Sebring 2005

[Fax]

Man Chris!  I wish I knew you collected those along time ago...
I won't even tell you what I did with a big stack of unsigned ones a few months back.
You can pick those up at CART and IRL races all over the place.  Since the paddock's are open to the public most people grab them and get them signed. The one I've got that's kind of special is one of Greg Moore's cards that Greg signed for me at Mid-Ohio back in '99.
Fax

[Pidgeon]

Steve .....  
You must not speak ill of my old home town of Baltimore (unless you mean Baltimore, Ireland .....  then trash it all of your might) The pleasant pubs of Fells Point, Locust Point, Canton or the (in)famous BLOCK   are just good clean fun for a growing home town boy or a traveling seaman

[Chris24]

Man Chris!  I wish I knew you collected those along time ago...
I won't even tell you what I did with a big stack of unsigned ones a few months back.
You can pick those up at CART and IRL races all over the place.  Since the paddock's are open to the public most people grab them and get them signed. The one I've got that's kind of special is one of Greg Moore's cards that Greg signed for me at Mid-Ohio back in '99.
Fax

Yes, i collect all driver promo cards. I am happy to say that i too have a signed Greg Moore card that i got in my Forsythe membership pack shortly before he died. One of my most cherished as is my signed Jeff Gordon card from 1995.

But a really cherish the signed Sam Bass 7 & 7 print that I have framed in my living room, signed by Bass, Petty and Earnhardt.

[Fax]

Chris,
Let me know if there's anyone in particular your looking for a card or even better, a signed card from one of the American series.  I've got a few connections with teams and in the memorabilia market.
Fax

[Chris24]

To date, i have never managed to get even an unsigned Dale Jnr card. They have usually all gone by the time i get to Bristol in August.
Same goes for any DEI cards. Also i would love a Robby Gordon / Jim Beam card and a Dave Blaney / Jack Daniels card. I also have a Jeff Gordon card from every year he has raced Nascar and would like to keep that particular collection going.

Thanks for your help. I would welcome anything you can get really.

[Chris24]

Oh, a Boston Reid , No. 5 Hendrick Busch card would be real nice, as I see him being the next big thing like Kasey Kane was last year.

[Dave H]

The one I've got that's kind of special is one of Greg Moore's cards that Greg signed for me at Mid-Ohio back in '99.
Fax

John:
Do I even need to bring-out the Reaper comment at this point?

What are your plans for Sebring?  I need to call you - sorry I missed you the other day.

We're driving down to FL for a few weeks vacation the weekend of the 5th and I'll be going to Sebring with the Orlando contingent (Matt, Hazleggs etc.).  When do you plan to arrive and depart?  I've got to go to NY on Sunday night after the race and will be back on Monday p.m. so Tonya, Stephen and I can head back to Indy Tues a.m. (about the time Phil, Smokie Pidgeon et al have found the last scattered pieces of their gazeebo at Hendricks).

I'll try you this weekend dude.

dh

[Chris24]

Matt, You jammie bastard !

I really wish i could have been there for the race today. Man what a race ! Was sat on the edge of the seat at the end (Jeff Gordon fan !)  I really didn't think he could hold off Dale at the end and then Kurt Busch as well, but the boy done good in the end.

I bet Tony Stewart gives his greyhounds a good kicking when he gets home tonight.

[Canada Phil]

Hi Grand Fromage,
                             Are you coming to Sebring this year?
Canada Phil

[jpchenet]

For those that haven't already seen it, the schedule for Sebring is found here   http://www.sebringraceway.com/schedule.html

[smokie]

 Not much going on then eh... ?   It makes for an interesting paddock...

It's even better value for money than LM...thought I'd reproduce it below to incite envy from those who aren't going (and maybe encourage more to join us next year! Except - daughter announced engagement at the w/e so I might have to cut back on jollies next year...).

Wednesday, March 16, 2005
8:00 am    -    8:30 am    Practice - Star Mazda Series
8:45 am    -    9:05 am    Practice - SPEED World Challenge Touring
9:10 am    -    9:30 am    Practice - SPEED World Challenge GT
9:45 am    -    10:15 am    Practice - Panoz Racing Series
10:30 am    -    11:30 am    Combined Practice - ALMS (All Classes)
12:30 pm    -    1:00 pm    Practice - Skip Barber National Championship
1:15 pm    -    1:45 pm    Practice - Panoz Racing Series
2:00 pm    -    3:00 pm    Combined Practice - ALMS (All Classes)
3:15 pm    -    3:45 pm    Practice - Star Mazda Series
4:00 pm    -    5:30 pm    Practice - SVRA Vintage
5:45 pm    -    6:05 pm    Practice - SPEED World Challenge Touring
6:10 pm    -    6:30 pm    Practice - SPEED World Challenge GT
Thursday, March 17, 2005
8:00 am    -    8:30 am    Qualifying Session #1 - Skip Barber National Championship
8:45 am    -    9:15 am    Practice - Star Mazda Series
9:30 am    -    9:50 am    Qualifying Session #1 - Panoz Racing Series
10:05 am    -    11:05 am    Combined Practice - ALMS (All Classes)
11:20 am    -    11:40 am    Qualifying - SPEED World Challenge Touring
11:45 am    -    12:05 pm    Qualifying - SPEED World Challenge GT
1:05 pm    -    1:50 pm    Qualifying - Star Mazda Series
2:05 pm    -    2:30 pm    Qualifying - ALMS (GT1 and GT2)
2:45 pm    -    3:10 pm    Qualifying - ALMS (LMP1 and LMP2)
3:25 pm    -    3:45 pm    Qualifying Session #2 - Panoz Racing Series
4:00 pm    -    4:30 pm    Skip Barber National Championship Race#1 - 30 minutes
4:45 pm    -    6:15 pm    Practice / Qualifying SVRA Vintage
6:15 pm          ALMS Pit Stop Competition in pit lane
6:30 pm    -    7:00 pm    Corvette Parade Laps
7:30 pm    -    9:00 pm    Combined Night Practice - ALMS (All Classes)
Friday, March 18, 2005
8:00 am    -    8:30 am    Qualifying Session #2 - Skip Barber National Championship
8:40 am    -    10:10 am    SVRA Vintage Races - 90 minute window
10:25 am    -    11:25 am    Combined Practice - ALMS (All Classes)
11:45 am    -    12:35 pm    SPEED World Challenge Race #1 - 50 minutes
1:00 pm    -    2:00 pm    Autograph Session for all ALMS Drivers in the ALMS Competitor Paddock
1:35 pm    -    2:20 pm    Panoz Racing Series Race - 45 minutes
2:40 pm    -    3:25 pm    Star Mazda Series Race - 45 minutes
3:45 pm    -    4:25 pm    Skip Barber National Championship Race #2 - 40 minutes
4:45 pm    -    5:35 pm    SPEED World Challenge Race #2 - 50 minutes
6:00 pm    -    6:30 pm    Porsche Parade Laps
Saturday, March 19, 2005
7:50 am    -    8:10 am    Combined Warm-up - ALMS (All Classes)
8:20 am    -    8:40 am    SVRA Vintage Parade Laps
10:45 am    -    10:45 pm    5

[Matt Harper]

Matt, You jammie bastard !

Chris,
You'll despise me for this, but I didn't go in the end. I gave the tickets to one of my sales guys. Call me a fair-weather fan if you must, but I just couldn't stomach the zoo that is Daytona, for the 500. Last year it took me 6 hours to drive home (should be 1 hr 20 mins) and frankly, I just couldn't face it.
I too thought the race was a blinder. I really felt for Tony Stewart, who dragged the whole freight-train around the speedway all afternoon, only for Earnhardt and Gordon to blow by him in the final few laps. He's a totally committed and very entertaining to see in action. Had the previous 2 editions of the Rolex at Daytona been 23 hour races, he would have won both of them.
I was somewhat confused by the relatively new tactic of "bump-drafting". What's all that about? I think the term should be 'ramming'. Dale Jarrett was on pole and during the opening lap, Earnhard 'bump-drafted' him from 1st to 33rd (totally re-arranging his rear sway-bar in the process) with one deft move - i.e. just rear-ended him hard enough to effectively put him out of contention - all this at around 190mph, aswell!
I enjoyed it from the relative santuary of my living room (not quite the same - but at least I wasn't restricted to sitting with a mini-cooler, only capable of handling 4 beers (as one is, at the Speedway).

Message for JPC/SteveB/Andy Z,  I 'modified your first night's accommodation for your Sebring trip - a nicer hotel, at a better rate. Did you get my email?

Matt

[Andy Zarse]

Message for JPC/SteveB/Andy Z,  I 'modified your first night's accommodation for your Sebring trip - a nicer hotel, at a better rate. Did you get my email?

Matt

Thanks Matt, yes JPC forwarded your mail. I checked out the hotel website just now and it looks just great. You'll know fine well everything in Florida gives a sense of deja vu, but I've a horrible thought I've stayed there before. It was pretty good VFM if it's the same place, even the rooms didn't smell  of  that "aircon musty" pong usually found in Floridian motels. Top hole!

Anyway, looking forward to seeing you all in three weeks time and thanks for your help mate, it's much appreciated.

Andy Z

[Matt Harper]

Hi Andy
If the hotel is familiar to you, then so will be the surrounding drinking establishments - though most mid-class American hotels are indistinguishable from one another to me. The Portofino Bay Hotel, it ain't - but nor do you need a black-light, roach killer or a personal bodyguard.
It's close by the Orlando Ale House on Kirkman - good eye candy, mediocre beer, Rileys Lantern Pub, Great live music venue, a bit scary, Pat O'Brians - Citywalk, authentic Big Easy replica - a little contrived, but the Hurricanes f**k you up, just like the original N'Orlins ones, Jimmy Buffet's Margurita-ville, if you prefer your alcohol frozen.
If you guys can manage without a rental car, I'm happy to drive you to the circuit the following day. What I can't do is get you back to O'town after the race. If you can square that bit away, technically you won't need a renter - I live close by the airport, so I'll get you back to OIA on Sunday. If you want me to score you a renter, now is the time to take care of that. Let me know,
regards
Matt  

[Chris24]

Matt, You jammie bastard !

Chris,
You'll despise me for this, but I didn't go in the end. I gave the tickets to one of my sales guys. Call me a fair-weather fan if you must, but I just couldn't stomach the zoo that is Daytona, for the 500. Last year it took me 6 hours to drive home (should be 1 hr 20 mins) and frankly, I just couldn't face it.
Matt

Matt,
You're damn right, I am sat here shaking my head in disbelief. Shame on you ! Queing to get home is part and parcel of the event and has to be expected and lived with.

Never look a gift horse in the mouth, free tickets for the Daytona 500 ! I paid $150 for two backstretch tickets when i went in 1996, and I only wanted the one ticket, but had to buy both just to get the one i needed. I did however sell the other for face value, but the guy who sat next to me had paid double what i had sold it for that morning.

I also recollect hanging around under the grandstand at Charlotte waiting out a 3 3/4 hour rain delay in the middle of the Coke 600. The race eventually got going again and was called at 500 miles (100 short of distance) and finished at 1 am. We got back to the hotel at 3.30am after the race , but i wouldn't have missed it. My man Jeff Gordon won that one as well !

Anyway, who knows, I may well be back for the 500 in 2008, as my dad wants to go to the 50th running since his only other Daytona 500 was the 25th in 1983. I quite fancy going with him and doing Speedweeks again and watching the racing at East Bay, Volusia County and New Smyrna Beach again.

Shame, shame, shame on you Matt.

See you and Sebring in a few weeks for a good slapping !