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09-28-2013, 12:06 PM | #1 |
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GrandAm Rolex/CTSCC at Lime Rock
I had an unexpected day off yesterday, so I ran up to Lime Rock to check out practice and qualifying sessions for this weekend's GrandAm Rolex and Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge races. This series is merging with ALMS next year to form the new unified sports car series, and, unbelievably, Lime Rock is not on the schedule. So this may be the last chance to see these cars at Lime Rock for some time.
It was a great day, and it started off really well--as soon as I arrived at the gates at LRP, one of the attendants said, "Okay, BMW, head on into the infield to the BMW corral parking." Awesome! Didn't even think of that. Very convenient--I could leave stuff in the car, walk around, and come back to it whenever I needed to. I remember someone else on the forum posting pictures from a Lime Rock race weekend last year, and what they said is still true--access to the drivers and cars in the paddock is pretty much wide-open. All of the team haulers have side-mounted tents set up for hospitality for the teams and workspace for the mechanics, and the tents are open on the sides, so you can stand alongside and watch the guys work on the cars. And the drivers walk freely through the paddock, right alongside the fans. Amazing access. In three hours I managed to see Leh Keen, Max Angelelli, Emil Assentato, Paul Dalla Lana, Will Turner, John Edwards, Alex Gurney, Billy Johnson, Nick Longhi, Matt Plumb and Jeff Segal, as well as Leo Parente (tiny and happy-looking), Wayne Taylor (working on a mullet just like Jordan's), and Larry Holt of Multimatic Racing (crazy hair). A few observations, and then the pictures:
A great day, and much better than being at work on a Friday. Here are a couple of video clips, followed by some pics:
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09-28-2013, 01:07 PM | #2 |
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Wow, really neat. I have done the Indianapolis 500, but not road course races with the ability to get that close to to track.
Probably would need to bring ear muffs given how loud the cars are that close up. So.... were their times any faster than ours? I can imagine that I drift the corners in a controlled fashion....
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09-28-2013, 04:02 PM | #3 |
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Very cool, thanks for the video and pics. I was there last year but sadly had to miss this year's (final) event. No LRP in the USCC schedule next year either.
Having access to the drivers, cars and mechanics is simply awesome. I walked around last year and asked a few drivers if they hold back on the downhill, the answer was always the same, full throttle going downhill (not at the apex) |
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09-29-2013, 10:03 AM | #7 |
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Thanks for sharing! Love going to the Grand Am events - the series certainly gets it right with the fans - tons of access to see the cars and chat with the teams. And you never know who you might have a pint with at the local pub.
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09-29-2013, 06:04 PM | #8 | |||
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Quote:
Lots of people were wearing ear plugs, and kids had big headphone-type ear protection on, which was good to see. I think the sound is amplified even further in the little depression/valley in which the track sits. Lap times? Even the little-guy ST class sedans and coupes were running under a minute. Pole for ST was 58.9 sec. The best I've managed in my car is around 1:03 flat. I can imagine you in your bad-boy car getting close to 1:00. Quote:
Quote:
I've seen you post on here before, but wasn't sure if it was really you or an imposter. Leh Keen used to be on here a couple of years ago when he had an M3, and Dalziel and Marsal may or may not have posted on here. In any case, I saw you walking through the paddock on Fri, but didn't want to bother you--you looked like you were talking strategy with your team. I think they did a special paint job for the "old guys"--Turner and Salama--driving the car. I really was amazed by the access. Drivers were signing autographs for kids left and right. Really good to see.
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09-30-2013, 06:56 AM | #10 |
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Nice! Just watched the final Lime Rock race yesterday.
Went to the Rolex race in Detroit last year, and you're right, exceptionally loud. Really going to miss the Rolex series (and Continental). I need to study up on what the new United series will look like, but I believe it's more ALMS than Rolex, i.e. more classes, which is unfortunate IMO. Rolex had it right with the 2 classes (3 if you want to count gx). |
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09-30-2013, 03:26 PM | #11 |
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I was there on Saturday as well, loved how we can walk the pits and get a close up...going to try and make it up there for a trackday next year.
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