Watching the Rolex 24 ...

[mitchntx]

... and was looking for Todd.

But I didn't see any of the officials spin and fall as the cars left. Is he a parking lot official?

[jeffburch]

I'm rootin for the 09 Porsche/Coyote.
Mostly motorcycle greats.
Oh, and anything other than a Lexus.
I also got a dollar that says Danica hoses the whole team.
jb

[BlueFirePony]

I also got a dollar that says Danica hoses the whole team.
jb
I think the team has to switch out spotters for her every hour 'cause they get tired of:
"8 cars back...now 7...ok 6...5...4..3...2...1 car back..OK he's on your inside quarter {underbreath: WTF!? inside pass on the chicane??}..OK he's right beside you...he's got a nose on you...ok...he's got his rear wheels on you...OK he's past...All clear....OH shit...OK...7 cars back...now 6...."

[mitchntx]

I thought it humorous that Danica admitted that the team had been drilling her ...
















... to stay out of the pits.
:wink:

[mitchntx]

Mostly motorcycle greats.

jb

It was good to see an update after what happened to Scott Russell

[mitchntx]

When the officials were pushing the 99 car back up pit road, was that Todd? I will defer to someone who knows better than I what Todd looks like from behind ... Rob?

[jeffburch]

If you do see him, lemme know.
Can dump dvr to pc and upload to ftp like I did Costas last year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IcSUMtApzU&feature=channel_page

jb

[Rob Liebbe]

Why would you say that Mitch? :roll: I do know that he snores, but that's as close as I get to your allegation. :shock:

[AI#97]

I thought it humorous that Danica admitted that the team had been drilling her ...


What I don't get is she has VERY little time in the car and they are putting her in for a night stint?! Brave or dumb?

[jeffburch]

Wow!
What a race.
Go Donohue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

jb

[GlennCMC70]

pretty good DP race.

would have liked to see the Gainsco car in the mix too.

[AI#97]

I would really be interested in what the ford motors were having issues with. Crank trigger sensor is about a 2 minute swap if they are using the motor I am thinking of...Certainly not something to just leave the race unless they are making their own parts or something at roush...?

Anyone know if they are windsor based motors or mod motors...?

[donovan]

I would guess they are Ford engines... :lol:

They use the 5.0L Cammer with the same head design from the Ford GT. Well, that is what they ran the past few years anyway...

[GlennCMC70]

I would really be interested in what the ford motors were having issues with. Crank trigger sensor is about a 2 minute swap if they are using the motor I am thinking of...Certainly not something to just leave the race unless they are making their own parts or something at roush...?

Anyone know if they are windsor based motors or mod motors...?

from the details i got the crank sensor was being damaged from what sounded like a reluctor wheel used to indicate crank/cam position.
if its anything like the LSX engine, the reluctor wheel is on the crank.

[jeffburch]

So the crank was developing run-out huh!

jb

[GlennCMC70]

no. the reluctor (like on the LSX) is just press fit to the crank. if not installed right, they can come off. normal clearance is like .030" so if it come loose or even comes apart, its likely to hit the sensor. its possible the part wasnt heat treated right and it fragged at high RPM or just came loose and spun on the crank.

[AI#97]

Well, if it's the 5.0L cammer motor, I am VERY familiar with it. Only way for that to fail is to come apart. From what I am reading, they are rev limited to 7000rpm which is below stock limit for a cobra...stock part should have been fine. Only thing I can think of is since the entire front engine cover and valve covers have to come off to get to it, along with the balancer, the motor probably had to be removed from the chassis to even get to it so I guess I could see throwing in the towel with all that hassle. However, $5 says they have a steeda, external timing adjuster on them before the next event! LOL!!!

[BlueFirePony]

I would really be interested in what the ford motors were having issues with.
Well, this is the second year in a row that Blackforest failed to finish the race in their Mustang and their Challenger did not finish the Koni GS race either.
Not a good weekend for that group sadly.

[Todd Covini]

What an amazing weekend! I have to say that I had a religious experience working the Rolex 24 from Tuesday to Monday. The opportunity to be a part of the show and help make it all happen made many grown men cry when it was finally over.

I've got too many stories/experiences to share. Flying home yesterday the images going thru my head were too much to comprehend. (Maybe that was the lack of sleep.) I took notes and will put together a diary recap to share so I can savor the moments years from now.

Here's a few highlights...

For those who TiVo'd, I worked pit stalls 30-39 for the race, which was from start/finish and upstream 9 pits. Basically from the Suntrust (Wayne Taylor) DP down to the Krohn DP and all the folks in the middle (Patrick Dempsey, Kyle Petty, Shank Racing, etc). I haven't seen the race on TV yet, but I'll likely be in mid-pit shots. Also, for the 09DP fire on pit road, I was the closest official downstream not involved with it. Might see me radio'ing and working my toward it.

The driver's meeting was a "too-cool-who's-who-in-racing".

Danica's prettier in person.

The Fords were having crank trigger issues.

A set of DP tires cost $2000...and they are limited to 30 sets for the race. Those who finished used all 30 sets...and had to manage tire wear to get there.

Post race I was assigned to "welcome & escort the overall runner-up car to impound." Juan really didn't want to talk too much when he opened the door. The post-race euphoria in the paddock was the same as our AI/CMC euphoria...just with bigger heroes.

Bumped into a lot of nationwide AI/CMC racers. (Andrews, Remen, Whitehead, Poe, Bomarito, Rehegan guys, etc.) as well as other NASA racers.

The GRM party tent was huge and the GRM guys (Brian/Scott) had nothing but good things to say about NASA and Texas AI/CMC.

Pics and daily log to follow...

-=- Todd

[GlennCMC70]

tell me you handed off copy's of our AI/CMC Texas DVD's to those team owners! :?

[mitchntx]

Danica's prettier in person.

-=- Todd


Remind us all again who was fixing your car while you were "working"?

[Todd Covini]

I was working! Notice the notpad in left hand and leatherman tool on the belt. I was working!

http://www.motorsport.com/photos/popup.asp?N=23&I=grandam-scc/2009/day/grandamscc-2009-day-re-0058.jpg&FS=GRANDAM-SCC&SN=1_64.235.98.12:86693&S=GRANDAM-SCC

[mitchntx]

I was working! Notice the notpad in left hand and leatherman tool on the belt. I was working!

http://www.motorsport.com/photos/popup.asp?N=23&I=grandam-scc/2009/day/grandamscc-2009-day-re-0058.jpg&FS=GRANDAM-SCC&SN=1_64.235.98.12:86693&S=GRANDAM-SCC

hmmm ... I can't make that out, Todd.

I do see a couple goobers in orange coveting a Pontiac ...


Edit ... Holy crap ... thats a Bimmer! Damn, what a waste of good zinger!
:roll:

Let me try again ...

You mean the guy sweeping pit road WAAAAAAYYYY in the background?

[ShadowBolt]

Todd,

The Jordan's are like the biggest Kyle Petty fans in the world. Did you get a chance to talk to Kyle?


I think Neckcar is all about money and even a good driver is not going to win with a team like Petty's has been for many years. I know most don't think much of Kyle as a driver but I remember Kyle lapping the field at North Carolina Motor Speedway (the Rock). For several years he had everyone's number at that track. In my mind drivers that win on short tracks and road courses are the best drivers in the sport.

JJ

[Al Fernandez]

That was a tremendous race. Absolutely fabulous. Todd, I thought your outfit was blue!

[michaelmosty]

I just finished the race late last night, awesome finish!! I too would have liked to see the Gainsco car up in the mix.

It sounds like an amazing event Todd, we'll have to get the full recap at MSR-H. Holy crap, Todd is going to be at a race!!! :P

[Rob Liebbe]

Holy crap, Todd is going to be at a race!!! :P

Yeah, but will it be at on of our races?

Hope so.

Although if I was spending my kitchen passes and wasn't racing, where would I rather hang out. No offense.

[Todd Covini]

That was a tremendous race. Absolutely fabulous. Todd, I thought your outfit was blue!

Different "uniforms of the day". I have like 5 different combos. They wear red for Koni races.....blue for Rolex races. Black & tan for general admin stuff...etc etc. It'll all be in the daily log of learnings....

[jeffburch]

Different "uniforms of the day". I have like 5 different combos. They wear red for Koni races.....blue for Rolex races. Black & tan for general admin stuff...etc etc. It'll all be in the daily log of learnings....

That's crazy.
That's pretty indicative of the overall budgets for the series I'm sure.

jb

[Al Fernandez]

Wait a minute...they gave you FIVE driving suits???

[Todd Covini]

Different series have different sponsors.
2 different Nomex suits for working races...Koni & Rolex.
2 different Official shirts for when Nomex suites aren't req'd...Koni & Rolex.

Then there's the all around "racing beige" Grand Am shirt for general use.

Uniform of the Day ensures people are safe and consistently dressed.

-=- Todd

[AllZWay]

Todd... I expect to see a book of "learning" about like I expect to see a race write up. :P

[RichardP]

I got a really cool shirt when I worked for the TransAm series a while back. Now I kind of feel like I got ripped off...


Richard P.

[David Love AI27]

I got a really cool shirt when I worked for the TransAm series a while back. Now I kind of feel like I got ripped off...


Richard P.

Ditto... Got $5.00 t-shirt for working the Houston GP.... which was canceled, again, for 2009...

still got the shirt tho... helps to bring back the memories...

[Todd Covini]

I didn't get ripped off on this deal.
Could I have taken a better picture of the finish with this instamatic? :wink:

http://www.mustangmods.com/ims/u/3324/13881/273355.jpg

[Waco Racer]

Merry Christmas!

[mitchntx]

I didn't get ripped off on this deal.
Could I have taken a better picture of the finish with this instamatic? :wink:

http://www.mustangmods.com/ims/u/3324/13881/273355.jpg

Yes ...

It's better to pan with the car. That way the car is sharp and the background is blurry.

[Todd Covini]

Instamatics don't hold the correct date and don't pan well.
Photographer, I'm not.

[Hood]

Instamatics don't ... pan well.

Uhh... of course they do.



Photographer, I'm not.

That's a different thing altogether :wink:

[mitchntx]

Gary, this one has been drinking "the Kool-Aid" for a long time.

I knew better and this is a training cycle for you.

[Hood]

Sorry... missed the bulge in the cheek on that one... :wink:

[Todd Covini]

Big Bulge.
Big Cheek.
Ever Present with Mitch.

No problem with the oversight, happens to most of us. :wink:

(refraining from cat pics)