http://www.witchdoctormotorsports.com/ch92.htm

Some pics of the test last weekend.



Costas
cars and such...

Paul - Thanks for the pix - Really, really cool cars with extremely nice fab work. I teched a Crawford DP for the 25hr, had to check everything twice ;-) . Incredible amount of custom tooling for just a handful of body/chassis parts.

What is pushaline?

That's redneck for 'gas'.

Yeah, some of the fabwork is indeed awesome!!


Costas
cars and such...

Howdy,



Ok, this is totally off topic, but I was browsing around your site and saw this pic:
http://www.witchdoctormotorsports.com/ch87pic08.jpg

(your canopy setup for your trailer)

That seems like a really nice solution to having a big area undercover. What'd you use for the support beams? Attached to the trailer how? Pics?

Thanks!

Mark

Thanks for the pictures. I can't wait for this race. I'd love to one day be able to drive a Daytona Prototype at speed. They just look like they'd be a blast to drive.

You comment one picture that a Lola is eating a Porsche tail light. Great picture. But I don't think that Lola makes a DP car. As far as I can tell there's only Crawfords, Dorans, Rileys, and Fabcars. I suspect that one is a Doran, but I could be wrong.

Do you get to be in the pits for the main event as well?

Jason

Do you think those guys give their cars names like "Scratcher"?

Yeah, I hated setting up canopies all the time and then having to deal with poles. Right after I bought the trailer in '01 (had it built just for me!) a buddy of mine (a mech eng) designed the whole cantilever setup. It is 15' out from the trailer so we have 15' x 28' of shade. I love it. My wife sewed up the canopy. Let me see what I can dig up for you for some pics. Me and another person can set the whole thing up in less than 15 minutes.




Yeah, Lola is for sure making a car and Krohn Racing is fielding two of them for the DP season. They are green. I'm kinda pulling for them as I ran a Lola in S2000 back in the day.

I don't have any uploaded and the hotlinking seems inop. argh. Try these:

http://www.garra-fans.com/2008_Daytona_tes...s/P1050393.html

http://www.garra-fans.com/2008_Daytona_tes...s/P1050406.html

Both from here:
http://www.garra-fans.com/blog/index.php?itemid=153



Yes. I have what is called an 'all-access hard card'... a little bigger than a credit card with my name and picture on it. I can go anywhere and am lucky enough to be attending all the races.



Some do. I heard a few, but they weren't flattering names at all. In fact, I'm not surprised the cars broke considering the names some of the team guys called them!!

Lastly....as fun as this is (and it rocks!) it totally SUCKS to go to a track and not be taking my racing gear...<sigh>


Costas
cars and such...

I call my car the "Red Dragon". Very unoriginal, but people know what I'm talking about and usually have a joke to follow "Give Red Dragon some more juice".
How did you get hooked up with the 'all-access hard card'? Just spend a lot of money or what?

Red Dragon...good name!!!

re:hard card :

http://xpel.com/relations/viewrelease.asp?id=125

http://www.grand-am.com/News/Article.asp?ID=9374

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 3, 2008) -- XPEL Technologies Corp. (TSXV:DAP.U) announced today an official partnership with the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series and designation as official category partner of Grand-Am. This three year contract commences in 2008 through the completion of the 2010 season. XPEL is also proud to be the sponsor of the XPEL Daytona Prototype Pole Award. The official press conference announcing the partnership will take place during the Rolex 24 At Daytona starting on Jan. 26, 2008.

"XPEL and racing are a natural fit. By having XPEL Paint and Headlight Protection Films on their cars, the race teams will save time and money," XPEL Chief Executive Officer Steven J. McAuley explained. "XPEL products protect the car's paint and headlights, not to mention sponsor decals, from the inevitable damage caused by road debris during the race." Mr. McAuley added, "In addition to benefitting the racing teams, our partnership with the Rolex Sports Car Series and Grand-Am puts our name and products in front of thousands and thousands of very loyal fans throughout the country."

Grand-Am President Roger Edmondson elaborated on the XPEL Grand-Am partnership.

"The Daytona Prototypes and GT machines of the Rolex Series are going to be very excited to receive XPEL paint and headlight protection products on their cars," Edmondson said. "Grand-Am is very pleased to have XPEL on board as our exclusive category partner."

"This partnership demonstrates one more way that XPEL is dedicated to promoting our industry, which will ultimately grow the businesses of our valued installer partners," McAuley commented.

About XPEL Technologies Corp.

With distribution channels in Europe, Asia, Middle East and Australia, XPEL Technologies Corp. is the worldwide leading supplier of automotive survival products. XPEL manufactures automotive paint and headlamp protection products, sells and distributes window tint products and industry tools and equipment and is the developer of the Design Access Program software. XPEL sells its products directly to consumers and installer partners, providing them everything they need to develop a thriving paint protection business. In addition to its expansive line of products, the Company offers installation training and marketing support, making it the premier source for dealers and installers of paint protection products. XPEL is publicly traded on the TSX Venture Exchange. Additional information can be found on the Company's website at www.xpel.com.

About Grand-Am

The Grand American Road Racing Association, which operates and sanctions the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16, is the premier road racing organization in North America and Mexico. The 15-race 2008 Rolex Series delivers professional sports car racing to key markets throughout North America and is televised in the United States and Canada on SPEED and distributed globally through ESPN International. With title sponsorship support from Rolex Watch, USA and presenting sponsorship from Crown Royal Cask No. 16, the Rolex Series showcases emerging and legendary drivers from around the globe and thoroughbred racing machines from the industry's leading constructors and the world's top automobile manufacturers. Learn more about Grand-Am at www.grand-am.com.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Basically, I'm the guy who goes and makes sure it all happens. We took design and install teams to the test and I played liason with the series/teams/crews to get product on cars.

Interestingly enough, I was just on the phone to the Krohn Racing guys and they are NOT going to run the Lola at the 24, they will use last year's Rileys, but they will then run the Lola at Homestead and then for the rest of the series.

Costas
cars and such...

Ah, got it! I had the wrong caption hooked up with the pic of some kinda body wrap going on the white car.

Thanks for setting me straight on the Lola. I guess I'm not up on my Racecar Technology reading. I went and looked at the entry list for this year and it does indeed show Krohn running Lolas. But it's probably wise to run the car they have known for awhile than a new, unproven chassis. Not that Lola is some slouch organization of course.

Jason

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IcSUMtApzU

Bringin the tech.

Costas
cars and such...

I'm still kinda surprised the Corvettes didn't run Daytona this year. Saw at least one GTO and of course the morphed G6s. Anyone know why?

That was cool Paul, I must have missed that part of the race during the broadcast yesterday morning. Some day I will be at that race in person, it must be absolutely incredible! My favorite part was when the announcers asked if you had been into the Red Bull!

factory backed corvettes? has corvette normally run at Daytona? i thought they stuck to ALMS

Hmm, thought the factory cars were there since at least 2001..

http://www.witchdoctormotorsports.com/ch93.htm

DUW.


Costas
cars and such...