Club Arnage

Who's coming, when are you getting there and where are you staying.  Can smell the Georgia Pines now...
Fax

Oh Yeah!
Swansong year for my car John so prepare for hyperspace on the return journey back to Indy.  Having said that I'm starting my negotiations to turn it into my "project" car when the new ride arrives next year.

Really glad you came up with a solution to make it down.  We always plan this and it always goes tits-up one way or another doesn't it?  After my farting around getting in from Colorado last year and Matt's Hurricane run, I dread to think what 05 has in store for us.

I'm looking into Fri p.m. hotels as we speak vs. the hunt and peck we get into.  Feel like a bit of a civilized dining event in the city on Fri evening before heading toward the track?

What time do you get in to ATL?

Dave,
I hit the tarmac at Hartsfield around seven thirty or so. You know me, I'm always up for some quality grub.
Fax

Arriving in Atlanta Tuesday night. Getting a hotel.

Wednesday looking around Atlanta, anything worth seeing in particular.

Thursday, probably taking dad to Stone Mountain and then heading to the track just after lunch for practise etc.Camping at the track.

Friday at the track, then leave mid afternoon back to Atlanta to go to the Thrashers v Nashville Ice Hockey game , then back to RA again.

Saturday, race day and then afterwards, drive across to Talladega.

Hi Chris,
            Sound good however is Talledaga still there ??? As a;\lways I would love to be there .
Dave i presume you are in the Porker so no room for a ride from the airport? Anyone else going camping?
Canada Phil

Fortunately, yes, Dega is still there. First thing I checked when I realised the severity of Katrina. ::)

Have you had your legs amputated since I last saw you?

Arriving Thursday night and camping somewhere near where the "Vendor Village" is shown on this map:

CLICK (http://www.roadatlanta.com/events.lasso?-database=road_events&-layout=ev_2&-response=eventdetail.lasso&-recordID=10&-search)

We'll have a big "Your Favorite Driver Sucks" banner with some national flags attached.  I've discussed the proper display of the Union Jack, so all should be well with that.  ;)  If you find our site, just ask for Chop.  Rob works, too.  If you see a guy walking around that's tall, handsome, well-dressed, tanned, with rippling muscles, then you'll know exactly what not to look for when trying to find me.  ;D

If you want my mobile #, send me a private msg.

Hey Chris,
You'll like 'Dega, massive facility.  Dave H and I are veterans of several of the spring Cup races at the Talladega Superspeedway.  Alabama is deep in the heart of NASCAR country and every little diner you stop in has photos of the Alabama Gang (the Allisons, Neil Bonnet, Red Farmer, etc.) lining the walls.
Fax

Hello all - not posted in a while - but motivated by this thread.
Will be northbound on I-75 Friday morning and anticipate meeting with Dave H at Atlanta Scareport in plenty of time to scoop up the Faxmeister. I too favour a decent sit-down dinner and a few apperitifs downtown or northern 'burb of Buckhead, which is lots of fun and hotels are not as scary as in the city.
Given that the Road Toad goes early next year, I suggest that the Saturday morning drive up to Bradenton may offer a couple of opportunities to put your money where your mouth is Dave!
I'll be loaded for boar.
The C6/DBR9 showdown will come to a head at this meet - so you Aston fans better prepare yourselves for another humiliating ass-whuppin' at the hands of the already GT1 crowned Yellow Monster - bring it on, green catfish brigade!

Of course, that should read 'Brasleton" - not Bradenton - unless they moved the Petit to a gulf-coast retirement community.....

I too am looking forward to the Vette's wiping the floor with the Aston's.  Payback's are hell and Sebring left a bad taste in the mouth of the Corvette team.  Also the Dyson Lola's have been giving the Champion Audi's fits this summer and if they can keep them together for a thousand miles they could very well scoop overall honors.  I've got the credentials purchased, three supertickets and two infield car passes as per usual.
Fax

Almost forgot, Chris when your at Talladega make sure you tour the museum.  Quite a sprawling display, mostly made up of historic NASCAR cars and memorabilia but there's alot of interesting sportscar and single-seater kit as well.
Fax

It's good the hear you guys are so confident about the Corvettes winning, it will make an Aston win all the more enjoyable  8)
You should not underestimate the Prodive team, Sure the Corvettes had a great win at LM with a great strategy that finally paid off, but Atlanta is only 1000 miles / 10 hours, the Astons speed will be more of an advantage plus of course they have learnt a lot more as a team through the season.
I reckon the vetts will get there arses kicked. ;D

Fax, Already in the plans for Monday morning after the race ! Plan on trying to pitch the tent somewhere at Dega (for free if possible ;D) after the race and then doing the musuem Monday.

Chris,
Camping at 'Dega is free but fills up quickly.  The first few years I went (1994-95) we drove down after work on Thursday evening (getting there in the wee hours of Friday morning) and we could get a decent location but by our last trip a few years ago, you had to be there by Thursday morning or your where going to have a helluva hike from your campsite to the speedway.  Enjoyable but VERY rowdy camping, especially on Saturday night, seems like everyone has a crate of whiskey and fireworks with them.  I learned about Senna's death when on the Monday morning after the '94 race we went to tour the museum and they had the AP release announcing Senna's passing posted with a black ribbon on the front door of the museum.
Fax

Chris:

I would echo Fax's sentiments about 'Dega's camping.  I have not encountered stranger, more hillbilly, nor more friendly (even if occasionally dangerous) folk in all my racing career.

I was adopted by a bunch of Alabama guys at the Brickyard one year who witnessed me do a full on "Jesus Christ" (vomit, drop, lie and get back up again and re-commence drinking).  For some reason they emailed me throughout the year and made firm plans to meet-up at the Spring Race.  Unfortunately their main instruction involved the idea that their camper would have a Southern Flag on it!  After you've been you'll know how comical that is.

Looking forward to catching-up at the Petit!

Dave

Got the impression from Dega's website that there is a charge for camping in some areas. Since we will be arriving late night after Petit, we are going get some kip that night in the car but hope to pitch the tent after the race on Sunday night. Hopefully some people will have left by then, so there may be some space and with luck, the Dega staff won't be bothered about us pitching up since the race has finished. If they hassle us, I'll give them the visiting all the way from England routine and tell them that we need to camp so we can visit the museum in the morning.

Hi Chris,
Last time Dave & I were there about four years ago, they may have charged for camping close to the track (between the main access road and the speedway) but on the other side of the drive it was free.  As I said that was a few years ago and it may have changed since.  ISC are a bunch of greedy bastards (of Ecclestone proportions) so anything they try to charge you for wouldn't surprise me.  I'd definitely work the "We came all the way from England" routine. Dave & I had it down to an art form at Sebring for a few years.  We were brothers from the old country and man do I have a lousy British accent!  Especially after about twenty beers.  They bought it though...
Road Atlanta to Sebring in one week?  Your going from civilization to the twilight zone in six days
Fax

sh*t! Meant Road Atlanta to Talladega...
Some of the things you'll see at Talladega will remind you of Sebring.
Fax

Well, I'm not long back, and lagged almost as much as the plumbing in the loft - and after a quick skip around I see that Dave H is losing the 911. And I bet I can guess why - lifes rich tapestry, second class citizens etc.
At least I'm proud to say I've returned with a new car, so it wasn't all bad. Although if I've got to be honest I'll admit that I'm still not convinced the Koreans have got the hang of western nomencleture yet. Anyway, I've bought a Premature Ejaculation, and it's not at all bad, - it was the best choice in that particular range by a long shot.
I'll let you know how I get on!
H

Funnily enough, I have been looking at one of these SingSangYong Rectums:

http://www.smotor.lt/index.php?659144949

They do a Maxi-veinas version, it's got piles of torque but the seats are made of vinyl and combined with the ancient live axle and leaf spring suspension, it seems guaranteed to get the Nobby's angry.

Of course, car badge snobs like H won't be satisfied with his run-of-the-mill Premature Ejaculation (is it a two-stroke?), and are looking forward impatiently to October's Tokyo Motorshow. Last year's was particularly memorable with the unveiling of the Mazda Secret Hydeout, the Suzuki Afternoon Tea, the Mitsubishi Mini Active Urban Sandal, the Suzuki Van Van (which isn't a van). Indeed, who can forget previous landmarks such as the Mitsubishi Mum, the Daihatsu D-Bag, the Toyota Synus to name just a few. Personally, I just hope they can top the Mitsubishi Lettuce and the Mazda Bongo Friendee.

And you wonder why no one bought a Rover 400?

Chris,
I took a look at Talladega's website and looks like some things have changed in the camping areas since we were last there.  Where we usually camped was over in the area they now call "Woods & Water Family Camping "and in S7.  It was never all divided up like that, just one big free-for-all.  Have no idea what the f**k that family camping is all about?  That used to be a fricking zoo in there!  Hate to see "Dega run afoul of PC because it was sheer lunacy.
Fax

Ok, Its nearly here, so have any of the Brits got their act together and sorted out a trip to Petit ? Or is it just me ? Andy any plans

Goes without saying that all of us over here are excited as hell, always a tremendous event and a great way to welcome in autumn.  Here's hoping Phil can make it down, wouldn't be the same without having a post-race beer with moose at his campsite.  The ALMS website is having some fun with the Vette-Aston round 3 face-off.  Nice to see that the Zytek is coming over for the Petit as well, that car was fast-as-f**k at Mid-Ohio back in May. Here's the entry list so far.
Fax

Hi Fax,
          Thanks for that. Yes I am trying to formulate a plan. Changed the brakes yesterday and gwtting the cracked windshield replaced to morrow in case it come down to the driving option however If Kirk comes we will fly downthursday night.
Canada Phil

Not to mention at Nurburgring when it won from 44th on the back of the grid. ;D

Glad to hear your going to make it Phil, as I said it wouldn't be the same without ya.  We'll have to make another trip down to the Vette compound to catch some of the post-race celebrations again ;D
Chris, no doubt the Zytek could easily win this race, got to keep their noses clean for a thousand miles though, tough to do because the race goes down like a twenty lap F3 heat.  At Mid-Ohio they were quick and led but Shimoda got tangled up with a backmarker early on and then Chinton got caught out by the late race drizzle and stuffed it into the barriers in the esses right under Dave H and my noses.
Fax

We'll have non of that "drizzle" sh*t now ! Just good old fashioned sunshine thanks ! Afterall, we are sleeping in a tent .

Hey Chris,
Dave, Matt & I are tenting it on Saturday night too, so agreed, no rain dances!  Actually the long range forecast for Atlanta next weekend looks gorgeous, sunny with temps in the low eighties for the whole meeting.  Just glad its not Road Galveston! Rita's looking like a bitch!
Fax

Tenting it Thursday and Friday night, will be driving off to Talladega after Petit finishes

Looks like Rita is coming right over my house according to the latest path.  Just glad I'm 200 miles inland but am expecting 50-75mph winds (knocking out the power) and possible tornadoes with 5" of rain.  Went out to ready the generator and the plastic gas tank has cracks in it and leaks like a faucet.  I understand there was a safety recall but I may have missed it.  Haven't used the thing in several years and didn't know it was cracked.  Guess there will be no power at my house on Sunday, Monday and whenever it will go back on.   Wish I were going to Georgia.

Jesus John!
All I can say is be careful and we'll be thinking about you guys.  Don't mess around with this bitch!  Don't Rube Goldberg the generator either, would really suck if we saw you at Sebring next year with third degree burns!
All schtick aside, BE CAREFULL just get out of dodge if you can.  If not, ride her out with steely nerves and some good,cold brews.
Fax

Hang on in there Pardner!!
John, for what it's worth - a couple of days before Katrina came through I froze up half a dozen large gatorade bottles full of a Technical Spec. mix of Gin and Tonic. It didn't slow the girl down at all, but we had a hell of a time, and survived. I just thank God and Gilbeys for our deliverence.
The Tequila proved more of a fire hazard on a number of occasions, and in all honesty I can't recommend it.
I hope you've ticked all the boxes below!!
Take care dude.
H

and the reverse....
(vicar).

Good luck mate! It's looking pretty bad, but at least its been downgraded to a category 4.

Hang tight John. Let us know you are OK as soon as it's passed.

Will do guys, thanks for the thoughts and prayers.  Great checklist, thanks BigH.

Good luck John and hang in there.

OK John - hopefully this mo fo has drifted East to f**k someone elses' day up instead.  See you at the Petit?
We need to start formulating a meet-up plan.

Unless gas is $10 a gallon by next weekend, I'm still driving, as is Matt.  Otherwise, I'll take Jet Blue!
f**k*ng Spiders!  Did anyone else see that LA landing the other day?  Talk about a tight snippet valve on that final approach!

I saw the landing, Holy sh*t!  Talk about assume the crash position (bend over and kiss your ass goodbye)!  My favorite footage was of the passengers leaving the plane, that one dude jumping up & down like Schuey on a podium, you could almost read his lips "My ass is in one piece, my ass is in one piece!"
Fax

We need to finalize our plans for this weekend gents. I will collect Fax from ATL - Dave H - keep your phone on - we'll meet you at Buckhead around 8.00pm - 8.30pm Friday.
I'll use Corvette Corral at the track - presumably you'll be with the sausage-munchers Dave. How do we meet up with Phil/Turn10/Chris etc?
I don't intend to be at the circuit before 9.00am, as my hang-overs are quite debilitating these days....

I am hoping to find the Turn 10 guys somehow on Thursday afternoon and should be camping next to them. I will then put up my Club Arnage flag. So just look for that. I plan on doing the pre race grid walk as its something that I have never done yet so I will be around the start straight prior to the race and will watch the start on the grassy hill on the outside as they drop down the hill into the start straight.

See you soon guys !

The Turn 10 guys and gals will be in turn 3 before the esses.Look for a state of Florida flag and a Sebring welcomes race fans banner.Chris the food is
handled,would like to know what kind of sandwich meat he prefers.

Lee Self and I will be there before dawn on Thursday morning.If ther are any CAers
coming across the big pond and needs anything let us know.

Randy,
 Just read your post after PM you, will look for those signs at Turn 3.

Hi Amazing Chris Matt Fax and Dave... did I miss anyone ??? I plan to arrive Thursday after Noon. I will be driving. Also bringing Club Arnage Flag.
Canada Phil

Hi Guys,
Phil, man I'm so glad your going to make it down, as I said before, wouldn't be the same without'cha.  I think a Club Arnage grid walk is in order.  Chris, inside the uphill and blindingly fast  turn 1 is also a damn good location to watch the start.  Wohoo!  See you guys in down south in Dixie.
Fax

Latest weather forecast shows slight chance of rain on Thurs, high of 80, mostly sunny with temps in the upper 70's-low 80's rest of the weekend. 8)
Fax

We should be rolling in Thursday evening. Look for the large "Your Favorite Driver Sucks" banner.

Try to make night practice,just as good as Sebrings night practice.

That is definately the plan. Leaving Dayton, Ohio around 10:00 A.M., we should make it in time.

Bit of an Ohio contingent this year then. Likewise, really chuffed you're making it down from the permafrost Phil - have a safe trip.
Fax - the package arrived today - many thanks for the book and t shirt - I've a Pepsi 400 ball cap for you (Knowing how much you love the Cup).
The old 'banger is going in for oil and filters tomorrow - I intend to give her a bit of a work-out on the drive up - and I've decided it's not worth washing it just to get crapped-up on the honk up 75. I'm entering it for the "garage queen - not" award in the Corvette Corral.
It would appear that we tenting it on Saturday night, to avoid the attentions of Georgia's law enforcement community - so am looking forward to a bit of a lash-up on Saturday night. Can't wait!

Hey Matt,
Looking forward to a ride in Mr C5 again.  How's your German? If like mine, its a great photo book.  Actually the Cup is growing on me.  The Brickyard was alot of fun and you'll never have to twist my arm to go watch Tony Stewart race.  Like you said, a bunch of CA Buckeyes this year.
Fax

Right - this is clearly going to turn out to be a boozy one.  Please remind me that Waffle House is out of range on Saturday night!

I'll be loading up the sausage muncher tomorrow and sedately tootling down I65 toward Nashville on Friday a.m.  Should put me in Atl for an early doors Matt before Fax touches down.

Anyone else in the US driving South on Friday I should look out for?

I'll be in the silver 996TT doing 55mph....   ;)

They've got the Wedensday practice times & photos posted at http://www.motorsport.com/photos/series.asp?S=ALMS&Y=0
Can't wait to get there.
Fax

I'm sorry I can't be there, maybe next time. However, loads of other things to distract me this weekend, like MGMark's track day.

Andy,
Shame you can't make it, was looking forward to having a few cold brews with you, Sebring next year?
Hope they're able to get the #57 Aston fixed, looked like a big shunt.
Fax

Come on you guys, what was it like??

Watched a lot of it on TV, and it seemed like a very close thing in P1, GT1 & GT2 before the problems set in.  The 'vette retiring with 8 laps to go was particularly sad, as was the problem with Aston No 58.

Still, with 'Vette 3rd overall and 1st in GT1, with Aston 4th and 2nd respectively, would seem a fair result.

Didn't see what happened to the Zytec - crashed out early on, and it's a pity about the P1 result, with the Lola coming 2nd (yet again) to the (boring) Audi.  Having said that, congrats to all.  Wish I had been there in the flesh!

Del

Roll Call for CA American  Division:
Canada Phil, Home safe and sound. The Fix Or Repair Daily ran flawlessly Gas got cheaper the further north I went.
Moer to morrow time for bed.
Canada Phil

The overall winner, Audi, was basically decided within 15 seconds of the start of the race.  I really wanted Zytec to do well but with the 3 fastest cars slamming together in the first few seconds really knocked the wind out of the "glammor" cars.   The only battle left was GT1 and again the race was very, very close.  2 for 3, will it be 3 for 4 in a few weeks??????

Amazing Randy is back home safe and sound.Had a great time,good to see all the CAers.Hope a good time was had by all.Matt H. can you believe after all the smack I was talking about UPS/Dale Jarret that they won the race thats too funny.Weaver making it  three wide in the first turn made for a very
boring lmp1 race for me.The Corvette/Aston battle stole the show. ;D

Hi guys,
Whew, the sleep-deprived, beer induced fog is beginning to lift, very glad I have today off work.  Rolled in around midnite last evening, Dave & I having a longer than usual return drive after being stationary in traffic jams twice on Interstate 65 between Nashville and Louisville due to accidents.  What a great event!  Big thanks out to all (Dave, Matt, Phil, Randy, John, Chris, etc.) wouldn't have been the same without your superb company. Just a terrific weekend, Lovely company, majestic venue, perfect weather, great race and plenty of good food and cold beer.
Fax

Had a great time.  I only got to meet Canada Phil, but he had some great advice for LM06 that was greatly appreciated.  See you at Sebring!

It was great to see everybdy at Petit. Phil, nice ta meet ya, as well as all those folks who's names I am currently spacing. I look forward to more late night discussions on racing.  Lets face it, if they only asked us, I'm sure we could fix everything and bring sports car racing back into the spotlight it deserves!

Special thanks to Lee and Randy for helping me with the video. I had a brief chance to look at most of it and I got some good stuff. My favorite part might be Team Impala's Amazing being rushed by loyal fans! Or maybe that rare glimpse of a 962 motoring through the paddock on Friday night. I'll post when I have something to show.

John

Nice to meet you too John, I would like to add that the 962 had it's Turbo lit.
What an awesome week end. I can confirm that it was no closer than the last time i went ;D
Spoke to Ron this morning and he and Johnny have not given up on the Championship as the #4 could run into problems too.
Canada Phil

Hi,
Back home from my trip to the US, still absolutely cream crackered with jet lag and lack of sleep. We had a great time at Road Atlanta, my Dad included and we we would like to say a big thank you to everyone who made us feel welcome.
Lee and Randy, thanks for all your help with coolers, chairs and food. Thanks to the people in the motor homes next to use for all their assistance making cups of tea etc. Phil, Dave, Matt and Fax, always a pleasure to meet up with you guys, just a shame i didn't get to spend more time with you.

It was a real fun weekend and I really enjoyed the 1.30am track walk with Lee, Randy, Scott, Bob and myself. Was highy amused by Randy's scientific experiment to decide if the track was flat, or sloped by pissing on it to see which way it flowed.

My dad was made up when Jan Magnusen visited the camp and was introduced to him by Randy and he was also happy to meet Ron Fellows and Frank Biela.

Highlights for me were finally meeting Dario Franchitti on the grid walk and  getting my old driver cards signed.  Also obtaining an autographed Dan Wheldon card from the Klein Tools display trailer along with a great poster.

Was funny seeing the pink Famingos specially placed on the turn 3 walls by Lee and Randy, overnight before race day.

Thanks to the Aston Martin team, for saving the day and recharging my camera battery when it went flat.

We managed to grab a nice hot shower with no queue before the end of the race and drove straight out without any traffic problems after the race finished.

Got to Talladega with no problems after spending the night at a rest stop about 30 minutes away from the track. Had a good time there too but it was too hot in the morning. Not too bad on the grandstand as there was a cool breeze.

Good race with some spectacular accidents and a supprise winner that nobody predicted. But Matt will be happy. Visited the Motorsports Hall of Fame after the race and then went and found a nice cheap hotel for a proper nights sleep in a bed.

All in all, it was a very enjoyable but busy 7 days holiday.

See you guys at Sebring in March

Sounds like quite a whirlwind trip there Chris.  Just curious, what did you think of Daytona's big sister?  Pretty damn terrifying to see forty two of those monsters honking around the 36 degree banking at 200 mph just inches apart.
Fax

Fax,
 I enjoyed Dega, but not as much as Bristol. Its an awesume place for sure but doesn't have the atmosphere etc. Also its too big and unless you use binoculars every lap, then you can't tell who is who when they are on the back straight etc. Looks much better on tv than it is in person at the track.

Also didn't know whether to sit or stand because some redneck was just standing all the time and didn't even seem all that interested in the race anyway. If he had sat down, then everyone else could have watched the race sat down too, but we all had to stand up as the cars came off turn 4 if we wanted to see them past this guy.

At least at Bristol, people stand up for a few laps on restarts etc but sit back down on mass after a few laps.

Yes i am glad that I have been and seen the place and can cross it off my list of tracks to visit, but it didn't grab me as a whole like Bristol did. So I will stick to Bristol as my regular Nascar Trip.

Regards
Chris

View from my seat

Wow, things have changed at 'Dega since we've been there, in years past some drunk hillbilly standing up blocking everyone's view would have recieved polite suggestions along the lines of "Sit down you stupid mother f**k*r!" Looks like you were further up the tri-oval than we were.  We usually sat down in the direction of pit-out in the tri-oval tower a few rows from the top.  Agreed, the backstraight is a hell of a long way (but the track is 2.6 miles in length).  Never been to Bristol but some of our Talladega Gang have been and love it.  Much more intimate than the sprawling expanse of Talladega or Daytona.
Fax

Yes, thats where I wanted to sit but could only get tower seats in the pit entrance area when I booked, so had to sit there instead. If I had been at pit exit end, then I would have some good pictures of Scott Riggs big roll !

Here's some video of the completion of our beeramid.  This was our first effort, so go light with the criticism.  ;D

Video (3mb) (http://home.wi.rr.com/chop456/Beeramid.wmv)

It's a goodie alright. What are the darker bottles? My guess is it's the Beck's Non-alcoholic a certain Mr Randy is so fond of.

Pabst Blue Ribbon, actually.  We ran out of Yuengling bottles.