EL FINAL DEL CAMINO

So here we stand at the last blog of the year and the last recounting our busy 2006 season which will only get busier and better in 2007.

2006 will be the last time in the foreseeable future we will be working twice a year with our Mexican compadres, O.P.M., out on our posts, ending a 5-year run in which this very enthusiastic flagging group did 10 races for us. I want to extend yet another heartfelt Muchas Gracias to OPM chiefs Fritz Herrmann (who has become one of my very good friends,) Hector Gomez, and all of their assistants, observadores and banderaleros!

They had their hands very full this year, setting up and learning their way through the new changes to the course. We excluded the run through the baseball stadium, resulting in a new, very tight little chicane at the entry to the 180 degree Peraltada corner, which also contained a very tricky-to-observe pit entry. With the chicane shortcuts, the late pit entry calls and the watching of the front stretch “foul line” at its exit, this part of the track is one of the most complicated and labor-intensive to operate anywhere! Carumba!!!


MUY FAMOSA

On Friday afternoon, Hector Gomez had a suggestion that led me to visit our flagging crew at the exit of the last corner, Puesto 17. It turned out the crew were all female, and had gotten full wind of the Katherine Legge “Warriors in Pink” campaign that Ford sponsored in Elkhart Lake. Their captain even went so far as to embroider up her own very well done and accurate copies of the Warriors in Pink patch, which she applied to her gear.

So naturally these young ladies all idolize Ms. Legge, and Hector suggested a meeting be arranged. I did the groundwork the next morning – meeting Katherine and her father, formally, for the first time (he had sent me an email about 10 hours after my Elkhart blog was posted,) and Katherine agreed, hanging around for an extra half hour after the driver’s meeting. It was well worth the idea and the effort as even with the help of Laura Malvaez our recorder/"interpreter," several of the crew were almost too excited to speak! Katherine held up her end as always, and even though she balked at being introduced as the “Muy Famosa Katherine Legge,” we all know better. Thank you Katherine for a wonderful gesture that brightened this corner crew’s entire season, and thank you Hector for such a brilliant idea.


Katherine and the brave crew of 17.


EL CARRERA LOCO

The race got off to a really tightly packed and then rocky start, with contact on the front straight before the line resulting in the aforementioned Ms. Legge clouting the pit wall after a nudge by Mr. Dominguez. Then it became one of those situations where a lot was happening around the track as the yellows flew and I got caught focusing ALL of my attention on the wrong spot.

It turns out Mario shaved his scoring transponder off in the melee, leaving it laying on the front straight before the start line, alongside Katherine’s car. Mario limped away, but scoring data showed two cars left behind. So as I rolled through a series of questions trying to verify how many cars were at the scene, I was notified by Fritz that Ryan Briscoe was taking the short course link from turn 4 to turn 8 and he had some tire damage. No matter, I figured, he was involved in the shunt and will be stopping anyway, and I went back to figuring out what happened back at the start line…

However, it was such a damned big shortcut, he managed to move into the lead as the second pace car we had installed just beyond turn four (it was the second race this year where we employed two pace cars to get the field collected on a big circuit) had captured everyone else, and Ryan came into the pits well before the field and pace car finished the lap. His crew then speedily changed the tire and got him out before the pace car came ‘round and there he goes all the way around to catch the rear of the field, having assumed the lead illegally. Ouch!

Since he had come in to a closed pit, Timing and Scoring docked him a lap, as the penalty for such is taking the restart at the back of the field. That fixed that, but the rest of RC couldn’t quite figure out how the H he had gotten there, as I managed to then forget all about the shortcut. Ouch #2. (Go back and re-read all of that if you are lost.)

Gary Barnard figured it all out several laps later after reviewing our video feeds. Embarrassingly, my light bulb went on and I had to admit that I had been sitting on the answer all along. I still have those moments – or even days – where just a little too much happens at once and I happen to focus on the wrong thing, missing something else in the process. Part of my task is filtering the info that comes off the land line, and shortcuts by damaged cars is something that is normally a non-issue. I didn’t put the whole sequence together as I was too wound up in finding out where Mario went! It could have been the language, but I think it was just my confusion… lesson learned – I hope!!


ON THE WALL

Mexico City is the track where we first did the old school “Checkered flag on the race track” back in 2003, my first year in RC as Clerk. Remember, that was during the regime of Chris Kneifel, and after getting an eyeful of it last year, Tony Cotman deemed it was not worth the risk, thinking of the damage to the image of our series if something went wrong. I saw his point and we compromised that we could do it this year, one last time (as this won’t be the last race of the season next year,) from the top of the wall. And hey, when it began raining halfway through the race, SO IT WAS A GOOD DAY TO STAY ON THE WALL!! How did Tony know?

I watched the final laps from the island between the pit lane and the track, as the the circuit had put together a small platform stairway at the line. As Wilson and Bourdais flashed by under JD’s white flag, I thought that it was going to make a hell of a great picture to have two cars coming down battling for the win (another good reason not to be on the track, I might add.) But it was not to be, as the two banged wheels at turn six, Sebastien got around in the process and came around well ahead. Yet another tough call by Tony, deeming it a racing incident on the last lap (remember Tracy/Bourdais at Denver, please) and being consistent by letting the result stand. They never seem to get easier.

Sebastien remembered where the flag was and duly came WAY over to the inside for the checker, spraying myself and the photographers assembled to capture the shot. A ton of paper also flew up into the air from an advertising decal that was sucked off the wall at the same time and I was really impressed until I remembered that it was leftovers from the first lap shunt!
The resulting photo was something a little different from years past because of the location of the flag, so at least we can say we aren’t stuck doing the same thing year after year.


End of the Trail 

IN CLOSING…

So as you read this there are only a few scant hours left in 2006, or 2007 is freshly upon us with all its challenges and promises. All our teams have at least one new Panoz DP01 they are busily setting up for the first test at the end of the month in Sebring. I have plenty to do from now until the season opener in Vegas, plenty of art to assemble on my drawing board, and also a website (cha-ching) to maintain and update. Next month I should be able to bring you up to speed on any changes or developments (like no yellow stripe in the blue flag next year) to our series.

From ALL of us in the Champ Car World Series family, thank you once again for being a part of this great undertaking, a series you and I and we have all come to love with all of our hearts. God Bless you all during the New Year and our best wishes for a prosperous and happy Two Thousand Seven.

See you at the track!!!

JHS

HOLIDAY DREAMS?

In this holiday season, others may have visions of sugarplums, but I dream of other things.

Last night I dreamt I was at a test, not trying to run things from Race Control, but from a folding table in the middle of the pit lane, sitting alongside only Tony Cotman. I could turn around and see the local communicator up in Race Control, and he had one person on every corner, but they were speaking a language over the land line that I could not understand. Then I became aware that Mario Dominguez (of all people) had crashed and the car had very neatly and cleanly broken in two right behind the driver, and I was trying to convince Tony that we oughta go red for this… Tony? Tony…?

So with this blog from 2006 as yet unfinished, rest assured that all of you and what we do remain in the back of mind always, tugging on the coat sleeve of my cerebrum. And that I am not all the way through the season yet is bothering me!

So where were we in October? Oh right, Australia…


AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE!

Once again, for my 16th consecutive go, we endured the refreshing 14 hour flight from LAX to BNE. Every year it has seemed a little shorter, and now it really only seems to take about 12 hours and 53 minutes. Each year we are greeted with a tremendous, very enthusiastic turnout of “Flaggies,” “Trackies,” “Fireys,” and “Comms.” (Wonder why they don’t call ‘em Commies?) See the picture to get an idea of what each morning’s briefing feels like with about 400 people listening in.


Morning breakast lineup. Please note number of sausages. 


Thanks once again to all who turned out for their generous support and hospitality, especially Event Chairman John Jones and his wife Margo, who was this year Asst. Clerk as well as my backup comm and translator. Thanks also to Flag Chief Marty Smith and his Assistant Aden “Bastard Man” Zealley – don’t ask. With a home grown Aussie on the pole, enthusiasm on race day was the highest it’s ever been. The Australians have a sporting battle cry that goes: “Aussie Aussie Aussie! Oi Oi Oi!!!” that they use for international contests in Rugby, Football, Cricket and such, which is very effective. You know that I do not shy away from playing to the crowd, so after Will Power delighted everyone by taking pole, I organized this same cheer over the land line as a way of signing off on Saturday. Breathtaking, and something I have always wanted to try. Remember there are 30+ comm points on this track, and when they all keyed up to answer “Oi, Oi, Oi!” it overmodulated and shook the land line just the right amount! Unfortunately, Mr Power was knocked around a bit by some of his peers and did not win, which would have brought the house down like Ribiero did when he won in Brazil.


BINGO

Every year, I understand my communicators a bit better, and vice versa. But SOME of them must brush up on their bingo-playing skills. As we did in Houston with the overnightly-installed chicane that generated countless shortcuts, I put together “Champ Car Short Cut Bingo” cards for the chicane posts 1, 2, 6 and 7.2 and asked these posts to let us know when their respective cards full of random Champ Car numbers generated a “Bingo.” I did get some suspicious looks as I handed them out, and heard nothing back about them on Friday. Hmmm. There were plenty of short cuts! Oh Well.

Turn to the end of the Saturday Morning Practice, and as the checker was coming out, this very exciting call from turn 6: CONTROL FROM POINT SIX!!!! Car three on a short cut AND WE HAVE BINGO!!!!! There was such an intensity in the young man’s voice that to a person, everyone on the landline either in RC or out on the posts were convinced he was going to tell us that Mr. Tracy was on his way upside down into the Pacific Ocean. Cracklin’ good communication there! Remember how much you can communicate with your tone… good on ya, Mr. 6!

So we get things calmed down everywhere, and to make it an official bingo, he reads the car numbers back to me so we can verify it. He gave us back only four numbers (as he utilized the Jimmy Vasser #12 memorial free space at the center of every card) and Rod, our recorder, recognized it as a legitimate bingo. Great. Thence there comes a mournful call out of turn one: “Oh, I’m sorry control, I thought we had to fill the whole card! We would have had five bingos yesterday!” Arrrrrgh! Turns out our pal at one (a great comm, by the way) is a self confessed ex-“Pommie” (that’s Brit to you and me) and wasn’t sure about Aussie Rules Bingo! (It's the bingo you play in a sleeveless jersey, I think.) So on Sunday morning, in honor of all those bingos, I rewarded the entire post One with an equally useless prize, an soon-to-be-worthless 2006 Champ Car Rule Book.


TC ON THE LL

One of the advantages my good friend JD Wilbur has on the Start Stand is someone who has done the job before in his ear, which I never had back when I did it. I try to give JD a detailed idea of what the front row is doing, as I am usually looking from a different (and often better) angle. A few hours before the race, Tony Cotman took me aside and shared a plan with me for what he had in mind based on the discussions/pledges he had heard in the drivers meeting, and that he wanted to do the start on the land line with JD, which was a first, and certainly a thrill for all those listening.

I guess Tony got our brave boys to promise that they would line up a car length in between rows from front all the way to back. Suuuuure, they can. There a couple guys in our field (not naming names here!) that lag back week in and week out on the start, holding every one up behind them, but we were lucky enough this time to have one of them on the front row - so maybe he could hold everyone up and it would work… but Tony wanted to leave the front rows to JD and make the decision about the rest himself, and be able to pull the plug in an instant. Which he rightfully did when we were presented with about 3.5 stunningly lined-up rows with an embarassingly long distance to the next guy. At that point, Tony decided if you can’t do it right the first time, we’ll make it simpler, and called for a single-file start. Brilliant. Resulting in absolutely none of the first corner Angst and slugfest that is the yearly hallmark of this racetrack. 18 cars through without a scratch. I can’t wait for standing starts!


MERRY CHRISTMAS

So, we are through the solstice and each day is about 10 seconds longer right now that the next. At last! “Halfway to Portland.” I will polish off what we did in Mexico, sometime next week, I HOPE. Please remember that in dreams and in waking, I am thinking about all of you. Happy Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Happy Holidays to you and all whom you love and hold dear.

See you at the track!

JHS

jimswintal.com

After many hours on my part, http://www.jimswintal.com/ is finally up and open for business, and now you can see what I've been up to since the end of the season!

Now that it's up and on the table, I'm free to finish up the season right here, so just a few days more. In the meantime, please take a look around the site which I hope will enjoy. It should be just be the beginning of the release of plenty of images that most people have never seen!

Thanks for your patience...

JHS

TONY COTMAN'S THANKSGIVING MESSAGE

Hey everyone:

Another successful Champ Car season has passed. A great season of racing, with first time winners, an exciting rookie contest, and a three-time champion.

The season could not be successful without the contributions of you all. I understand the time, dedication, demands and hard work which goes into supporting the Champ Car World Series. We could not race at such a high level without all of you working as part of the Champ Car family, and for that I say a huge thank you to each and every one of you.

Next year we will be venturing back to Europe for two races. This is an important market -because as you all know, we have a lot of European drivers participating in our series. There is nothing like driving in front of your home fans! As Champ Car continues to grow and look to the future, with the introduction of the Panoz DP01 in 2007, look for closer racing and more excitement (which makes all our jobs tougher) than ever. I hope you all will continue to be a part of it as we together keep improving our racing and raise the excitement level for everyone.

Be safe over the holidays, enjoy them, and I look forward to seeing you all next season!

All the best,

Tony Cotman

ANGELS IN (ROAD) AMERICA

TO ALL OUR ELKHART LAKE CORNER MARSHALS:

Folks, once again, on behalf of the entire Champ Car World Series family, thank you very much for a great effort in trying conditions and circumstances. Friday and Saturday both showed us tough weather conditions, but you held up your end and soldiered on with no complaints. On Sunday, we threw two very tough and busy races at you and your response was outstanding.

I will remind you that I stated at the Sunday briefing that Road America conjures up some wild races for our series, and this year was no different. I would especially like to congratulate Lon Hake on the landline and his crew at turns 11 and 11A for holding up to the strain of Katherine's huge accident. From the several races I have worked down there as a marshal, I took away a healthy respect for anyone who spends any time down there, standing guard over that incredibly breathtaking acre of racing real estate.

The communications throughout the weekend were superb. Loose when action was slight, but tightening up when incidents arose. A number of you, including Lon, communicate volumes just by your tone, which lets us know very quickly and certainly just how things are going out there. The course checks were very sharp.

I also received some positive comments from some of you during the weekend, and I hope you can spread the word to those who have recently passed up this event, that together our bottom line remains getting the job done, but we can enjoy ourselves immensely as we do it! It's a big task to run this big track with under 60 marshals, and you should all be proud as it felt more like 100 to us up in Race Control. Thanks also to those who came from great distances, the west coast and Canada to be with us. Your presence was very welcome!

Thanks also to Pete Allen and his assistants Stew, Jim, and Larry; and also our support up in race control, Mary Durham, Don Elston Sue Robinson, as well as Melissa Harrington who rode shotgun with me for the Champ Cars. These folks really go all out to look after you out there!

We will return next year on August 12, our 25th running at Road America. Perhaps a warm and sunny weekend of "Tufte Weather" awaits.

It was great to see new faces this year as well as work again with some of my old friends, as Elkhart Lake is where I learned the trade some 25 odd years ago. Until then, please take care, and please feel free to come and see us at some of our other events! There will always be room!

See you at the track!

Jim Swintal
Clerk of the Course
Champ Car World Series


Warrior in Pink


Pffffffffew. Another race weekend, another incredibly long and trying race day. This is makin’ me old.

Any of you who have seen the play or the HBO miniseries “Angels in America” saw one of the most amazing and astounding portrayals of an encounter of a human being and an angel ever staged. Could be there was another one at Elkhart Lake’s famous “kink” with about five laps to go on race day.

I worked back there three times during my days as a Chicago Region SCCA marshal, including the 1984 CART race. Each time I walked away almost stupefied at witnessing lap after lap what a car and driver can do on the edge of adhesion, and thinking that I needed never again to have any apprehension on watching cars anywhere else on any track, as I had seen racing bravery to the nth degree.

A driver I met there in the fall of 1981 after his hub broke in the middle of the kink thought that I had saved his life at the time, as I was the first person he saw after climbing from the wreckage. We later became friends and through his connection I worked my first Champ Car race at Michigan the following year.

I had asked over the land line earlier in the weekend whether anyone in these cars was taking the kink flat. I remember only Mears and Mario back in ’84 were good enough to do so back then.

Katherine Legge came to Elkhart with a special sponsor for the weekend, Ford Motor Company’s “Warriors in Pink” program promoting Breast Cancer Awareness Month for October. The car was given a special pink paint scheme and was clearly recognizable like no other car we’ve had for a while! The paddock was filled with pink and print pattern scarves given away by Ford to commemorate the program, so it was very hard to miss or ignore the spirit of what “Warriors in Pink” were all about.

After Katherine did her first few installment laps on Friday morning, one of our corner comms mentioned on the land line that “She will have plenty of angels riding with her this weekend” as a result of the program. Boy did she.

I’m sure most of you saw the broadcast or replays. Another exciting and unpredictable Elkhart Lake race was winding down with just a few laps to go. In Race Control, I just happened to be watching the “program feed” monitor that was following a group of cars into the kink. Earlier in the race, we discussed in Race Control that the marshals at RA do not use the word “Alert” for major incidents like the rest of the U.S. They use “Mayday” - the local term I was brought up on. Away the car went and I came out of my chair - and just about out of my shorts as well - to point out what was happening. I recall crying out: “A Mayday at 11! A BIG one!!” as a car unwound itself against the fence. No time for the bell I usually ring.

As the comm at 11 and I pieced things together and calmed each other down a little by making sure all the debris was flagged properly, I asked him to try to give me an idea who it might be. As he scanned the debris field he came back with such a forlorn tone in his voice: “Control, there’s debris everywhere… and all the pieces are pink.”

Ouch. I wanted to sink into my chair, and then curse on the land line, but I thought the better of it.

The safety team surrounded the tub where it landed so no one could see much. At those times they methodically go about their business and we don’t get much from them. Tony Cotman decided to red flag the race to aid in the rescue and cleanup, and so we could finish under green if we could. After the ambulance had left, all we got from Safety communications was a “Code Three” on the driver, meaning Katherine was being taken to the CCWS Med center for evaluation, which I shared on the land line, some five or ten minutes after the incident.

And then after more waiting, an image popped up on our “program” monitor of a cheerful, smiling Katherine Legge standing at the steps of the Med Center up against a bright blue sky. This HAD to be some tape they were running about something she did earlier that day or weekend. It couldn’t be live, as we don’t hear the words, we just see the pictures. Then Jon Beekhuis’ talking head pops into the frame as Katherine disappears sheepishly into the Med Center. This IS live! Where the heck am I? Safety Communicator Joanne Jensen and I stared and wanted to pinch each other. Are we dreaming?

I saw Dr. Chris Pinderski in the airport going home the next day. He was in the second truck on the scene. He told me that even while sitting upside down in the tub, Katherine was totally matter-of-fact about the whole thing from as soon as the Safety Team got to her. No agitation, no histrionics, no tears, nothing. I feel fine. I know where I am. Yes you may get me out. To borrow an old Sicilian term, this young lady has “made her bones” in this series.

As I gave the awesome news to all our concerned ears on the land line, there was a brief moment, and then another of our corner comms reminded us that yes, those angels riding with her this weekend certainly did their job.

Katherine was introduced at the Atlantic Awards banquet later that evening by her car owner, Kevin Kalkhoven. She received a huge ovation as she waved to the crowd. Reverend Hunter Floyd then gave the invocation before dinner and joked that “Katherine sure must have bruised a few angels today.”

Did Katherine Legge pull down some Divine help that day? Did the spirit of the sponsor on her car have any affect? We have seen the results of cars going into fences and walls – either ”bottom first” on some occasions, or horrifically “top first” on others. What determines in a crash which way the tub is facing at the moment of impact?

One other thing here. Our former Champ Car President, Dick Eidswick, lost his wife Patti after a long battle just a few weeks ago. Her name was on Katherine’s car, right in front of the cockpit.

As my head hit the pillow that evening, after a long 20-hour raceday, I felt pretty thankful. For the strength of our cars, for being part of this series, and for angels everywhere – just like you all – who look after our drivers on every lap they run.

JHS

PIMPIN' THAT PRINT

22 x 28 print

Most of you know I am an artist away from the race track. And often I am asked what I'm working on, so here's your chance. To commemorate the introduction of our new 2007 Panoz DPO1 Champ Car, I was commissioned to create the above print, "The Future of Racing" featuring the new car in its test livery surrounded by two significant Champ Car chassis per decade, goin' back to the first car that won a Champ Car race with a rear engine. You'll find Lotus, Hawk, Eagle, McLaren, Penske, March, Swift, Reynard and good ol' Lola. Underneath is a comprehensive list of all rear-engined chassis that have won Champ Car races since 1964.

Sound interesting? A major gift giving holiday is on the way, some 40- odd days after our season closer in Mexico City ( see how our schedule marks my sense of Time?) Send me an email at jswintal@yahoo.com and I can send you a link that will allow you to pick one up for $25 plus $7.50 shipping!

Have a look at Gordon Kirby's chat with our Technical Director Scot Elkins about the new car:
http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=10954

RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS

To all my good friends in the ASRQ:

Thank you all very much for your help on a very very, memorable event. It turned out to be the very first road race Champ Car has ever held on a weekday, so each one of you is now a part of history!

I want to thank you all especially for your hard work throughout the weekend. Your flagging was timely, your communications and observations were very accurate, and your interventions and on-track operations were done safely and with care. I know how difficult a day it was with only 8 laps put in between our two series on Sunday, and then you all bravely put up with the terrible weather and the "waiting around" for a decision to come back on Monday. You all handled yourselves with understanding and professionalism, and you gave me such a courteous response at the end of the day. I will never forget it!

To those 38 marshals who could return to help us on Monday, perhaps you were most impressive with your attitude in the morning meeting. I got the strong and confident feeling that you were ready to handle anything. Never before can I say that such a small group were able to accomplish such a large task. The Monday race day ran very smoothly in both races!

In conclusion, I would like to thank your officers again, Alain, France, Nancy, as well as Richard and Claude-Olivier in Race Control. They think of you and look after your interests constantly and they deserve all the praise you and I can give them.

We will not be returning to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve soon, but will continue our efforts to return to Quebec someday, possibly in Quebec City or even out at Mirabel. Until we return, we shall keep you in our thoughts as we will long remember this spectacular finish to our five-year run in Montreal with the ASRQ. Please come and see us when you can, in Toronto, Cleveland, Edmonton or wherever your travels may take you.


The above missive was posted for me on the ASRQ/QRFA website the week after what was our last event in Montreal at the Gilles Villenueve circuit. The weekend ran quite smooth until it started raining on Sunday morning, the only big question on our minds being when and where we might return. The rights-holder to the events on the circuit, Normand Legault, made it clear to us we were not coming back. Busch Grand National and Grand Am will replace us. Mon Dieu, where will they paddock all those cars??

It was really one of those days, hadn’t had one since Elkhart back in 2003. The rain came down, we red-flagged the Atlantic race after a slow single file rolling start, as it was just too much, hoping to continue after the Champ Car race. A small break in the weather got the Champ Car race underway but the rain steadily picked up again and we red flagged that one too, much to the delight of the slippin’, slidin’ and soaked drivers.

I stood watch at my laptop weather radar , spouting off my prognostications as to when the rain would stop, and eventually it did, but the track conditions were long gone by 5 PM, so arrangements and agreements were negotiated by our promoter Alain Labrosse (a great guy, btw) with the City to allow us to run again on Monday. There are a TON of services that need to be re-connected for an event that was supposed to end on Sunday, so it took awhile before we could call it an official day. All of which left our marshals either crouching underneath their rain tarps or whatever they could find for a few miserable hours. A tough day all around but a great effort and help nonetheless.

Our promoter’s reaction to all this was phenomenal, when confronted with the fact that all but a handful of our marshals had to return back to their jobs on Monday, it was proposed, and quickly agreed, to PAY those who could rearrange their schedules to come back the next day! The ASRQ reckoned the daily rate for marshalling test days at St. Jovite is around $90 CAN. But with so short notice, The ASRQ thought they would ask for more than that to get a sufficient number of marshals on the Monday. A figure in the 150 dollar range was going to convince enough people to miss work by either calling in sick, taking a vacation day, or taking an unpaid day off. Being quite used to what some of our other US promoters would think of this, I quietly thought “fat chance,” but Mr. Labrosse came thru and offered to split several thousand dollars among the 38 marshals who could make it back. Wow. This, along with some honest explanations, eased the brunt of standing around all day waiting for something to happen!


Yes, there are only two marshals in this photo.

The next morning the brave 38 returned, and it worked out to two marshals per post at the “busy” stations with just one alone on the straights and others. I was really , really impressed at how confident, yet cautious, everyone looked at the briefing. Even though this would be the thinnest per mile we would ever attempt for a Champ Car road race, my French Communicator Richard LeDuc quickly reminded me that for club events this is the usual turnout and they all were more than used to working with so few. New for me, but something I’m sure you have all experienced. Could be a look into the future, I’m afraid to say, as the average age of Marshals in the US is probably creeping over 50 plus. We will have to get used to doing events with less people in the coming years, but where will we be in 2020?

The Atlantic race was fairly quiet, as I expected a “let’s get it done” attitude from the competitors, which often shows up on a Monday race. The closest finish in quite a while as Graham Rahal held off a charging Simon Pagenaud right at the line. It seemed all the action for the Champ cars happened at the “English Chicane” so dubbed by me as three of the four marshals assigned to the three posts there that day were Anglophones!

Merci beaucoup and thanks to all again for the longest road racing weekend in our history. Let’s look for warmer, dryer weather at Mt. Tremblant!


JHS

HEY, WE GOTTA SCHEDULE!

Hooray! In case you have not heard, Champ Car released its 2007 Schedule last week. Only one surprise in my book, the decision to go back to Quebec next year at the beautiful Mt. Tremblant Circuit in St. Jovite, where Champ Cars last raced in the sixties. It'll need some upgrading, but our people in the ASRQ say its well worth the effort.

There is still a significant hole waiting to be filled in September and Champ Car has signed letters of intent with two newer circuits, Assen in the Netherlands and Ochersleben in Germany, so details on these still have to be tweaked out for 2007.

We shall start the season with three in a row - A Las Vegas Street race on Easter, followed by LongBeach and Houston. The Las Vegas Race may be pretty popular. Send an email to Ian Cook, who is collecting a list of interested marshals. This event will require only about 100 or so marshals and because of the demand, it could be they only accept those with the most experience. We'll see. Send your experience level, license grade and info to iancook@sbcglobal.net

2007 Champ Car World Series Schedule

April 8 Las Vegas, Nevada - Street Course
April 15 Long Beach, California - Street Course
April 22 Houston, Texas - Reliant Park
May 20 Zhuhai, China - Road Course
June 10 Portland, Oregon - Portland International Raceway
June 24 Cleveland, Ohio - Burke Lakefront Airport
July 1 St. Jovite, Canada - Circuit Mont Tremblant
July 8 Toronto, Canada - Exhibition Place
July 22 Edmonton, Canada - City Centre Airport
July 29 San Jose, California - Street Course
Aug. 12 Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin - Road America
Aug. 19 Denver, Colorado - Pepsi Center
Oct. 21 Surfers Paradise, Australia - Street Course
Nov. 11 Mexico City, Mexico - Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Dec. 2 Phoenix, Arizona - Street Course

ROCKY MOUNTAIN FIGHTS

Off we went to Denver on the heels of the Tracy/Tagliani punchup to see what may await us during this race which is oft unkind to our machinery. We weren’t disappointed!

Once again, a great big thanks to Colorado Region SCCA, returning flag chief Dave “Animal” Ruegsegger and all of our volunteer marshals from near and far for a great three days of work. Just like Houston, there is only one Champ Car opportunity for most of these marshals per year, but they proved they were ready for anything. Gratefully, the schedule and the weather were not nearly as demanding as in 2005.

THE FLIGHT OF THE FIVE

As I mentioned, this track usually results in a hard, rough and tumble race, and the Atlantic race was all of that. After several full course yellows, we were about 2/3 the way thru when we received just a short “4A is waving yellow” call which couldn’t be good as the post is in the middle of the pit straight. Not hearing much more, I glanced up at the right corner TV monitor in Race Control only to be treated to a somewhat serene looking Team Australia #5 car sliding towards the turn 5 runoff on its rollbar. No sparking, shedding of parts, mayhem or dodging cars to be seen, almost as if it was a crash-test demo of some sort. Big Kudos to our turn 5 comm for not adding any more description to the scene until we got the full course yellow called and Safety trucks mobilized. Nice work, and I was also happy to see how calm it was handled in Race Control, as this may be the first rollover I remember since taking the helm of the landline at the beginning of the 2003 season. Maybe it was almost as if we expected it to happen, as we had been closely monitoring the upended Mr. Davison as he was in the throes af a three-way “furball” dice with two other cars, one of which was about to be warned for blocking moves. It turns out the 5 car ran up over the back of a car he was trying to pass and vaulted himself into the debris fence on the left, treating the pit lane to a view of the bottom of his car before gently returning back down to the track on his lid. Davison was soon checked over by Safety and attending doctors while hanging upside down and then calmly left in the car as the Safety Team righted the Swift by hand. James popped out of the cockpit and quickly waved to the crowd, who really eat this kind of thing up! Woohoo!!! And that’s why we place debris fencing nowadays anywhere there are objects such as bridges, utility poles and trees that can be struck by airborne cars, especially on straights. Just remember the similar incident in Toronto in 1996 that wound up much differently.


SITTIN’ AROUND TONY’S BASEMENT

We then expected the worst from the Champ Cars, but didn’t get it, aside from the annual first turn schlamozzle, this time between none other between TRACY AND TAG again! Come On!!! Remember the two or three kids in every grade that just couldn’t keep away from each other and kept getting into trouble constantly? I guess they never go away. But the happy benefactor was the race itself, as PT continued from the back of the field, creating an exciting day as he carved his way back up through the field towards the front. Couple that drive with the fact that the “reds” – the red-sidewalled set of alternate compound tires that must be used through at least one stint of the race – would “go off” (lose grip) fairly rapidly, we had the makings of one of the best races of the season.

I must admit that all this competitive excitement on the racing surface plus a lack of incidents led to a really good vibe in Race Control. We talked among ourselves as we watched the dices up and down the field almost as if Race Director Tony Cotman had invited us all over to his place to watch the Denver Champ Car race. You can still remain alert, but when you aren’t pushed so hard, the inner enthusiast takes over and it’s a great feeling of really enjoying why we are here. I tried to convey the same tone over the land line and I got a good response back as we heard a good deal of land line “commentary” in the form of blue flag advice, passes for position, and questions on strategy. Not something we would do everywhere, but when there aren’t a lot of incidents, ya still need to keep in touch! After Tracy moved back up to the front, I made sure everybody on the line knew that Race Control was monitoring his communications with his crew - who advised PT after his last stop that he was battling a fuel feed problem and they left it up to him to either come in to top off or try to make it to the finish. Wonder if y’all at home knew that.

The race ended at he last corner for both Tracy and Bourdais in the now-famous automotive (and then human) shoving match at the apex. The stewards looked at this incident long and hard as the rest of us began tearing down Race Control, and Race Director Tony Cotman decided that in the heat of the last lap of the battle, it was a “racing” incident. Was it the wisest thing for the points leader to try to go round the outside of a guy with nothing to lose at the last corner? Had PT not entered the race “on probation” from the incident at San Jose, it would have stood untouched. Yes, Sebastien after the incident ran across a “hot” race track to confront Paul, but hey, in the heat of the moment we rarely, rarely penalize for that. Remember PT after he crashed here last year…

With action like this, do we finally have a marketable series??

JHS

CLEYYZYEGSJC (part two)

On the way to Montreal, hopefully not for the last time, but time now to catch up.


YEG (Edmonton Intl airport)

Again this race, held in the land where it doesn’t get dark ‘til 10:15 and so far up north that I get nosebleeds, continues to impress, both in its organization and staffing. Rudy Van Woerkom once again put in a ton of effort as the flag chief. He planned on an assistant – the way everyone else does - but had his man drop out with just a few weeks to go, so Rudy again did the work of three!

There are not a lot of experienced marshals in this part of the world, so our crew was made up of about 40% novices and people who had never marshalled before, but it was not very apparent by us in Race Control. The corner captains and experienced people who travel great distances to help us put on this event really, really come through. Just like any efficient military unit, it’s the “non-coms” (sergeants) that hold things together and they walked the fine line of keeping their corners running while at the same time passing on their skills to the “newbies”. So we all want to express our utmost appreciation to all who attended, whether veteran, novice or newbie. Great Job! You make a great team, eh?


OPINIONS, PLEASE…

The quality of the marshalling and communicating was such this weekend that it caused Tony Cotman to comment that it was some of the best information we have received this season! Could be that several of our veteran communicators are speaking up a little more when it comes to opinions on blocking and interference, and although we won’t penalize a driver without corroborating evidence, it will often lead us in the proper direction when it comes to uncovering some complaints (which we all too often hear) from the teams. Edmonton, like Cleveland, is an airport circuit where you can see great distances both before and after your post, and in one case we were investigating the video and data on a specific complaint of interference during practice. The post that saw the incident develop asked us to check the video replay from two corners before, as that’s where it all began, and when that was brought up, Mr. Cotman was immediately convinced, and the offending driver was properly sat down.

Our rule 6.17.5G states that drivers who are not running at “full pace” should not interfere with any drivers that are, either in practice or qualifying. So remember, those of you on the posts can be the key, to keeping us fair and safe. I’ll bet that there are always at least one pair of eyes on every car at all times on all laps. Anyone noodling about out there that gets in the way, please tell us or tell your captain!


ABOVE AND BEYOND

I don’t often call out an individual’s performance, but Gail Fetterman, our communicator at turn nine, more than carried her share when our land line comm system was partially felled by a car in the wall during the Edmonton race. Again that ol’ familiar crack and buzz, followed by faint voices when the 20 car whacked the wall at the exit of turn 7, one of our busiest spots, taking the land line out from turns 3 through 8. Yeesh. And for some reason, the Palmer Audio backup radios couldn’t get through, either. So instead of flying deaf, from Gail’s post at nine, she could make out most of the action from these turns and described several incidents for us until Palmer Audio got things restored about five minutes later, which seemed like a half hour. As I tell my flag chiefs when they do assignments, It’s great to have strong people in strong places!! Thank you, Gail.


SJC (Norman Mineta San Jose Intl Airport)

Well, after last year we had a lot to be wary of for this event. Thoughts went back to 2005 when we were plagued with too-long days, too-long lines for spectator bridges, and too-high flying cars over trolley tracks. But thanks to lessons learned and hard work on the part of the organizers, we left those issues behind us. We rejoined our former Race and Circuit director Chris Kneifel who headed up the construction for this track, and it showed. Chris builds ‘em “like a race director”. The City of San Jose made good on their promise to re-build the approaches to the light rail lines that the circuit crosses, plus the track was re-routed to go straight over the worst of the crossings last year. After the much anticipated first few minutes, the tracks happily became a non-issue. Schedule-wise, Tony Cotman and Champ Car’s Operations department put their feet down at the end of last season and insisted our promoters do away with 12+ hour days, which will now keep our volunteers much sharper come race day afternoon. AAAAAAmen.

A big tip ‘o the hat to Flag Chief Mike Neff, Comm Chief Barb McLellan and all of SCCA San Francisco region for putting forth great support for this event. The 2nd pre-race party at the Rock Bottom brewery even surpasses it’s sister gathering on the day before Long Beach, and SF Region’s Social Committee really puts out some delicious and well crafted dinners at the end of every race day, only a few steps away from the action in the SJ Convention center which sits in the middle of the circuit. We could get used to it. I mean, for the first time in many years our hotel was right in the middle of the track and I was 328 steps away from my bed as I sat in Race Control. It’s tough to get it built, but ahh, the joys of urban racing… Thank you everyone, near and far for helping us out!


OUT COMES THE PANOZ

On Friday evening, we saw the long-awaited unveiling of our new Champ Car for 2007, the Panoz DP01. Shorter, narrower and nimbler than its Lola predecessor, it is designed to generate much more downforce with the underwing and sidepods, thus relying on smaller wings which should create some closer racing and more passing. As part of the event, I was asked to create an original painting which prominently featured the new car and its Troy Lee paint scheme, surrounded by some of the famous Champ Car chassis that have been used and won championships since Parnelli Jones won the first race with a rear-engine Lotus back at good ol’ Milwaukee. It was unveiled on the same evening and commemorative prints were sold. Getting this done between Cleveland and Edmonton so we could then make prints and be ready for San Jose is the big reason that the month of July went by in a blur! Yes, plenty of copies are still available, but more on the art pimping later.

Back to the car – I had certainly looked at the car in a multitude of photos over the past weeks, but I was still quite amazed to see it in person and in three dimensions. And I will have to say as an artist, that a true measure of beauty is something that looks so much better in person than any photo I have ever seen of it, period. It is beyond compare to have it there right in front of you as you all soon will see come 2007.

The original art was auctioned off the next night at a Gala benefiting the Canary Fund, one of the race’s premier sponsors, an early cancer detection research fund. Tony Cotman brought me news the next morning in Race Control that he was standing next to Champ Car President and CEO Steve Johnson, who began bidding on the piece to hang in the Champ Car offices. Good idea. As the bidding edged higher, Steve and Tony realized someone at the back of the hall was staying with them bid for bid until Tony looked around to see who it was. “Forget it Steve”, said TC with a smile, “It’s Kevin.” Apparently our man KK just had to have this piece, and I guess he has a damned good eye for fine art… The framed original netted The Canary Fund a whopping $11,000.

SLAM, BANG

The race itself was yet another violent dustup plus we had the scuffle in the pit lane between Messrs. Tagliani and Tracy. Maybe we have a marketable series now with this stuff. A pal of mine was at home that weekend and was having his cable box worked on while the race was being shown. The visiting cable guy was highly disinterested with the broadcast until the fight and he then proceeded to ask every question he could about the series, mesmerized, even though he had NEVER heard of it before…

When I get back from Montreal, I’ll cover the details of said print, Denver and Montreal and hopefully Cristiano da Matta’s continuing recovery. Keep Shorty, his family and many, many friends in your thoughts!

See you at the track!

JHS

CLEYYZYEGSJC (part one)

Yes, those of you who travel through our nation’s sometimes-friendly skies will decode the airport codes of our last four races. And that’s how they seemed to me, going by in a huge blur this year as I alternated between long days on the road and long nights on the drawing board at home. But give up show business? With you people? Never…

CLE (Hopkins Int’l Airport)

I landed Wednesday night in a huge electrical storm. Omen for the weekend.

We broke in a new flag chief this year, Bill Crowe, and he passed with flying colors. He and ex-chief turned race chairman Lauri Burkons had their work cut out for them as this is a annually a thinly attended race as marshals go. On top of that the Grand-Am Series was running down at Mid-Ohio, The June Sprints (ok, shoot me for leaving out the trademark) were up at Elkhart, and F1 was running in Montreal (although ASRQ’s Diane Dery came all the way from Quebec to be with the Champ Cars, bless her.) Nonetheless we did some prodding, recruiting and arm twisting and by Sunday we had just over 40 marshals, more than half from outside Ohio. And let me tell you and I do not say this lightly, what this crew lacked in numbers it more than made up for in talent. It may have been marshal for marshal one of the most experienced groups ever put together. I thank Bill, Lauri and each member of this Marshal crew , especially those who came down from Canada and over from the west coast, for being there and boy were you needed!!


STANDING STARTS BY THE START STAND

We chose the wide open runway to reunite the Mazda Atlantics with their much missed standing starts and both races we did with them during the weekend were right on the button. No jumps, nothing, and smooth runs through the first turn! It’s almost like a regular start, first time by, except they come to a stop on the line before the lights and then go, so it’s simpler than the FIA version. The cars grid in the pits, start engines, are led around by the pace car, the pace car pulls in, the cars pull up to their grid spots marked my a single member of their own crew, the grid clears of non-driver humans, a green flag waves all clear at the back of the grid, a 30 and a 15 sec board are shown by JD Wilbur from the start stand (who gives a nice commentary during all this on the land line) and then 4 red lights are lit in 1 second intervals, and then they all go off within 1-3 seconds and we have a race. Doesn’t take much longer to do than to read, and speaking for myself, it will be a great treat to see it done with the Champ Cars. There are some among the Champ Car driver ranks who feel we might reduce some first corner accidents by the sheer result of arriving a little bit slower and having a bit more time to make the right decision… I SAID MIGHT, DIDN’T I???


“SUNUVABITCH”

That’s right, that’s what I said on the land line as the only way to describe how the Champ Car race was going about 1/3 of the way into it. I don’t try on these occasions to mask my feelings, nor those of Race Control on such a difficult day. Wow. Incident after incident, in multiples, sometimes at opposite ends of the track and even the Sunday Atlantic race had tons of action, which certainly got us ready for the big one. You know all the hits from this one, but My Favorite moment had to be that now famous “CRACK” that is heard on the land line immediately followed by a loud buzz and some forlorn voice calling faintly that some poor soul has smacked the wall big time and taken part of the system down. Joysville. So this time it was Car 9 crunching the wall at turn 4, which had to be called in by turn 9 which is right behind turn 4 as turn 4’s landline went kablooie as a result of the impact. Not 5 seconds later, Car 4, who was leading at the time pulls off out of fuel over at turn 7… 4?... 9?... Turn 9?... Wha?... Who? Needless to say they were called in together while turn 4 was desperately trying to be heard at the same time. It took a while to figure out, and for about 30 seconds I just assume that 4 and 9 had hit each other, which was not the case. Sunuvabitch.

But sometimes those days are to be endured and looked back upon as days that make us all stronger and again my supreme thanks go out to all who helped us through a long weekend.


110%

One closing thought that I will share was an incident in turn one during the race after a restart that left a piece of sharp debris on line. While the cars were over on the other side of the circuit, we asked turn one if they had enough time to retrieve it and they said yes. So out went Brendan Crowe (Bill’s son,) and it turned out he made a hell of a long run there and back as the posts are located so far from the runway surface. He went out with a backup plan, hustled as hard as he could and made it all the way back albeit sans whistle (which I now have and will send back his way,) and some scuffed knees. It turned out to be a mighty ask and was responded to by a mighty effort. It’s not something we want to do all the time, but it was the supreme effort that went noticed. We don’t take unnecessary risks in this series, not after what we have been through, and that’s why we seldom do interventions with marshals (and only under well-controlled circumstances.) Brendan was dispatched by race control after we and turn one had sized up the situation.

On occasion, Race Director Tony Cotman, is questioned about using these “old school” ways of dealing with these matters when we could just throw another yellow, or leave it be. His specific response to this incident was “We don’t use the Marshals a lot for these things, but when we do we have very good results. If I see fit to call upon them, we will.”

Thanks, Brendan for your 110% effort.


YYZ (Lester Pierson Int’l Airport)

On to TO. The new hip moniker for Toronto, one of my favorite (excuse me, favourite) cities on the tour. For those of you who have never been, think of Chicago, only cleaner and everyone gets along.

My heartfelt thanks go out to our brothers-in-white who turn out in good numbers under Flag Chief Peter Corley’s direction. You all have a great attitude and you get the job done, enjoying yourselves at the same time (A number of years ago Gil de Ferran asked “can we take these people everywhere?”) The general culture of the Canadians just seems to be gentler than in the US, and I have a friend who jokes that the Canadians can even make the Swiss look mean.

I had the rare pleasure of having my wife Diane at the track, but I can’t say honestly she was 100% there for the race. One of our favourite groups, Great Big Sea, www.greatbigsea.com kind of a folk-pub-celtic-rock band from Newfoundland were playing Saturday night just across Lakeshore Blvd. from the racetrack at the Molson Amphitheatre, just within earshot of turn three. They brought the “houwse” down (as the Canadians say it, eh) as it was the end of their summer tour. A great way to forget about the stresses of the racetrack for one night! Thank you dear…


CHECKERED PAST

On occasion, when the moment warrants it, we will stop and recognize a job very well done and it was my pleasure at the Sunday briefing. Nick Fornoro was the original CART starter, who did 200 events, I succeeded him with 171, and JD Wilbur is up there now and I haven’t counted his up yet. We figured that after us three, and all of our assistants who waved checkered flags at Champ Cars in an “official” capacity, that the “civilian” who holds the record for most checkers displayed to Champ Cars has to be Toronto’s Peter Zigomanis. We presented him with a Champ Car Driver autographed checkered flag in front of his home crowd in recognition of his work, not only here in TO, but also other to the other events he works with us. Peter has been stationed at several of the events he travels to each year at the “Timeline” which is the point just before the pit entrance where the cars are timed from on Friday and Saturday, eliminating cool down laps. I thank Peter for his skill, timing, reliability, flexibility, endurance and good humour in this task. We’re all countin’ on ya!

to be continued...

QUOTE OF THE DECADE

I know it's only 2006, but I sincerely believe that this quote CANNOT be topped...

PAUL GENTILOZZI, Champ Car team owner while referring to FLOYD GANASSI, Father of Champ Car, now IRL, team owner, Chip Ganassi. Paul is convinced that ISC, and—at least in perception—NASCAR, have underestimated public opinion in the racing community in Phoenix when they tried to kill the proposed Champ Car street race.

“Arrogance,” he reiterates. “It reminds me of something Floyd Ganassi used to say: ‘The higher the monkey climbs up the pole, the more you can see of his ass.’ ”

WILL WE NAE COME BACK AGAIN?

Bonnie Charlie’s now awa’
Safely owre the friendly Main;
Mony a heart will break in twa’
Should he nae come back again.

Will ye nae come back again?
Will ye nae come back again?
Better lo’ed ye canna be,
Will ye nae come back again?


The words to this old traditional Scottish song of farewell from the eighteenth century seem fitting here don’t they? We aren’t sure right now if Milwaukee or Portland will be visited again on our 2007 schedule. Milwaukee is our longest-running venue and has hosted the most CART/Champ Car races of any track in history, dating back to 1979. Likewise, Portland has occupied our Father’s Day date since 1984.

Tony Cotman always cautions us to “never say never” in this sport, so I will just leave up the big ol’ question mark. We are bringing a brand new chassis from Panoz online next season, and for only one oval now remaining on our schedule, building an “oval package” into the new car may not be feasible. The crowds at both tracks, although somewhat up from last year, are nothing in comparison to their salad days in the eighties and early nineties. On top of that, there is a political group in Portland trying hard to make the track go away. The Sunday morning noise restrictions were not lifted this year, resulting in an odd feeling day where the first on-track event was “Gentlemen Start Your Engines” for the Mazda Atlantic race! A lot like the old days of CART when the final practice was not a warmup, but held late Saturday afternoon. Mix into this uncertainty the still-on-the-table reunification talks, which will have a lot to say towards where we will be running in 2007 or beyond…

Coincidentally, both places really mean a lot to where I have been in this game. I first worked Milwaukee as an Observer in 1984, but three years later got the nod to assist Terry Walsh on the start stand for the American Racing Series, which became Firestone Indy Lights – so I got my first starter’s stand experience there. Portland, back in 1990, was the first race I was paid to travel to as the new ARS starter, so each time I return it feels like another page turning on my fiscal officiating calendar.


THE MILWAUKEE MILE AND 83 THOUSANDTHS (look it up)

But outside of all that, the events clicked along fine and I want to thank everyone involved who came out and supported us! First year Milwaukee Mile Chief Observer Dennis Muise took the reins from Ray George and held on well, despite taking Saturday off for the rather inconvenient (for us) wedding of his son. Had it been his daughter, he’d have been a basket case I think! Stepping in to help us out in Race Control for that Saturday was Tim “Chips” Day, who spent so many years at the Mile across the street from me at Center Pit. It was really convenient to be able to lean over and swat him one when I needed to!

The weather was great, and the food always suits my Eastern European palate, but the great pain about this place is the radios! It’s the only venue we have left that uses them, and since it’s an oval, it’s where we need a land line the most! A strange, difficult, but not insurmountable set-up indeed, as our boys and girls on the ground proved out. No one hurried, we got all of the info we needed, although sometimes it takes longer that way. We were very pleased with the performance of the Mile’s Observing crew, as we have been since I moved upstairs, and they came through for us again. But I want to take the time to especially recognize two great performances under fire. The first from longtime veteran Bob Bocher, who held on to the call for the no-contact spin of Speedy Dan Clarke until the car absolutely stopped, hoping rightly that Dan could keep the car moving. Great touch, great awareness, great timing. The second was Marie Eggert, who handled our Pit Closed/Open boards all day and weathered several changes from closed to open to closed again when we needed it. It sounds simple, yes, but those actions are totally beyond the scope of that position as I had described it. Marie stayed with us on the Champ Car Radio – with no direct prompts – reacting to the messages given to our teams. Another great job!


TALLY HO

On to the great Northwest. If we nae come back again, these are 5 things I will miss about this place and it’s people:

The Start Stand: Although I don’t work there anymore, the nicest looking one there is. Actually designed by an Architect, but maybe for that very reason had to be installed backwards to fit.

Emails from Ken Killam the Flag Chief: The man can write like Shakespeare and has a nickname for every post ala Keith Berman from ESPN.

The dedication and hard work of the Marshals: They don’t come much better, or heartier, standing around for long days in all kinds of weather, even in the height of Summer.

The Light: The beautiful long twilight that stretches well past nine.

One of the best evening cookouts of the year: The local region puts on this traditional fest in the middle of the worker camping area on Saturday. There is a GREAT band there that gets better every year!

And, 4 more things I will miss about this place… NOT!!:

Getting the damned race started: I’m glad I don’t have to try to get these guys down a loooooong wiiiiiiide straightaway any more! Sheesh! Just remember that the race starts at the drop of the green now. Period. And both JD and Tony knew that Bruno was out in front when the flag fell. Take that to the bank.

The Rain: It always shows up a little somewhere, no matter how well the day begins or ends.

The Crossovers: One just past start and and another in the back, I think this is the only major raceway in America without a vehicle bridge or a tunnel. Gotta leave fast during a session? Think again!

The Land Line: Some years the bleedover is there and some years it ain’t, and this year we had a little of both, but the Marshal’s land line runs together in the same conduit with the PA system. It’s a novel way to always know what’s happening but it has been known in the past to be as loud as the posts calling in!!!


FORD (Fathers On Race Day)

The Atlantic race saw a lot of action at the start, and again at the end as the leader Mr. Lewis went sour at the end and was passed for the win on the last lap by James Hinchcliffe. The Champ Car race saw a new winner (the second A.J. to do so) and the blue flaggers had their hands very full with lapped traffic - there were NO full course yellows. We call that a “no-hitter” in Race Control, but unfortunately JD had to wave off the first attempt, so we actually had one lap of yellow. The walkoff race at the end of the day Sunday was FF2000, which had to be called before the finish due to a huge multi-car incident on the backstretch that blocked the track with debris. As there were no cameras running, it was all handled between the comms, Gail Fetterman the chief comm, and the FF2000 Steward in the old-fashioned way… without a hitch, with guts, gumption and just words… yes, we noticed!


So I’m on the way to Cleveland now and… wait a minute… wow… I’m caught up!
Better not tell anyone…

(psst! see you at the race track!)

JHS

CELEBRATING CLEVELAND'S 25TH

25 Years of the Grand Prix of Cleveland

OK, everyone, above is an image of the 25th Anniversary print from this weekend's Cleveland GP. The 18x24 print features some memorable moments and accomplishments from the event and includes images of legends such as Rahal, Unser and Andretti as well as some modern day faves like Moreno, Gidley and of course, Bourdais. The central image is an aerial/plan view of all 24 winning cars streaming thru Cleveland's notoroius Turn One.

If you are interested in obtaining one, my website is still not up and running, but we can use the old fashioned way... just send me a check for $20 for each print ordered and add just $5 for shipping and I'll send it back to you via FedEx Ground in a nice, triangular tube. What a deal...

Send me an email at jhs@champcar.ws and I'll give you my studio address!

HAMMER TIME AT THE FOUNDRY

Up in the air again and time for another update…

HOLA AMIGOS

Off we went to Monterrey for the first of our three back-to-back weekends this season. Alas, I remember a time – not too fondly, however – when we had numerous “doubles” and even some “triples” on our schedule.

A big warm U.S. gringo “Gracias” must go out again from the entire Champ Car family to Fritz Herrmann, Hector Gomez and their 100 strong crew from “Oficiales del Pista de Mexico” or OPM. The dedication and sacrifice that these marshals make – enduring two all night bus rides to and from Mexico City where most of them live – is phenomenal. This year there was also a third bus from Puebla, where 30 or so “new recruits” of OPM have been found due to the World Touring Car race that happens there in the fall. The first Mexico City bus arrives mid-day Thursday, and for those who can only squeak out but one day off, the second bus leaves at dusk Thursday night and arrives at the circuit only a few hours before the first green flag! And remember, the distance between Mexico City and Monterrey is approximately the same as Chicago to Washington DC!! Carrrrrrumba! (Nobody down there ever says that.)

I must also take time to point out that OPM was more than ready after the shoddy treatment they received from the organizers in Mexico City. They took charge of securing their own provisions, which was a relief to all, but we owe yet another debt of gratitude to Champ Car’s Billy Kamphausen for providing a pickup truck and three vans to ferry marshals out to their posts each morning, one of which expertly driven by myself… “Proximo puesto, por favor?”

EL DIA DE CARRERA

As I am not the prime communicator on a non-English land line, I spent more time than usual tuned in to watching the various battles up and down the field on our race control TV monitors. There were plenty at this race, and off track excursions and mishaps were at a bare minimum, so the race had an “old school” feel. Race Director Tony Cotman and our stewards were very busy, handing out hinderance penalties during qualifying and three drive-thru penalties during the race for blocking. No warnings, no regrets, just in you come. Done. It got a lot of attention in the paddock, and Tony is now trying to get out from under a new Race Control nickname of “TC Hammer”… It’s not that we enjoy handing out penalties, but it was all at the request of the drivers this time!!

But despite the TVs, we certainly cannot see it all. So just a reminder again that the marshal calls during the race do get noticed whenever you see signs of blocking – remember any driver during the race that alters his normal racing line due to the presence or actions of a following competitor is blocking, and when Race Control can verify it the trigger gets pulled. Our Mexican marshals are not overly aggressive, but they aren’t shy either when they see something irritating! They were all over our blue flag calls from Race Control, and promptly verified to all on the line when the crucial passes were completed. So I would say that with each race (and they are the only collective group that does two CCWS events a year) their skills get sharper, they get more in tune with our operations, and I daresay they even think a little more like us in Race Control each time!

BUT YOU CAN TOUCH THIS…

When I return from Portland, I will be putting up an image of the 25th Anniversary Cleveland GP print I have spent most of the month on. Although I know that all but 33 of you are NOT working the event (ahem,) The 18 x 24 print will be sold that weekend by Speedgear at the Champ Car Merchandise Trailer. After Cleveland, I can ship them to any of you who may be interested for a MERE $25 via FedEx Ground. The concept is similar to the 20th Anniversary piece I did last season for Toronto (which sold out) that features scenes and moments from some of the great races we have had there, and the central organizing element in the composition is a stunning aerial plan view of a field of Champ Cars streaming though the infamous Turn One. So please just drop me a line at jhs@champcar.ws for more info!

Talk to you next month, and see you at the race track!

JHS

KEVIN KALKHOVEN ON WIND TUNNEL

Kevin Kalkhoven was Dave Despain’s guest Sunday on Wind Tunnel. Let's Just say this is pretty newsworthy stuff that affects all of us. Read on...

DESPAIN: Temporary circuit racing in a major metropolitan area plays an increasingly important role in the Champ Car World Series. But their latest street race proposal has put them at odds with the promoter of the two big NASCAR races at Phoenix International Raceway. Why? Well, Champ Car wants a downtown Phoenix race a week after the November NASCAR date and that has lead to something of a war of words. Kevin Kalkhoven joins us now, and Kevin we thank you for doing so on a busy day in Milwaukee. You have some pretty harsh words to say for what you call “big, bad NASCAR.” Their promoter out there fired back about your ‘Tinker Toy’ race. Lots of headlines, lots of hostility, what the heck is going on here?

KALKHOVEN: It’s really simple, Dave; there are two promoter businessmen in Arizona and Phoenix. One of whom owns majority of the Diamondbacks and is the minority owner of the Suns … also does property development. They wanted to develop a 10-block area of downtown Phoenix into an entertainment complex. And as part of that, they wanted to hold a festival by using the Long Beach model … they wanted to be able to have a race. Sounds really simple. It does not involve any government money, or taxpayer money, it would all be done on their own dime. They would pay for everything, with a significant inflow of revenue to the city, both on a tax and revenue basis … so that is the original program.
The next thing I know, there are letters flying off from ISC to the (Phoenix) city council containing a number of falsehoods. But more disturbing, within two weeks, there is a motion being passed at the state level – well, trying to be passed -- which would, in fact, ban all forms of motor sports if it isn’t on one of the ISC tracks. Whether it be karting, all across motorcycling, MotoGP -- you name it, anything that has (decibel levels) more than 90 decibels would, in fact, be banned. We’ve gone from a simple case of promoters trying to do downtown development … they wanted to use the Long Beach model … to all of a sudden, all motor sports in Arizona which aren’t being run on a permanent facility are being banned.

DESPAIN: Do you have evidence that this was NASCAR’s work or ISC’s work?

KALKHOVEN: This is all a passing coincidence (said with a chuckle) … of course, one of their employees has been actively involved in it. I assume that he was not doing it on his own accord.

DESPAIN: I am told that bill has been tabled. What do you think is going to happen with that, and what are you doing to insure your race can go forward?

KALKHOVEN: We are doing two things. First we are trying to protect the interest of motor sports … not just our race. Let me also say, it’s not us who are holding the race, there is a promoter who wants to do this … a very respected developer and citizen of Arizona. What are we doing? First of all, we made it perfectly clear to various members of the assembly exactly what the implications of this bill were. I think that many of them were horrified about this, and that is why the bill got tabled. This is not a bill which openly insinuates itself as being a motor sports activity bill. It was, in fact, an add-on to a marriage license bill which had already passed. And therefore if it would have gone to committee, it would have been made law. It was the ultimate stealth tactic. And that is what we were really upset about.

DESPAIN: Is a surprise to you that the track is upset? By running a week after them, you are going to be competing with them for local sponsorship, local media time. Did you not expect them to put up with some kind of stink about this? Whether we believe that it was under-handed and below the belt, you must have expected some resistance from them?

KALKHOVEN: Just to remind you, in Southern California, where Long Beach was the dominant race for many years, they never objected to building in Fontana. So, what goes around, comes around.

DESPAIN: Touché! For the record, there has been an exchange with NASCAR. We invited them on here, to give their side of the story. The essentially forwarded us the statement released earlier in the week. And it says: “Neither NASCAR, nor any of its representatives, agents, or employees, has taken a position on Champ Car’s proposed event in Phoenix or participated in any conduct that would impede Champ Car’s ability to run an event. Nor is it in NASCAR’s best interest to do so, NASCAR understands that in order to keep motor sports healthy and vibrant in North America, it is imperative that race tracks and race fans have a broad ‘product list’ from which to choose.”

DESPAIN: Let me ask you about the much discussed business of reunification. When you and Tony George basically asked the media to butt out, leave you alone and let you work on it. Wind Tunnel did that. We abided by that until Robin Miller broached the idea a couple of weeks ago. That you, Champ Car, would consider opening up your May schedule and allowing your teams to do the Indy 500. That caught me off guard. Are you in fact willing to do that?

KALKHOVEN: It kind of caught me off guard as well. The talks with Tony are being very fruitful. There is no doubt about that at all. They are being held in a real atmosphere of trying to accomplish something. I can say that we don’t have a time scale on the results that we are trying to achieve, but in good faith both sides are talking. As part of that, if suitable arrangements were to be a stepping stone for unification, then sure we would consider stepping stones for unification. If it helped both sides, provided a positive influence to where both sides are trying to get to.

DESPAIN: Would clearing your May schedule, and enabling your teams to lease equipment and race in the 500, would that meet the criteria in your mind … meet the criterion for moving things forward?

KALKHOVEN: It’s part of a bigger picture, Dave. If it really does move things forward as part of a bigger picture, then sure, we would consider it. In fact, we have discussed it. We are still concentrating on the bigger picture for the moment.

DESPAIN: I read a lot of opinion, that timing is critical. That is has to happen now, or it can’t happen because of your new equipment formula and all of that, you will have simply gone too far apart. It is simply dooms day. Do you buy that in any way?

KALKHOVEN: It is interesting to see the opinions on this. The people that have sat in the room with Tony and me and listened to our discussions … they realize that we don’t have a time scale. We are trying to do it right. We are really talking in good faith. That, I think, is the important thing. I don’t think that any specific timing matters here. I do think that we are trying to move toward unification in a positive way that meets the requirements of our partners …we are concentrating on the bigger picture first.

DESPAIN: As you go forward, what is the message that you will send tonight to the fans of both series, yours and the IRL, about the future of American open wheel racing?

KALKHOVEN: I think the answer is really very simple … there have been many years of conflict. But certainly, at this moment in time, there is a strong desire I think on both sides, to achieve some degree of unity. And to be able to move forward in a way that encourages the desire of both sets of fans. I think that it is possible to do that. I don’t know what exactly what the time scale will be. But I think what we’ll try to do is find something that satisfies all of the fans and try to create new ones.

NIGHT FIGHTERS

Champ Car’s return to Houston was a lot tougher of an event than I was ready for this early in the season, but the Houston Region organized marshals “warmed” to the task, and gave it their all, despite heat and humidity by day and darkness and intensity by night. A good number of marshals on hand had not done a CCWS event since we last came downtown in 2001, but their numbers were bolstered by a contingent of veterans from California, Canada, the Midwest and even some visitors from the Netherlands, Norway, and Mexico.

I would like to heartily thank all those who participated and put up with the long days (starting with the ten o’clock meetings,) while working very deep into the evenings. And an extra-extra special thanks to Flag Chief Jim Lowe who busted his butt from laying out the posts in the weeks leading up to the event, through the weekend which saw him create and staff two entire posts that were required just hours before the first session. An incredible, highly dedicated leader who really cares about his people – thanks, Jim

A CHICANE FROM WHOLE CLOTH

Even though the layout was on the books for some time, you just cannot get a feel for a place until you see it in three dimensions. The pit straight was long and had some gentle bends, but due to the location of the Reliant Center at the end of it (turn two,) there just wasn’t an adequate runoff for such a long straight. This did not go unnoticed by a small faction of CCWS drivers who effectively lobbied late Wednesday afternoon for a remedy. Chris Kneifel, our former Chief Steward/Race Director/Circuit Director, who is now consulting as a circuit builder, stepped up to the problem with Tony Cotman fresh with the knowledge gained last year getting San Jose off the ground (get it?) CSK led the construction crews all night – even the Grid Girl competition stage had to be picked up and moved - to create a mini version of the old Festival Curve in Portland – a sharp 90 left followed by a 120 right and a 60 left back onto the straight to set up for turn two. Posts 1A and 1B were created, landlines were dropped by Palmer, flags and equipment appeared, Jim Lowe did some very quick reassigning and we were ready to go – very much on time – by 11 on Thursday morning!

1B HAS BINGO

Just like its namesake in Portland and its cousins in San Jose and Australia, this chicane generated many opportunities to bail out and run straight through it, putting extra pressure on our crews to catch all the short cuts. I cannot speak for ALMS or Star Mazda, but the combined shortcut totals for CCWS and CCAC were easily over 100 for the three day event. Yeesh. But while irreverently poking fun at the whole affair on Friday, a brainstorm hit me, and I only wish I’d have thought of it earlier in the weekend. Later that night, I drew up two different sheets of car numbers in a 5 x 5 square, one each for Champ Cars and Atlantics, and presented one each to the keepers of said dreaded real estate, posts 1A and 1B – For the warm-ups, they were gonna play SHORT CUT BINGO!!! The CCWS card featured a #12 Jimmy Vasser Free Space. Sure enough, near the end of the Atlantic warm up, ol’ 1B came through for us - good show! I’m gonna check to see if they play Bingo down under and get three cards ready…

SCARED OF THE DARK?

As night fell, the joint took on an entirely different character. The CCWS has done night events before, but either on ovals or the vast wide-open spaces of Cleveland’s Burke Lakefront Airport. But this was an honest-to-goodness STREET race, with walls and fences and banners and signage, replete with the shadows those pesky things create. Some of the darker colored cars, and especially the metallic charcoal grey of the CTE cars were VERY hard to see as they darted into the shadows. Downright spooky if you ask me, and I was glad again to be inside. But our comms and flaggers did the job we expected and I neither heard nor had any complaints. One scary incident involved Paul Tracy moving over on Dan Clarke (in one of the dark CTE cars, you guessed it) and they had a coming together on the ultra-fast long, blind sweeper that skirted the edge of the Astrodome. Wonder if Tracy lost him in the shadows?

IF IT’S HOUSTON, THAT MUST BE A.J. (no, not that one…)

We had the great pleasure on Friday morning to witness a first in CCWS Marshaling history as our morning briefing featured an actual Champ Car driver stopping by to say a few words. We have done some things at the end of the day in Montreal with Quebecois drivers, and in Mexico with Mexican drivers, so I thought it only fair to nab an American for this big moment. So a big ON COURSE tip o’the hat to A.J. Allmendinger for helping us out and sharing his thoughts about the circuit and the series. What made it even easier was the late morning meeting start time and the 75 or so steps it took to walk over from his transporter - which was in the same corner of the expo center as the SCCA compound!

LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT

So back to the chicane again. The race start, and how we were gonna get everyone through there on lap one, became a huge discussion point at the drivers’ meeting. I’ll just say there were wildly different opinions and very few had the confidence that it could be done. One suggestion was to watch the ALMS start on Friday night, and it was damned impressive! Yes, yes, they have fenders – good on’ em. But there was a palpable air of “let’s help one another out and get through here, boys” and it worked. They singled up at the drop of the green and they went through with hardly a bump. And they only created one full-course-yellow in nearly three hours of racing!! For a tow-in!! ALMS is an endurance series and all its participants bring a very calm, cool “endurance” mentality to the table. A huge credit to them.

So CCWS Race Director Tony Cotman spent the better part of race day morning lobbying this same approach. The idea in brief was to pair up early, beam back a nice picture of some orderly two-by-two rows for the international audience and voluntarily thin in out upon the acceleration of Mario Dominguez the pole sitter. And for the most part it worked, the only casualty being Justin Wilson losing some parts in a side-to-side. Fair enough, but no big melee or shortcut extravaganza. Some times (actually oft times,) the true meaning of Power is not “power over” but “power with.” (Where was this thinking in 1996?) Enough philosophy, it was a great thing to experience.

The race itself seemed to take three hours, like we were doing a 500-mile race in the dark. I think up in race control we girded ourselves for a very busy and troubled race and when you heighten up your senses for a period of time, time seems to slow down. I was on the edge of my seat the whole way. Sebastien Bourdais qualified only fifth but Newman/Haas got him there again for the win. But the long day ended on a pretty freaky incident in turn three, so maybe that’s what I had sensed.

We were coming off a yellow with one lap to go til the green after yet another shoving match at the chicane. On the straight between turns two and three, Alex Tagliani gassed it to clean his tires and then to the naked eye appeared to deliberately accelerate straight into the tires in the turn three runoff. Of course he gave the land line cable running behind the wall a massive belt and the insidious hum appeared on contact, signifying a big problem. Tag hit right at the seam between two wallblocks and caved them back about two feet, obliterating the front nosepiece and burying himself in the tires. I saw the tape thereafter, which was incomplete as he also took out the cable for the TV camera as well! So we were in the dark for a while until we got the word from the post that he was out and appeared fine. But when something that weird and unexpected completely startles you (remember we were under full-course yellow) it’s a disturbing thing to see… The short story is that the pump that feeds his water bottle came loose and was rattling around in the pedal box area. It is actually mounted forward of the pedals in the nose box, but it shook loose and somehow got to a location behind the pedals toward Tag. He tried many times to move it toward him so he could grab it but could not do so. SO under caution the pump got lodged in between the throttle pedal and the heel rest, it caused the throttle to stick and that is what sent him into the tires.

So from here in the dark in Houston it’s off to the sun and heat and dust in Monterrey. More in a couple days.

Adios,

JHS

SUNNY BEACHES! (parts one & two)

OK, It’s bloggin’ time again. Finally.

First starting off where credit is due. Cal Club again did an outstanding job for us. They really have written the book on how to conduct a street race. Race Chairman Andy Porterfield and Flag Chief Ceci Smith deliver a walloping 1-2 punch when it comes to skill and rugged determination. Makes for an easy way to start the season.

And I get to sleep in my own bed here, which I will never get used to.


The start of the 2006 season, as seen from JD's armpit.

PASS THE CRUEX, PLEASE

Race Control got the mighty ka-bosh placed on it when our crew (aka Gary and Beaux) arrived to get it set up. There are two locker rooms for visitors under the stands in the LB arena. Last year we were in the larger of the two but Security coveted it away from us, leaving us the smaller. Wow. I think the Apollo astronauts had more room on their trips to the moon. It wasn’t that hot, but still had that dirty sock smell, so akin to rooms of this ilk. The one by-product of it all was that the eight of us that run the joint were so close we could hear what everyone was saying which actually made things run smoother, especially during the first race of the year when we are a little stale. Add to that – there was NO room for that pesky spectator gallery of muckety-mucks that like to observe us squiggle around like an operating theater on race day, so we could be a little more liberal with the –ahem – locker room humor!!

Ops Communicator Paul Leyton scoped out a better location next year however - the Ice Dogs home locker room. Tons of space, lockers and benches. Mmmm, can you say gang showers? The room is empty this time of year, and the Ice Dogs may move anyway – to Ontario – no, the one in California… so it looks like we will be in better shape next time ‘round.


YE OLDE HAIRE PINNE

The “Stewards Award” which goes out annually went to turn 11, the fabled hairpin. Flagging and communication are critical here and both excelled in every session. They patiently waited as a six-car gridlock filled their corner to end qualifying on Saturday, and then drained itself on its own of all but the two protagonists that started the situation. Our cameras (which were a bit of an issue all weekend) didn’t show exactly how the first part unfolded, and the comm. and the flaggers pieced it together for our stewards in an audio report quite nicely. As I say time and again, we lean on the cameras heavily – you would too, if you had them – but they will never show us a complete 3D rendition and we often need you to fill in the blanks! On race day, they cleaned up debris during gaps in traffic and also put out a fire in the World Challenge race.


Eleventh Heaven - Notice that 60% of the cars in this photo are red and white.

An honorable mention here must go out to the four posts after Start Finish, namely Rock Garden, Pit Out, Pine and 1 (yes, Rock Garden… only in Southern Cal, folks!) They deserved combat pay after Memo Gidley stuffed his Grand-Am car into the Turn One runoff at top freakin speed first thing Saturday morning, and then had to endure, flag and cleanup a HUGE three-car smash during the Grand-Am race later that day. Thanks to all of you!!! I’m glad I work indoors!


DAY OF DAYS

As much as I like getting back in the Race Control saddle after a winter’s rest, I usually dread the first day as I’m always rusty and it seems like such a long grind, not unlike the first day of school. I had a decent day, because the Marshals and the Comms had an excellent day, far exceeding expectations for the first day of the season (with so damned many red and white Champ Cars.) Several communicators in this group also have the ability to communicate with a tone in their voice, which can allow them to speak a volume about a given situation with just a few words. The comms respond well here as well and are funny and loose when I am, but can also pick up my tone and be quick and short when they hear me talk quicker and in shorter phrases. Thank you all for a good day and then improving thru the event!


ATL IS WHERE IT'S AT

All of a sudden, the Champ Car Atlantic Championship (yes, “Champ” is in there twice) seems to be the hottest series on the track. I happened to be standing in the lobby in the arena as the Atlantic driver’s meeting was letting out and they came past me on their way back to the garage area. Ok there’s a couple… followed by three more… and then a bunch… and a few more… and then another big bunch… then a gap followed by three more… wow. They just kept coming out! Folks, it has been a while since I saw 29 drivers in a meeting and it felt just great. And all but maybe two or so are young lions headed up the ladder (yes, I include Alex barron in there!) I think the grid had the top 14 cars separated by a half second and there should be a few more present come Houston!


WE HAVE A WINNER

At the race day Marshals briefing, Race Director Tony Cotman made his first appearance at a US meeting, making good on a promise that he would attend more of these things. After thanking all assembled, he boldly offered up a prize to the first person who could look up on the internet where Tony was born and email Tony the answer. Actually took a long time, although people had starter working on it wireless during race day. Vancouver’s BONNIE HEALY emailed Tony the correct answer of Manukau, South Auckland New Zealand just this morning, April 27 after enlisting the help via email of a Ms. Cynthia Wu of the Auckland NZ Public Library!

Bonnie will be on hand in Houston to happily accept her prize, something Tony muttered to me about a steering wheel or signed set of racing gloves by one of Tony’s chargees back when he was a team manager… Good man, this Cotman.


BY THE NUMBERS

Turn one’s apex was widened this year, making it a faster corner and prompting the slogan “Turn Two is the New One.” Ceci Smith beefed up the forces at Turn Two this year, but the threat of the grand squeeze at the fountain turn never materialized. The Atlantics made it through in fine order on the first lap, but Richard Philippe found the tires in One about 7 laps or so into the race, which begat the first Full Course Yellow of the young season, and then a few more after that on subsequent restarts and thereabouts. They are young hotshoes, these things will happen this year…

Forsythe Driver Andreas Wirth (and a client of mine) won the race from the pole. As soon as the race finished, Ohio’s Bob Griffith (with his F&C License reinstated after an unwanted and unnecessary exile) looked at his lap chart and pointed out to all that the first three Full Course Yellows were all caused by what was then the seventh place car!

The Champ Cars fared much worse on the first turn of their season. It wasn’t the tight start we’d hoped for coming on to the front straight, but once let loose, it didn’t help matters. It appeared Mario Dominguez tapped the back of his teammate Tracy under braking and the cars went a-flyin, eliminating Paul, Servia, Allmendinger and Junqueira on the spot.

So we had a… Forsythe car run into the back of…another Forsythe car to start the Champ Race and the first yellow in the ATL race was caused by a… Forsythe car! (Did I say that out loud?)


Off we go, into the Wild Blue Mutha


GOIN’ BACK TO HOUSTON

…or so the ol’ Dean Martin tune goes. Should be nice, and Flag Chief Jim Lowe has plenty of Marshals lined up.

For those of you who will be attending, I would like to cordially invite you Saturday morning to the Grand Prix of Houston Breakfast for Champ Car Inner Circle members and friends at the Holiday Inn Hotel Astrodome @ Reliant, in the Maple Mesquite Meeting Room, 8111 Kirby Drive, Houston, Texas 77054. It’s located right next to the track at the northwest corner. JD Wilbur and I will be the featured victims/speakers and we hope to entertain with some tales of working together in the heady days when we both occupied the start stand. A hot breakfast will be served buffet style and will be $15. Starts off at 8 AM promptly, we should be done by 10 AM and the morning meeting is at 10:45.

Seating is limited to 60 and I understand there is still room galore, underlining what a big draw us two losers must be. To reserve a spot, please drop an email to Scott Fay in Houston at ccic_houston@sbcglobal.net Pay at the door. Mention you are a Marshal in your email and ask to be seated on Jimmy’s side of the chapel.

Then, do yourself a favor and join the Champ Car Inner Circle Club on the CCWS website at http://www.champcarworldseries.com/CCIC/Default.asp
It cost nothing to join, but I’m promised some sort of kickback if I bring in enough souls…


EPILOG

So for our first event, things went pretty lively and fairly well. Thanks again to all of you stalwart Marshals in Cal Club and a few more from the world over for sticking by us another year as we continue to grow in strength. You are a tremendous asset!

If you think I will write this much for every race, forget it. I will try my best to add something in groups, once a month or so. Don't know why I'm so lucid on this one.

And for those of you who have asked, I am getting much closer to the website I have been promising myself since the winter of 2004. I’ll let you know right here when it’s ready. By early summer, it oughta feature a gallery of my recent stuff as well as an opportunity to purchase original art, custom made prints, posters and some other rarities from my archives.

Thank you for your attention and see you at the track!!!!

God bless,

JHS





Site Counter