Back from Petit LeMans race

[ismaelg]

WOOHOOO!!!!

I just can't believe how excited I still am! I'll try not to bore you but I want to share this with you all. I thought nothing could top last year's race, but this one did! Let me try to explain, but I think I may not find the right words.

Just like last year, I was invited by GM as a sponsor employee (I work for Motorola) and a Corvette nut. My buddy "No Way" Jose is a C6 owner and lives only a few miles from the track. We used to be co-workers here and then he transferred to Atlanta years ago, but still with the same company. So we get to go there not only representing a sponsor, but also as Corvette owners in the Corvette corral. Jose has become a point of contact for GM racing for support with communications equipment. That's where I tag along But I pay my own expenses and take time off as vacations.

Friday morning (qualification and practice day) we delivered some equipment to Mr. Frank Parker, communications director for GM racing. Of course they let us into the garage and all that. While in the Corvette C6R garage, somehow I mentioned that I took many pictures last year so I could build a scale model of the car. Mr. Parker got curious and inquired a bit more about it. We went inside their communications trailer and I showed him the ScaleCorvettes.com page with my C6R build. He was blown away by the details, especially in the engine compartment and interior! He was so impressed, he downloaded the full page in his laptop, went back to the garage and gathered everybody there to show them my model. Mechanics, managers, Pratt and Miller staff, GM staff, I mean EVERYBODY! People like Doug Fehan: Corvette Racing program manager, Gary Pratt: founder/owner/manager (BOSS) of Pratt and Miller who build the race cars, Robin Pratt: his wife and PR coordinator, Tom Wallace: Corvette CHIEF ENGINEER and many others in the team came forward to congratulate me! Something they really appreciate is the passion involved! A true race fan and Corvette maniac first, THEN, sponsor employee. They even told me that if I need any reference material for another build, to just ask. Two people told me they have built a model or two. Public Relations people took pictures of us explaining the team what was done and so on. They asked about the CF decals, engine compartment, paint etc. I was asked to email them more information and pictures of this and other models.

And some still think those little stupid models are a waste of time!

After that we were invited to have lunch with the team right there with the drivers! Later that day, they gave us a team's golf cart to roam around the track!!!! WOW!

On race day, we were provided firesuits and went to the hot pits during the actual race during an actual pit stop! I mean, I'm still in

shock! People you read about and see in books, magazines and TV, sitting with you and having a casual friendly conversation! Ron Fellows and Johnny O'Connell, my favorite drivers are so cool to talk to!!! Between the 2 days my new DSLR camera got quite a workout. At the end I took 815 pictures!!! I need to work on them now but here are some resized samples.

To top it off I met on Sunday with Bob Downie and the ACME modelers gang. Henry, Wayne, Bob etc. Great as usual!

So much more to tell but that's enough for now.

Can somebody gently pinch me please?

This is Mr. Parker showing the guys my model while they were busy getting the car ready.

One of my favorite drivers of all time: Ron Fellows in one of the team's trailer.

I can really and honestly say "I drove for Corvette Racing team in the Petit LeMans race"

The winner's trophy...

From the pits:

NASA is jealous

I'll post later a few samples of the 815+ pictures I took: I love my new camera.

Sorry for the long post but as you can see, I'm still pumped up and the stupid grin I have will not fade for days

Thanks,

Edited October 9, 2007 by ismaelg

[Zoom Zoom]

You really had the best access possible, far better than the ticket-buying fans! You'll be on cloud 9 for a long time.

Our club meeting was pretty tame and boring by comparison Glad to have you and Jose visit us on Sunday afternoon.

[ismaelg]

You really had the best access possible, far better than the ticket-buying fans! You'll be on cloud 9 for a long time.

Our club meeting was pretty tame and boring by comparison Glad to have you and Jose visit us on Sunday afternoon.

Bob,

It was GREAT to see you guys again! I wish we had more time but I was riding with Jose and there were other commitments.

It was great to see your Porsches up close, Henry's racer, the black '55 and the other models in the show and tell. I'm already planning for next year

Thanks,

[Ariel]

Congrats Ismael you deserve the attention the Corvette is a beautiful build just the the rest of your models that are very nice and clean builds. Well I have plans for next year for this race i was going this year but decided to go to the ACME NNL. Also

have to save money will be spending x-mas, new years and 3 kings day at home in PR. need to recharge my batteries.

[simonr]

Wow...it can be see that you had the time of your life, what a weekend!...I'm thinking about that my chance will come up in three weeks at the Porsche Rennsport reunion at Daytona. Would my heart reist as yours did?

Que clase de curete te diste!!!

Simon Rivera

[Peter Lombardo]

Ismael, congrat's...looks like you had a great time. To be down in the pits during a race is a great experience. And for you to be in the Corvette pit is perfect...do any other cars exist in your world? Great pictures. Enjoy the memory.

[ismaelg]

do any other cars exist in your world?

:D What do you mean by "other cars"

Actually yes. From the 815 pictures only about 800 were from the Corvettes

I have plenty of pictures of the Ferrari corral, Porsches, Lambos, Lotus, LMP1 and LMP2 racers, GT2 racers, the Speed challenge GT cars etc. I'll eventually post some them as well.

Thanks,

[cruz]

WOW!!!!!! It would be nice to see more pictures man, congratulations on your trip man, you do have the kind of grin that will last for days

[Luis Ayala]

Congratulations Ismael, man... the look on your face just speaks by itself !!!!!!!!!!!

I personally know how exited you were before leaving and is great to see that everything went beyond your expectations...

Just be careful, as your body may start to slow down RPM's in a couple of days so... keep your food on "HIGH OCTANE" diet and watch your "BOOST PRESSURE" once in a while...

Take care buddy...

[crispy]

Ismael, That's awesome! Congrats on being recognized by the C6R crew! Glad to hear you had the time of your life. Great story and I look forward to your pictures.

Chris

[PatRedmond]

Wonderful opportunity for you. Congratulations !!

Can't wait for more pics.... or perhaps a CD-R or DVD-R of your pics!!

[lonewolf]

Congrats Ismael. That's the thrill of a lifetime. See, it's not just us model car nuts that appreciate your talented builds. I wouldn't worry too much about the long first post. If it were me, I'd have filled the whole first page before I came down enough to partially relax. Looking forward to seeing more pics.