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





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FINAL TEST DAY IN CALIFORNIA

FONTANA, Calif. (March 30, 2006) - The teams and drivers of the Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford have done all the testing they are going to do before the 2006 season opener, wrapping up a busy preseason with a second day of testing at California Speedway on Thursday.

Thanks to John Proctor, Karen and Ian Cook, Rod Dykhouse and Jumpin' Joe Sepanik for marshalling the test!!


"Hey - I drove an Indy Lights car on that banking over there!"

The fastest times over the two days:

1) Justin Wilson
(#9 CDW Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone) - 52.090seconds

2) Sebastien Bourdais
(#1 McDonald's Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone) - 52.325

3) Oriol Servia
(#6 Gulfstream/Bell Micro Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone) - 52.396

4) A.J .Allmendinger
(#10 RuSPORT/Red Bull Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone) - 52.417

5) Paul Tracy
(#3 Indeck Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone) - 52.425

6) Bruno Junqueira
(#2Newman/Haas Racing Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone) - 52.485

7) Mario Dominguez
(#7 Indeck Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone) - 52.798

8) Cristiano da Matta
(#19 Dale Coyne Racing Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone) - 52.818

9) Jan Heylen
(#11 Sonny's BBQ Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone) - 53.448 (Thu)

10) Jimmy Vasser
(#12Gulfstream/Bell Micro Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone) - 53.469

11) Charles Zwolsman
(#34 Mi-Jack Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone) - 53.525

12) Andrew Ranger
(#27 Tide/Mi-Jack Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone) - 53.555

13) Katherine Legge
(#20 Gulfstream/Bell Micro Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone) - 53.686

14) Nicky Pastorelli
(#11 Sonny's BBQ Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone) – 54.128 (Wed)

Check below for Lineup updates! We are just about set for Long Beach. 209 hours til "Gentlemen Start."

JHS

UPDATED CCWS DRIVER LINEUP 3/31/06

(confirmed drivers in bold) looks like we are down to 1 or 2 seats left...

AUSTRALIA – Alex Tagliani & Will Power

COYNE - Cristiano da Matta & Jan Heylen? Nicky Pastorelli?
(Should be an announcement before LB)

FORSYTHE – Paul Tracy & Mario Dominguez

CTE/hvm – Nelson Philippe & Dan Clarke

MI-JACK/CONQUEST – Charles Zwolsman & Andrew Ranger (LGB & CDN races)

NEWMAN/HAAS – Sebastien Bourdais & Bruno Junquiera

PKV – Katherine Legge & Oriol Servia, also Jimmy Vasser will drive selected races

ROCKETSPORTS - Antonio Pizzonia (One car for LB only - should be 2 cars for HOU)

RuSPORT – AJ Allmendinger & Justin Wilson

ATLANTICS ATLANTICS ATLANTICS

'Tis the first week of spring, and the Yokahama Presents the Champ Car Atlantic Series Powered By Mazda cars hit the track en masse on the road course yesterday at beautiful California Speedway. Our thanks go to John Proctor, Dan Cain, Rod Dykhouse and Joe Sepanik for stepping out to help man the 4 marshal posts set up on the 17 turn road course this week.


Simon Pagenaud in a cold pit lane


Some people may even claim that the Atlantic series has a more deeply talented field than even our Champ Car World Series... there certainly are gonna be more of 'em!! There are some really outstanding young drivers here from all over the world. 40 new Swift 016.a chassis were delivered to the teams on time on March 8, and all the assembly in the shops was done since then, yesterday being the first track outing for everyone.

Below are the lineups for each team as they stand now. Expect over 30 cars for Long Beach! I will be working on a visual spotters guide for the Atlantics this year!

TEAM AUSTRALIA:
JAMES DAVISON AUS
SIMON PAGENAUD FR

BITE:
BEN JAMINI NL
CHRIS SOULIOTIS CDN

BROOKS:
LUIS SCHIAVO VNZ
NORBERT SIEDLER AUT

CONDOR:
DANILO DIRANI BZ

FORSYTHE:
ANDREAS WIRTH DE
LEO MAIA USA
RICHARD PHILIPPE FR
JAMES HINCHCLIFFE CDN

GELLES:
ROBBIE PECORARI USA
STEPHEN SIMPSON RSA

JENSEN:
TIM BRIDGMAN GBR
NICK JONES (testing)

MCAFEE:
KYLE KELLY USA

MATHIASEN:
JUSTIN SOFIO USA

MCATEE:
BRIAN MCATEE USA

MI JACK/CONQUEST:
GRAHAM RAHAL USA

NCDL TECH:
RYAN SPENCER-SMITH USA

NEWMAN/WACHS:
JOE D’AGOSTINO USA
DANIEL GAUNT NZ

POLESTAR:
ALAN SCIUTO USA
ALEX BARRON USA

PR1:
JONATHAN BOMARITO USA
MIKE FOREST CDN

ROOM STORE:
DAN SELZNICK USA

SIERRA SIERRA:
RAPHAEL MATOS BZ

TRANSNET:
CHARLES HALL GBR
TONIS KASEMETS EST (testing)

UNICO:
CR CREWS USA

US RACETRONICS:
DAVID MARTINEZ MEX (testing)

Here are the two day combined practice times. Expect the Long beach grid to have this hue:

1 Jonathan Bomarito, PR1 Motorsports - 58.311/92.298 mph
2 Stephen Simpson, Gelles Racing - 58.389/92.175 mph
3 James Hinchcliffe, Forsythe Championship Racing - 58.396 sec/92.164 mph
4 Graham Rahal, Mi-Jack Conquest Racing - 58.508/91.987 mph
5 Raphael Matos, Sierra Sierra Enterprises - 58.551/91.920 mph
6 Norbert Siedler, Brooks Associates Racing - 58.556/91.912 mph
7 Andreas Wirth, Forsythe Championship Racing - 58.630/91.796 mph
8 Leonardo Maia, Forsythe Championship Racing - 58.632/91.793 mph
9 Simon Pagenaud, Team Australia - 58.694/91.696 mph
10 Robbie Pecorari, Gelles Racing - 58.771/91.576 mph
11 Richard Philippe, Forsythe Championship Racing - 58.778/91.565 mph
12 Danilo Dirani, Condor Motorsports - 58.906/91.366 mph
13 David Martinez, US RaceTronics - 58.947/91.302 mph
14 Alan Sciuto, Polestar Racing Group - 58.963/91.278 mph
15 Charles Hall, Transnet Racing - 59.060/91.128 mph
16 Alex Barron, Polestar Racing Group - 59.117 sec/91.040 mph
17 Tim Bridgman, Jensen Motorsport - 59.121/91.034 mph
18 Mike Forest, PR1 Motorsports - 59.137/91.009 mph
19 Luis Schiavo, Brooks Associates Racing - 59.179/90.944 mph
20 Daniel Gaunt, Newman/Wachs Racing - 59.571/90.346 mph
21 Joe D'Agostino, Newman/Wachs Racing - 59.571/90.346 mph
22 James Davison, Team Australia - 59.700/90.151 mph
23 Tonis Kasemets, Transnet Racing - 59.795/90.008 mph
24 Justin Sofio, Mathiasen Motorsports - 1:00.690/88.680 mph
25 Kyle Kelley, McAtee Motorsports - 1:00.934/88.325 mph
26 Nick Jones, Jensen Motorsport - 1:00.951/88.300 mph
27 Dan Selznick, The Room Store - 1:02.105/86.660 mph
28 Ryan Spencer-Smith, NCDL Tech - 1:04.880/82.953 mph
29 Brian McAtee, McAtee Motorsports - 1:05.337/82.373 mph


A much nicer second day. Brought to you by King Taco.


Top 19 within 1 second, 23 cars within two seconds. Have not heard the full report, but one of our marshals got to view the bottom of a race car in the turn one chicane! An exciting second day.

Let's go motor racing!

JHS

MARCH MADNESS?

DRIVER LINEUPS UPDATED 3-20-06

Hey everyone!

Time for some March ramblings. Plenty has been going on, and a half bottle of Columbia Crest Grand Estates Chardonnay has persuaded me to share some of the excitement. Not the least of which is Champ Car's selection of a Race Director for 2006. It's gonna be Tony Cotman again, and hopefully 'til kingdom come. I didn't ask for any details as I don't wanna know any details, but I know it's great news for the paddock, for me and you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

OK... Also of note, we have had the new Swift Atlantic chassis unveiled, a big news Champ Car driver signing, plenty of silly season rumors, and some fresh talk about reunification with the IRL.


NEW ATLANTIC CHASSIS DEBUTS


The new Swift 0.16.a Mazda Cosworth Atlantic

The unveiling took place at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. A well-kept secret was that Mazda North America has signed on to be a marketing partner of the series and will power the car with its Mazda MZR engine, to be serviced by Cosworth Engineering. You can read more about it here:

http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=9959


Also on hand that evening, Kevin Kalkhoven announced that 2005 three-time Atlantic winner Katherine Legge has been signed to drive a PKV Champ car for 2006:

http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=9958


Performance-wise, the new Swift 0.16.a will be 10mph faster at the top end, has a 3" longer wheelbase, will have 60 more horsepower and even more cupholders than the previous model Swift 0.14.a. It has already undergone testing at Firebird Raceway with two-time champ Jon Fogarty behind the wheel. Over 30-car field averages are expected, based on the number of cars that have been ordered, and beginning at Cleveland, the series will return to standing starts whenever track conditions allow. Smell a little change in the air?

CHAMP CAR SILLY SEASON RAMPANT

Yeah sure, five weeks before the Long Beach opener and team lineups are far from set. Par for the course in this economy. I'm sure the last shoe will drop on the morning of the first practice as it did last season. Here's the current rumor update about who might drive for whom - and I underline rumor!

(confirmed drivers in bold)

AUSTRALIA – Tagliani, Will Power

COYNE - Ricardo Sperafico, TBD

FORSYTHE – Tracy & Dominguez

CTE/hvm – Philippe, Bremer, Jan Heylen

MiJack-CONQUEST –Ranger, Heylen

Newman/Haas – Bourdais & Junquiera

PKV – Legge, Servia, also Vasser will drive selected races

ROCKETSPORTS - Franck Montagny, Antonio Pizzonia, Enrique Bernoldi

RuSPORT – Allmendinger & Wilson

That is where we stand now, but remember, with 2006 being the last year for the Lola chassis, it’s gonna be another tough year, car-wise and sponsor-wise. But I had an odd dream last month that we had 32 cars for the final at Mexico City...hmmm. Once the new Panoz comes on line for 2007, then we will see how far we have come…


HOLD YOUR BREATH…

Two weeks ago, Autoweek ran a news story that Kevin Kalkhoven and Tony George had met several times in the last months to attempt to work out an agreement to combine both series. Have a look at these:

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060221/FREE/60221006/1001

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060221/SPORTS01/60221031

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/autoindustry/auto/22207/

The most telling quote of all is Kevin Kalkhoven, who says: "If people truly care about open wheel racing in America, then please go away and leave Tony and I alone."

And I think that’s great advice for all of us, big and small alike. With so much to be worked out, it is liable to take a long time, and I won’t hold my breath, but if anyone can make things happen, it’s certainly KK. Our last two seasons are a sure testament.

Meanwhile, we have plenty of breathing ahead of us as the season opener bears down, 5 weeks away. The very first turn of the season has been widened at the apex this year- the City of Long Beach announced improvements to the intersection of Shoreline and Aquarium that should ease the annual a##es-and-elbows bottleneck into turn one for all the races.

Hope to see all of your a##es at the race track too!!!

JHS

ROBIN MILLER ON TONY COTMAN

This Robin Miller article is posted without comment. I will let Robin tell the story.

MILLER: Champ Car Wants Cotman Out

If you took a poll in the Champ Car paddock, the overwhelming majority of owners, drivers and mechanics would tell you that Tony Cotman's rookie season as Race Director was as good as it gets.

Hired as vice president of operations, Cotman also assumed the responsibility of running the races because, frankly, it was a good way for Champ Car to save money. A longtime team manager/mechanic in CART and IRL, he packed plenty of racing savvy but had no experience at enforcing rules, running driver's meetings or making those snap decisions on blocking and contact between drivers.

The general feeling was that he couldn't be any worse than other guys before him but the nearly universal sentiment following the 14th race of 2005 was that Cotman was a keeper.

Not only did he enjoy the most thankless job in motorsports, he aced it. His firm yet fair way of treating people and situations earned him immediate respect. Hell, the drivers even shut up and paid attention in their meetings. He used common sense and didn't panic, regardless of how bad things looked (we're talking San Jose's terrible track conditions).

When Paul Tracy and Sebastien Bourdais collided while exiting the pits at Toronto, Cotman correctly ruled it was one of those racing incidents and nobody got penalized.

When Timo Glock shortcut the chicane at Montreal for the second time (after being warned) to keep Oriol Servia behind him, Cotman made the tough, but correct call and had Glock move over and allow Servia past on the last lap.

When leader Tracy got speared in the gearbox and spun into the wall by Bourdais at Las Vegas, Cotman looked at the replay and judged that P.T. did not properly indicate he was pitting (like instructed in the driver's meeting) and therefore there was no penalty.

When Tracy swerved across the track to keep A.J. Allmendinger behind him at Mexico City, Cotman invoked a penalty which, afterwards, Tracy agreed was fair.

Cotman wasn't perfect, he should have parked or penalized Bourdais for punting Tracy at Monterrey, Mexico because P.T. did everything he could to avoid contact in that one. Yet his hiring technical cops Paul Harcus (Champ Car) and Eric Haverson (Atlantics) to police the paddock was also sound thinking.

Unlike what's about to happen.

Champ Car wants Cotman replaced as race director."It's the owner's decision and they are seeking a replacement for me in race control," said Cotman on Thursday. "Am I disappointed, sure I am? But I'm tired of dealing with this so I guess I'll move on.

"I'm not leaving Champ Car, though."

Kevin Kalkhoven, who co-owns Champ Car with Gerald Forsythe, claimed that Cotman has too many other things on his plate and it was always the intention to replace him as Race Director.

"Tony is a very valuable member of our team but he's got plenty of other projects on his plate. Trust me, we'll find somebody just as good," said Kalkhoven recently.

Forsythe, who officially protested Cotman's ruling at Vegas and stormed up into race control following Tracy's penalty at Mexico, admitted his displeasure.

"I disagreed with three or four of his calls, absolutely," said Forsythe. "Why was nothing done to Bourdais at Monterrey? And why was the penalty on Paul so severe at Mexico City? Why did he have to go to the back of the field? Why couldn't he have simply got behind Allmendinger?

"Listen, Tony is a tremendous asset to Champ Car but he got this job as Race Director because there was nobody else. I want somebody with more experience because if we can improve the position, we should."

And while nobody can question Forsythe's loyalty, commitment or passion to Champ Car, several owners are questioning this decision.

"In the 40 years I've been in this business I can count on one hand the guys who could do that job (race director) correctly," said Derrick Walker, who intends to make Cotman an agenda in the upcoming owner's meeting Feb. 15-16. "Champ Car has a gem in that guy and we should hang onto him.

"It's sheer madness to take him out of that position."

Forsythe and Kalkhoven have spent a lot of money keeping Champ Car afloat and they're certainly entitled to run their business any way they choose. But taking Cotman out of race control sends a real bad message because it's so unnecessary.

Not only does Cotman like this God-forsaken job, he's good at it.

"It's not a done deal at this point," said Forsythe. "If we don't find somebody better..."

Here's a prediction. They won't.

MMMM, THAT NEW-CAR SMELL!!

Even though it be the dead of Winter, exciting things still continue to stir. I have posted two photos below of the scale model of our new Panoz DP01 Champ car which is in the wind tunnel now, and should be ready for testing in late summer. Swoopier, narrower, shorter, more nimble and now about the size of an F1 car.

Here's the scoop from Champ Car:

As the 2006 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season continues to sneak closer, officials from Élan Motorsports Technologies (EMT) and Champ Car have their eyes even further down the road as EMT put a scale model of the 2007 DP01 chassis in the wind tunnel for the first time.

EMT engineers and officials from Champ Car were on hand at the Penske Technology Group wind tunnel for the debut of the half-scale model of the Panoz DP01 chassis. The group put the model through its introductory tests and were pleased with the results they achieved.

“We are still in the early stages of developing the new car,” said Champ Car Technology Director Scot "Puddin' "Elkins. “We did everything we wanted to do during this first test and the results are outstanding. This first test is where we are creating a baseline set of data for the model. We concentrated on creating aerodynamic balance throughout the car the so we could then start the detailed development we are planning.”

The new Panoz DP01 takes much of its look from the current Champ Car chassis, keeping alive the style that has made the series a favorite of racing fans around the globe. But the cutting-edge technology designed into the package incorporates many new aerodynamic features that make this car better suited to the urban race tracks which host Champ Car's highly successful three-day festivals of speed. The design will also lead to more competitive racing on the permanent road courses and ovals that mark the Champ Car World Series as the most diverse racing series in the world. The Panoz DP01 is smaller than the current Champ Car in both length and width and weighs 165 pounds less than the current machine, providing a more nimble and quicker machine that will put driver skills at a premium. The aerodynamic changes on the new chassis will allow for more passing via smaller wings and bigger tunnels which will create less turbulence for cars in traffic.

Champ Car announced in October the Panoz DP01 would replace the current Lola chassis at the beginning of the 2007 season. Engineers at Élan Motorsports Technologies will continue development of the Panoz DP01 chassis with the first prototype expected to hit the track in July. Champ Car

ATLANTIC

Along with that, the 2006 Atlantic season continues to balloon. Orders have been taken for over 50 cars. Forsythe Racing recently announced a four-car Super Team made up of 2003 Barber Dodge Champ Leo Maia, 2004 Formula BMW Champ Andreas Wirth, 2004 Formula BMW runner-up James Hinchcliffe and 2005 BMW Champ Richard Philippe, younger brother of Champ Car Driver Nelson. You can read more about it all at http://www.toyotaatlantic.com/News/Article.asp?ID=1979

Front view of the 2007 Panoz DP01 half-scale model

11 weeks to Long Beach...

JHS

The half-scale model of the Panoz DP01 2007 Champ Car 

CCWS FLAG CHIEFS FOR 2006

TOP OF THE NEW YEAR TO YA!

Below is our tentative list of Flag Chiefs/Contacts for all of you who are considering traveling to one of our road or street races. They may change as the winter progresses. There is only one oval race left, and is limited by the fact that the Milwaukee Mile has its own observer group. Send me an email if you want to take a crack at this event (which may turn out to be our last oval for a while, but that's just MY opinion...) and I will form up a list to present to the Milwaukee Mile group. Space is limited, and I make no promises!

Houston is new for 2006 and planning is well underway by the good people of Houston Region SCCA. WE WILL NEED HELP IN CLEVELAND AND EDMONTON, where our numbers were really thin last year. I'm not attempting to draw any marshals away from other events, but if you still have choices remaining, have a thought for the two nifty airport circuits, where the racing (and the terrain) is wide-ass open!! Toronto marshals, this is a great opportunity to see and work the Champ Cars two weeks prior to your home event.

JHS

CHAMP CAR FLAG CHIEFS - 2OO6

Long Beach: Ceci Smith
race.flaggers@Verizon.net

Monterrey: Fritz Herrmann
fritzipaldi@yahoo.com
Héctor Gómez
hgomez@dutymexico.com

Houston: Jim Lowe
jtlowe@swbell.net

Portland: Ken Killam
orsccaf-c@comcast.net

Cleveland: Dale Strimple
rubberchicken74@msn.com

Toronto: Peter Corley
gavia.paradox@sympatico.ca

Edmonton: Rudy van Woerkom
Rudy@vanwoerkom.net

San Jose: Mike Neff
proraly@sbcglobal.net

Denver: Stan McLaughlin
stan@ucar.edu

Montreal: Claude-Olivier Malepart
com@asrq.com

Elkhart Lake: Peter Allen
sccapete@sbcglobal.net

Gold Coast: Margo Jones
jjmsm01@hotmail.com

Mexico City: Fritz Herrmann
fritzipaldi@yahoo.com
Héctor Gómez
hgomez@dutymexico.com

MERRY CHRISTMAS, INDIANA

Sitting around yesterday looking at our Christmas decorations and listening to Jimmy Buffett's Christmas album - (which was inspired by the purchase of a light-up palm tree we purchased for the front porch this year) and I was taken by the words to his song "Merry Christmas, Alabama" about all the places he has been over the years and how all those places become a second home after a while. Those of you who know the song will enjoy, but I've made a few changes and posted the lyrics here, as they seem to fit how I feel at this time of the year, reflecting on where we've been, where we are going and some of the places we may never see again:

Merry Christmas, … Indiana
Merry Christmas,… Motegi
Merry Christmas,… to Fontana
To Detroit and to East Germany

Merry Christmas,… Indiana
Where I started this wild and crazy run
Such a long way …from that first birthday
Merry Christmas, everyone

And Merry Christmas, …California
Though far from you all I have roamed
'Tis the season …to remember
All the faces, And the places that were home

'Tis the season …to remember
And to count up all the venues I have known
And to thank God’s mercies tender
For I'm never far from home

Merry Christmas to my saints and guardian angels
Who protect us …as we roam
'Tis the season …to remember
All the faces And the places that were home

Guess my life's moved …at near light speed
Since I started this wild and crazy run
Such a long way …from that first birthday
Merry Christmas, …everyone

'Tis the season …to remember
No we're never far from home
Merry Christmas, everyone.



The Winter solstice has just occurred and we are, as I like to quote, "Halfway to Portland!" which traditionally happens in late June. This is the quiet time of our racing Spirits, when our energy retreats within to await the coming of another season. At the end of the year, we reflect on the seasons and cycles of our own lives. We sometimes recall our triumphs and our own dark periods. Times when things seem difficult. And yet, there is always the spark of hope rekindles as we head back towards warmth. The cycles turn and change, and Yule is just such a moment. Even in the darkest night, there is the seed of rebirth.


As I often say at the beginning of each race on the Land Line, "God Bless You ALL."

Signing out for 2005,

JHS




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WELL, THAT'S THE END OF THAT SEASON!! (part 2)

DOWN UNDER

Always a thrill to head to the Gold Coast, if you can get past the 14 hours on the plane, made shorter this year by a stopover in New Zealand. I made the statement many times in October that after Korea, Australia would feel like home, but it did anyway, going back for the 15th consecutive year. We once again shared the billing and the racetrack with the Australian V8 Supercars, and I would really, really love to see all of you in the States be able someday to experience these cars. Probably the most exciting and inspiring series in the world with fenders and doors. The cars are as powerful as Nextel Cup cars, but they really road race with these cars and the result is stunning. The Holden (Aussie’s GM) and Ford rivalry is intense. My dream would be to import these guys into Long Beach some year, but I might pass out in the process.

Our Aussie Marshals – and there are over 600 of them when you add up Comms, Flaggies, Trackies, Fieries, Pass Control, et al, really had it together this year. When I told them we did Cleveland this year with less than 50 people, it was hard to comprehend. I heard no complaints from the drivers, which meant that they did great, but the Comms, whom I listen to on the land line, did very well to “tune in” to whatever I was feeling upstairs and they responded every time, which is difficult for them as we do have language issues. Whenever I spoke quickly and I needed info in a hurry, it came back to me fast and short. When I tried to be loose and funny, I would get loose and funny back. Good on ya all! At one point on Friday, I used the “Bullsh*t” term when referring to a team that wasn’t telling us the truth. An hour later, some wisecracker out there labeled me a “crawler” – the Aussie term for “kiss up” as I was congratulating a post tongue-in-cheek for a good call!

Things went well overall, Sebastien wrapped up the title, and perhaps the best complement was from Tony Cotman who asked me how many Americans had made the trip down after we finished the first day. Based on the quality of work and the fact that everyone was working their first Champ Car race of the year, I think Tony was surprised to hear there were no Americans in the house. A great job by Margo Jones the Comm Chief, Marty Smith the Flag Chief and all of their crews and other Volunteers. Thanks for making it easy for us!


On Course again

DOWN MEXICO WAY

No other Marshaling group has the distinction of working two Champ Car events in one year anymore except for O.P.M (Oficiales de Pista Mexicanos,) and each year they consistently throw themselves headlong into their work. Every year, every race, they improve. It seems as each stop we make there, either in Monterrey or Mexico City, Fritz Herrmann and his band of Banderones y Observadores think a little more like us, and I understand a little bit more of them. The communications gap created by our two languages becomes narrower and narrower, and If I had the time I would learn more Español. ¡Muchas Gracias mi Amigos!

Melissa Harrington, Bob Kosky, Frank Levin and Barbara Blizzard came on down to be the gringos this year and were again made very welcome by OPM, but we still have yet to get OPM to be fully welcomed by the promoter, OCESA. Maybe it's due to the culture, but nowhere to the Marshals get treated with such indifference than by the promoter here, and I guess it boils down to lack of respect for the job they all do. Arms had to be twisted to provide worker parking, water and timely food deliveries. A good number of marshals got fed only at the end of the day! Fortunately as most live in Mexico City, and were returning to their homes each night, they could bring their own nourishment, but anywhere else and we would have seen a very justified walkout!

As I promised Fritz, the matter has now been taken up with Steve Johnson, our new CCWS President, who has a long track record of understanding the needs of our volunteers everywhere, and his awareness of situation should help when we discuss OCESA's plans for 2006. Look for an end to this sorry situation the next time we meet...

¿OLE?

For the third consecutive year, I had the honor of ending the season on the track with the final Checkered Flag of 2005. I get a lot of questions about this so let me elaborate on its origin:

Champ Car's Circuit Director, Chris Kneifel, sits on the FIA Circuit Safety Committee which meets several times a year in Paris. In 2003 he was also invited to be Charlie Whiting's ( the F1 Race Director) guest in Race Control in Monza for the Italian Grand Prix. Among other things, CSK found it amusing that at the end of the race, the Clerk of the Course ceremoniously gets up from his post, dons a sport coat, and saunters down to the finish line to deliver the Checker on the track. Very Old School and very European.

Anyway, when we returned to Mexico City later in 2003, we continued to be struck at the atmosphere of the beautiful old ex-F1 circuit, and as a new regime in its first year in Operations and Race Control, we were in a constant search to do things differently, and to make bold statements. On Saturday night, in the Hotel El Camino Real bar (although I wasn't there at the time,) Chris relayed the story of Monza once again. Stewards Beaux Barfield and Tony Kester jumped at it and claimed: "We don't have a hair in our a##es if we don't have the balls to send Jimmy out there tomorrow to do the same thing." (I believe a direct quote - after all it was a Mexican bar... ) I was made aware of the plan the next morning, a sport coat was found in the CCWS Business Coach, the teams were notified, we practiced it at the end of the warm up, and the rest is history...

Yes its dangerous - and there are a number of officials who are totally against it, but it makes a spectacular photo and a very unique way for us to end the season. Things we need. Plus it's so easy to do there, RC is very nearby and I'm only secondary on the Land Line in Mexico anyway.
The first year, Paul Tracy admittedly forgot I was gonna be there and ran in very close to the wall as he saluted his crew, only veering to the left to give me clearance a few hundred feet before the line. The following year, we brought that up at the driver's meeting and Paul was admonished to avoid hitting the man on the track, to which Paul replied: "Hey, I thought it was J.D.!" And for those who wonder, JD has been across the track in his stand each year delivering a second flag from up there in case I have a problem!

Honestly, once out there, and with the experience that most of us have, to have a Champ Car pass within a couple yards of you at 170 mph is an other-worldly feeling. I have felt drawn in closer to the car as it approaches, not repelled from it. And it's over and past you so damned fast, almost as if the car is made of colored air, and that if you placed your hand out it would pass right through you. That's what it feels like. I did take a step back in 2004 when Seastien Bourdais moved in to get out from behind Jourdain, as I wanted to give him plenty of passing room if he wanted it! There is no fence between the track and pit lane, which adds comfort to any escape plan. And just like anticpating a fast pitch during a baseball game, you need to lead the car by a significant distance or else it will be past before you can get the flag all the way across... and I will have to admit that I almost stumbled forward as Justin Wilson really slowed down this year crossing the line and I had to hold up a bit to let him get there!

ADIOS...

...to 2005 and forward to what should hopefully be a quieter off-season. If you have been keeping up with developments on the Champ Car website, you see that we have already dropped the Las Vegas oval and reinstated Elkhart Lake for the 2006 season. There wasn't a lot said, but we weren't getting the financial return on LV that we should, and the planned street race won't be ready next year. Patience....That leaves one oval left. A new chassis will be coming on line in 2007 and to build an oval kit for just one race on the schedule, well you do the math...The Atlantic series has orders for over 40 new cars, and you should expect 25 to 30 cars on the grids. Standing starts are still being discussed, for both series in 2007?...We have ended our relationship with Trans-Am, and they have no firm plans. We will be running with both Grand-Am and ALMS in 2006 and we maintain friends on "both sides" of that particular racing fence....Winter testing for the Champ Cars has already started in Sebring, Bruno Junqueira is back behind the wheel of the Deuce... Some of our existing teams may run three cars next season, but don't expect many more cars on the grid in this last season for this chassis. When orders are being taken for the new 2007 Panoz chassis, then we may see our counts go up. The new car will be quicker, lighter, smaller and will rely less on wings to create downforce, putting an emphasis back on more ground effect and possibly helping passing opportunities. And - as an American built car, it will be 25% cheaper than the Lola!!... Edmonton is nearly sold out again after tix went on sale in November. The pit lane there will be brought out to the edge of the front straight, and the stands and suites move closer accordingly. Look for some significant changes also to San Jose as the city and transit people there are working with us to smooth out those tracks!! Could be the pit lane and paddock get reconfigured and moved about in the process. Cleveland has been sold and an announcement will be made soon, to a good friend of the series, and it is in very good hands. One less we have to promote in-house!

Thanks again everyone, from Long Beach to Mexico City, for making us look good in 2005.

See you at the race track!!!!!!!!

A MESSAGE OF THANKS(GIVING) FROM RACE DIRECTOR TONY COTMAN

Hey everyone:

We at Champ Car are all very proud that Jim did not get run over while delivering the Checkered flag on the race track in Mexico City for the third consecutive year. While Jim recovers from that, and another successful year in Race Control, here's something I'd like to share with you all:

I would like to thank the Marshals from around the world, who attend any number of our Champ car events. Without your support, Champ Car racing would not be able to function at such a consistently high level. I have never worked on that side of things throughout my career, but with Jim’s help have grown to understand more than ever the importance of marshals and the value you add. I rely on you all each week, to aid in a decision making process, and hopefully do our sport justice. I’m proud to have you all be a part of the Champ Car family, and wish you all happy holidays. Look forward to seeing everyone next season.

Cheers,

Tony

OCTOBER UPDATE

OK, we have a lot of catching up to do…

THE 41 HOURS OF DENVER

Yes, over 41 hours were required by our Denver GP marshals to work 3 days from briefing time until being hauled in at the end of the day. Meetings all 3 days were very early at 6 AM (and could not be changed as they would digress from the ever-so-holy minute-by-minute schedule, but I tried,) until the Drifters got off the track on Friday and Saturday sometime after eight! Not a healthy schedule, especially on Saturday in the pouring rain, but Champ Car takes its sopping-wet hat off to first-year Flag Chief Stan McLaughlin and his merry men and women for carrying us through a tough weekend. Thank you, thank you!

Some promoters these days – not all – pump as many series as possible into their events both to entertain the fans and to financially justify the running of the event. Economics in this day and age is something we can all understand, but I have had several discussions on your behalf with our Race Director, Scheduling Coordinator, Promoter Liaison and our new CCWS President Steve Johnson about the toll these schedules take on your overall performance. These schedules can beat you up for two days and then we ask you to be on your peak on Sunday afternoon? Hardly fair.

We will see what develops next year, as we have had some good discussions and ALL of the above agree with me. I have recommended no longer than 10 hours per day of track time, which should give you at least 12 hours off before the next mornings briefing.


GERMANS, GERMANS, GERMANS

Not that there’s anything wrong with them of course, but on course at Denver, they were a significant part of the weekend. Klaus Graf won the Trans-Am race for Rocketsports (along with the title a week later,) Andreas Wirth won his first Atlantic race, and the outcome of the Champ Car race was heavily influenced by Paul Tracy’s inability to put a lap on 5th placed Timo Glock, as PT bit the barrier in his frustration.

I have been attempting to guide the blue flagging this season over the land line, and at some places we have successfully added another headset on a post just for the blue flagger. I used a technique I developed during my years on the start stand during the Tracy – Glock scrap, and I would like all of you blue flaggers out there to give it some consideration. Paul was leading the race and came up to lap Timo, who was up in 5th place, certainly not going at back marker speed. Blue flags flew liberally as Paul reeled him in, but then as a result of aerodynamics and speed, Tracy could get not get nearer than a second. Keep the blues going, but when you see the positions have stabilized (PT even dropped back a bit,) lay off the flags until the gap gets smaller again. Otherwise, you not only get frustrated, but you also KNOW that the slower car in this case is perfectly aware of the presence of the faster car, and thus YOU HAVE DONE YOUR JOB. Lap after lap of blue flags in this case is just crying ‘wolf’ and reduces the effectiveness of the flag. The blue flag ain’t a command, although the faster driver always regards it as such. I asked all posts in this case to lay off until the status changed. Fine. Then Paul picked it up again, waved his fist a few times at JD, and Race Director Tony Cotman called for us to pile the blues on them again, but two corners later that was that and ol’ SeaBass went on for another victory.


MONTREAL

Now began the wind-down of the season as Denver, in early August, was our last road race in the USA. Really. Claude-Olivier Malepart and Alain Racine again did an outstanding job organizing their troops, and Richard LeDuc as our French-English Communicator/Translator served us very well for the 3rd consecutive year. I do not know how Richard (and Fritz Herrmann in Mexico) do it, listening to calls arrive in their native tongue yet keeping us in Race Control well informed, but I’m not complaining!!

We did not lean as hard on our Quebecois marshals as much as we did in 2004 (they saved 5 full-course yellows on race day) but they all possess a special passion for their duties found nowhere else we travel. Regardless, I always enjoy my time spent in that part of the world (plus you cannot find ANY bad meals up there.) I thank you all.

The big story at this event saw Race Director Tony Cotman stick to his guns and whistle Timo Glock (HIM AGAIN!!!) for a shortcut with just a few laps remaining as Glock attempted to hold off Oriol Servia for the lead. Timo was given clear warning that he was not going to be given another break after doing the same deed several laps prior, and on the penultimate lap Timo was ordered by the Race Director to give up the lead after the second offense. GOOD CALL.

Of note was a series of cute little exchanges on the start stand, as the injured Bruno Junqueira was given the honor of starting the race, the only non-CCWS Champion to be
accorded such an honor. Braggart and bulls@#ter that he is, upon arrival at the start stand, BJ loudly proclaimed “I will not go green until we have 10 rows paired up!” Umm, Bruno, do the math please. And also at my egging, JD was compelled to invite Bruno’s flame-haired sister Diana (pronounced JEE-onna in Portuguese,) upon whom he has an EXTREME crush, up to the stand for the occasion. She watched closely as JD explained the procedures to Bruno, ending with “I’ll tap you on the leg when you need to throw the green.” To Diana’s consternation, she puzzled, “I thought it would be more technical than that!”


LAS VEGAS – HEAT AND DARK

Once more we met in the arid desert of Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and two dozen or so Observers braved the elements and darkness in this rapidly disappearing specialty in our series. I would like to thank them all, be they veteran, novice or rookie, for pitching in and helping out, all the way down to the special “Rat Pack” tribute final course clearance. Some of these people can actually sing, but only in the dark. Damn fine job, everyone, especially on your input during the Tracy – Bourdais incident at the pit entrance. Your reports really helped back up & clarify Tony Cotman’s thoughts and subsequent ruling (i.e., Tracy cooked his own goose by not obeying the pit entry procedure.)

Rumblings regarding the venue for next year’s visit to Las Vegas continue to concentrate on a street race either downtown or near the strip, at night of course. I have also heard that LVMS’s banking will be torn up and elevated to a degree resembling Texas Motor Speedway to make it more NASCAR-able, and you all know what that would mean for us! Arrivederci, LVMS!


KOREA: THE RACE THAT DIDN’T HAPPEN – AGAIN

Imagine what it would be like to put on the Long Beach Grand Prix WITHOUT CalClub, the SCCA or The Grand Prix Association of Long Beach? That’s about as far as the promoter/organizer got this time. Yes they had a track built that was about raceable, but that was all. Marshals, Volunteers, Grandstands, Security, Food Service – all big question marks when the plug was rightfully pulled. The Government was (and still is) totally behind the event, and now a sponsor is ready, but the middle man was the weak point here.

The Korean ASN, KARA, only came on board with two weeks to go and it remains to be seen when and how they will be re-mobilized. We have another year to work on it, and we are also one year wiser, so I’m hearing that we are pretty sure for ’06 and beyond.


HABEMUS SCHEDULAM

Almost lost in all the ruckus is our 2006 Schedule, which was released at Denver, in August, the earliest release in many a year. 15 races are definite with the addition of a night street race near Reliant Stadium (Astrodome) in Houston, and our Political Department is still plugging for a street race in Philadelphia. 16 events would make the schedule grow for the first time since 2001, another portent for our future returning health. You can check out the 2006 Schedule at

http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=9523

I have some insights to share next time on our new car that will debut in 2007 (which I’ll bet will juice up our car count once it’s available) and a wrap up on the final two events Down Under and South of the Border. I hope you have all been watching “Race Car Driver” Wednesdays on Superstation WGN and “Champ Car Garage” Mondays on SPEED. They may be the two most excellent shows ever made about our series. I hear the October 26 airing on the Denver race should feature something about Race Control!

‘Til next time,

JHS

UPDATE SOON!!

Well, again the art thing... I have been really knee-deep in work since before Montreal and there is a lot to talk about. New Schedule, new car, exciting races in Race control, no Korea, etc... I should have finally some time to get you all updated before leaving for Oz this weekend.

Cheers for now!

JHS