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Woohoo, I Survived Petit LeMans Weekend!
October 7, 2015
Article: Vickie Miller | Photo Credit: Michael Goodwin

The last race of the season for International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) is held at Road Atlanta and is the old ALMS event known was Petit LeMans. The weekend is filled with racing from Mazda MX 5 Cup, Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda (Lites), Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Series (LBST), Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge (CTSC), and TUDOR United SportsCar Championship (TUDOR).

My 2015 trip to Road Atlanta for Petit LeMans was my first time camping for this event. The week started when the Goodwin Motorsports crew (Michael, Abby, and myself) arrived at the track Tuesday afternoon to get the “queue” for the mad dash into the track to claim a camping spot, with reserved spots not an option. Upon arrival we set up camp for the night outside the track in the parking lot, with the camping gates scheduled to open Wednesday morning at 7am and we were number 57 in line. The crew quickly made friends with others in line and held a campsite team meeting with recreational vehicle number 41 in line, who would be our camping neighbor.

Using data from my past track experiences and reviewing the line in front of us, I estimated an 8am campsite arrival. So imagine my shock when our RV moved through the gates at 7:19am! Road Atlanta was efficient in having two lines go through the main gate, and keep things moving. Score one for Road Atlanta!

Once parked on the back stretch between turn 9 and 10a, Michael “Mike” Goodwin (RV driver and CEO) quickly went to work to set up the “main house” and a “summer cottage” area which would be our home until Sunday. Anticipating the pending weather, Mike placed plastic tarp under the AstroTurf rug alongside the RV so our tables, chairs, feet, and grill would remain dry. A tip which was not followed by our neighbor!

The “summer cottage” was an EZ-up tent equipped with chairs, table, and aluminum ladder scaffolding for picture taking next to the track fence. As the weekend went on, the chairs were soak, table blew down, river grew wider between road and cottage, but nothing would stop Mike from climbing on his perch to get “big boy camera” photos, like the one on this article. Yes, there was rain…day and night. We made the best of it, and had fun “buzzing” the paddock in our golf cart, at all hours of the day and into the night. Friday night when we made a trip past the haulers, the Michael Shank Racing (MSR) crew could be found still working. Unable to know how to help, we delivered them a variety bag of snacks. The crew was unable to make qualifying but with the help of the DeltaWing shop, Ozz went out for Saturday warm-up and encountered an issue which again was fixed and ready to start the race but sadly unable to finish.

While many in the racing family had broken hearts for the MSR team, what I saw Thursday night is exactly what I have witnessed from this crew several times before…. Never giving up and doing what it takes. The MSR crew are like elves. They go about their tasks, basically working and knowing what needs to be done and just do it. I am so proud of these guys! The Falken team and others had a long night too. Sorry, we only had one bag of snacks.

There was mud everywhere and, once parked, cars would slide about as the ground underneath them turned to mud. Even with all the water and mess, the Road Atlanta track trash crew would make their way through the camping area and empty the trash cans and put in new bags. Only once did I see the cans fill up to flowing before emptied. I have seen cans at other tracks just overflowing with trash everywhere around the can and people adding more. Score two for Road Atlanta!

senor honda

By Vickie Miller
Early into the weekend, I realized this was going to be a very different racing event. The amount of rain being dropped showed no signs of slowing, which makes for wet equipment, wet drivers, wet crew, and wet everything. While Road Atlanta did have the track blowers out at every chance, nothing could keep up once the skies opened up. There was standing water and several parts on the track where a river was running across. Many race cars were the victim of hydroplaning and the wall was there to welcome them and turn the car into jigsaw puzzle pieces. The water didn’t care about the car number, manufacturer, series or class.
Thoughts kept taking me back to the GrandAm Homestead-Miami Speedway race in 2012 where, according to Vickipedia, over 40% of the race was run under caution and the race was stopped after 54 laps due to rain. I was at the “Grand Prix of Miami” race and the one main difference between Homestead-Miami and Road Atlanta is the duration of the rain. At Miami, the rain dumped…mass quantities in a relatively short amount of time. By the time the race was called and I was at my car in the parking lot, the rain had stopped. At Road Atlanta, the rain was continuous, and very heavy at times. With the television coverage, articles written during and after the race, you can read about all the accidents, issues, facts and figures during the race. All I saw was the rain.

I don’t care which car you are driving or what tire you have, the track became more dangerous than anything I have ever witnessed. I stood on the straight watching the cars racing out of turn 9 and into turn 10a totally amazed there was any grip at all to get them whoa’d down in time to take the turn. Despite your driver ranking, or pro or “gentlemen”, the conditions were the same, with each team trying their best to hold on. I am not saying I agreed with “when” the race got called, but I don’t see how it could have continued.

After the race ended, we “buzzed” the paddock to attend the podium ceremony, which is usually long and unorganized on a sunny day….imagine the same concept but in the pouring rain. It was not “FANTASTIC”! With Road Atlanta being the last race of the season, three titles were available for winning: (1) the race itself, Petit LeMans, (2) the TUDOR championship; and (3) the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup. Congratulations to all the teams and drivers.

Okay, if you are like me on any given weekend, I like to know if anyone (yes, even karting) is racing. I will Google search for races or check Race Monitor app to see what is approaching and how I need to plan. Yes, I’m addicted and racing is my drug of choice. For example last year, I noticed a racing series called Radical Racing and Radical UK. As like with any racing event, I navigate to the series entry list and scan it for any familiar name.

For Radical UK, whom do I find but John Falb. I had first met John with One Motorsports where my good friend, Jeff Bucknum, was coaching. So I booted up the old laptop and watched several races online as John raced through Europe. I have had the pleasure of watching John race at several Lites events this year and finally had a chance to catch up with him at Road Atlanta.

senor honda

By Vickie Miller
Here is part of my chat with John:
Q. If you could go to one track as a fan, which track and what series would you watch?
A. John would like to visit Circuit de Spa Francorchamps and watch either the WEC race or the 24 hours of Spa. John is attracted to this circuit with its “old world charm” and the sense of community. Since I have been fortunate enough to visit Spa myself, I totally agree with John and understand his feelings. Little known fact, John has never attended a race event as a fan, he has only raced.
Q. If you could spend the afternoon with anyone (politician, entertainer, racer, dead or alive) who would it be and what would you do?
A. He would spend the afternoon with his wife. They would enjoy a long lunch, drinking wine, relaxing in the sun of Hawaii and then take a swim in a warm pool.
Q. Racing in both PC and Lites, is there one you like better and why?
A. John likes them both, go figure! The PC races because of the duration which allows for more detailed strategy dealing with driver changes, a focus on a team environment, the importance of a quick pit stop, and relying on your co-driver. The Lites races are where he can focus on himself, and a totally different team atmosphere, but both are intense and enjoyable.

John’s racing season is not over. Be sure to watch him in the 24 Hours of Thunderhill event, held December 5 – 6 weekend. You can follow along at this website NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill Presented by Hawk Performance

Please follow John’s racing career on Twitter @johnfalb and find out more about John at website http://www.bar1motorsports.com/john-falb/, also check out his business and racing sponsor https://www.edvisors.com/.

With the sad passing of Justin Wilson, several stickers have been designed to honor him and his #BADASSWILSON hashtag. Of the stickers I have seen, all have featured Justin’s helmet.
Since I started following racing, whether in person or on television, I have always wondered why a driver choose the colors or pattern on their helmet. For corporate sponsored drivers in NASCAR or INDY, I would assume by viewing their helmet, the pattern or design is bought and decided on for the driver. Below is a series of video clips recorded when I asked a variety of drivers, “What’s on your helmet?” I was surprised by a few of the responses and I hope you enjoy! All interviews were done before the drivers raced.

John Falb, Lites driver # 77 ONE Motorsports Edvisors Élan DP02 and # 88 Starworks Motorsport Martini ORECA FLM09 Chevrolet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkW7t6JYm0w

John Pew, TUDOR driver # 60 Michael Shank Racing Ligier JS P2 Honda HPD http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3zYDEz0N50

Oswaldo “Ozz” Negri Jr, TUDOR driver # 60 Michael Shank Racing Ligier JS P2 Honda HPD http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bZEEx-hz34

Ryan Eversley, CTSC driver # 93 HART Honda of America Mfg Honda HPD Honda Civic Si http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E23RT9DKqQ

Kevin Boehm, CTSC driver # 92 HART Honda of America Mfg Honda HPD Honda Civic Si http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRzsYAO13Gs

Andrew Davis, CTSC driver # 6 Stevenson Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R and TUDOR # 22 Alex Job Racing WeatherTech Porsche 911 GT America Porsche
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcLm4rjlgyY

Jereon Bleekemolen, TUDOR driver # 33 Riley Motorsports TI Automotive/Viper Exchange Dodge Viper GT3-R Viper V10 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oYU3oHOqTY

Sean Rayhall, TUDOR driver # 88 Starworks Motorsport Martini ORECA FLM09 Chevrolet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUeX9M-cXFk

Alex Popow, TUDOR # 8 Starworks Motorsport Martini ORECA FLM09 Chevrolet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfRJ4-huia4

Conor Daly, TUDOR driver # 38 Performance Tech Motorsports ORECA FLM09 Chevrolet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOkfyMBqlG4

Tristan Nunez, TUDOR driver # 70 Mazda Motorsports Mazda
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgJPPn3t6cY

Jonathan Bomarito, TUDOR driver # 70 Mazda Motorsports Mazda
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuqvpaWCo4U

Matt McMurry, Lites driver # 20 JDC Motorsports Élan DP02
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Wzv7dE65G0

Clarke Toppe, Lites driver # 10 JDC Motorsports Élan DP02
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_2IoqQkJx4

Kenton Koch, Lites driver # 60 JDC Motorsports Élan DP02
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAsL-5Fm6-0

From Circuit of the Americas, WEC weekend:
Danny Watts, WEC driver # 42 Strakka Racing Gibson 015S Nissan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4KXI-WU2yY

David Heinemeier Hansson, WEC driver # 30 Extreme Speed Motorsports Ligier JS P2 HPD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QknbK_9CLKA

While my camping group arrived home safely, my thoughts and prayers go out to so many who have sustained flood damage and will continue to struggle with the cleanup and rebuilding efforts facing them. Yes the rain and wind were terrible at Road Atlanta, but the camper can be dried out and items broken can be replaced. We were not faced with the horrible weather conditions, which I watched on television upon on return home.

Thank you all for reading and I welcome your comments. I have no affiliation with IMSA, Tudor, Road Atlanta, CTSC, etc. just a fan. There are many blogs and websites where you will find statistics, results, and scoring from the race; this is “just the way I see it”.
Got a response? Follow and tweet me @viclovesracing
And look for future “Vickie’s Trackside Report” coming to a track near you!