Grand-Am Rnd 1: Rolex 24 24-27 Jan 2008

[jimclark]

A bunch more:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v2...st%20Saturday/

[Subaru_WRX_STi]

when I watch the Rolex 24 every year on TV, the grands stands seems to be always...empty ! it this great race being ignored by sports car fans ?

[Steve Tarrant]

Originally Posted by Subaru_WRX_STi

when I watch the Rolex 24 every year on TV, the grands stands seems to be always...empty ! it this great race being ignored by sports car fans ?

I was there for last year's event, so can answer this. Yes, the grandstands do look empty, but then they do have a capacity of approx 160,000!!!!!! Even Le Mans with its 250,000 crowd only looks full at the start and the finish of the race. And the grandstand on the backstraight isn't opened (which holds 60,000 on its own).

But the real fans are in the tents, campers and motorhomes on the infield, where they pack them in and there is no free space!!!!!

Sportscar racing isn't the biggest followed formula in America, and the race is held in NASCAR territory (with the 500 being run just 2 weeks after the 24 hours), but the fans that attend are commited (or should be in some cases!!!!!!).

Sadly, I won't be there this year, but am already planning to attend again to marshal the event in 2009.

[thebear]

Originally Posted by Steve Tarrant

I was there for last year's event, so can answer this. Yes, the grandstands do look empty, but then they do have a capacity of approx 160,000!!!!!! Even Le Mans with its 250,000 crowd only looks full at the start and the finish of the race. And the grandstand on the backstraight isn't opened (which holds 60,000 on its own).

But the real fans are in the tents, campers and motorhomes on the infield, where they pack them in and there is no free space!!!!!

There also aren't as many "colorful characters" in the infield that would be `worthy' of a TV spot. Many have commented here previously about the terrible TV coverage and in general, they only follow the cars with closeups. Camera positions are not ideal for infield spectator evaluation.

Originally Posted by Steve Tarrant

Sportscar racing isn't the biggest followed formula in America, and the race is held in NASCAR territory (with the 500 being run just 2 weeks after the 24 hours), but the fans that attend are commited (or should be in some cases!!!!!!).

Sadly, I won't be there this year, but am already planning to attend again to marshal the event in 2009.

I am looking forward to your next visit.

[dxk1]

Looks like Cheever will name his car in honor of AJ Foyt by using the name "Coyote". See link here:

http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=277514

DK

[jimclark]

Originally Posted by dxk1

Looks like Cheever will name his car in honor of AJ Foyt by using the name "Coyote". See link here:

http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=277514

DK

Old news... It was on garra-fans some time ago.

[dxk1]

This is Lola's 50th year in racing. Ash Automobilia has published a survey of the top 10 Lolas in history. Hopefully, the new GARRA Lolas will be as successful as some of the past models. The link for the results of the survey is here:

http://ashcom.homestead.com/files/PD...a_top_cars.pdf

DK

[Danske]

Lola's going to have to wait another year at least for another Daytona 24 win. For those who didn't hear, Krohn wasn't happy with the test days and is going back to Rileys for the 24.

P.S. I wouldn't have joked about Zonta killing one of the Lola's had I known at the time that he took a trip to hospital as well.

[cmk]

I read somewhere that he had been concussed in the accident. Something about the side netting having not been installed and his helmet going through the plexiglass of the driver's side window. Not too pleasant. Not sure whether it was his fault or not, but I suppose that is irrelevant now. I know Tracy had an incident in the other car as well, though I don't think it was as serious.

At any rate, I think the cars were in a fairly bad way and that, combined with the new-car niggles, definitely would put paid to a Rolex debut. Which, really, is a blessing in disguise I think. I don't know why a team would want to debut a new car at a 24 hour race anyway, if they can avoid it and still be competitive with their old chassis. Given that the Krohn team knows the Riley inside-out and that it is still a top-flight package, why not?

[FLGTFAN]

They were at least two seconds off the pace in all sessions, down around 20th. Perhaps the "Lola" is just not competitive.

[cmk]

Well, the all-pro car did get binned very early in the tests which can't have helped the process of getting them up to speed. I think they may not be the best for Daytona (echoed by Ollie Gavin) but I doubt they will remain terribly weak cars.

[The359]

Is SunTrust still planning to switch to Dallara for Round 2?

[Danske]

Yup. According to a Q&A with Taylor they're actually receiving the Dallara this week.

[Purist]

It looks like Derek and Justin Bell will be back driving in the 24.

[The Badger]

Whats Justin Bell up to these days ?

[Danske]

Justin's doing twelve races this year for RVO in Grand-Am, by the press release. Don't know what else he might be doing.

[old man]

What do we think about the chances of Ferrari beating all those Porsches?

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by old man

What do we think about the chances of Ferrari beating all those Porsches?

Snowball's in Hades. If someone's going to threaten the Porsches it's the Mazda RX8s or the Pontiac GXP.Rs, maybe (big maybe) the #15 Mustang.

[Spyderman]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

Snowball's in Hades. If someone's going to threaten the Porsches it's the Mazda RX8s or the Pontiac GXP.Rs, maybe (big maybe) the #15 Mustang.

...both of which are tube framed cars (and not really GT's at all)
(I'm not sure about the Mustang)

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

...both of which are tube framed cars (and not really GT's at all)
(I'm not sure about the Mustang)

The Mustang is a tubeframe car as well, but I couldn't care less. After all, the most badass cars ever - the later Porsche 935s - were largely or complete tubeframer-constructions.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

The Mustang is a tubeframe car as well, but I couldn't care less. After all, the most badass cars ever - the later Porsche 935s - were largely or complete tubeframer-constructions.

It looks like all the Pontiac GT cars are getting a 40# ballast reduction before the race.

L.P.

[Chewie-1990]

Im not 100% but i dont think this has been mentioned:
http://www.italiaracing.net/notizia.asp?id=17697&cat=16
This claims that Mastercar are running 2 Ferrari 430s, rather than just the 1 that appears on every entry list i've seen. Christian Montanari, Thomas Biagi, Luis Monzon and Matthew Marsh to drive

[thebear]

Program your VCRs:

Rolex 24 TV times (GMT) Eurosport 2:

Sat Jan 26: 18h15 – 19h30; 21h00 – 23h00

Catch some sleep if you were watching, not recording.

Sun Jan 27: 11h15 – 12h45; 13h45 – 14h00; 16h00 – 18h45

Those of us marshaling at the track will not have the same `breaks'.

Click HERE for the weather conditions and five day forecast. Looks like a very mild weekend with showers THU AM and a 40% chance of rain in the afternoon.

[cmk]

Originally Posted by Chewie-1990

Im not 100% but i dont think this has been mentioned:
http://www.italiaracing.net/notizia.asp?id=17697&cat=16
This claims that Mastercar are running 2 Ferrari 430s, rather than just the 1 that appears on every entry list i've seen. Christian Montanari, Thomas Biagi, Luis Monzon and Matthew Marsh to drive

This has been well-discussed on DSC and the long and short of it is that, yes, it seems there are to be 2 430s, the second hopefully being flown out in time for the race.

Too bad the Ferraris are modified Challenge cars, because while I recognize why the Kessel GT3 package is not really to GARRA standards, it would be a damn sight more fun if the strong Ferrari actually had the pace of the Porsches. Would make for a legitimate darkhorse then...

[Chewie-1990]

Definately, as thats a pretty decent driver line up
i'm not subscribed on DSC so i hadnt seen it mentioned anywhere other than italiaracing, so wasn't sure what to think