Zetec's @ Road Atlanta

[Lee Racing 8]

I can kinda guess what Victory Lane looked like but please someone go into detail....

When the gals showed up I saw everyone under the Cooper Series tent turn their heads, and the guys smiled...even the officials. But since we got scolded for our attire at the drivers meeting I can imagine what will be said next race about umbrella girls.

Are there any rules about sponsors...such as how appropriate they are?

[Purple Frog]

Grasshopper, haven't you already gotten in enough trouble with cheerleaders?

Go back to your homework. Leave these serious issues to seasoned vets.

Number one filtering question concerning sponsors: Do their checks clear?

[jim morgan]

Thanks to Craig and Bill at 10/10ths. We had a very competetive effort despite almost no testing on Thursday. Cole gained valuable experience and brought the car back intact both days. More than can be said for many.

[Purple Frog]

Some things to be taken from the kick-off event.

Jason Bowles is a serious contender. He had not been in a Zetec since last August, and had only had a small amount of seat time in a v6 Renault back in January. He warmed up very quickly. The speed is already there, and a bit more seat time, look out all.

Now the Gold Cup folks know what us southern SCCA guys have known for a few months, Richardo Vassmer is for real in the Comprent supported pinto. Running in both nationals and Gold Cup is only going to make him even stronger. If competition doesn't pick it up, he'll be bored in Gold Cup... He could add a whole new dimension to the Runoffs this year.

Cole Morgan takes off from his high school classes, jumps into a Zetec for the first time on Thursday (from a Swift DB6), doesn't get a lot of track time, but still shows he can race in the top ten. Must have inherited all that talent from his Mom.

And how about Brian Burke. He had only played in CFC up to last season. He takes shipment of a totally new to him car (Carbir) a few weeks ago, gets a few short laps in it in frozen Michigan and then enters a pro race. New car, no real setup info, new brand of tyres. So what's he do? he turns in some respectable finishes and goes back north with a complete car. He will certainly be stronger by Ohio.

And GR reports, whoever has that voodoo doll with his name on it... he's ready to pay the ransom for it!

[JByers]

Wanted to give a special thanks for the heads-up driving at the start of race 2.

Jason Byers

"Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good"

[Lee Racing 8]

The side of your car doent look as pretty at 100mph as it does on grid...no offense...wut happened I just saw tire smoke and you sideways in T1?

[Curtis Boggs]

Hummm, .. a little controversy over some girls, ..

I was the one who had to "control" the situation, .. not easy for
an old dog like me. But I stopped the "parade" to the grid, .. and
made sure the mini skirts stayed on for the podium photos, .. but needed to
satisfy their sponsor. Most could learn a good lesson in marketing from this
as well as keeping a sponsor happy.

Do I think it's unprofessional or cheap?, .. not my call, .. that's up to
the series, .. BUT, .. I don't think the grid girls make Formula One,
CART, IRL, World Challenge or any other series that uses them unprofessional.
On a personal level, did I like it?, .. not really, .. I like the concept, .. but the
execution needs some work. I'm sure it will be sorted out in the future.

What did make the show unprofessional, .. is the drivers actions in both the
test day and the race on Friday. I get to see it up close from the side of the track,
and saw some real hair brained moves, .. even on the damn test day!

I also have to photograph the teams, mechanics & drivers, .. I didn't
think there was a big problem with the attire of most, .. OK, maybe just a few.
But for the most part I think the teams are very professional looking and
just a few single car teams could use some help.

But if you go over to the ALMS pits, .. or the World Challenge pits, when the drivers
aren't in their suits, .. it's at least Kakis and a sponsor polo shirt. ALL pro level
sponsors have a track dress code for their driver, .. it's the sponsor's image at stake
and in this case the series it's self.

I'd like to keep this on a positive note, .. 37 cars, .. several pinto cars
and more sponsorship & awards for the Pinto cars, .. good racing, ..
battles forming, .. all in all and damn exciting start to the season.

Curtis

PS, .. anyone who wants to see photos of these girls, .. I shot for "the record", .. can
send $19.95 by pay pal, .. to, .. dirty old photographer @ viagra . com.

[Matt M.]

HOLY SMOKE Jason - I thought you were going to buy the farm on that one!!

I bet Boggs has the pictures of the girls gone wild....

[Ron B.]

I trust the source.

I think Hopspeed is referring to is not the girls themselves (who's complaining about that?) but the young brit's choice to spray them down with champagne aimed at their nether regions. Am I putting words in your mouth, Hop?

Got no problem with the scenery, but a "wet skirt" contest in front of the Cooper folks was IMO tasteless.

BTW - props out to Cooper Tires, the Baytos clan and everyone at the series for paying out the purse $$$ at the track- a great move that I think everyone should know about which may push the size of the grid even bigger.

Great runs for Jason Bowles and young Nick Haye, who drove beyond his 17 years. Sorry for Slade - the kids' got it but it just wasn't his weekend. Kraut was shooting for a top ten, but got stopped on the track when Jason Byers got punted into a 360 in front of him.

[Dave Hopple]

I trust the source.

I think Hopspeed is referring to is not the girls themselves (who's complaining about that?) but the young brit's choice to spray them down with champagne aimed at their nether regions. Am I putting words in your mouth, Hop?

Ron, I couldn't put it any better, thanks. More of the situation has been explained to me by a certain amphibian and hopefully everyone learns from this and we can move on. I'd rather talk about the racing than start a controversy.

Ok, back to the thread


Rob Poma, great photos you should have stopped by and said hello, that is Ron B. standing next to Jerry Kraut's car #5 and that is yours truly next to the roll bar flipping the master on car 7 while Mr. Bowles prepares to go out for the session, and if you want to see something obscene, thats Piper showing us his backside sitting on the RR tire in the same photo (sorry couldn't resist) -Dave

P.S. Ditto about Slade and Nick, and I saw Mr Vassmer drive in person, he will be a serious pick in FC at the Runoffs, also glad GR was not hurt, that was a big one.

[sarrcford]

Dave,

Thanks. I know you have been a long time contributor to the forums and am sorry we have never met. I saw your post mentioning you would be at the track and should have found you. I was actually hanging around JDC's trailer quite a bit chatting with Sievenpiper. One of the JDC crew bare a striking resemblance to Buudrow's brother Brad, so much so that I waved to him thinking it was him! Very sorry missing the chance to meet Ron B. too after chatting with him on the phone a few months ago. Hopefully we can all meet at MO or Cleveland. Congrats to Jason and the JDC team for a strong run.

Rob Poma

[Frank C]

I think all of us trying to figure out what was going on from afar owe a thanks to Al Craighead for all his posts. How many beers did he miss keeping us all informed? I think we owe him! The Cooper Series site was awfully slow getting results out and the details were pretty sparse. I think we ought to suggest that the Series consider upgrading its commitment to the web site. I guess we are all spoiled and used to getting lots of results fast with MyLaps, etc. The contacts for the Series are at Cooper Series Contacts. We also ought to thank them for putting on what seem to have been a couple very good races.
- Frank C

[Jeff Owens]

Let us not forget that the Speed Girls and Toyo tire girls were throwing themselves over the race cars for photot ops. They did have on more clothing, but their stances were rather seductive, It was like they were doing Calendar shots. Like Frog said, this stuff sales and gets attention. Is it the right place in victory lane, I don't know, but certainly can get one's or many's attenetion while trying to work on a car Special thanks to Team Kniffin and Greisiger Motorsports for letting me tag along. What a great weekend. Hated to see so much carnage and trash cans full of parts. Glad Saturday turned out better!!!!!!!!

[B Burke]

I couldn't have been happier when they handed out the checks at the track! Thanks Mr. Baytos. I didn't even know that there were payouts untill the drivers mtg . For those who have 90's or newer FC's you can;t beat the" bang for the buck value this series gives ($400 entry fee) " I bet we see more pintos at MO. Special thanks to Mr. StClair and his group for helping our newbie team and allowing us to bum the scales. We have a ways to go with the Carbir but count us in for Mid Ohio.!!


BB

[GR]

[size=2]First off, I want to thank everyone for the emails and telephone calls I have received asking how I am doing. Once again, our racing family has shown that we are more than just competitors. You are all great friends!! Tx!!!![/size]
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[size=2]Second…… Congrates to all of the Gold Cup competitors on their performance. If we continue to draw these numbers and quality drivers, this will be a good season for us.[/size]
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[size=2]Now, what the heck happened?...............The incident at T7 was definitely one for my books, and I hope I am never on the receiving end of a “punch” like that one again. I am also quite thankful that our chassis’ are as strong as they are, otherwise, I may have had the other car IN the cockpit w/me. All in all, I ended up with a minor concussion (Thanks HANS!!!), a deep tissue bruise on the outside of my right thigh about 10-12 inches below the hip (the real colors are blooming now), and some sore ribs. I am sure that w/o my HANS device my head would have whacked the chassis pretty good on impact, and am willing to bet I wouldn’t be at work today. There were a few minor things I couldn’t remember for a day, but I knew all of the important stuff. Frog…………. Nice try........... My wife was the winner though, with the new diamond ring and trip to Europe story.[/size]
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[size=2]For a real quick synopsis…… when braking hard for T7, the left rear of the car started stepping out. I caught it once, but missed it the second time and the car slide sideways on track, stopping in the middle of the track at the top of the hill, just beyond turn in, with the nose pointing directly at the workers in the turn station. I guess I was blocking about 60-70% of the track. [/size]
[size=2] [/size]
[size=2]As I was sliding to a stop, I saw a white car coming out of T6 (I believe this was a white Zetec I had passed on the previous lap). I saw him go right, left, and right again as he was deciding which way to go, and he was able to get by in front of me. My car had stalled and I tried to restart it twice w/o any luck (hot). I signaled to the worker I was trying to restart the car when I heard more cars coming. I did not look up, but saw at least one car pass by in front of me (I think one went around the back too). I remember thinking “that was close” just before I got smacked. I was hoping that if that guy saw me, the others surely would. I was wrong I’m guessing it was about 8-10 seconds from when I stopped to when I got popped. The nose of the other car actually punctured the intrusion panel on the inside of the cockpit, went through the seat and into my leg [/size][size=2] [/size]
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[size=2]After the hit, the car spun 180deg and I was now facing away from the turn station, off course, in the grass. I undid the belts and pulled myself up to get out of the cockpit. My right leg was pretty sore and wouldn’t support my weight. I managed to crawl on my hands and knees to the wall, where the other driver helped me over. Thanks Chris [/size]

[size=2]I will not comment on what the other driver did or didn’t do, since I was not in his cockpit looking at whatever he was looking at. That wouldn’t be right. [/size]
[size=2] [/size]
[size=2]Sh*t happens, and this time I was the poke on the other end of the stick.[/size]
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[size=2]My only other thought is that we should always be careful, mindful, and aware while on track. There is more to this racing thing than putting your foot to the floor. Oh yeah, this really isn’t a good contact sport either [/size]
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[size=2]Hope to be at Mid-O next month. [/size]

[JByers]

Cole,
As it was stated, I was hit from behind just after turn in of turn 1. According to that driver, who came over right after the race to appologize, he ran through that large pile of oil dry that was left on the racing line just before turn in. When he went to use the brakes his fronts locked up and he slid into me. So there I was starting to go around and knowing this was not a good thing. I engauged the clutch and was able to catch it rolling backwards into turn 1 center track. At that point I looked directly in front of me and saw just about the whole bloody field. I felt like a goldfish in a school of Pirrana. In a last ditch effort to get the hell of of my predictiment, I cranked the wheel to the left, got the car pointed up the hill and stabbed 1st gear. We were lucky, it would have gotten really ugly if I had stopped on track. Again, thanks to everyones heads up driving we all continued to turn 2 and sorry to those who lost positions from my reactions.

See ya at Mido

Jason Byers

[Lee Racing 8]

Yea, I saw the cloud of oil dry and thought to myself, "this is gonna be fun". Yes, everyone was very lucky to make it through without major carnage.

[EPRacer]

GR:

Good to see you back among us and reved up about MO. Glad to hear all is well with you and machine.

Thanks again for the view from high atop the motorcoach at the 12 Hour.............

Lyn Pollock
Fort Myers, Florida

[Beartrax]

Number one filtering question concerning sponsors: Do their checks clear?

Perhaps some sponsors do not pay via check, but instead use crinkled $1 bills...?

[Barry Haynie]

GR,

Sounds like your incident was very similar to mine on the practice day-spin with car sitting 90 to traffic. Many misses but one did not! I was very fortunate I was not injured as I had two body work punctures in the cockpit area. In race 1, was not sure who was involved as I drove through 7 but found out after the race it was you. Sorry to have heard that. Thanks for stopping in to visit and encourgment. Hope to see you at M-O.

[GR]

Barry, I was glad to see your car back together and back into the weekend after your incident . Although my car came through "repairable" for Saturday, I on the other hand did not

I wanted to come by again on Saturday to say something to you when I saw you at the second drivers meeting, but just wasn't totally "with it" so I forgot.

I was glad to hear the Steward say what he did at that meeting. Now, I hope we will see it on the track. I am not sure the message got through to everyone though.

I hope to be at Mid-O too.