This Robin Miller article is posted without comment. I will let Robin tell the story.
MILLER: Champ Car Wants Cotman Out
If you took a poll in the Champ Car paddock, the overwhelming majority of owners, drivers and mechanics would tell you that Tony Cotman's rookie season as Race Director was as good as it gets.
Hired as vice president of operations, Cotman also assumed the responsibility of running the races because, frankly, it was a good way for Champ Car to save money. A longtime team manager/mechanic in CART and IRL, he packed plenty of racing savvy but had no experience at enforcing rules, running driver's meetings or making those snap decisions on blocking and contact between drivers.
The general feeling was that he couldn't be any worse than other guys before him but the nearly universal sentiment following the 14th race of 2005 was that Cotman was a keeper.
Not only did he enjoy the most thankless job in motorsports, he aced it. His firm yet fair way of treating people and situations earned him immediate respect. Hell, the drivers even shut up and paid attention in their meetings. He used common sense and didn't panic, regardless of how bad things looked (we're talking San Jose's terrible track conditions).
When Paul Tracy and Sebastien Bourdais collided while exiting the pits at Toronto, Cotman correctly ruled it was one of those racing incidents and nobody got penalized.
When Timo Glock shortcut the chicane at Montreal for the second time (after being warned) to keep Oriol Servia behind him, Cotman made the tough, but correct call and had Glock move over and allow Servia past on the last lap.
When leader Tracy got speared in the gearbox and spun into the wall by Bourdais at Las Vegas, Cotman looked at the replay and judged that P.T. did not properly indicate he was pitting (like instructed in the driver's meeting) and therefore there was no penalty.
When Tracy swerved across the track to keep A.J. Allmendinger behind him at Mexico City, Cotman invoked a penalty which, afterwards, Tracy agreed was fair.
Cotman wasn't perfect, he should have parked or penalized Bourdais for punting Tracy at Monterrey, Mexico because P.T. did everything he could to avoid contact in that one. Yet his hiring technical cops Paul Harcus (Champ Car) and Eric Haverson (Atlantics) to police the paddock was also sound thinking.
Unlike what's about to happen.
Champ Car wants Cotman replaced as race director."It's the owner's decision and they are seeking a replacement for me in race control," said Cotman on Thursday. "Am I disappointed, sure I am? But I'm tired of dealing with this so I guess I'll move on.
"I'm not leaving Champ Car, though."
Kevin Kalkhoven, who co-owns Champ Car with Gerald Forsythe, claimed that Cotman has too many other things on his plate and it was always the intention to replace him as Race Director.
"Tony is a very valuable member of our team but he's got plenty of other projects on his plate. Trust me, we'll find somebody just as good," said Kalkhoven recently.
Forsythe, who officially protested Cotman's ruling at Vegas and stormed up into race control following Tracy's penalty at Mexico, admitted his displeasure.
"I disagreed with three or four of his calls, absolutely," said Forsythe. "Why was nothing done to Bourdais at Monterrey? And why was the penalty on Paul so severe at Mexico City? Why did he have to go to the back of the field? Why couldn't he have simply got behind Allmendinger?
"Listen, Tony is a tremendous asset to Champ Car but he got this job as Race Director because there was nobody else. I want somebody with more experience because if we can improve the position, we should."
And while nobody can question Forsythe's loyalty, commitment or passion to Champ Car, several owners are questioning this decision.
"In the 40 years I've been in this business I can count on one hand the guys who could do that job (race director) correctly," said Derrick Walker, who intends to make Cotman an agenda in the upcoming owner's meeting Feb. 15-16. "Champ Car has a gem in that guy and we should hang onto him.
"It's sheer madness to take him out of that position."
Forsythe and Kalkhoven have spent a lot of money keeping Champ Car afloat and they're certainly entitled to run their business any way they choose. But taking Cotman out of race control sends a real bad message because it's so unnecessary.
Not only does Cotman like this God-forsaken job, he's good at it.
"It's not a done deal at this point," said Forsythe. "If we don't find somebody better..."
Here's a prediction. They won't.
Friday, February 03, 2006
Saturday, January 21, 2006
MMMM, THAT NEW-CAR SMELL!!
Even though it be the dead of Winter, exciting things still continue to stir. I have posted two photos below of the scale model of our new Panoz DP01 Champ car which is in the wind tunnel now, and should be ready for testing in late summer. Swoopier, narrower, shorter, more nimble and now about the size of an F1 car.
Here's the scoop from Champ Car:
As the 2006 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season continues to sneak closer, officials from Élan Motorsports Technologies (EMT) and Champ Car have their eyes even further down the road as EMT put a scale model of the 2007 DP01 chassis in the wind tunnel for the first time.
EMT engineers and officials from Champ Car were on hand at the Penske Technology Group wind tunnel for the debut of the half-scale model of the Panoz DP01 chassis. The group put the model through its introductory tests and were pleased with the results they achieved.
“We are still in the early stages of developing the new car,” said Champ Car Technology Director Scot "Puddin' "Elkins. “We did everything we wanted to do during this first test and the results are outstanding. This first test is where we are creating a baseline set of data for the model. We concentrated on creating aerodynamic balance throughout the car the so we could then start the detailed development we are planning.”
The new Panoz DP01 takes much of its look from the current Champ Car chassis, keeping alive the style that has made the series a favorite of racing fans around the globe. But the cutting-edge technology designed into the package incorporates many new aerodynamic features that make this car better suited to the urban race tracks which host Champ Car's highly successful three-day festivals of speed. The design will also lead to more competitive racing on the permanent road courses and ovals that mark the Champ Car World Series as the most diverse racing series in the world. The Panoz DP01 is smaller than the current Champ Car in both length and width and weighs 165 pounds less than the current machine, providing a more nimble and quicker machine that will put driver skills at a premium. The aerodynamic changes on the new chassis will allow for more passing via smaller wings and bigger tunnels which will create less turbulence for cars in traffic.
Champ Car announced in October the Panoz DP01 would replace the current Lola chassis at the beginning of the 2007 season. Engineers at Élan Motorsports Technologies will continue development of the Panoz DP01 chassis with the first prototype expected to hit the track in July. Champ Car
Here's the scoop from Champ Car:
As the 2006 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season continues to sneak closer, officials from Élan Motorsports Technologies (EMT) and Champ Car have their eyes even further down the road as EMT put a scale model of the 2007 DP01 chassis in the wind tunnel for the first time.
EMT engineers and officials from Champ Car were on hand at the Penske Technology Group wind tunnel for the debut of the half-scale model of the Panoz DP01 chassis. The group put the model through its introductory tests and were pleased with the results they achieved.
“We are still in the early stages of developing the new car,” said Champ Car Technology Director Scot "Puddin' "Elkins. “We did everything we wanted to do during this first test and the results are outstanding. This first test is where we are creating a baseline set of data for the model. We concentrated on creating aerodynamic balance throughout the car the so we could then start the detailed development we are planning.”
The new Panoz DP01 takes much of its look from the current Champ Car chassis, keeping alive the style that has made the series a favorite of racing fans around the globe. But the cutting-edge technology designed into the package incorporates many new aerodynamic features that make this car better suited to the urban race tracks which host Champ Car's highly successful three-day festivals of speed. The design will also lead to more competitive racing on the permanent road courses and ovals that mark the Champ Car World Series as the most diverse racing series in the world. The Panoz DP01 is smaller than the current Champ Car in both length and width and weighs 165 pounds less than the current machine, providing a more nimble and quicker machine that will put driver skills at a premium. The aerodynamic changes on the new chassis will allow for more passing via smaller wings and bigger tunnels which will create less turbulence for cars in traffic.
Champ Car announced in October the Panoz DP01 would replace the current Lola chassis at the beginning of the 2007 season. Engineers at Élan Motorsports Technologies will continue development of the Panoz DP01 chassis with the first prototype expected to hit the track in July. Champ Car
ATLANTIC
Along with that, the 2006 Atlantic season continues to balloon. Orders have been taken for over 50 cars. Forsythe Racing recently announced a four-car Super Team made up of 2003 Barber Dodge Champ Leo Maia, 2004 Formula BMW Champ Andreas Wirth, 2004 Formula BMW runner-up James Hinchcliffe and 2005 BMW Champ Richard Philippe, younger brother of Champ Car Driver Nelson. You can read more about it all at http://www.toyotaatlantic.com/News/Article.asp?ID=1979
Front view of the 2007 Panoz DP01 half-scale model 
11 weeks to Long Beach...
JHS
Sunday, January 01, 2006
CCWS FLAG CHIEFS FOR 2006
TOP OF THE NEW YEAR TO YA!
Below is our tentative list of Flag Chiefs/Contacts for all of you who are considering traveling to one of our road or street races. They may change as the winter progresses. There is only one oval race left, and is limited by the fact that the Milwaukee Mile has its own observer group. Send me an email if you want to take a crack at this event (which may turn out to be our last oval for a while, but that's just MY opinion...) and I will form up a list to present to the Milwaukee Mile group. Space is limited, and I make no promises!
Houston is new for 2006 and planning is well underway by the good people of Houston Region SCCA. WE WILL NEED HELP IN CLEVELAND AND EDMONTON, where our numbers were really thin last year. I'm not attempting to draw any marshals away from other events, but if you still have choices remaining, have a thought for the two nifty airport circuits, where the racing (and the terrain) is wide-ass open!! Toronto marshals, this is a great opportunity to see and work the Champ Cars two weeks prior to your home event.
JHS
CHAMP CAR FLAG CHIEFS - 2OO6
Long Beach: Ceci Smith
race.flaggers@Verizon.net
Monterrey: Fritz Herrmann
fritzipaldi@yahoo.com
Héctor Gómez
hgomez@dutymexico.com
Houston: Jim Lowe
jtlowe@swbell.net
Portland: Ken Killam
orsccaf-c@comcast.net
Cleveland: Dale Strimple
rubberchicken74@msn.com
Toronto: Peter Corley
gavia.paradox@sympatico.ca
Edmonton: Rudy van Woerkom
Rudy@vanwoerkom.net
San Jose: Mike Neff
proraly@sbcglobal.net
Denver: Stan McLaughlin
stan@ucar.edu
Montreal: Claude-Olivier Malepart
com@asrq.com
Elkhart Lake: Peter Allen
sccapete@sbcglobal.net
Gold Coast: Margo Jones
jjmsm01@hotmail.com
Mexico City: Fritz Herrmann
fritzipaldi@yahoo.com
Héctor Gómez
hgomez@dutymexico.com
Friday, December 23, 2005
MERRY CHRISTMAS, INDIANA
Sitting around yesterday looking at our Christmas decorations and listening to Jimmy Buffett's Christmas album - (which was inspired by the purchase of a light-up palm tree we purchased for the front porch this year) and I was taken by the words to his song "Merry Christmas, Alabama" about all the places he has been over the years and how all those places become a second home after a while. Those of you who know the song will enjoy, but I've made a few changes and posted the lyrics here, as they seem to fit how I feel at this time of the year, reflecting on where we've been, where we are going and some of the places we may never see again:
Merry Christmas, … Indiana
Merry Christmas,… Motegi
Merry Christmas,… to Fontana
To Detroit and to East Germany
Merry Christmas,… Indiana
Where I started this wild and crazy run
Such a long way …from that first birthday
Merry Christmas, everyone
And Merry Christmas, …California
Though far from you all I have roamed
'Tis the season …to remember
All the faces, And the places that were home
'Tis the season …to remember
And to count up all the venues I have known
And to thank God’s mercies tender
For I'm never far from home
Merry Christmas to my saints and guardian angels
Who protect us …as we roam
'Tis the season …to remember
All the faces And the places that were home
Guess my life's moved …at near light speed
Since I started this wild and crazy run
Such a long way …from that first birthday
Merry Christmas, …everyone
'Tis the season …to remember
No we're never far from home
Merry Christmas, everyone.
The Winter solstice has just occurred and we are, as I like to quote, "Halfway to Portland!" which traditionally happens in late June. This is the quiet time of our racing Spirits, when our energy retreats within to await the coming of another season. At the end of the year, we reflect on the seasons and cycles of our own lives. We sometimes recall our triumphs and our own dark periods. Times when things seem difficult. And yet, there is always the spark of hope rekindles as we head back towards warmth. The cycles turn and change, and Yule is just such a moment. Even in the darkest night, there is the seed of rebirth.
As I often say at the beginning of each race on the Land Line, "God Bless You ALL."
Signing out for 2005,
JHS
Site Counter
Merry Christmas, … Indiana
Merry Christmas,… Motegi
Merry Christmas,… to Fontana
To Detroit and to East Germany
Merry Christmas,… Indiana
Where I started this wild and crazy run
Such a long way …from that first birthday
Merry Christmas, everyone
And Merry Christmas, …California
Though far from you all I have roamed
'Tis the season …to remember
All the faces, And the places that were home
'Tis the season …to remember
And to count up all the venues I have known
And to thank God’s mercies tender
For I'm never far from home
Merry Christmas to my saints and guardian angels
Who protect us …as we roam
'Tis the season …to remember
All the faces And the places that were home
Guess my life's moved …at near light speed
Since I started this wild and crazy run
Such a long way …from that first birthday
Merry Christmas, …everyone
'Tis the season …to remember
No we're never far from home
Merry Christmas, everyone.
The Winter solstice has just occurred and we are, as I like to quote, "Halfway to Portland!" which traditionally happens in late June. This is the quiet time of our racing Spirits, when our energy retreats within to await the coming of another season. At the end of the year, we reflect on the seasons and cycles of our own lives. We sometimes recall our triumphs and our own dark periods. Times when things seem difficult. And yet, there is always the spark of hope rekindles as we head back towards warmth. The cycles turn and change, and Yule is just such a moment. Even in the darkest night, there is the seed of rebirth.
As I often say at the beginning of each race on the Land Line, "God Bless You ALL."
Signing out for 2005,
JHS
Site Counter
Thursday, December 08, 2005
WELL, THAT'S THE END OF THAT SEASON!! (part 2)
DOWN UNDER
Always a thrill to head to the Gold Coast, if you can get past the 14 hours on the plane, made shorter this year by a stopover in New Zealand. I made the statement many times in October that after Korea, Australia would feel like home, but it did anyway, going back for the 15th consecutive year. We once again shared the billing and the racetrack with the Australian V8 Supercars, and I would really, really love to see all of you in the States be able someday to experience these cars. Probably the most exciting and inspiring series in the world with fenders and doors. The cars are as powerful as Nextel Cup cars, but they really road race with these cars and the result is stunning. The Holden (Aussie’s GM) and Ford rivalry is intense. My dream would be to import these guys into Long Beach some year, but I might pass out in the process.
Our Aussie Marshals – and there are over 600 of them when you add up Comms, Flaggies, Trackies, Fieries, Pass Control, et al, really had it together this year. When I told them we did Cleveland this year with less than 50 people, it was hard to comprehend. I heard no complaints from the drivers, which meant that they did great, but the Comms, whom I listen to on the land line, did very well to “tune in” to whatever I was feeling upstairs and they responded every time, which is difficult for them as we do have language issues. Whenever I spoke quickly and I needed info in a hurry, it came back to me fast and short. When I tried to be loose and funny, I would get loose and funny back. Good on ya all! At one point on Friday, I used the “Bullsh*t” term when referring to a team that wasn’t telling us the truth. An hour later, some wisecracker out there labeled me a “crawler” – the Aussie term for “kiss up” as I was congratulating a post tongue-in-cheek for a good call!
Things went well overall, Sebastien wrapped up the title, and perhaps the best complement was from Tony Cotman who asked me how many Americans had made the trip down after we finished the first day. Based on the quality of work and the fact that everyone was working their first Champ Car race of the year, I think Tony was surprised to hear there were no Americans in the house. A great job by Margo Jones the Comm Chief, Marty Smith the Flag Chief and all of their crews and other Volunteers. Thanks for making it easy for us!
On Course again
DOWN MEXICO WAY
No other Marshaling group has the distinction of working two Champ Car events in one year anymore except for O.P.M (Oficiales de Pista Mexicanos,) and each year they consistently throw themselves headlong into their work. Every year, every race, they improve. It seems as each stop we make there, either in Monterrey or Mexico City, Fritz Herrmann and his band of Banderones y Observadores think a little more like us, and I understand a little bit more of them. The communications gap created by our two languages becomes narrower and narrower, and If I had the time I would learn more Español. ¡Muchas Gracias mi Amigos!
Melissa Harrington, Bob Kosky, Frank Levin and Barbara Blizzard came on down to be the gringos this year and were again made very welcome by OPM, but we still have yet to get OPM to be fully welcomed by the promoter, OCESA. Maybe it's due to the culture, but nowhere to the Marshals get treated with such indifference than by the promoter here, and I guess it boils down to lack of respect for the job they all do. Arms had to be twisted to provide worker parking, water and timely food deliveries. A good number of marshals got fed only at the end of the day! Fortunately as most live in Mexico City, and were returning to their homes each night, they could bring their own nourishment, but anywhere else and we would have seen a very justified walkout!
As I promised Fritz, the matter has now been taken up with Steve Johnson, our new CCWS President, who has a long track record of understanding the needs of our volunteers everywhere, and his awareness of situation should help when we discuss OCESA's plans for 2006. Look for an end to this sorry situation the next time we meet...
¿OLE?
For the third consecutive year, I had the honor of ending the season on the track with the final Checkered Flag of 2005. I get a lot of questions about this so let me elaborate on its origin:
Champ Car's Circuit Director, Chris Kneifel, sits on the FIA Circuit Safety Committee which meets several times a year in Paris. In 2003 he was also invited to be Charlie Whiting's ( the F1 Race Director) guest in Race Control in Monza for the Italian Grand Prix. Among other things, CSK found it amusing that at the end of the race, the Clerk of the Course ceremoniously gets up from his post, dons a sport coat, and saunters down to the finish line to deliver the Checker on the track. Very Old School and very European.
Anyway, when we returned to Mexico City later in 2003, we continued to be struck at the atmosphere of the beautiful old ex-F1 circuit, and as a new regime in its first year in Operations and Race Control, we were in a constant search to do things differently, and to make bold statements. On Saturday night, in the Hotel El Camino Real bar (although I wasn't there at the time,) Chris relayed the story of Monza once again. Stewards Beaux Barfield and Tony Kester jumped at it and claimed: "We don't have a hair in our a##es if we don't have the balls to send Jimmy out there tomorrow to do the same thing." (I believe a direct quote - after all it was a Mexican bar... ) I was made aware of the plan the next morning, a sport coat was found in the CCWS Business Coach, the teams were notified, we practiced it at the end of the warm up, and the rest is history...
Yes its dangerous - and there are a number of officials who are totally against it, but it makes a spectacular photo and a very unique way for us to end the season. Things we need. Plus it's so easy to do there, RC is very nearby and I'm only secondary on the Land Line in Mexico anyway.
The first year, Paul Tracy admittedly forgot I was gonna be there and ran in very close to the wall as he saluted his crew, only veering to the left to give me clearance a few hundred feet before the line. The following year, we brought that up at the driver's meeting and Paul was admonished to avoid hitting the man on the track, to which Paul replied: "Hey, I thought it was J.D.!" And for those who wonder, JD has been across the track in his stand each year delivering a second flag from up there in case I have a problem!
Honestly, once out there, and with the experience that most of us have, to have a Champ Car pass within a couple yards of you at 170 mph is an other-worldly feeling. I have felt drawn in closer to the car as it approaches, not repelled from it. And it's over and past you so damned fast, almost as if the car is made of colored air, and that if you placed your hand out it would pass right through you. That's what it feels like. I did take a step back in 2004 when Seastien Bourdais moved in to get out from behind Jourdain, as I wanted to give him plenty of passing room if he wanted it! There is no fence between the track and pit lane, which adds comfort to any escape plan. And just like anticpating a fast pitch during a baseball game, you need to lead the car by a significant distance or else it will be past before you can get the flag all the way across... and I will have to admit that I almost stumbled forward as Justin Wilson really slowed down this year crossing the line and I had to hold up a bit to let him get there!
ADIOS...
...to 2005 and forward to what should hopefully be a quieter off-season. If you have been keeping up with developments on the Champ Car website, you see that we have already dropped the Las Vegas oval and reinstated Elkhart Lake for the 2006 season. There wasn't a lot said, but we weren't getting the financial return on LV that we should, and the planned street race won't be ready next year. Patience....That leaves one oval left. A new chassis will be coming on line in 2007 and to build an oval kit for just one race on the schedule, well you do the math...The Atlantic series has orders for over 40 new cars, and you should expect 25 to 30 cars on the grids. Standing starts are still being discussed, for both series in 2007?...We have ended our relationship with Trans-Am, and they have no firm plans. We will be running with both Grand-Am and ALMS in 2006 and we maintain friends on "both sides" of that particular racing fence....Winter testing for the Champ Cars has already started in Sebring, Bruno Junqueira is back behind the wheel of the Deuce... Some of our existing teams may run three cars next season, but don't expect many more cars on the grid in this last season for this chassis. When orders are being taken for the new 2007 Panoz chassis, then we may see our counts go up. The new car will be quicker, lighter, smaller and will rely less on wings to create downforce, putting an emphasis back on more ground effect and possibly helping passing opportunities. And - as an American built car, it will be 25% cheaper than the Lola!!... Edmonton is nearly sold out again after tix went on sale in November. The pit lane there will be brought out to the edge of the front straight, and the stands and suites move closer accordingly. Look for some significant changes also to San Jose as the city and transit people there are working with us to smooth out those tracks!! Could be the pit lane and paddock get reconfigured and moved about in the process. Cleveland has been sold and an announcement will be made soon, to a good friend of the series, and it is in very good hands. One less we have to promote in-house!
Thanks again everyone, from Long Beach to Mexico City, for making us look good in 2005.
See you at the race track!!!!!!!!
Always a thrill to head to the Gold Coast, if you can get past the 14 hours on the plane, made shorter this year by a stopover in New Zealand. I made the statement many times in October that after Korea, Australia would feel like home, but it did anyway, going back for the 15th consecutive year. We once again shared the billing and the racetrack with the Australian V8 Supercars, and I would really, really love to see all of you in the States be able someday to experience these cars. Probably the most exciting and inspiring series in the world with fenders and doors. The cars are as powerful as Nextel Cup cars, but they really road race with these cars and the result is stunning. The Holden (Aussie’s GM) and Ford rivalry is intense. My dream would be to import these guys into Long Beach some year, but I might pass out in the process.
Our Aussie Marshals – and there are over 600 of them when you add up Comms, Flaggies, Trackies, Fieries, Pass Control, et al, really had it together this year. When I told them we did Cleveland this year with less than 50 people, it was hard to comprehend. I heard no complaints from the drivers, which meant that they did great, but the Comms, whom I listen to on the land line, did very well to “tune in” to whatever I was feeling upstairs and they responded every time, which is difficult for them as we do have language issues. Whenever I spoke quickly and I needed info in a hurry, it came back to me fast and short. When I tried to be loose and funny, I would get loose and funny back. Good on ya all! At one point on Friday, I used the “Bullsh*t” term when referring to a team that wasn’t telling us the truth. An hour later, some wisecracker out there labeled me a “crawler” – the Aussie term for “kiss up” as I was congratulating a post tongue-in-cheek for a good call!
Things went well overall, Sebastien wrapped up the title, and perhaps the best complement was from Tony Cotman who asked me how many Americans had made the trip down after we finished the first day. Based on the quality of work and the fact that everyone was working their first Champ Car race of the year, I think Tony was surprised to hear there were no Americans in the house. A great job by Margo Jones the Comm Chief, Marty Smith the Flag Chief and all of their crews and other Volunteers. Thanks for making it easy for us!
On Course again
DOWN MEXICO WAY
No other Marshaling group has the distinction of working two Champ Car events in one year anymore except for O.P.M (Oficiales de Pista Mexicanos,) and each year they consistently throw themselves headlong into their work. Every year, every race, they improve. It seems as each stop we make there, either in Monterrey or Mexico City, Fritz Herrmann and his band of Banderones y Observadores think a little more like us, and I understand a little bit more of them. The communications gap created by our two languages becomes narrower and narrower, and If I had the time I would learn more Español. ¡Muchas Gracias mi Amigos!
Melissa Harrington, Bob Kosky, Frank Levin and Barbara Blizzard came on down to be the gringos this year and were again made very welcome by OPM, but we still have yet to get OPM to be fully welcomed by the promoter, OCESA. Maybe it's due to the culture, but nowhere to the Marshals get treated with such indifference than by the promoter here, and I guess it boils down to lack of respect for the job they all do. Arms had to be twisted to provide worker parking, water and timely food deliveries. A good number of marshals got fed only at the end of the day! Fortunately as most live in Mexico City, and were returning to their homes each night, they could bring their own nourishment, but anywhere else and we would have seen a very justified walkout!
As I promised Fritz, the matter has now been taken up with Steve Johnson, our new CCWS President, who has a long track record of understanding the needs of our volunteers everywhere, and his awareness of situation should help when we discuss OCESA's plans for 2006. Look for an end to this sorry situation the next time we meet...
¿OLE?
For the third consecutive year, I had the honor of ending the season on the track with the final Checkered Flag of 2005. I get a lot of questions about this so let me elaborate on its origin:
Champ Car's Circuit Director, Chris Kneifel, sits on the FIA Circuit Safety Committee which meets several times a year in Paris. In 2003 he was also invited to be Charlie Whiting's ( the F1 Race Director) guest in Race Control in Monza for the Italian Grand Prix. Among other things, CSK found it amusing that at the end of the race, the Clerk of the Course ceremoniously gets up from his post, dons a sport coat, and saunters down to the finish line to deliver the Checker on the track. Very Old School and very European.
Anyway, when we returned to Mexico City later in 2003, we continued to be struck at the atmosphere of the beautiful old ex-F1 circuit, and as a new regime in its first year in Operations and Race Control, we were in a constant search to do things differently, and to make bold statements. On Saturday night, in the Hotel El Camino Real bar (although I wasn't there at the time,) Chris relayed the story of Monza once again. Stewards Beaux Barfield and Tony Kester jumped at it and claimed: "We don't have a hair in our a##es if we don't have the balls to send Jimmy out there tomorrow to do the same thing." (I believe a direct quote - after all it was a Mexican bar... ) I was made aware of the plan the next morning, a sport coat was found in the CCWS Business Coach, the teams were notified, we practiced it at the end of the warm up, and the rest is history...
Yes its dangerous - and there are a number of officials who are totally against it, but it makes a spectacular photo and a very unique way for us to end the season. Things we need. Plus it's so easy to do there, RC is very nearby and I'm only secondary on the Land Line in Mexico anyway.
The first year, Paul Tracy admittedly forgot I was gonna be there and ran in very close to the wall as he saluted his crew, only veering to the left to give me clearance a few hundred feet before the line. The following year, we brought that up at the driver's meeting and Paul was admonished to avoid hitting the man on the track, to which Paul replied: "Hey, I thought it was J.D.!" And for those who wonder, JD has been across the track in his stand each year delivering a second flag from up there in case I have a problem!
Honestly, once out there, and with the experience that most of us have, to have a Champ Car pass within a couple yards of you at 170 mph is an other-worldly feeling. I have felt drawn in closer to the car as it approaches, not repelled from it. And it's over and past you so damned fast, almost as if the car is made of colored air, and that if you placed your hand out it would pass right through you. That's what it feels like. I did take a step back in 2004 when Seastien Bourdais moved in to get out from behind Jourdain, as I wanted to give him plenty of passing room if he wanted it! There is no fence between the track and pit lane, which adds comfort to any escape plan. And just like anticpating a fast pitch during a baseball game, you need to lead the car by a significant distance or else it will be past before you can get the flag all the way across... and I will have to admit that I almost stumbled forward as Justin Wilson really slowed down this year crossing the line and I had to hold up a bit to let him get there!
ADIOS...
...to 2005 and forward to what should hopefully be a quieter off-season. If you have been keeping up with developments on the Champ Car website, you see that we have already dropped the Las Vegas oval and reinstated Elkhart Lake for the 2006 season. There wasn't a lot said, but we weren't getting the financial return on LV that we should, and the planned street race won't be ready next year. Patience....That leaves one oval left. A new chassis will be coming on line in 2007 and to build an oval kit for just one race on the schedule, well you do the math...The Atlantic series has orders for over 40 new cars, and you should expect 25 to 30 cars on the grids. Standing starts are still being discussed, for both series in 2007?...We have ended our relationship with Trans-Am, and they have no firm plans. We will be running with both Grand-Am and ALMS in 2006 and we maintain friends on "both sides" of that particular racing fence....Winter testing for the Champ Cars has already started in Sebring, Bruno Junqueira is back behind the wheel of the Deuce... Some of our existing teams may run three cars next season, but don't expect many more cars on the grid in this last season for this chassis. When orders are being taken for the new 2007 Panoz chassis, then we may see our counts go up. The new car will be quicker, lighter, smaller and will rely less on wings to create downforce, putting an emphasis back on more ground effect and possibly helping passing opportunities. And - as an American built car, it will be 25% cheaper than the Lola!!... Edmonton is nearly sold out again after tix went on sale in November. The pit lane there will be brought out to the edge of the front straight, and the stands and suites move closer accordingly. Look for some significant changes also to San Jose as the city and transit people there are working with us to smooth out those tracks!! Could be the pit lane and paddock get reconfigured and moved about in the process. Cleveland has been sold and an announcement will be made soon, to a good friend of the series, and it is in very good hands. One less we have to promote in-house!
Thanks again everyone, from Long Beach to Mexico City, for making us look good in 2005.
See you at the race track!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
A MESSAGE OF THANKS(GIVING) FROM RACE DIRECTOR TONY COTMAN
Hey everyone:
We at Champ Car are all very proud that Jim did not get run over while delivering the Checkered flag on the race track in Mexico City for the third consecutive year. While Jim recovers from that, and another successful year in Race Control, here's something I'd like to share with you all:
I would like to thank the Marshals from around the world, who attend any number of our Champ car events. Without your support, Champ Car racing would not be able to function at such a consistently high level. I have never worked on that side of things throughout my career, but with Jim’s help have grown to understand more than ever the importance of marshals and the value you add. I rely on you all each week, to aid in a decision making process, and hopefully do our sport justice. I’m proud to have you all be a part of the Champ Car family, and wish you all happy holidays. Look forward to seeing everyone next season.
Cheers,
Tony
We at Champ Car are all very proud that Jim did not get run over while delivering the Checkered flag on the race track in Mexico City for the third consecutive year. While Jim recovers from that, and another successful year in Race Control, here's something I'd like to share with you all:
I would like to thank the Marshals from around the world, who attend any number of our Champ car events. Without your support, Champ Car racing would not be able to function at such a consistently high level. I have never worked on that side of things throughout my career, but with Jim’s help have grown to understand more than ever the importance of marshals and the value you add. I rely on you all each week, to aid in a decision making process, and hopefully do our sport justice. I’m proud to have you all be a part of the Champ Car family, and wish you all happy holidays. Look forward to seeing everyone next season.
Cheers,
Tony
Friday, October 21, 2005
OCTOBER UPDATE
OK, we have a lot of catching up to do…
THE 41 HOURS OF DENVER
Yes, over 41 hours were required by our Denver GP marshals to work 3 days from briefing time until being hauled in at the end of the day. Meetings all 3 days were very early at 6 AM (and could not be changed as they would digress from the ever-so-holy minute-by-minute schedule, but I tried,) until the Drifters got off the track on Friday and Saturday sometime after eight! Not a healthy schedule, especially on Saturday in the pouring rain, but Champ Car takes its sopping-wet hat off to first-year Flag Chief Stan McLaughlin and his merry men and women for carrying us through a tough weekend. Thank you, thank you!
Some promoters these days – not all – pump as many series as possible into their events both to entertain the fans and to financially justify the running of the event. Economics in this day and age is something we can all understand, but I have had several discussions on your behalf with our Race Director, Scheduling Coordinator, Promoter Liaison and our new CCWS President Steve Johnson about the toll these schedules take on your overall performance. These schedules can beat you up for two days and then we ask you to be on your peak on Sunday afternoon? Hardly fair.
We will see what develops next year, as we have had some good discussions and ALL of the above agree with me. I have recommended no longer than 10 hours per day of track time, which should give you at least 12 hours off before the next mornings briefing.
GERMANS, GERMANS, GERMANS
Not that there’s anything wrong with them of course, but on course at Denver, they were a significant part of the weekend. Klaus Graf won the Trans-Am race for Rocketsports (along with the title a week later,) Andreas Wirth won his first Atlantic race, and the outcome of the Champ Car race was heavily influenced by Paul Tracy’s inability to put a lap on 5th placed Timo Glock, as PT bit the barrier in his frustration.
I have been attempting to guide the blue flagging this season over the land line, and at some places we have successfully added another headset on a post just for the blue flagger. I used a technique I developed during my years on the start stand during the Tracy – Glock scrap, and I would like all of you blue flaggers out there to give it some consideration. Paul was leading the race and came up to lap Timo, who was up in 5th place, certainly not going at back marker speed. Blue flags flew liberally as Paul reeled him in, but then as a result of aerodynamics and speed, Tracy could get not get nearer than a second. Keep the blues going, but when you see the positions have stabilized (PT even dropped back a bit,) lay off the flags until the gap gets smaller again. Otherwise, you not only get frustrated, but you also KNOW that the slower car in this case is perfectly aware of the presence of the faster car, and thus YOU HAVE DONE YOUR JOB. Lap after lap of blue flags in this case is just crying ‘wolf’ and reduces the effectiveness of the flag. The blue flag ain’t a command, although the faster driver always regards it as such. I asked all posts in this case to lay off until the status changed. Fine. Then Paul picked it up again, waved his fist a few times at JD, and Race Director Tony Cotman called for us to pile the blues on them again, but two corners later that was that and ol’ SeaBass went on for another victory.
MONTREAL
Now began the wind-down of the season as Denver, in early August, was our last road race in the USA. Really. Claude-Olivier Malepart and Alain Racine again did an outstanding job organizing their troops, and Richard LeDuc as our French-English Communicator/Translator served us very well for the 3rd consecutive year. I do not know how Richard (and Fritz Herrmann in Mexico) do it, listening to calls arrive in their native tongue yet keeping us in Race Control well informed, but I’m not complaining!!
We did not lean as hard on our Quebecois marshals as much as we did in 2004 (they saved 5 full-course yellows on race day) but they all possess a special passion for their duties found nowhere else we travel. Regardless, I always enjoy my time spent in that part of the world (plus you cannot find ANY bad meals up there.) I thank you all.
The big story at this event saw Race Director Tony Cotman stick to his guns and whistle Timo Glock (HIM AGAIN!!!) for a shortcut with just a few laps remaining as Glock attempted to hold off Oriol Servia for the lead. Timo was given clear warning that he was not going to be given another break after doing the same deed several laps prior, and on the penultimate lap Timo was ordered by the Race Director to give up the lead after the second offense. GOOD CALL.
Of note was a series of cute little exchanges on the start stand, as the injured Bruno Junqueira was given the honor of starting the race, the only non-CCWS Champion to be
accorded such an honor. Braggart and bulls@#ter that he is, upon arrival at the start stand, BJ loudly proclaimed “I will not go green until we have 10 rows paired up!” Umm, Bruno, do the math please. And also at my egging, JD was compelled to invite Bruno’s flame-haired sister Diana (pronounced JEE-onna in Portuguese,) upon whom he has an EXTREME crush, up to the stand for the occasion. She watched closely as JD explained the procedures to Bruno, ending with “I’ll tap you on the leg when you need to throw the green.” To Diana’s consternation, she puzzled, “I thought it would be more technical than that!”
LAS VEGAS – HEAT AND DARK
Once more we met in the arid desert of Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and two dozen or so Observers braved the elements and darkness in this rapidly disappearing specialty in our series. I would like to thank them all, be they veteran, novice or rookie, for pitching in and helping out, all the way down to the special “Rat Pack” tribute final course clearance. Some of these people can actually sing, but only in the dark. Damn fine job, everyone, especially on your input during the Tracy – Bourdais incident at the pit entrance. Your reports really helped back up & clarify Tony Cotman’s thoughts and subsequent ruling (i.e., Tracy cooked his own goose by not obeying the pit entry procedure.)
Rumblings regarding the venue for next year’s visit to Las Vegas continue to concentrate on a street race either downtown or near the strip, at night of course. I have also heard that LVMS’s banking will be torn up and elevated to a degree resembling Texas Motor Speedway to make it more NASCAR-able, and you all know what that would mean for us! Arrivederci, LVMS!
KOREA: THE RACE THAT DIDN’T HAPPEN – AGAIN
Imagine what it would be like to put on the Long Beach Grand Prix WITHOUT CalClub, the SCCA or The Grand Prix Association of Long Beach? That’s about as far as the promoter/organizer got this time. Yes they had a track built that was about raceable, but that was all. Marshals, Volunteers, Grandstands, Security, Food Service – all big question marks when the plug was rightfully pulled. The Government was (and still is) totally behind the event, and now a sponsor is ready, but the middle man was the weak point here.
The Korean ASN, KARA, only came on board with two weeks to go and it remains to be seen when and how they will be re-mobilized. We have another year to work on it, and we are also one year wiser, so I’m hearing that we are pretty sure for ’06 and beyond.
HABEMUS SCHEDULAM
Almost lost in all the ruckus is our 2006 Schedule, which was released at Denver, in August, the earliest release in many a year. 15 races are definite with the addition of a night street race near Reliant Stadium (Astrodome) in Houston, and our Political Department is still plugging for a street race in Philadelphia. 16 events would make the schedule grow for the first time since 2001, another portent for our future returning health. You can check out the 2006 Schedule at
http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=9523
I have some insights to share next time on our new car that will debut in 2007 (which I’ll bet will juice up our car count once it’s available) and a wrap up on the final two events Down Under and South of the Border. I hope you have all been watching “Race Car Driver” Wednesdays on Superstation WGN and “Champ Car Garage” Mondays on SPEED. They may be the two most excellent shows ever made about our series. I hear the October 26 airing on the Denver race should feature something about Race Control!
‘Til next time,
JHS
THE 41 HOURS OF DENVER
Yes, over 41 hours were required by our Denver GP marshals to work 3 days from briefing time until being hauled in at the end of the day. Meetings all 3 days were very early at 6 AM (and could not be changed as they would digress from the ever-so-holy minute-by-minute schedule, but I tried,) until the Drifters got off the track on Friday and Saturday sometime after eight! Not a healthy schedule, especially on Saturday in the pouring rain, but Champ Car takes its sopping-wet hat off to first-year Flag Chief Stan McLaughlin and his merry men and women for carrying us through a tough weekend. Thank you, thank you!
Some promoters these days – not all – pump as many series as possible into their events both to entertain the fans and to financially justify the running of the event. Economics in this day and age is something we can all understand, but I have had several discussions on your behalf with our Race Director, Scheduling Coordinator, Promoter Liaison and our new CCWS President Steve Johnson about the toll these schedules take on your overall performance. These schedules can beat you up for two days and then we ask you to be on your peak on Sunday afternoon? Hardly fair.
We will see what develops next year, as we have had some good discussions and ALL of the above agree with me. I have recommended no longer than 10 hours per day of track time, which should give you at least 12 hours off before the next mornings briefing.
GERMANS, GERMANS, GERMANS
Not that there’s anything wrong with them of course, but on course at Denver, they were a significant part of the weekend. Klaus Graf won the Trans-Am race for Rocketsports (along with the title a week later,) Andreas Wirth won his first Atlantic race, and the outcome of the Champ Car race was heavily influenced by Paul Tracy’s inability to put a lap on 5th placed Timo Glock, as PT bit the barrier in his frustration.
I have been attempting to guide the blue flagging this season over the land line, and at some places we have successfully added another headset on a post just for the blue flagger. I used a technique I developed during my years on the start stand during the Tracy – Glock scrap, and I would like all of you blue flaggers out there to give it some consideration. Paul was leading the race and came up to lap Timo, who was up in 5th place, certainly not going at back marker speed. Blue flags flew liberally as Paul reeled him in, but then as a result of aerodynamics and speed, Tracy could get not get nearer than a second. Keep the blues going, but when you see the positions have stabilized (PT even dropped back a bit,) lay off the flags until the gap gets smaller again. Otherwise, you not only get frustrated, but you also KNOW that the slower car in this case is perfectly aware of the presence of the faster car, and thus YOU HAVE DONE YOUR JOB. Lap after lap of blue flags in this case is just crying ‘wolf’ and reduces the effectiveness of the flag. The blue flag ain’t a command, although the faster driver always regards it as such. I asked all posts in this case to lay off until the status changed. Fine. Then Paul picked it up again, waved his fist a few times at JD, and Race Director Tony Cotman called for us to pile the blues on them again, but two corners later that was that and ol’ SeaBass went on for another victory.
MONTREAL
Now began the wind-down of the season as Denver, in early August, was our last road race in the USA. Really. Claude-Olivier Malepart and Alain Racine again did an outstanding job organizing their troops, and Richard LeDuc as our French-English Communicator/Translator served us very well for the 3rd consecutive year. I do not know how Richard (and Fritz Herrmann in Mexico) do it, listening to calls arrive in their native tongue yet keeping us in Race Control well informed, but I’m not complaining!!
We did not lean as hard on our Quebecois marshals as much as we did in 2004 (they saved 5 full-course yellows on race day) but they all possess a special passion for their duties found nowhere else we travel. Regardless, I always enjoy my time spent in that part of the world (plus you cannot find ANY bad meals up there.) I thank you all.
The big story at this event saw Race Director Tony Cotman stick to his guns and whistle Timo Glock (HIM AGAIN!!!) for a shortcut with just a few laps remaining as Glock attempted to hold off Oriol Servia for the lead. Timo was given clear warning that he was not going to be given another break after doing the same deed several laps prior, and on the penultimate lap Timo was ordered by the Race Director to give up the lead after the second offense. GOOD CALL.
Of note was a series of cute little exchanges on the start stand, as the injured Bruno Junqueira was given the honor of starting the race, the only non-CCWS Champion to be
accorded such an honor. Braggart and bulls@#ter that he is, upon arrival at the start stand, BJ loudly proclaimed “I will not go green until we have 10 rows paired up!” Umm, Bruno, do the math please. And also at my egging, JD was compelled to invite Bruno’s flame-haired sister Diana (pronounced JEE-onna in Portuguese,) upon whom he has an EXTREME crush, up to the stand for the occasion. She watched closely as JD explained the procedures to Bruno, ending with “I’ll tap you on the leg when you need to throw the green.” To Diana’s consternation, she puzzled, “I thought it would be more technical than that!”
LAS VEGAS – HEAT AND DARK
Once more we met in the arid desert of Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and two dozen or so Observers braved the elements and darkness in this rapidly disappearing specialty in our series. I would like to thank them all, be they veteran, novice or rookie, for pitching in and helping out, all the way down to the special “Rat Pack” tribute final course clearance. Some of these people can actually sing, but only in the dark. Damn fine job, everyone, especially on your input during the Tracy – Bourdais incident at the pit entrance. Your reports really helped back up & clarify Tony Cotman’s thoughts and subsequent ruling (i.e., Tracy cooked his own goose by not obeying the pit entry procedure.)
Rumblings regarding the venue for next year’s visit to Las Vegas continue to concentrate on a street race either downtown or near the strip, at night of course. I have also heard that LVMS’s banking will be torn up and elevated to a degree resembling Texas Motor Speedway to make it more NASCAR-able, and you all know what that would mean for us! Arrivederci, LVMS!
KOREA: THE RACE THAT DIDN’T HAPPEN – AGAIN
Imagine what it would be like to put on the Long Beach Grand Prix WITHOUT CalClub, the SCCA or The Grand Prix Association of Long Beach? That’s about as far as the promoter/organizer got this time. Yes they had a track built that was about raceable, but that was all. Marshals, Volunteers, Grandstands, Security, Food Service – all big question marks when the plug was rightfully pulled. The Government was (and still is) totally behind the event, and now a sponsor is ready, but the middle man was the weak point here.
The Korean ASN, KARA, only came on board with two weeks to go and it remains to be seen when and how they will be re-mobilized. We have another year to work on it, and we are also one year wiser, so I’m hearing that we are pretty sure for ’06 and beyond.
HABEMUS SCHEDULAM
Almost lost in all the ruckus is our 2006 Schedule, which was released at Denver, in August, the earliest release in many a year. 15 races are definite with the addition of a night street race near Reliant Stadium (Astrodome) in Houston, and our Political Department is still plugging for a street race in Philadelphia. 16 events would make the schedule grow for the first time since 2001, another portent for our future returning health. You can check out the 2006 Schedule at
http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=9523
I have some insights to share next time on our new car that will debut in 2007 (which I’ll bet will juice up our car count once it’s available) and a wrap up on the final two events Down Under and South of the Border. I hope you have all been watching “Race Car Driver” Wednesdays on Superstation WGN and “Champ Car Garage” Mondays on SPEED. They may be the two most excellent shows ever made about our series. I hear the October 26 airing on the Denver race should feature something about Race Control!
‘Til next time,
JHS
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
UPDATE SOON!!
Well, again the art thing... I have been really knee-deep in work since before Montreal and there is a lot to talk about. New Schedule, new car, exciting races in Race control, no Korea, etc... I should have finally some time to get you all updated before leaving for Oz this weekend.
Cheers for now!
JHS
Cheers for now!
JHS
Thursday, August 25, 2005
THE SKINNY ON KOREA
I know a lot have been wondering, so now that we think we know what we are doing, I will share it with the rest of you. I have really sat on this for too long already.
For a few years back now, the Koreans had run an Int’l F3 race, not sure where. My chums and connections over in Jolly Old England tell me that they took a handful of Marshals with them from the UK to communicate, as Race Control was run by the British with their international connections. I’m told that the rest of the work was done by a small bunch of mildly experienced Koreans and a legion of inexperienced but nonetheless enthusiastic college students!
There is an Internationally recognized Sporting Authority over there, named KARA, who have been patiently waiting in the wings all summer for the promoter to recognize them and vice versa. I have gotten very little in the way of hard numbers as to what the experience levels are over there, so to cover ourselves, at least for the first year, Champ Car has granted me a small budget to take over a handful of North American Marshals, whose job it will be to instruct, guide and help the Koreans, who should come with little or no experience, stand on their own within a year or two. In short, the better this little crew does, the less we will need them.
You have heard me preach many times that our company is still financially a long way from the heydays when we took two dozen people regularly to Mexico, South America, Japan and Europe. To keep expenses down, especially on domestic air travel, I was urged (with very few exceptions) to keep this Marshal group based in Southern California, where the charter will be leaving from.
My group is now selected and set. Certainly, I would have wanted it to be larger, but right now bucks is bucks. My first dream would have been an “executive” group made up of ALL my flag chiefs for all our events, but economy canned that idea, and it has been no easy chore to come up with JUST 13 people. We envision 10 posts, one on start with JD, one rover and one in reserve in case we sprout another post. We will place one from this team on each post, who will work with a translator to supervise the flagging, while the comm. line will be in Korean, hopefully gaining ground as the event progresses. We will have TV…
Those selected were chosen for the combined factors of their availability, experience with the series, proximity to Southern California, and what I hope will be most important, their skills as teachers and ambassadors. They will find themselves in some cases to be the only pure English speakers on their post, surrounded by those who have never done this before and that will be a high stress weekend, indeed.
Those of you who feel you could (or should) have been selected and are very disappointed, I don’t blame you. I only ask your understanding in what we are trying to do here in the context of where we are as we grow the series back to where it belongs. If you know me, then you already know how I feel about all of you.
Don’t know how to say “so long” in Korean yet.
Working on it.
JHS
For a few years back now, the Koreans had run an Int’l F3 race, not sure where. My chums and connections over in Jolly Old England tell me that they took a handful of Marshals with them from the UK to communicate, as Race Control was run by the British with their international connections. I’m told that the rest of the work was done by a small bunch of mildly experienced Koreans and a legion of inexperienced but nonetheless enthusiastic college students!
There is an Internationally recognized Sporting Authority over there, named KARA, who have been patiently waiting in the wings all summer for the promoter to recognize them and vice versa. I have gotten very little in the way of hard numbers as to what the experience levels are over there, so to cover ourselves, at least for the first year, Champ Car has granted me a small budget to take over a handful of North American Marshals, whose job it will be to instruct, guide and help the Koreans, who should come with little or no experience, stand on their own within a year or two. In short, the better this little crew does, the less we will need them.
You have heard me preach many times that our company is still financially a long way from the heydays when we took two dozen people regularly to Mexico, South America, Japan and Europe. To keep expenses down, especially on domestic air travel, I was urged (with very few exceptions) to keep this Marshal group based in Southern California, where the charter will be leaving from.
My group is now selected and set. Certainly, I would have wanted it to be larger, but right now bucks is bucks. My first dream would have been an “executive” group made up of ALL my flag chiefs for all our events, but economy canned that idea, and it has been no easy chore to come up with JUST 13 people. We envision 10 posts, one on start with JD, one rover and one in reserve in case we sprout another post. We will place one from this team on each post, who will work with a translator to supervise the flagging, while the comm. line will be in Korean, hopefully gaining ground as the event progresses. We will have TV…
Those selected were chosen for the combined factors of their availability, experience with the series, proximity to Southern California, and what I hope will be most important, their skills as teachers and ambassadors. They will find themselves in some cases to be the only pure English speakers on their post, surrounded by those who have never done this before and that will be a high stress weekend, indeed.
Those of you who feel you could (or should) have been selected and are very disappointed, I don’t blame you. I only ask your understanding in what we are trying to do here in the context of where we are as we grow the series back to where it belongs. If you know me, then you already know how I feel about all of you.
Don’t know how to say “so long” in Korean yet.
Working on it.
JHS
Monday, August 08, 2005
TORONTO'S 20th...
The 20th Running of the Toronto Molson Indy Poster
So now I can finally get around to a review of July's events, starting with Toronto. I'm happy and proud to say I have waved a flag (or directed some poor soul to wave a flag) at all 20 races, through thick and through thin.
Up above here is the poster art that was so lovingly commisioned by the good (and very perceptive) people of Molson Brewing, and they used it as the program cover, poster and even created some 500 or so limited edition lithos for in-house use. Using the Princes' Gates as an organizing element, the composition visits some of the notable architectural features of the CNE grounds as well as some of the more memorable moments and accomplishments in the history of the race (my favorite is still the first event, where CART official Big Bill Luchow held Bobby Rahal in the pits for a long pace car penalty - shown center left.) The winner's helmets from the first nineteen years are across the top.
Many have asked, and a website devoted exclusively to my stuff is still a month or so away, and this will be on it... but send me an email at swintal@cox.net if you are interested in a copy. All the original posters are gone from the event, but I can make very tasty prints to order on heavy watercolor stock. An 18x24 will be $100.
OK - enough pimping the artwork. I want to thank Peter Corley, Scott Muir and their fine crew of Marshals for another excellent weekend. Numbers were slightly up this year, and we needed them as the Champ car race was a pretty genteel affair until about halfway through and it became Smack-Em-Up City!!
I normally can cover up the places during the weekend when I get totally, totally lost during an event. It usually sounds like a looong silence where I buffalo y'all into thinking I'm in some deep conversation with the stewards... BUT NOT TODAY!! RC was in the Automotive Hall, and we fashioned a room with temporary office walls, with a very high ceiling that didn't bounce any internal sound. So we all know leader Tracy is on his way in, and two cars happen to belt the turn one exit wall at the same time, so I knew the timing of the full course yellow call had to be timed right, so I waited... and never heard Tony Cotman call it out. So the room and the first two corners are going ape-s&it, and I'm just sittin' there in a demi-glace until Asst. Starter Andy yells "Hey Jim! What the hell are we doin' here?" as he sees JD Wilbur with the double yellows out... So I bellow into race control, "Hey, are we full course yellow? " Wow, I never saw so many heads snap around so quickly. It may have been about a 15 sec delay, so mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.
Other than that, we all did great, the posts here really know how to work with each other and help one another out. For the first time, Race Director Tony Cotman had the time to come out and address the Sunday Briefing. And I thank you all again, and beseech all interested Toronto marshals to make a short trip down to Cleveland next year, to help us out again, as well as get one race under your belts before ol'home week 2006.
...AND EDMONTON'S FIRST
Sebastien Bourdais takes Cosworth's 250th Champ Car victory in Edmonton
OK, more art. But I teased you two posts ago that there was a milestone a-brewin' up in Edmonton, and it was Cosworth's 250th Champ Car win, the first happening back in nineteen seventy-ought-six, as Big Al drove for Parnelli Jones to victory in that year's Pocono 500. The original art was commissioned by Champ Car and presented to Cosworth executives during the pre-race ceremonies in San Jose. Yes, we turned this one out quick, a mere nine days after the race, where I was able to get my first reference photos of the place. Seb, the skyline of Edmonton, JD, Krys Mitchell and local boy Jim on the start stand, the works. Along the top are the cars that recorded the first, fiftieth (Rutherford/Michigan/'80,) hundredth (Sullivan/Cleveland/'84,) one-hundred-fiftieth (Rahal/Laguna/'87,) and two-hundredth (C. Fittipaldi/California/'00) wins. Reproduction plans are still in the air on this one, again email me at swintal@cox.net if you are interested.
CAN YOU BELIEVE A TURNOUT OF 200,000 PEOPLE? AMAZING! We were all absolutely gob-smacked. Our product does sell well, north and south of the border!! And that includes 65,000 watching absolutely nothing on Saturday, when we had a long rain delay in the morning while maintenance workers constucted a small dam outside turn 12 to keep a river of rainwater fron flowing across the track. Circuit Director Chris Kneifel built an excellent course, one more varied in speed and texture than its counterpart down in Cleveland.
On our side of the fence, I must say that our first-time Flag Chief Rudy van Woerkom and Race Chairman Andy de Boone came up to speed quickly. They were certainly faced with the unenviable task of putting together a Champ Car-class crew of Marshals in an area that hadn't had that heavy of an event before. Yes ,there were some novices and even some first-time flaggers propping up the numbers, but you couldn't tell from inside Race Control! And most of that credit goes to the fine group of experienced Captains and Comms that came in to help - from both near and far. There were Marshals from Toronto, the Midwest, the Rockies, Vancouver, and California, and like the sergeants of an excellent military Company, the backbone of the operation out on the corners were these experienced Marshals that kept us all on the map.
On another feelgood side, we brought the map from the drivers meeting to the Sunday briefing, and we all signed it for Gordy Ensing, who contnues to improve post-hospitalization. Since Gordy couldn't be with us, we sent a small chunk of the proceedings down to him!
RACING IN THE CITY
An unforgettable event and experience, perhaps best thought of as a community weightlifting party. Getting this candle lit and rocket off the ground took one Herculean effort. Remember that the venue and layout were not set until April! And the series was rewarded with another stellar turnout, upwards of 150,000 fans, and they all have their own stories to tell.
Let me begin with a message from Champ Car Race Director Tony Cotman to all officials and volunteer staff who participated in the event:
"To All:
This weekend showed that when we put on first time events in the middle of a city, we face many challenges, some foreseen and others unpredictable. The result this weekend was incredible for both the city of San Jose and Champ Car. Fans were treated to an experience unequalled in auto racing, between on track activities, pit walks, parties and concerts, and overall an action packed weekend. I know we all faced a huge array of challenges and we learnt a lot, which we will use to improve on, at not only next year's event but also at all other events and markets we visit. I wanted to say thank you to everyone, who know the true challenges we overcame to make this event a success. This could not happen without a complete team effort, so let us continue to drive Champ Car in a positive direction for our fans, our sport and ourselves.
Tony
Mike Neff, Randy Gruening and Barbara McClellan helped transplant their organization of SF Region Marshals from nearby Laguna Seca over to an urban venue, starting with an A #1 triple-plus welcome party at the Rock Bottom Brewery on Thursday. Admittedly, it even outdid the Long Beach version that starts out the year, as the brewer in residence created a custom I.P.A. just for this event!! Just an example of the enthusiasm that we can generate at new events!
Kudos on the food and comfort patrol as well to San Francisco Region's "Social" Committee who I must say are second to none wherever we go! The circuit wasn't complete until Friday noon, and It soon became apparent that we would be racing until 8 PM or so, and The Social Comm responded quickly to make a late afternoon run with more drinks and treats to get everyone through those last few tough hours until dinner time at the end of the day! The dinners themselves were outstanding with plenty of hot food, comforting on Friday and even a little upscale on Saturday, with another meal on Sunday!
Kudos to all our Marshals on being friendly, forgiving and flexible, which is what it takes to get through a tough weekend. The first half of the course itself was a virtual test-bed for Champ Cars, as turn one was a quick chicane over very bumpy light rail tracks (which were tirelessly worked on all 3 nights by Circuit Director Chris Kneifel and Promotor Construction Chief Jim Tario and their crews.) Post 2b grew a elegantly simple little chicane on Friday night/Saturday Morning, necessitated by alterations that sped up turn one and a very limited amount of runoff at turn three, which was a Long Beach style hairpin. The exit of turn four down to another chicane at five is the narrowest chunk of asphalt Champ Cars will see all year - 24 feet - and I don't know how the Marshal crew at four held it together all weekend! There they were, with every muliple-car grouping threatening to block the course entirely if someone put a wheel wrong, and they survived with their wits very much intact after three strenuous days, even darting out to clean up some wheel pieces during a full course yellow during the Champ Car race. Thanks also to Toronto's Scott Muir and his gang at post 7 for grabbing an Atlantic into their safe haven, saving a full-course yellow.
Another story is the Starter crew, which may have been the most experienced and colorful to be assembled for a Champ Car Event by Chief Paul Einhorn, who found himself performing very well in the weekly hotseat that has become our pit exit Blue Flag. Also part of the crew was Terry Walsh, onetime Champ Car Asst. Starter and ARS Starter under my predecessor Nick Fornoro. Terry for the first time was given the honors of waving the inaugural event Checkers over Sebastien Bourdais at the finish.
And while we are on the subject, now that he has done four straight weekends, Kudos to Toronto's Peter Zigomanis, who has taken the reigns of our "timeline" checkered flag position. We now checker all sessions on Friday and Saturday at a line before the pit entrance, so cars take the checker and drive straight in, saving time and cooloff laps. So we think maybe behind Nick Fornoro, JD Wilbur, myself (and maybe Terry,) Peter has displayed more checkers to Champ Cars than anyone else...
So thanks one and all, no matter what you did in July. You in your own way, helped move our sport forward. So as Tony says: "Let us continue to drive Champ Car in a positive direction, for our fans , our sport and ourselves."
See you at the track!!
JHS
Let me begin with a message from Champ Car Race Director Tony Cotman to all officials and volunteer staff who participated in the event:
"To All:
This weekend showed that when we put on first time events in the middle of a city, we face many challenges, some foreseen and others unpredictable. The result this weekend was incredible for both the city of San Jose and Champ Car. Fans were treated to an experience unequalled in auto racing, between on track activities, pit walks, parties and concerts, and overall an action packed weekend. I know we all faced a huge array of challenges and we learnt a lot, which we will use to improve on, at not only next year's event but also at all other events and markets we visit. I wanted to say thank you to everyone, who know the true challenges we overcame to make this event a success. This could not happen without a complete team effort, so let us continue to drive Champ Car in a positive direction for our fans, our sport and ourselves.
Tony
Mike Neff, Randy Gruening and Barbara McClellan helped transplant their organization of SF Region Marshals from nearby Laguna Seca over to an urban venue, starting with an A #1 triple-plus welcome party at the Rock Bottom Brewery on Thursday. Admittedly, it even outdid the Long Beach version that starts out the year, as the brewer in residence created a custom I.P.A. just for this event!! Just an example of the enthusiasm that we can generate at new events!
Kudos on the food and comfort patrol as well to San Francisco Region's "Social" Committee who I must say are second to none wherever we go! The circuit wasn't complete until Friday noon, and It soon became apparent that we would be racing until 8 PM or so, and The Social Comm responded quickly to make a late afternoon run with more drinks and treats to get everyone through those last few tough hours until dinner time at the end of the day! The dinners themselves were outstanding with plenty of hot food, comforting on Friday and even a little upscale on Saturday, with another meal on Sunday!
Kudos to all our Marshals on being friendly, forgiving and flexible, which is what it takes to get through a tough weekend. The first half of the course itself was a virtual test-bed for Champ Cars, as turn one was a quick chicane over very bumpy light rail tracks (which were tirelessly worked on all 3 nights by Circuit Director Chris Kneifel and Promotor Construction Chief Jim Tario and their crews.) Post 2b grew a elegantly simple little chicane on Friday night/Saturday Morning, necessitated by alterations that sped up turn one and a very limited amount of runoff at turn three, which was a Long Beach style hairpin. The exit of turn four down to another chicane at five is the narrowest chunk of asphalt Champ Cars will see all year - 24 feet - and I don't know how the Marshal crew at four held it together all weekend! There they were, with every muliple-car grouping threatening to block the course entirely if someone put a wheel wrong, and they survived with their wits very much intact after three strenuous days, even darting out to clean up some wheel pieces during a full course yellow during the Champ Car race. Thanks also to Toronto's Scott Muir and his gang at post 7 for grabbing an Atlantic into their safe haven, saving a full-course yellow.
Another story is the Starter crew, which may have been the most experienced and colorful to be assembled for a Champ Car Event by Chief Paul Einhorn, who found himself performing very well in the weekly hotseat that has become our pit exit Blue Flag. Also part of the crew was Terry Walsh, onetime Champ Car Asst. Starter and ARS Starter under my predecessor Nick Fornoro. Terry for the first time was given the honors of waving the inaugural event Checkers over Sebastien Bourdais at the finish.
And while we are on the subject, now that he has done four straight weekends, Kudos to Toronto's Peter Zigomanis, who has taken the reigns of our "timeline" checkered flag position. We now checker all sessions on Friday and Saturday at a line before the pit entrance, so cars take the checker and drive straight in, saving time and cooloff laps. So we think maybe behind Nick Fornoro, JD Wilbur, myself (and maybe Terry,) Peter has displayed more checkers to Champ Cars than anyone else...
So thanks one and all, no matter what you did in July. You in your own way, helped move our sport forward. So as Tony says: "Let us continue to drive Champ Car in a positive direction, for our fans , our sport and ourselves."
See you at the track!!
JHS
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
"WHEN ART EXISTS...
...there is nothing else."
Or so goes a quote from the final episode of Sex and the City. No competition updates until I finish my latest trick, a commemoration of the 250th Champ Car win by a Cosworth engine which occurred in Edmonton. I usually pour ten-tenths into getting stuff finished for a deadline (something Diane reminds me about often) and it'll be done Wednesday so the original can be presented to Cosworth during the pre-reace ceremonies in San Jose.
Upon my return from Computer Valley, expect an update from the three July races, including the largest-ever event in Canada. I will toss this latest Cosworth image up for you to see when I can... Until then, try to remember who, where and when was Cosworth's first Champ Car victory? Yes, we don't run there anymore!
Later,
JHS
Site Counter
Or so goes a quote from the final episode of Sex and the City. No competition updates until I finish my latest trick, a commemoration of the 250th Champ Car win by a Cosworth engine which occurred in Edmonton. I usually pour ten-tenths into getting stuff finished for a deadline (something Diane reminds me about often) and it'll be done Wednesday so the original can be presented to Cosworth during the pre-reace ceremonies in San Jose.
Upon my return from Computer Valley, expect an update from the three July races, including the largest-ever event in Canada. I will toss this latest Cosworth image up for you to see when I can... Until then, try to remember who, where and when was Cosworth's first Champ Car victory? Yes, we don't run there anymore!
Later,
JHS
Site Counter
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
GORDY AT HOME
We are happy to hear that Gordy has returned home and Connie is printing out your emails for him. You can now communicate with him directly at ensgc@att.net . They have a slow connection at home, so please avoid photos and broadcasts (group mailings). Send personal messages directly to him. Don't flood them with phone calls. They have been through quite a bit, and still have plenty ahead, but please take a few moments to let them know how you feel!!!
JHS
JHS
Sunday, July 03, 2005
MID-SUMMER UPDATE
MILWAUKEE
One of the most experienced oval crews in the history of the event gathered at Milwaukee for our first DAY race in three years, albeit SaturDAY, back in early June. There was only one rookie, and very few novices, and I want to thank Milwaukee Mile Chief Observer Ray George and his crew of stalwarts for organizing and pulling off a great effort. As part of the renovation and new construction that occurred during the winter of 2004, the land line was pulled out by its roots and no replacement for it is planned, leading us to use radios for the only time in 2005. And as most of you know, radio comm is dodgy at best, and downright scary on ovals. However, the Milwaukee Mile crew made the LEAST of a good thing and kept communications very brief and down to a minimum, and we slid through the 2-day event without a problem. Thanks again, everyone for keepin’ it green!!
One of the highlights of the event had to be the performance of our starter JD Wilbur. Our new Race Director, Tony Cotman, had his first opportunity to monitor and pay close attention to the actions of the starter during a busy oval race, and was very pleased. Tony stands down by the operations communicator, the safety communicator and me through most of an event, and has a good habit of talking out loud as he keeps a tab on competition, especially the front-runners’ progress through lapped traffic. We never really have to ask him what he’s thinking. He would see a situation develop in turns one or two and lean in to say “JD really needs to lay down a big blue flag on this one,” and un-prompted, out the blue flag would undoubtedly come, prompting Tony to exclaim “JD’s on fire!” mid-way through the race. As mentioned before, Tony is still very impressionable in his first season as race director and we have not disappointed him.
The Wisconsin State Fair Park, owners of the Milwaukee Mile, would love to have us back, and we’d like to return, but that will be up in the air pending the finding of a promoter/operator for the facility, which is currently without one. We shall see when the 2006 schedule is released. Probably in August.
PORTLAND
Our return to Portland, which was also in jeopardy of continuing for a while, came off pretty well. We had a healthy turnout of Marshals, and for the most part they did a great job of keeping the track dry! That helped a little at the gate on race day and Kevin Kalkhoven announced in victory lane that the event would stay on the calendar – but his team had just won its first race a few minutes earlier!!
First-time event flag chief Ken Killam did a first-class job, his TMs supported us well, and thanks to all who came out and flagged, communicated, or intervened (there were a few, which were given a big nod of approval by our safety team) The crews in the Festival Curves had their hands full as usual, but were aided tremendously by the re-design of the 2nd turn during the off-season by Circuit Director Chris Kneifel and the PIR staff. I think we went four-for-four getting through the Festival Curves as far as the Champ Car sanctioned events went (2 Atlantic races,) but the biggest event of the weekend had to be the Drifting Car blowing up and catching fire on the backstretch…
Last year at mid-season, I started timing course clearances and converting them into speed around the track. It’s a great and fun way to snap all to attention, team-build and polish up the comm and listening skills. Two tracks not on our schedule this year set the bar pretty high, Road America with its long distances clearing at just over 1200 mph and Laguna Seca’s communicators shattering that record with an incredible 1740 mph (almost 3 times the speed of sound) later in the year. The good folks at Portland put together a fine first effort at 651mph. More to come.
CLEVELAND
Cleveland’s annual splash at the lakefront is CART/Champ Car’s oldest event that it created on its own. It has tried to disappear twice, to no avail, but may be on the block again, pending the results of this year’s event. The organizers, trying to give on-track-value-for-the-price-of-admission, loaded the schedule to the gills with Champ Car, 2 Atlantic races, Trans-Am, Speed World Challenge ST and GT, and FF2000. Yes, very, very long days, and yes, we rightfully heard about it from those marshals that came out and those who did not. Point very much taken. Plus, there was a vintage event at Mid-Ohio, and the June Sprints at RA. First time event chair Lauri Burkons, her asst. Dave Bueno, and first-time flag chief Dale Strimple rousted out a crew of only about thirty five strong, but everyone really, really delivered. Champ Car, Race Control, our stewards and I thank you all immensely.
The quality of the work on course was truly outstanding, especially on Friday when we had less than 30 out there from 10AM to 8PM. We tried as best we could to make it easy as possible for those who came to help out, and knocked some of the early pace car & two-seater sessions and evening drifting sessions from the marshals responsibilities, trimming where we could, and mustering without a meeting on Saturday Morning. Despite the heat, conditions, hours and work load, it sounded like there were far more than two or three per station. The Champ Car race itself was somewhat of a rodeo, with a lot more off-course action that your typical Cleveland race. Yeesh!!
Several Champ car drivers lobbied Tony Cotman before the weekend to stop the dive-bombers we often see at Cleveland’s infamous first turn. Some kind of “foul line” was bandied about in the weeks leading up to the race, as well as a plastic road construction barrel that was placed in the center of the wide entrance to turn one for Saturday’s Atlantic race, to which drivers had to stay left of while entering the turn. Didn’t work. Katherine Legge found herself too far right approaching the barrel and pushed left to avoid it, and cars went a-flyin’. So we did the Champ Car start sans-barrel and only lost two at the start. Coulda been worse. Just like the 17th hole at the PGA Golf tournament at Sawgrass ( a green surrounded entirely by water but for a skinny bridge) Cleveland’s first turn is just something we have to deal with, period.
Have I thanked the Cleveland Marshal’s enough? Just one more time. Thanks everyone for coming out and lifting us up through trying circumstances… THAT, as well as our third-ever four digit course clearance speed of 1673mph!!! We had a few Canadians come down to help, and they are on for our next two races, in Toronto (the 20th running) and our new airport circuit (which is even more wide-ass open than Cleveland) in Edmonton.
See you at the track, Eh????
JHS
One of the most experienced oval crews in the history of the event gathered at Milwaukee for our first DAY race in three years, albeit SaturDAY, back in early June. There was only one rookie, and very few novices, and I want to thank Milwaukee Mile Chief Observer Ray George and his crew of stalwarts for organizing and pulling off a great effort. As part of the renovation and new construction that occurred during the winter of 2004, the land line was pulled out by its roots and no replacement for it is planned, leading us to use radios for the only time in 2005. And as most of you know, radio comm is dodgy at best, and downright scary on ovals. However, the Milwaukee Mile crew made the LEAST of a good thing and kept communications very brief and down to a minimum, and we slid through the 2-day event without a problem. Thanks again, everyone for keepin’ it green!!
One of the highlights of the event had to be the performance of our starter JD Wilbur. Our new Race Director, Tony Cotman, had his first opportunity to monitor and pay close attention to the actions of the starter during a busy oval race, and was very pleased. Tony stands down by the operations communicator, the safety communicator and me through most of an event, and has a good habit of talking out loud as he keeps a tab on competition, especially the front-runners’ progress through lapped traffic. We never really have to ask him what he’s thinking. He would see a situation develop in turns one or two and lean in to say “JD really needs to lay down a big blue flag on this one,” and un-prompted, out the blue flag would undoubtedly come, prompting Tony to exclaim “JD’s on fire!” mid-way through the race. As mentioned before, Tony is still very impressionable in his first season as race director and we have not disappointed him.
The Wisconsin State Fair Park, owners of the Milwaukee Mile, would love to have us back, and we’d like to return, but that will be up in the air pending the finding of a promoter/operator for the facility, which is currently without one. We shall see when the 2006 schedule is released. Probably in August.
PORTLAND
Our return to Portland, which was also in jeopardy of continuing for a while, came off pretty well. We had a healthy turnout of Marshals, and for the most part they did a great job of keeping the track dry! That helped a little at the gate on race day and Kevin Kalkhoven announced in victory lane that the event would stay on the calendar – but his team had just won its first race a few minutes earlier!!
First-time event flag chief Ken Killam did a first-class job, his TMs supported us well, and thanks to all who came out and flagged, communicated, or intervened (there were a few, which were given a big nod of approval by our safety team) The crews in the Festival Curves had their hands full as usual, but were aided tremendously by the re-design of the 2nd turn during the off-season by Circuit Director Chris Kneifel and the PIR staff. I think we went four-for-four getting through the Festival Curves as far as the Champ Car sanctioned events went (2 Atlantic races,) but the biggest event of the weekend had to be the Drifting Car blowing up and catching fire on the backstretch…
Last year at mid-season, I started timing course clearances and converting them into speed around the track. It’s a great and fun way to snap all to attention, team-build and polish up the comm and listening skills. Two tracks not on our schedule this year set the bar pretty high, Road America with its long distances clearing at just over 1200 mph and Laguna Seca’s communicators shattering that record with an incredible 1740 mph (almost 3 times the speed of sound) later in the year. The good folks at Portland put together a fine first effort at 651mph. More to come.
CLEVELAND
Cleveland’s annual splash at the lakefront is CART/Champ Car’s oldest event that it created on its own. It has tried to disappear twice, to no avail, but may be on the block again, pending the results of this year’s event. The organizers, trying to give on-track-value-for-the-price-of-admission, loaded the schedule to the gills with Champ Car, 2 Atlantic races, Trans-Am, Speed World Challenge ST and GT, and FF2000. Yes, very, very long days, and yes, we rightfully heard about it from those marshals that came out and those who did not. Point very much taken. Plus, there was a vintage event at Mid-Ohio, and the June Sprints at RA. First time event chair Lauri Burkons, her asst. Dave Bueno, and first-time flag chief Dale Strimple rousted out a crew of only about thirty five strong, but everyone really, really delivered. Champ Car, Race Control, our stewards and I thank you all immensely.
The quality of the work on course was truly outstanding, especially on Friday when we had less than 30 out there from 10AM to 8PM. We tried as best we could to make it easy as possible for those who came to help out, and knocked some of the early pace car & two-seater sessions and evening drifting sessions from the marshals responsibilities, trimming where we could, and mustering without a meeting on Saturday Morning. Despite the heat, conditions, hours and work load, it sounded like there were far more than two or three per station. The Champ Car race itself was somewhat of a rodeo, with a lot more off-course action that your typical Cleveland race. Yeesh!!
Several Champ car drivers lobbied Tony Cotman before the weekend to stop the dive-bombers we often see at Cleveland’s infamous first turn. Some kind of “foul line” was bandied about in the weeks leading up to the race, as well as a plastic road construction barrel that was placed in the center of the wide entrance to turn one for Saturday’s Atlantic race, to which drivers had to stay left of while entering the turn. Didn’t work. Katherine Legge found herself too far right approaching the barrel and pushed left to avoid it, and cars went a-flyin’. So we did the Champ Car start sans-barrel and only lost two at the start. Coulda been worse. Just like the 17th hole at the PGA Golf tournament at Sawgrass ( a green surrounded entirely by water but for a skinny bridge) Cleveland’s first turn is just something we have to deal with, period.
Have I thanked the Cleveland Marshal’s enough? Just one more time. Thanks everyone for coming out and lifting us up through trying circumstances… THAT, as well as our third-ever four digit course clearance speed of 1673mph!!! We had a few Canadians come down to help, and they are on for our next two races, in Toronto (the 20th running) and our new airport circuit (which is even more wide-ass open than Cleveland) in Edmonton.
See you at the track, Eh????
JHS
Thursday, June 30, 2005
GOOD NEWS ON GORDY
Hey, Gang:
This just in from Verne Wandell:
It is with pleasure that I report that Gordy continues to improve. Following is a portion of an email I received from Connie this morning:
"Gord is doing so well now. He was up and walking 3 times yesterday and sits in a chair the full day. He still has an IV so is not able to take a shower yet but is able to do the basics on his own. His breathing is still labored and he is still on oxygen but is able to use a portable tank to walk around.
Spud has been under a lot of stress worrying about Gord. The weather here has been in the 90's each day. Spud needed to stay home yesterday and just rest.
Gord called me last night from his new room. After 7 nights in intensive care he is now in a private room!! He can now receive cards if people have been sending them I don't know if they were returned or if they hold them until they get into a regular room. Gordon's smile is back, it was gone there for awhile."
You can send those cards or flowers (or whatever) to:
GORDON ENSING
C/O SPECTRUM HEALTH - BUTTERWORTH CAMPUS
100 MICHIGAN ST NE
GRAND RAPIDS MI 49503
This looks to be a better day. I will let you all know if I hear anything new. On my behalf, thanks to the folks at MTM and at Cornerworkers.net for helping keep the information accessible and to all of you who have expressed your care and concern for this wonderful man.
Regards,
Verne
This just in from Verne Wandell:
It is with pleasure that I report that Gordy continues to improve. Following is a portion of an email I received from Connie this morning:
"Gord is doing so well now. He was up and walking 3 times yesterday and sits in a chair the full day. He still has an IV so is not able to take a shower yet but is able to do the basics on his own. His breathing is still labored and he is still on oxygen but is able to use a portable tank to walk around.
Spud has been under a lot of stress worrying about Gord. The weather here has been in the 90's each day. Spud needed to stay home yesterday and just rest.
Gord called me last night from his new room. After 7 nights in intensive care he is now in a private room!! He can now receive cards if people have been sending them I don't know if they were returned or if they hold them until they get into a regular room. Gordon's smile is back, it was gone there for awhile."
You can send those cards or flowers (or whatever) to:
GORDON ENSING
C/O SPECTRUM HEALTH - BUTTERWORTH CAMPUS
100 MICHIGAN ST NE
GRAND RAPIDS MI 49503
This looks to be a better day. I will let you all know if I hear anything new. On my behalf, thanks to the folks at MTM and at Cornerworkers.net for helping keep the information accessible and to all of you who have expressed your care and concern for this wonderful man.
Regards,
Verne
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
OK, TRY THIS ONE...
Does ANYONE out there with some F&C experience speak fluent Korean? Or perhaps you know of someone who does? Please have them e mail me at swintal@cox.net or jhs@champcar.ws
Over and out.
JHS
Over and out.
JHS
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS FOR GORDY
Hello everyone:
As a number of you already have heard, longtime CART Chief Observer and Indy Lights Starter, Gordon Ensing has been hospitalized and is intensive care, suffering from a rare condition called Relapsing Polychondritis.
Early this year Gordy came down with what he thought was going to be a just a nagging chronic condition, but it is a rare illness that can take several forms, usually affecting any tissues in the body which are cartilage or cartilige-like in nature. His condition began to worsen as he worked two weekends ago as the Starter for the USGP in Indianapolis, where due to the nature of the event, Gordy got to display the checkered flag for the first time. This round has compromised his pulmonary function severely. He was taken to the hospital last Thursday and had deteriorated until he was put on a ventilator over the weekend. He remained mostly unconscious through the weekend, but started to show some recovery progress Monday.
There is no definitive prognosis as of yet but, once his lungs are clear, the doctors can determine a course of treatment and provide one. Anyone interested in reading an overview of the disease can go to: http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Gallery/6412/RelapsingPoly.htm for general information.
The thoughts and prayers sent thus far must be working, as there is better news as of Tuesday evening. Although clearly not out of the woods, doctors removed the respirator and chest tube on Tuesday and Gordy continues to breathe on his own. He was also able to sit up in a chair and talk. This is all very good news. He is still quite weak and needs lots of rest. He is still in ICU as well, so no cards or flowers can get to him. They were hoping to remove the rest of the tubes today so he could move around a bit.
I have been receiving my prime updates from Verne Wandell of the Michigan Turn Marshals, and he is collecting any emails that he will forward on to Gordy, his wife Connie and his dad "Spud" whenever appropriate. You can send your thoughts to verne@valleyedit.com Connie has asked that she not get calls at this time, so please confine your inquiries to Verne's email.
Verne further writes: "For those of you who responded directly to me, I have saved all of your emails and will forward them to the family when they have the time and ability to read them. For now I am just collecting them. Please do not hesitate to write as it is no inconvenience and I am sure Gordy will appreciate reading them when he is able. On behalf of Spud and Connie I would like to thank you all for your concern and thoughts. As Gordy continues to improve I will update you regularly. He has a long battle ahead but with the strength your love provides I am sure he will prevail. "
I would encourage anyone who has been touched by this wonderful and caring man who has done so much for the cause of volunteers and Flaggers in this country to keep him and his family in your thoughts, and to drop him a line when you can.
JHS
As a number of you already have heard, longtime CART Chief Observer and Indy Lights Starter, Gordon Ensing has been hospitalized and is intensive care, suffering from a rare condition called Relapsing Polychondritis.
Early this year Gordy came down with what he thought was going to be a just a nagging chronic condition, but it is a rare illness that can take several forms, usually affecting any tissues in the body which are cartilage or cartilige-like in nature. His condition began to worsen as he worked two weekends ago as the Starter for the USGP in Indianapolis, where due to the nature of the event, Gordy got to display the checkered flag for the first time. This round has compromised his pulmonary function severely. He was taken to the hospital last Thursday and had deteriorated until he was put on a ventilator over the weekend. He remained mostly unconscious through the weekend, but started to show some recovery progress Monday.
There is no definitive prognosis as of yet but, once his lungs are clear, the doctors can determine a course of treatment and provide one. Anyone interested in reading an overview of the disease can go to: http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Gallery/6412/RelapsingPoly.htm for general information.
The thoughts and prayers sent thus far must be working, as there is better news as of Tuesday evening. Although clearly not out of the woods, doctors removed the respirator and chest tube on Tuesday and Gordy continues to breathe on his own. He was also able to sit up in a chair and talk. This is all very good news. He is still quite weak and needs lots of rest. He is still in ICU as well, so no cards or flowers can get to him. They were hoping to remove the rest of the tubes today so he could move around a bit.
I have been receiving my prime updates from Verne Wandell of the Michigan Turn Marshals, and he is collecting any emails that he will forward on to Gordy, his wife Connie and his dad "Spud" whenever appropriate. You can send your thoughts to verne@valleyedit.com Connie has asked that she not get calls at this time, so please confine your inquiries to Verne's email.
Verne further writes: "For those of you who responded directly to me, I have saved all of your emails and will forward them to the family when they have the time and ability to read them. For now I am just collecting them. Please do not hesitate to write as it is no inconvenience and I am sure Gordy will appreciate reading them when he is able. On behalf of Spud and Connie I would like to thank you all for your concern and thoughts. As Gordy continues to improve I will update you regularly. He has a long battle ahead but with the strength your love provides I am sure he will prevail. "
I would encourage anyone who has been touched by this wonderful and caring man who has done so much for the cause of volunteers and Flaggers in this country to keep him and his family in your thoughts, and to drop him a line when you can.
JHS
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
NO TIME FOR UPDATES
Hey everyone:
Yes I know I'm falling behing as usual, but my drawing board and travel schedule is calling. I should be able to post some thoughts on Milwaukee, Portland and Cleveland when I return next week. Stay on the CCWS website for the latest features!
If anybody is still on the fence for Cleveland, we are really short of Marshals this year, going up against the mighty June Sprints and a Lake Erie event at Mid-Ohio! Contact Dale Strimple RubberChicken74@msn.com We'd LOVE your help!!
Thanks!!
JHS
Yes I know I'm falling behing as usual, but my drawing board and travel schedule is calling. I should be able to post some thoughts on Milwaukee, Portland and Cleveland when I return next week. Stay on the CCWS website for the latest features!
If anybody is still on the fence for Cleveland, we are really short of Marshals this year, going up against the mighty June Sprints and a Lake Erie event at Mid-Ohio! Contact Dale Strimple RubberChicken74@msn.com We'd LOVE your help!!
Thanks!!
JHS
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