Author Topic: Sebring 2005  (Read 162317 times)

Offline Matt Harper

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Re:Sebring 2005
« Reply #150 on: January 23, 2005, 09:12:03 pm »
Pratt & Miller are shaking-down two C6R's at Sebring next weekend.
A number of local Corvette Club of USA members are tagging along (me included). I'll endeavour to get the skinny on their race preparedness - however, I suspect they are ready now and just performing a little public sabre-rattling.
I'd love to see some serious competition in GTS (like the Prodrive 550's) - but I worry that the gorgeous DBR9 is going to get shaken to pieces on the punishing concrete of Hendrick Field. Hope not, but we've seen it before.........
If it\'s good and fast, it won\'t be cheap. If it\'s fast and cheap, it won\'t be good. If it\'s good and cheap, it won\'t be fast.

Offline Canada Phil

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Re:Sebring 2005
« Reply #151 on: January 24, 2005, 01:27:17 am »
Hi Matt,
            I too fear for the Aston Martin. However let us hope it holds together long enough to show it's potential atleast.
Canada Phil

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Re:Sebring 2005
« Reply #152 on: January 24, 2005, 02:27:58 pm »
Shaken to bits being the way to describe it!  After all of the years teams have been bringing Saleen's there and they still end up falling to pieces by the third hour.  The Vette's are tailor made for the bumpy old bomber base.
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Offline Canada Phil

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Re:Sebring 2005
« Reply #153 on: January 25, 2005, 04:20:36 am »
Some of you might be interested in Ron's answers to questions posed on an open Chat. I think the questions are obvious.
Canada Phil

Ron Fellows:  I don't think you can underestimate Aston Martin because of Prodrive.  Those guys have a terrific organization and I'm sure Prodrive has a learning drive with Aston Martin, but they have proven to be a great organization and we are not underestimating them at all
Ron Fellows:  I personally think this could be the most exciting year yet because there are so many unknowns.  How good is the Aston Martin?  Are we going to see the Maserati's?  How many Ferrari's?  And of course the Saleen will now be on Michelins which will improve their game.

Offline jpchenet

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Re:Sebring 2005
« Reply #154 on: January 25, 2005, 09:47:49 am »
Some of you might be interested in Ron's answers to questions posed on an open Chat. I think the questions are obvious.
Canada Phil

Ron Fellows:  I don't think you can underestimate Aston Martin because of Prodrive.  Those guys have a terrific organization and I'm sure Prodrive has a learning drive with Aston Martin, but they have proven to be a great organization and we are not underestimating them at all
Ron Fellows:  I personally think this could be the most exciting year yet because there are so many unknowns.  How good is the Aston Martin?  Are we going to see the Maserati's?  How many Ferrari's?  And of course the Saleen will now be on Michelins which will improve their game.

I really do think that GTS is going to be the one to watch this year!!

I hope the Saleens make the effort for Le Mans as well as the ALMS. Not sure whether the Maseratis will meet the ACO spec though, and I hope they don't bend the rules to let them in or that will be a farce.

Offline smokie

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Re:Sebring 2005
« Reply #155 on: January 25, 2005, 12:26:00 pm »
I know I'm shallow but I just hope Florida warms up a bit. Around 0 degrees today...

Offline Bob U

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Re:Sebring 2005
« Reply #156 on: January 25, 2005, 12:41:26 pm »
At the time of Sebring I will be on a family skiing holiday to Canada. I doubt very much that I will have internet access and maybe It won't be reported on Canadian TV (maybe Canada Phil could verify this). Would one of you lucky people who will be going be kind enough to text me the result and an Aston report.
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And the bastards have built on it.

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Re:Sebring 2005
« Reply #157 on: January 25, 2005, 02:08:55 pm »
Found this on Sebring's website. Here's the official poster for this years race.  The artist is Roger Warwick, a local guy from here in Cincinnati.
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Offline Andy Zarse

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Re:Sebring 2005
« Reply #158 on: January 25, 2005, 02:44:02 pm »
Shaken to bits being the way to describe it!  After all of the years teams have been bringing Saleen's there and they still end up falling to pieces by the third hour.  The Vette's are tailor made for the bumpy old bomber base.
Fax

Fax, I'm not saying it's going to last the distance or even half way, but don't forget Prodrive cut their teeth in the rally world, where bumps and thumps are the name of the game. I reckon there is no better team for out-the-crate reliability. I would be very surprised if bits and bobs came tumbling off the Aston.

Getting the speed up to competitive levels is a different matter....
I wouldn't sit there if I were you, it's still a bit wet.

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Re:Sebring 2005
« Reply #159 on: January 25, 2005, 02:53:42 pm »
Agreed, Prodrive will have the cars reliable.  They've got bucketloads of Sebring experience with the Ferrari 550's so I've no doubt the cars will hold up well.  As I said, the Saleen's are the ones that have an annoying habit of shedding odds & sodds within a few hours of the start, eventually becoming rolling chicanes.
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Offline Andy Zarse

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Re:Sebring 2005
« Reply #160 on: January 25, 2005, 02:57:02 pm »
Agreed mate. Saleen never showed too well either at LM by my recollection.

PS did you know England are 16 - 2 in the last session at Centurion?
I wouldn't sit there if I were you, it's still a bit wet.

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Re:Sebring 2005
« Reply #161 on: January 25, 2005, 03:31:31 pm »
Cricket...hmm, still trying to really understand the regs.  A few years ago at the Sarthe one of our number who coaches cricket back in the UK but had played baseball here in the US as well was trying with admirable effort to explain the rules of cricket to me.  I was mostly confused but at that point I'd had about twenty beers so was easily confused.  But I watch the BBC world news on PBS over here and get the scores...does that count?
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Offline jpchenet

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Re:Sebring 2005
« Reply #162 on: January 25, 2005, 04:01:31 pm »
Found this on Sebring's website. Here's the official poster for this years race.  The artist is Roger Warwick, a local guy from here in Cincinnati.
Fax

7 weeks to get the unofficial version done then Andy!!!!   ;)

Perhaps it should show how the Commer will look with it's new spoiler!
« Last Edit: January 25, 2005, 04:01:51 pm by jpchenet »

Offline Andy Zarse

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Re:Sebring 2005
« Reply #163 on: January 27, 2005, 12:27:13 pm »
Pratt & Miller are shaking-down two C6R's at Sebring next weekend.

Scooped you on the photo of the test mate! Shows how far GM have had to pare the weight down on the new C6R to remain competitive.

I'm fairly sure this one was being driven by Prat, I'm not sure what Miller was up to at the time.
I wouldn't sit there if I were you, it's still a bit wet.

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Re:Sebring 2005
« Reply #164 on: January 27, 2005, 03:14:51 pm »
Thats the short wheelbase version, will be quick on the tighter circuts but might be a handfull on the Mulsanne. ;D
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