Nice Start to 2015 for Corvette Racing

The 2015 IMSA racing season started with two events in Florida -- 24 hours in Daytona and 12 hours in Sebring.  Like last year, the factory-sponsored Porsche Team is proving to be formidable competition.  But through a bit of luck, and some mechanical problems for Team Porsche the #3 Corvette has won both contests in GTLM.

I'm sad to see that the Viper team is not competing in the GTLM class.  Apparently their sponsorship was vacated at the last minute so the only other American team is racing in the lower GT Daytona class this year.

Corvette Racing Sweeps Florida

















In the Prototype class, three Corvettes took the podium for a 1 - 2- 3 sweep.

Big day for Action Express Corvette Wins

Beltsville Shell SOLD OUT!

The final copies of the original production run of 1,200 books, "Beltsville Shell: You Are What You Drive" were shipped today!

Thanks to all the fans of my little book.

This summer I will explore a second printing, and eventually we will publish a Second Edition!

GNRS 2015 with Mike Reeves

Mike Reeves decided to exhibit his 1932 Ford Roadster at the 2015 edition of the Grand National Roadster Show on January 24th.  Mike invited me to come along as his guest.  We had a blast!

Mike picked me up at 5:30 AM for the 81 mile drive to Pomona.  With only a windshield between us and the dark, cold morning weather, we enjoyed the smell of the ocean for the coastal part of the trip and watched the Sun rise over the San Bernardo Mountains.  We arrived early and parked the Roadster in between two of the exhibit buildings.

 Our first stop was the main exhibit hall to see the cars that had been entered for the judging for "America's Most Beautiful Roadster".  Every car was an amazing, custom, gleaming work of automotive art.  Which car would win the nine foot tall trophy?  My favorite roadster of all time has been the 1933-34 Fords and there was one entered for the AMBR -- so I told Mike if I was a judge, this would be my choice. 

As we toured all the exhibit buildings I saw many '33 and '34 Fords, roadsters, 3-window coupes, and Cabriolets.  Mike coached me how to tell the difference between the two similar years.  I loved them all.  

Then we found a company that could sell me a newly-manufactured body so when I retire I can build one of my own!  Herman, are you listening?  We could do this!

Finally after a long day lusting for a hotrod, Mike drove us back to San Diego.  It was a bright, beautiful day so we stopped to get a photo of the '32 by the Pacific Ocean as the Sun was setting.

On Monday morning Mike sent me a text letting me know which car won the AMBR prize.  It was "my" Car!  Mike, thanks for an amazing day and experience!

America's Most Beautiful Roadster 2015
 

2014: A Disappointing Year for Corvette Racing

2014 marked a new season, new platform, and a new racing format for Corvette Racing.  A year ago I hoped for a repeat of the successes Corvette Racing had in the ALMS series:


Final Thoughts on ALMS Racing: 2013

This year started so well.  Then like the season that Notre Dame Football had in 2014, something went terribly wrong.

As you can see from the graphic above, we started a little slow with the new C7.R platform but then won four races in a row.  I was euphoric with our commanding lead at mid-season.  One of my car-genius buddies needs to explain to me how we went from first to last.  Can this be another Ford conspiracy?

The final standings were:

Porsche,           1st place, 343 Points
SRT (Viper),    2nd place, 340 Points
Corvette,          3rd place, 330 Points
BMW,              4th place, 328 Points
Ferrari,            5th place, 320 Points

Some will point out that in the Prototype Class the Corvette DP cars won their series over Ford, Honda, Mazda and Nissan.  That's nice, but I prefer the GT Le Mans cars over the prototypes.

Here's hoping that 2015 and the new Corvette Z06 can get Corvette Racing back in the lead in the GT Le Mans class of the IMSA/TUDOR racing series.

2015 C7.R Based on New Corvette Z06