FAO - Matt Harper

[Chris24]

Matt,

Just in case you don't know. This is off the ALMS website, may be of interest to you.


Chevy Presents Corvette Corral at Sebring
Co-Hosted by The National Corvette Museum
Tentative Schedule as of 2/2/2005
PURCHASE TICKETS     EVENT SCHEDULE     EVENT INFORMATION
 


The 12 Hours of Sebring is North America’s longest running road race and its most prestigious.  For the first time ever, IMSA/ALMS are facilitating the “Chevy Presents Corvette Corral @ Sebring” with invited co-host, the National Corvette Museum.  

The 53rd Annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring marks the American Le Mans Series inaugural race for 2005.  Along with the exciting and grueling 12 hour endurance road race at the historic Sebring International Raceway, Corvette racing fans and enthusiasts will be treated to unprecedented access to many behind-the-scene elements that make the 12 Hours of Sebring a motor sport spectacle.  

Witness and cheer on the champion Corvette Racing team inaugural C6-R race in the comfort and security of an exclusive preferred area reserved for Corvettes located at Sebring’s Turn 17 (trackside).  

Among the many celebrity guests are Dave Hill, Corvette Chief Engineer and GM Performance Cars Vehicle Line Executive; Tom Peters, C6 Corvette Chief Designer; Jim Campbell, Director – Car Marketing; Doug Duchardt, Director GM Racing; Gary Claudio, Manager, GM Racing; Nate Love, Marketing Manager Corvette and Harlan Charles, Corvette Product Manager.  

An unprecedented array of Chevy pre-production vehicles will be on display including the 2006 Corvette Z06 and rolling chassis; Corvette C6 SEMA show cars; Corvette C6 Convertible and Coupe.  

One of the surviving Sebring Corvettes will also be on display.  This race car was one of six that ushered in Corvette’s long and lustrous racing pedigree with its inaugural Sebring race in March 1956.  

Meet our special guest, legendary Corvette racing icon, Dr. Dick “The Flying Dentist” Thompson; participate in an informative “walk-around” presentation of the 2006 Corvette C6 Z06 with its creator, Dave Hill; listen to Tom Peters talk about how the C6 design came into being and get technical information from Corvette engineer, Harlan Charles.  

There is more in store at the “Chevy Presents Corvette Corral @ Sebring” including a first-ever 100 Corvette Parade Lap sanctioned by IMSA on Thursday evening and opportunities to meet Corvette Racing’s Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, Max Papis, Olivier Beretta, Oliver Gavin and Jan Magnussen.  

For more details, see the tentative schedule of events

4 day ticket for two with Corvette Coral parking is $180

[smokie]

I suppose I will shift my spreading backside to watch the free bits... IMO $180 would be better drunk though...

[Pidgeon]

In the past the Corvette people have taken over the space where some of us have camped for years.
Even though it states that a comfortable and secure viewing area has been set aside at turn 17 for the club members, ... it may not be in the same area where the vehicles are displayed.
I may be premature in saying this but we may be denied using the spot where we plan on camping.

[Chris24]

Nah, more likely they will have the concrete area opposite where we camp should they need more space than what they have by the bridge at turn 17 !

Don't Worry, everything will be fine. Anyway, all us Aston Martin supporting Brits will soon whip the Corvette boys asses if they give us any trouble.

[Fax]

I think they'll have plenty of room at the exit of Sunset Bend (Turn 17) That's where the Porsche Club sets up and the Alfa Club used to.  I don't think the Alfa Club uses that location anymore so if they moved the Porsche guys down a few yards there's a shitload of room.  There was a hell of a big gathering of Vette's in the Corvette Corral at Road Atlanta so they'll need all the room they can get.
Fax

[Canada Phil]

I recall Corvette having a Corral at 17 last year and a display in the paddock so while this may be a bit bigger it certainly is not new. Pidge we got moved for the Mazda thing that turned out to be nothing but a few dispaly cars on the Saturday so I agree with Chris nothing to worry about. Either way we will find a spot and put up our flags and banners and people will find us.
Canada Phil

[powermite]

Sorry to jump on this thread but this is a message for Canada Phil,
Our bud AJ is now on line and has emailed you.
Please check your emails and drop him a line if you can
cheers
PM

[Matt Harper]

Hey Chris, thanks for the 'heads-up' on this. I hadn't planned to take my vette to Sebring, in that I supply support facilities for Dave H, Fax and another Sebring newbie this year, HazLegs. Therefore Truckosaurus will be called into service and hopefully, you guys can make room for us in the Club Arnage corral, as usual.
I parked in the Corvette Corral at the Petit Le Mans and I thought the whole deal was a little bit up it's own arse, frankly. I also agree with Smokie that $180 is much better spent on entertainment, than a roped-off bit of tarmac filled with anal retentives, polishing their oil filters.
Thank you for thinking of me Chris - see you in a few weeks.  

[Fax]

Graham's coming along?  Oh f**k*ng hell yeah!  This is gonna be great!  I'm assuming I'm going to need to add a fourth to our ticket purchase.
Fax

[Matt Harper]

Hey John
Yes - can you please organise a ticket for Graham. Also, I still owe you for the Petit super-ticket - I never reimbursed you before I had to scoot.
Regards
Matt

[Chris24]

Matt,
A couple of questions for you.

Firstly, I am also into ice hockey and was searching the internet to see if there were any local teams playing around the Orlando area while i am there next month. I came across the Florida Seals, but their website only lists 2003-2004 season under the fixtures section. Could you find out if you don't know, when the season is for them, it could be on now or is it their off season. Any other ideas for ice hockey in the area in March ?

And secondly, next time you are either going in or near a ABC Liqour store, please could you find out how much a 1 Litre bottle of that evil drink "Southern Comfort" costs in the US. With the exchange rate at a good rate, it may be cheaper than getting it at Duty Free on the way out for Sebring.

Thanks
Regards
Chris

[Matt Harper]

Hi Chris
I'm not much of a Hockey fan - Tampa Devil Rays only FL team I ever heard of. However there is a players strike on - the season should have started last month. Word on the street is that the NHL is at the point of melt-down.

Southern C is DEFINITELY cheaper at a liqour store than in Duty Free.
I'm heading out to the airport tonight for a swift trip to UK, so I'll double check, but duty free isn't the bargain it was, before the $ dropped into the latrine.

[Fax]

Chris,
Like you I'm a hockey fan, Cincinnati has an AHL team, The Mighty Ducks, which are the affiliate feeder team for the NHL Anaheim Mighty Ducks.  Unfortunately the AHL doesn't have any teams in the Florida area (all northern cities) but there is the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) which has a couple of teams in FL, the Everblades and the Pensacola Ice Pilots.  You can go to ECHL.com to check their schedules to see if they'll be around.  The ECHL brand of hockey can be entertaining, not terribly polished but very, very physical.  Obviously the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning are AWOL.
Fax