race weekend at Barber

[Drift260Z]

I'm the one holding the fire extinguisher

ok, so...a bit of back story. I've known the refueler for the #69 car for 2/3 years now. the Porsche 250/Indy Grand Prix of Alabama was coming to Barber for the second year in a row...it was the week of the race, and I still hadn't bought tickets. so, I called my friend and asked him how I could volunteer with Speed Source Mazda, and he said send an email to them. so, I did that, and apparently they called him, and I got a call on tuesday saying there was a spot available if I still could make it. after I was done squealing like a little girl (), I told them yes, and they said they would have credentials waiting for me at the track.

the whole weekend was incredible. it was like stepping into a completely alternate reality where racing was 100%, and nothing else mattered. amazing feeling. the guys in Speed Source are some really great people to be around, and the whole team works as one cohesive unit. no ego involved. everyone understands their role, and they execute their job spot on. the drivers, as well as other team members, are all down to earth guys.

the atmosphere was AMAZING, though! first day in the pits, Boris Said walked RIGHT past me! I didn't bother him, but my mind was blown. I saw David Donohue and Derek Daly several times. also saw Danica and Takuma a number of times, too. on sunday, I congratulated Stefan Wilson on his awesome driving in the Indy Lights race, and stood next to his brother Justin for a little bit when taking some photos of his IRL car. um, Patrick Dempsey hung out in the Speed Source pits for a little bit, too.

I also found out that Tatiana Calderon is now in Star Mazda. I found out when she finished 3rd in the Star Mazda race at Barber on sunday. the reason I bring this up is because I raced against her in 2008 in the Skip Barber scholarship shootout at Sebring...I was quicker than her the entire weekend, and remember passing her going into turn 17, then checking out for the rest of the session. she was using a helmet paint scheme that was a duplicate of Lewis Hamilton's, if I remember correctly. ...I totally need to find money.....




oh yea, there was one of these there...

here's photos

friday:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2056537&id=1288652207&l=6c550d5999

saturday:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2056593&id=1288652207&l=5512de0e95

sunday:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2056600&id=1288652207&l=f120c88152

 

[uMadson?]

It always feel good to be in the grand prix experience. 👍

 

[Blitz187]

Looks like you had a good time... Awesome... And that Porsche 904... OMG! GTO is a nice spot as well 👍

 

[Crumpet]

I'm rather jealous, and that GTO is

 

[wfooshee]

I've worked with the flagging crew at Barber a few times. I've been to the last 3 AMA weekends, I worked Grand-Am in 2009, and my first trip was historic motorcycles in October 2007.

Awesome facility, and the museum is beyond incredible!

My moment of TV glory came in the Daytona Sportbike race 1 last year, when there was a bit of a bump in Turn 1, knocked a rider off of his bike, which continued on into the barrier not 10 feet from where I stood. Bike came all apart, completely broke the steering head off, and we had to call for a red flag to get the pieces picked up. I was the first guy around the barrier to the scene.

Working around this stuff is really cool. You get access to places that most people can't get to, and you see things most people can't see from where they are. Also, the riders or drivers who go off in your area usually have to hang around until the session ends, so you get to chat it up with folks. Unfortunately we spent a LOT of time with Alistair Douglas after he threw his Triumph 675 down in our turn twice that weekend!

AMA this year is in June!!! Not sure I'm up for that . . . . .