2 C.Field/Halliday/J.Field 1:49.732 (121.387 mph) +1.134 Lola B05 40/AER.
6 #7 LMP2 Bernhard/Dumas/Long 1:51.293 (119.684 mph) +2.695 Porsche RS Spyder.
7 #9 LMP1 Dayton/Knoop/Fisken 1:51.974 (118.956 mph) +3.376 Lola EX257/AER.
8 #33 LMP2 Barazi/Vergers/Julian 1:53.865 (116.981 mph) +5.267 Courage C65/AER.
9 #41 LMP2 Binnie/Timpany/Sutherland 1:56.306 (114.525 mph) +7.708 Lola B05 40/Zytek.
10 #3 GT1 Fellows/O'Connell/Papis 1:56.636 (114.201 mph) +8.038 Corvette C6.R.
11 #4 GT1 Gavin/Beretta/Magnussen 1:56.853 (113.989 mph) +8.255 Corvette C6.R.
12 #007 GT1 Enge/Kiesa/Turner 1:57.300 (113.555 mph) +8.702 Aston Martin DBR9.
13 #009 GT1 Bright/Lamy/Sarrazin 1:57.513 (113.349 mph) +8.915,Aston Martin DBR9.
14 #8 LMP2 Bach/Cosmo/Matos 1:58.282 (112.612 mph) +9.684 Courage C65/Mazda.
15 #26 GT1 Ruberti/Babini/J.Davies 2:03.092 (108.212 mph) +14.494 Saleen S7R.
16 #50 GT2 Maxwell/Brabham/Bourdais 2:03.299 (108.030 mph) +14.701 Panoz Esperante GTLM/Ford.
17 #51 GT2 Jeannette/Milner/Janqueira 2:03.706 (107.675) +15.108 Panoz Esperante GTLM/Ford.
18 #62 GT2 Kelleners/Melo/Lazzaro 2:04.166 (107.276 mph) +15.568 Ferrari 430 GT Berllinetta.
19 #25 GT1 Weickardt/ Borcheller/TBA 2:04.200 (107.246 mph) +15.602 Saleen S7R.
20 #21 GT2 Auberlen/Hand/James 2:04.635 (106.872 mph) +16.037 BMW E46 M3.
21 #45 GT2 van Overbeek/Fogarty/Lieb 2:05.434 (106.191 mph) +16.836,Porsche 911 GT3 RSR.
22 #86 GT2 Bleekemolen/Hezemans 2:05.755 (105.920 mph) +17.157 Spyker C8 Spyder/Audi.
23 #22 GT2 Marks/Sellers/Jensen 2:06.216 (105.533 mph) +17.618,BMW E46 M3.
24 #23 GT2 Rockenfeller/Graf/Rahal 2:06.303 (105.461 mph) +17.705,Porsche 911 GT3 RSR.
25 #85 GT2 Kox/Crevels 2:06.539 (105.264 mph) +17.941 Spyker C8 Spyder/Audi.
26 #31 GT2 J.Bergmeister/T.Bergmeister/Jonsson 2:06.713 (105.119 mph) +18.115 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR.
27 #55 GT2 Ehret/Nielsen/Farnbacher 2:07.824 (104.206 mph) +19.226,Porsche 911 GT3 RSR.
28 #78 GT2 Pumpelly/Thornton/Patterson 2:09.318 (103.002 mph) +20.720 19 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR.
29 #56 GT2 Vonka/Casadei/McCormick 2:19.743 (95.318 mph) +31.145 16 laps Porsche 911 GT3 RS.
30 #12 LMP1 Lewis/McMurry/Willman 4:38.786 (47.779 mph) +2:50.188 5 laps Lola EX257/AER.
31 #6 LMP2 Maassen/Luhr/Collard no time Porsche RS Spyder.
32 #10 LMP2 Lally/Gue/A.Davis no time Courage C65/AER.
33 #44 GT2 Law/Neiman/Pechnik no time Porsche 911 GT3 RSR.
34 #79 GT2 Sugden/Matthews/Henzler no time Porsche 911 GT3 RSR.
35 #80 GT2 Tomlinson/Dean/Kimber-Smith Panoz Esperante GTLM ALMS

Quoted: Larry, is the Audi R10 going to be there?  I think I heard it was using Sebring as a warmup to Lemans, but I wasn't positive.  I'm curious as to how its diesel will do.

They are here.  They sure do not sound like a diesel, none of the clatter that one associates with diesels.  They sound pretty much like the other cars, just not as many RPMs.

Anyway, it's been a long day and a longer day coming up on Thursday.  We will be on station from 0800 until 2100 due to night practice.

I got some good pictures today and will post them when I get home.  The air card is way too slow to upload them.

Aw c'mon. Are you trying to make everybody believe there's some kind of racing other than nascar?

Old fart here.  I worked (as a kid) the ('68?,'69?,'70?) Sebring where McQueen, Dan Gurney, & Paul Newman all drove.  Met a few drivers, too. Francois Cevert...who was super nice and down-to-earth with us kids.  RIP, though.  About two years later, "Bobby Deerfield"...the Pacino racing movie came out and there were a LOT of little crosses next to the names of drivers that had been in the movie.  
Enjoy your time there.  Stay safe

Quoted: Aw c'mon. Are you trying to make everybody believe there's some kind of racing other than nascar?

Nascar  ain't racing, it's pro rasslin' on wheels.

I attended this race several years in a row back in the mid-90's.  This is the best racing out there IMHO....A true balance of technology and driving skill.  Can't wait to see the pictures!

Quoted: I attended this race several years in a row back in the mid-90's.  This is the best racing out there IMHO....A true balance of technology and driving skill.  Can't wait to see the pictures!

This is my 21st consecutive year of working corners for this race.

Nascar  ain't racing, it's pro rasslin' on wheels.

Keep an eye on Fellows in the C6R for me. He's a local Toronto guy I remember from way back.

Larry, please pot photos if you can, those of us who can't go still love to see the action.


Thanks, C.M.

Can't wait. Always enjoyed watching Sebring.

Quoted: Larry, please post photos if you can, those of us who can't go still love to see the action. Thanks, C.M.

I will, believe me.  Corner meeting at 0700 in the morning.  Catch y'all later.

We just did morning warmup in the fog.  Neat pics.  Will post them with the others.  Right now the vintage cars are doing their parade laps.  2 hours to go before the start.

We just did the driver parade laps in convertibles.  One of the drivers mooned the crowd!  The tower was not happy.

10 minutes til engine start.

Let's get this thing started.

Doing final course check now.  It's been a long 3 days but now the fun begins.

Oh, the Budweiser Clydesdales are here.  Some magnificent horses.  Unfortunately I did not have my camera when saw them.

Pace lap starting.  Gotta go.  Will be back later.

Quoted: All right! It's about time the real sports cars get into action. I don't think I've been more excited to see a racecar to premier than the R10. We're expecting lots of pics Larry.

+1

Racing season just got under way for me !!!


Have fun down there Larry...

Quoted: Hmm.. The Porshes and the R10s are slower than I expected, so far. Wednesday afternoon's results 1 #1 LMP1 Biela/Pirro/Werner 1:48.598 (122.654 mph) Audi R10/TDI Power. 2 #16 LMP1 Weaver/Leitzinger/Wallace 1:49.117 (122.071 mph) +0.519 Lola B06/10/AER 3 #2 LMP1 Capello/Kristensen/McNish 1:49.153 (122.031 mph) +0.555 Audi R10/TDI Power. 4 #20 LMP1 Dyson/G.Smith 1:49.415 (121.738 mph) +0.817 Lola B06/10/AER. 5 #37 LMP2 C.Field/Halliday/J.Field 1:49.732 (121.387 mph) +1.134 Lola B05 40/AER. 6 #7 LMP2 Bernhard/Dumas/Long 1:51.293 (119.684 mph) +2.695 Porsche RS Spyder. 7 #9 LMP1 Dayton/Knoop/Fisken 1:51.974 (118.956 mph) +3.376 Lola EX257/AER. 8 #33 LMP2 Barazi/Vergers/Julian 1:53.865 (116.981 mph) +5.267 Courage C65/AER. 9 #41 LMP2 Binnie/Timpany/Sutherland 1:56.306 (114.525 mph) +7.708 Lola B05 40/Zytek. 10 #3 GT1 Fellows/O'Connell/Papis 1:56.636 (114.201 mph) +8.038 Corvette C6.R. 11 #4 GT1 Gavin/Beretta/Magnussen 1:56.853 (113.989 mph) +8.255 Corvette C6.R. 12 #007 GT1 Enge/Kiesa/Turner 1:57.300 (113.555 mph) +8.702 Aston Martin DBR9. 13 #009 GT1 Bright/Lamy/Sarrazin 1:57.513 (113.349 mph) +8.915,Aston Martin DBR9. 14 #8 LMP2 Bach/Cosmo/Matos 1:58.282 (112.612 mph) +9.684 Courage C65/Mazda. 15 #26 GT1 Ruberti/Babini/J.Davies 2:03.092 (108.212 mph) +14.494 Saleen S7R. 16 #50 GT2 Maxwell/Brabham/Bourdais 2:03.299 (108.030 mph) +14.701 Panoz Esperante GTLM/Ford. 17 #51 GT2 Jeannette/Milner/Janqueira 2:03.706 (107.675) +15.108 Panoz Esperante GTLM/Ford. 18 #62 GT2 Kelleners/Melo/Lazzaro 2:04.166 (107.276 mph) +15.568 Ferrari 430 GT Berllinetta. 19 #25 GT1 Weickardt/ Borcheller/TBA 2:04.200 (107.246 mph) +15.602 Saleen S7R. 20 #21 GT2 Auberlen/Hand/James 2:04.635 (106.872 mph) +16.037 BMW E46 M3. 21 #45 GT2 van Overbeek/Fogarty/Lieb 2:05.434 (106.191 mph) +16.836,Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. 22 #86 GT2 Bleekemolen/Hezemans 2:05.755 (105.920 mph) +17.157 Spyker C8 Spyder/Audi. 23 #22 GT2 Marks/Sellers/Jensen 2:06.216 (105.533 mph) +17.618,BMW E46 M3. 24 #23 GT2 Rockenfeller/Graf/Rahal 2:06.303 (105.461 mph) +17.705,Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. 25 #85 GT2 Kox/Crevels 2:06.539 (105.264 mph) +17.941 Spyker C8 Spyder/Audi. 26 #31 GT2 J.Bergmeister/T.Bergmeister/Jonsson 2:06.713 (105.119 mph) +18.115 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. 27 #55 GT2 Ehret/Nielsen/Farnbacher 2:07.824 (104.206 mph) +19.226,Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. 28 #78 GT2 Pumpelly/Thornton/Patterson 2:09.318 (103.002 mph) +20.720 19 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. 29 #56 GT2 Vonka/Casadei/McCormick 2:19.743 (95.318 mph) +31.145 16 laps Porsche 911 GT3 RS. 30 #12 LMP1 Lewis/McMurry/Willman 4:38.786 (47.779 mph) +2:50.188 5 laps Lola EX257/AER. 31 #6 LMP2 Maassen/Luhr/Collard no time Porsche RS Spyder. 32 #10 LMP2 Lally/Gue/A.Davis no time Courage C65/AER. 33 #44 GT2 Law/Neiman/Pechnik no time Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. 34 #79 GT2 Sugden/Matthews/Henzler no time Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. 35 #80 GT2 Tomlinson/Dean/Kimber-Smith Panoz Esperante GTLM ALMS

Pre race pit reporter says McNish broke the track record by 2 seconds.....

The Audi R10 diesel.......

I'm curious just how the French are going to try to stack the rules against Audi this year at LeMans.....

We just finished up with track cleanup.   Will post pics when I get home.

Quoted: We just finished up with track cleanup.   Will post pics when I get home.

Awesome, looking forward to them.....

Quoted: I'm curious just how the French are going to try to stack the rules against Audi this year at LeMans.....

They probably wont, since Peugot has announced they are going to bring their own diesel to LeMans in 07'.

They are just going to give Audi a pass this year and then worry about changing the rules after they see what Peugeot needs to win...

Quoted: Quoted: I'm curious just how the French are going to try to stack the rules against Audi this year at LeMans..... They probably wont, since Peugot has announced they are going to bring their own diesel to LeMans in 07'. They are just going to give Audi a pass this year and then worry about changing the rules after they see what Peugeot needs to win...

Good point.......

Just got home.  Will post pics by Tuesday.

Hey Larry how did that diesel sound out on the track ??? Dorsey Schroeder said they could hardly hear it in the TV booth, they also said there was no smoke or exhaust to be seen at all.....

Quoted: Hey Larry how did that diesel sound out on the track ??? Dorsey Schroeder said they could hardly hear it in the TV booth, they also said there was no smoke or exhaust to be seen at all.....

When it went by all you heard was a whoosh!  It was very stealthy.

Are they able to get more mileage, go further between pit stops?

Quoted: Quoted: Hey Larry how did that diesel sound out on the track ??? Dorsey Schroeder said they could hardly hear it in the TV booth, they also said there was no smoke or exhaust to be seen at all..... When it went by all you heard was a whoosh!  It was very stealthy.

Audi claimed before the raise that unlike every other car, they were actually going to meet the noise level limit that has previously been unenforced.

Their goal wasn't only speed, but fuel efficiency, reliabilty, quietness, and no smoke!

I've never seen an ALMS race in person, but I talked to a guy who has and he said they really really loud...

Quoted: I've never seen an ALMS race in person, but I talked to a guy who has and he said they really really loud...

What? huh?  Can't hear you for all the noise.

Quoted: Quoted: I've never seen an ALMS race in person, but I talked to a guy who has and he said they really really loud... What? huh?  Can't hear you for all the noise.

Are your ears still ringing ???

Okay, just a few quick pics for now.

My home for 6 days.



Remember that I said morning warmup on race day was foggy?



Audi number 1:



'vette number 4:



Bond, James Bond.  The number 007 Aston Martin:




More later when I have time to upload them.

The number 6 Porsche Spyder LMP2 car.  It was damn near as fast as the Audis, but did not survive the 12 hours:



The number 7 Porsche.  It suffered a similar fate as the number 6:



The number 16 Dyson Lola/AER.  New chassis and new V8 twin turbo engine for the Dyson team this year:



A gaggle of GT2 cars coming at me from Turn 13.  In front is one of the Spykers, then a Panoz, another Spyker partially hidden by the Panoz, and a couple of Porsches.  The number 85 Spyker behind the Panoz was wadded up pretty good at Turn 15 on Wednesday.  It seemed like his throttle stuck and he hid the wall to driver's right, slid down that wall, then shot across track to driver's left into a wall over there.  I watched it happened and the car really didn't slow down until it hit the wall to the left.



A gaggle of GT2 cars coming my way from turn 13 at night:



I did not get a lot of night shots because, unlike Daytona, it's dark out there and my camera doesn't do real well at night on cars hauling ass.  To give you an idea, here is a shot with my night vision feature of the camera, looking towards Turn 13 on the access road between the spectator fence and the guard rail.  That is my truck on the left and the guard rail on the right  You can see the spectator fence on the left beyond the rear of the truck.  That bright light to the right is one of the race cars on track:



Here is a similar view using the flash.  It's dark out there boys, even with all the lights coming from the spectator area.  They said there were 160,000, but we know that no one comes to sports car races :

One of the Saleen S7Rs:



A GT2 class Ferrari.  IIRC, it is a 460.



A 3 rotor Mazda/Courage in the LMP2 class:

Quoted: Thanks for the incredible pictures.  Looks like a lot of fun.

It was fun but we were all exhausted by Saturday night.  I can't wait for next year already.

Diesel won.  Huh.

Great pics!
I enjoyed the race on Speed.
I awoke on Sunday morning to several inches of snow. So much for sighting-in the new car-bean!
What a contrast of weather we enjoy (?!) here in Our Good Ol' US of A!

Quoted: Great pics! I enjoyed the race on Speed. I awoke on Sunday morning to several inches of snow. So much for sighting-in the new car-bean! What a contrast of weather we enjoy (?!) here in Our Good Ol' US of A!

It was in the 80s all week.  It was about 70 or so when I left for home Sunday morning.  I get back to Winder (NE of Atl) to about 50 degrees and a cold rain.  Damn!

The number 50 Panoz:



This is the number 12 Lola/AER.  It is one of the two Dyson cars that other teams bought after he bought his new cars.  The other one was number 9, but I don't have a pic of it:



This is a shot of cars going away from me at night.  Not the greatest shot but gives an idea of where they are going.  The lighted area in the background is Turn 15.  The LMPs are probably pushing 170 through my turn going up to Turn 15: