After Sebring 2005...

[smokie]

Let's have a thread to record our collective stories, experiences and links to pics etc.

Club Arnage was well represented this year. At risk of omitting someone, the following were there:

UK - me, Chris24, JPChenet, Rick Cutler, Andy Zarse, Steve Brown
US - Pidge, Matt & Dave Harper, Fax, John Evans, Amazing Randy
Canada - Phil
Germany - gab

Apologies if I have missed anyone - I blame jet lag.

There were many others who travelled with the above and with whom we camped, and even more who we met and who I hope will become regulars here. Welcome to them!

Our banner was cunningly positioned along the main strip and which gave us good exposure... gab - did you take it down or was it nicked???  

Despite the weather I thoroughly enjoyed the experience - some of you know that Phil and I started in Bike Week (which became Spring Break) in Daytona on 11th, moving to Sebring on Wed 16th. The liver is now going to get a well earned rest for at least 24 hours...  

There were many highlights which no doubt will be related here.

My own highlight (or maybe it was a lowlight) was the hire car - a convertible Sebring. First problem was someone damaging the rear fender in the car park at Daytona. Some rubbing compound reduced but didn't completely fix the damage. Then on Friday I locked the key in the boot. Frantic calls to Dollar then a locksmith were unproductive, but Chris24 found a wreck truck guy who broke into the car in no time, then it was simply down to his and Rick's ability to access the boot from the inside of the car, only wrecking the interior trim in the process . I managed to get it back together such that with the top down, the Returns people wouldn't notice (especially as I left half a pack of cookies in the car...). And the final thing was the engine management light being on for the whole of yesterday. It ran OK, but I've probably knackered something on it - there were funny smells at times...

Lots more anecdotes spring to mind, but I'll leave it to others to relate them. My own thanks to Pidge for the breakfasts, to Phil for taking me camping equipment and to gab's bro Glenn for forcing me to drink way too much on my first night there... Also the welcome and hospitality offered by Turn 10 on many occasions.

[Andy Zarse]

I'll post something a bit more substantial as soon as, but just to say we all had the trip of a lifetime. On returning home I opened the post to a massive tax bill (it is to be assumed the Revenue are taking the piss?) and yet I'm still sitting here with a grin like a cheshire cat.

[jpchenet]

I'll post something a bit more substantial as soon as, but just to say we all had the trip of a lifetime. On returning home I opened the post to a massive tax bill (it is to be assumed the Revenue are taking the piss?) and yet I'm still sitting here with a grin like a cheshire cat.

And this was on top of him losing his wallet on Sunday morning!!!  

[Steve Pyro]

In no particular order, my thanks to :

Matt Harper for meeting us at Orlando airport, escorting us to some high class hostelries as "mine host", and acting as courier for some heavy metal in a cardboard box.

Pidge for cooking up a mean breakfast.

All at Turn Ten, including the Amazing Randy etc for their tremendous show of hospitality and generosity.

Andy Z, JPC and Rick C for putting up with my driving, farting, snoring and general uncouth behaviour.

Samuel Adams for brewing a mean bottle of ale.

<turns to the left, receives Academy Award and faces back to audience>

Also, thanks to all the CA crowd plus various brothers, doctors and lawyers for coping with monsoon rain and tropical sun.

And finally <wipes away a tear> thanks to Aston Martin for kicking some bottom.

[Alfamale]

Hey chaps,

I'm one of the Turn 10 guys you met, Tad's the name and I'm the one from Birmingham, Alabama.

Just wanted to say it was great to meet everyone, I just wish I could of stayed up for the finish. Too much rum took me down with about an hour left in the race.

I hope everyone had a safe journey home and look forward to seeing y'all next year.

Now I need to come over to Le Mans and visit y'all.

Tad

I'll try and post a photo or two in the next couple days. I think and got a good shot or two of y'all.

[johnevans3]

I know most of you guys are fast asleep since it's about midnight there in Jolly Old England,  Old farts need there sleep you know.
 
I just rolled into Tyler and checked the mail to see if you chaps made it back OK.  I had a great time being with you guys.  

Pidge, you are king of the kitchen and did a great job.  Thanks so much.  

I got some pictures to post later this week, just got a ton on stuff to do now, such as dry the tent.  

BTW, not discounting that the "Asstuns" came to play and did a great job, but they should have lost if bad luck hadn't bitten the 'vettes.  It is the making of a good rivalry for this season and I'm looking forward to Le Mans for a little revenge, hey???

[Fax]

Hi Guys,
Back home in Cincy tired, liver pulverized and as you said Andy, grinning like a fool.  Outstanding effort by all.  Big thanks to Matt, Dave and Graham (Hazeleggs) for all the hospitality and laughs, love you guys like brothers.  To the CA gang, Smokie, Phil, Andy, Steve, JP, Rick, John, etc, etc.  You guys were huge fun to hangout, chat and knock back cold brews with. I expected you to be a good bunch of guys and I was right.  The trip out to turn 10 and the finish on the pit terrace overlooking the Aston crew are memories that I'll cherish forever. I won't be at the Sarthe this year but I'll see you all at the old bomber base again next March (and hopefully at the Petit this October).  Also a big thanks to the turn 10 crew for feeding us, looking after us and for just being terrific racing fans to watch the action with.  Whew! What a race!
Fax

[Pidgeon]

Home , Home on the range .................
Yippee Y OH KY AAAA ............
GAB has the banner ......... I dropped him off at 2 PM Monday Miami time. I'm fortunate that I can say I don't remember when I had such a good time. A couple of the guys don't remember nuthin'.
Damned Aston's ..... first time out ain't supposed to do that.
And didn't it rain children !!!!!   However we all dried out just in time to freeze our butts off.

[Canada Phil]

The Moose has landed. Just arrived home after an uneventful drive home all went well. Left Sebring 12:30pm Sunday arrived  home 12:05amTuesday includes one nights sleep in South Carolina as planned
($29 Smokie ) 2 meal stops and a leg stretch plus fuel stops of course 2,186Km
Ready for Bed  
Great to see you all. Congrats to Aston on a superb first effort and well done Corvette for overcoming some racing problems and getting 2 cars on the podium.
Canada Phil

[jpchenet]

OK, hopefully that's the jet lag sorted so now I can think straight again and start to say a few thank you's!!

Pidge: Great breakfasts!! Don't forget to try the bananas again! Add some brown sugar too, or flaked chocolate!

johnevans3: Great to see you again and glad you'll be at Le Mans again too. Oh, and for bringing Larry of course!

Larry: Probably the best sausages I've ever tasted!!! (Larry shot a deer just before heading down and had it made into "Bambi Sausages" as they were lovingly called as we tucked into them.

Canada Phil: That first cup of coffee in the morning is always so important. And for getting us on La Bamba!!

Smokie: For telling me I had to go for the last two years    and of course the added entertainment from the "key" incident  

Gab: Great to meet you and your brother. I don't believe a word Pidge says about your hollow legs.

Fax, Dave and Hazzelegs: Great to meet you guys at last. Thanks for taking us under your wing and for getting us into the Pits Grandstand. Great to watch the race with you guys, and proud to be classed as "JLU" Dave, have you got any jobs going in Indi? Linda could probably get a transfer no problem and the rat race here sucks!

Everyone at Turn 10: What can I say about you guys! Unbelievable generosity and hospitality, and what a wedding!!!! Randy, great to meet you. Jupiter John, how many years have you been going now? Lee, great slide show, what's the SKU of your book and when's the next one out? Looking forward to recipricating when you guys come to Le Mans in 2006.

Matt: Thank you so much for all your help and organising the hotels, collecting us from the airport and lifts. Next year we'll choose the nightclub though!  

And finally Andy, Steve and Rick for being such good travelling companions and always being up for a laugh (and a beer of course)

Sorry if I've missed anyone!

It was nice to introduce some of the guys to "Breakfast Cider" as well. Don't knock it 'til you've tried it everyone as I'm sure the guys will testify.

Lasting memories have got to be seeing the Aston's win from directly above their pit, celebrating with Dave Richards, being invited into the Aston paddock by Dave Richards wife to photograph the trophy, the turn 10 wedding (more to follow on that one.......even Big H couldn't have made it up), joining in the open mike session at Reilley's (they're sending me a copy fo the DVD) and the 14th hole at the Congo River Mini Golf.

Looking forward to seeing some of you in June, and the rest of you next March!!! (just don't tell the missus yet!!!!  )

[jpchenet]

Hey chaps,

I'm one of the Turn 10 guys you met, Tad's the name and I'm the one from Birmingham, Alabama.

Hey Tad, welcome to Club Arnage. Looking forward to seeing you guys at Le Mans in June 2006!!

[jpchenet]

I forgot the Margarita machine  

Steve has extensive photos so one may be in attendance at Le Mans!  

[Andy Zarse]

Well I’m finally back on planet earth after one of the best weekends I can remember in a long time. In fact, I’m still not sure it really happened and have to pinch myself from time to time. The whole thing was just an amazing experience, but at the end of the day, what made it so special for me was all the fine people I met and who’s generosity, helpfulness and sense of goodwill was humbling. No doubt there’s folks who’s names I can’t even remember, so if I’ve missed anyone or anything out, sorry, it’s not intentional. So, in no particular order:

Matt thanks for, well, just everything really. No need to say any more, I know a kindred spirit when I meet one. It was great to meet Dave H and Haslegs too. I was pleased to discover Dave that you are not the fat, elderly man with a huge ginger-beard that I remember meeting at the Poo bar last year (such was my state of sobriety at that point). In your honour guys, I watched a few episodes of League of Gents last night. How many times did we shout out “Get it right Brian!” and “We didn’t burn him”? People must have thought we were idiots, which of course we are.

Fax, we must have spent ages shooting the sh*t about autosports, if only I could remember some of it. Oh, and people, in real life Fax is a genuinely lovely and funny bloke, not the curmugeonly old grumper he sometimes comes across as on the forum.

Pidge, thanks for the hospitality and for creating our base camp. My regards to all the guys like Les etc too. Mate, your breakfasts are a thing of legend. A warmer and more welcoming man I have yet to meet and look forward to seeing you again. Hope Chris24 paid you for wrecking your tent!

GAB and Bro, thanks for the string, tent stakes and being great neighbours.

Canada Phil, I have only one thing to say: “Helicoil”! It was a pleasure to spend some quality time with you at last. Where the hell do you get that enthusiasm from first thing in the morning?

Turn 10 guys, I’m not going to mention any names cos I’d be here all day! So to all of you, you folk are quality individuals. Thanks so much for your total generosity in terms of fine dining and cold beverages. I know the Americans like to do things bigger and better, but I think I’ve just about seen everything now I’ve seen a four-stroke weedwhacker-powered marguerite machine! And who the hell decided to try deep frying those turkeys? Pure genius! Anyway, it was a pleasure to meet you and look forward to providing some reciprocal hospitality to any of you who get over to Le Mans.

John Evans, always a pleasure. Oh and thanks for the tent, hope it’s dried out now. You saved me and Rick from having to share with JPC and Steve, something I think we will be forever grateful for. Larry the Mississippi Sausage Maestro, send us that recipe and happy hunting!

The UK contingent, Smokie, JP, Stevie B, Little Ricky Cutler, thanks guys. I couldn’t have hoped for better companions. Drinking, laughing, farting, karting, golfing (And hey people, yours truly scored a memorable hole in one on the 13th. They’d never seen anything like it at the Congo River Mini Golf Course.) Anyway, nuff said, thanks guys.

Just mention a couple of slight downsides. To the MoFo who stole my fanny pack and wallet, hope you choke. To the weirdo Preacherman and Billy Bob with the double-ended dildo, better luck next time, you were scary people.

Finally, to all at Aston Martin Racing, ultimately you made our race.

Yup, I’m still pinching myself…..

[Alfamale]

Here's a group photo including the amazing Randy and someone else that looks out of place.

[Alfamale]

Here's the Turn 10 viewing tower...