Sixth Gear

Wow…big day.   First day ‘at speed’ in #18 since our frustrating incident at Watkins Glen on June 1st where we

Guardian Angel Motorsports #18 Entry

met the barrier for some pin striping and general rebuild of the ride hand side of the car.   The great news is that Toby (car #18) is back together again in doing just fine.

Day 1 of the Pirelli 2010 Tire Test had the team feeling their way around the track.  The day’s momentum built as we started with a wet track that only heightened sensitivity to the car’s traction and going fast in a limited traction situation (read - freaking out behind the wheel).   I’ve never driven 170 mph in the rain and have to say, it’s a very unique feeling when the drops hit the windshield like bullets and you’re wondering if you’re going to be able to work off that momentum in just 300 feet.   I guess if we wanted ‘comfort’, we’d be buying lawn chairs not race cars.

Speed TV filming Bob Doyle

The great news is the new recruit Bob Doyle quickly fell in step with his new Teutonic dance partner.  Bob current ride is a Ferrari 360 Challenge.  While he is new to race cars in general, he an old hand at racing.  20 years of AMA Supercross has brought a steeled competitor to the auto racing world.  Dull in comparison, I’m sure.  At least, I’d have to guess as we didn’t see any entrants doing double or triple jumps and only one DP did any Whoop-d-Doos.   I thought I caught Bob doing a ‘table top’ as he jumped down the steps from the pit cart but we’ll give it to him. 

All in all - the team really did a great job.  Everyone’s lap times settled down into a solid race-pace region

Bobby Labonte - Rolex24hr Test Days

and the TRG guys did a fantastic job supporting our efforts.  As usual, the paddock was road racing star studded and oddly much more accessible in feeling this year.  Probably due in part to the fact that there are only 24 cars entered in the test session.   A bad sign of economic times.

Pictured here is Bobby Labonte’s press conference on the back of the Racers Group trailer.  He’s announcing that he’ll be running in this year’s race with Andy Lally, Spencer Pumpelly, Patrick Long and Tim George jr.   That will be on very tough car to beat.

So as the sun rises at 5:37a.m. on Day 2 of the test days, we crawl out of bed, eyes burning from 24hrs of fumes and shuffle down to breakfast.   We’ll start reviewing yesterday’s data and setting goals and focus areas for driving technique in the day.  Stay tuned as we’ll post video and more photos once we figure out how to get them off my iphone.

Finally - and most importantly - we’ve announced new cause partners for our efforts this year.  Love146 and The Food Allergy Network (FAAN)  will be our benefactors.

These are two great groups of people that support some really moving things.  Have you ever seen the movie ‘Taken’?  Did you find it gut wrenching?  Did it make you wish you had a Dad that was that resourceful?  That crafty?  Could beat up anyone?  Or was such a good shot at that moment towards the end when you were yelling, “SHOOT HIM, SHOOT HIM - JUST F#*IKIG SHOOT HIM!”…..well sadly all of us DON’T have a Dad like that, especially these kids, and Love 146 steps in on that front…albiet a bit differently.

FAAN is an organization that’s got a daily influence in my own personal life.  It is the premiere source of education for those that suffer from food allergies.   Oddly, people are hugely unaware of the danger that food allergy represents.   I think most, even my parents, feel that it’s a minimal issue when the truth is it can be fatal.   A jar of peanut butter is akin to a loaded hand gun sitting in the lazy susan at waist height.  Then there is being a parent and watching your child have an Anaphylactic shock.  It’s the most terrifying thing to see…to watch them suffocate while you stand there helpless and hope and hope and hope and hope that you shot them with Ephinephrin pen in enough time to allow the EMT’s & ambulance to get to the scene.   One of those experiences…and you’ll get the picture, crystal clear.   Food Allergies are an epidemic in the United States - it’s a biological reaction to the environment we live in.   It’s getting much worse, not better.  We need to act, not talk.

Watch here please as we’ll be launching our press releases and revised websites soon.   If you want a sneak peak - check out Love146 here and FAAN below.

Loose Bruce
www.guardiangelmotorsports.com
Follow us at twitter.com/bruceledoux