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 Continue reading ‘Sophomore Year - Rolex24hr at Daytona’
It was a tough battle with the women in the family leading the charge and taking a last turn pass taking the corner from a Nanna & her grandson…;) (not really)….but we did it! YTD in 2009 we’ve helped raise over $78,380 for children’s charities…that’s the good news, the bad news is that we still have $21,620 to raise to meet our $100,000 goal for the year. Personally, I find it daunting and wonder where we’re going to find the time and means to raise the remaining number.
I just logged in to check my personal email and found the following from our team CEO Kevin Buckler’s email to read.
“Hi Team,
TRG Motorsports CEO Kevin Buckler
As you know Bobby will be with us again this week but we are saddled with the unpleasant task of Starting & Parking him. Torrey, Sean & an entire contingent from Boston, headed by our very own Bruce L. have been on the case trying to drum up sponsor dollars.
As we about were ready to call the deal dead, RJ came up with a $25,000 sponsor that could also be a BIG deal for next year. I am sniffing with TaxSlayer on a really skinny deal for them to take the hood but I am not sure yet, There are a few 10K guys out there that we are talking to & Pete said to tell him if we get close as he will put something on the car & cover the final part
It was January 2008 - the market was roaring and I was in business growth/expansion mode. I also had it in my head that I was going to drive the Rolex 24hr at Daytona. As we started to vector in on The Racers Group as our support for the Rolex race, we learned about their startup effort in NASCAR. Win-Lose or Draw - it felt like the access being a limited partner would present was worth the price of admission. I wrote the check.
Fast forward 2 years later and we have Truck Wins, ARCA top 10s and in 2009 20+ Sprint Cup starts under our belt….but no sponsor.
As luck would have it, we’ve got 3-5 corporate sponsorship balls in the air but none that look as though they’re going to drop in time for th 8.6.09 departure for practice. This is a big bummer as we’re out there with all we’ve got and neither strategic partner in this joint venture has experienced failure in meeting a goal yet. While the orchestra is still playing, we’re getting nervous that we’ll be forced to either deficit spend like our illustrious political leaders or simply withdraw. Continue reading ‘The bottom of the 9th’
“Sometimes, you just have to say…..What The #@$K!”
Risk Business - 1983.
So we have a vision, can see the path, have all the players and a chance to make a huge impact on the world we live in. It all seems so easy, that is, until you try to build momentum from a standstill. Young and foolish, we’ve dropped our shoulders and started pushing.
Two days ago, Guardian Angel Motorsports and Team Polizei 144 announced our joint effort in supporting www.love146.org in their charitable fund raising efforts. Implicit in that is for us to enter the venerable car #63 in the Rolex GT race, August 7, 2009 at Watkins Glen International. Continue reading ‘Wow….Heavy Lifting…’
me and all my friends
we’re all misunderstood
they say we stand for nothing and
there’s no way we ever could
now we see everything that’s going wrong
with the world and those who lead it
we just feel like we don’t have the means
to rise above and beat it…
Waiting On The World To Change
-John Mayer-
I HATE waiting.
Economics have been sordid for the past 8 months. People, companies, charities and portfolio values are dropping like flies. We’ve been listening & watching the race scene intently as team after team has struggled with finances to continue it’s journey in the sport.
It’s such a major issue that CNBC has focused several expose features on it entitled INSIDE TRACK: Refueling the Business of NASCAR. The essence of the issue is that companies are finding it more and more difficult to measure the return they are receiving for their substantial investments. Given that ‘Bling’ is so two thousand and LATE these days, if you can’t justify it, you’d better not be spending it.
Simultaneously, the philanthropic space has felt a similar crunch as tything has taken on a new meaning. The new meaning looks to be something like, “charity begins at home.” 2008 left most charities reporting receipts down in excess of 30 percent Continue reading ‘Philanthropy 2.0′
Henri Richards new acquisition - The Porsche GT3 Cup
It’s been 6 LONG months since Guardian Angel Motorsports finished the Rolex24hr at Daytona and not a day goes by when I don’t think about what a phenomenal experience it was or how to ensure that it happens again in 2010.
It is also the last professional race I’ve done. My races year to date have been fleeting. A May SCCA National, a Porsche Club Race; a June 12hr SCCA endurance race and July has brought a Regional SCCA race…..in other words, i’m ITCHING to try my hand at another professional race.
This week I received a call from a new racing friend asking if I’d be interested in teaming with him in August 7th’s Grand Am race at Watkins Glen. Yup was the answer in case you couldn’t have guessed.
It was a stressful trip for all to arrive at the PCA Clash this past weekend. Lot’s of late arrivals the night before as the rain and prep for the first meaningful outing of the 2009 season took it’s toll on the participants.
While it’s the standard club proceedure, it’s an unconventional driver education process to have check in for track waivers at the ‘off-site’ registration building and then have registration in the garages. It meant for lots of confusion and frustration to people who would show up at the gate only to be turned away with trailers in tow for a drive around the corner and back. You can only imagine the scrambling to get situated before a fast, concentration focused day. Very unsettling. Continue reading ‘The “Clash” at the Glen’
May 7, 2009- Guardian Angel Motorsports team practice brings high drama as the hunt for lap time underscores the need for precision and accuracy. Driver Bruce Ledoux was working to find time in the infamous ‘Esses’ of the track as the data showed a flat footed approach on the accelerator was both appropriate and would represent almost an entire second of gain in lap time. Driver Bruce Ledoux put a high value on this potential time gain ahead of the team’s pending efforts with the PCA Club Race - The Clash at The Glen in just 3 weeks time. Continue reading ‘Watkins Glen Drama’
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