NYC DTM WTF?

Another cool tee from 8380

Our buddies Ethan and Dave over at 8380 design always have something new or cool to check out, and of course our favorites are from the Unbesiegt line of motorsport-inspired tees. So naturally when I saw their most recent design with a little nod to the factory-run Trans Am Scirocco - I had to pick it up. In fact I'm wearing it as I type this very sentence. As usual it's a limited run deal so if you like it, you better go get it quick.

_WRS

Baltimore's Bucky Lasek to compete in ALMS in 2012

9Magazine is reporting that Rebel Rock Racing - a motorsport / entertainment fusion entity headed by producer Jim Jonsin - will field an entry for the 2012 American Le Mans season in the GTC class with none other than Bucky Lasek as one of their drivers. Bucky is no stranger to the performance automotive world (at least not to us) and it is with great excitement that we learned about this latest foray into the racing world. The ALMS is in need of fresh blood and a strong commitment from this sort of young, energetic and capable (rich) type of team is just what the motorsport world, and sports car racing in particular, needs to succeed and grow in the future. We will watch this new team with a close eye over the coming months to see how things develop; it could turn out to be quite interesting.

Naturally it is of particular interest to see Bucky entering into a professional racing series. He emerged from the Baltimore skate scene of which we were also a part of, and it was not uncommon to see him him out and about at various VW car shows back in the early-mid 90s with his Corrado. I think the last time I personally ran into him and chatted for a bit was just before he moved out west to concentrate on his professional skateboarding career; the rest of course is history.

For more check out:

Rebel Rock Racing / and on Twitter / Jim Jonsin Twitter
Bucky Lasek / and on Twitter

_WRS

Input outside / Outside input

A few weeks ago I was contacted by Drew over at Motoring Con Brio about writing a few words for his site about my love affair with my old Mk1 GTI. He had seen my entry after H2O International and wanted a little more of the back story, a little more history. So I obliged and the post is now live! Go check it out, it's the same pics, but more of the story...and a cool site too. Right up my alley - all about the driving.

WRS on Motoring Con Brio

_WRS

Pic Post: Porkers at Sebring

Ever felt like you had way too much to do and couldn't seem to gain traction on any of it? Well that's been the story around here lately. Simply way too much to do and not enough time in the day, or perhaps motivation / brain power to go around and make it all happen. So because of this, I've been a little slow for updating. It's not for lack of wanting, just for lack of time.



I've got a few things in line, waiting to be posted, the most interesting of which is almost certainly the IMSA GTI, but that will wait until next time.  First I will finally dig in a little more to Sebring. The event itself is so far in the past I hardly think it's worth re-telling the event itself, but why not throw up an all-Porsche post. Despite Audi being back in 2011 the Porkers are still my favorite,

Read on...

ALMS: Round 2 Qualify at 8pm Eastern - Race tomorrow

In just one hours time live qualifying will begin for round two of the 2011 ALMS season, taking place on the streets of Long Beach. Shown on ESPN3 - it should prove to be a great race in GT, but the LMP classes, if we're honest, are complete crap. Only 2 entries in LMP1, 2 entries (from the same team no less) in LMP2, and both of those cars are struggling to best the lowly LMPC cars.



In GT the Porsches have been doing quite well indeed (probably thanks to their post-Sebring weight break), with the #45 Flying Lizard ahead by a few tenths over the BMWs. Our favorite underdog, Team Falken Tire, are sitting 7th in GT behind the Bimmers, 'Vettes and the Risi Ferrari. We're pulling for a dark-horse upset, so look for Falken to be on the front row...mark my words.

In GTC Black Swan is clearly the team to beat. The 2010 champs have Jeroen back in the car for Long Beach, and there's no doubt that they're going to be on pole and will take the win, assuming no outside interference or problems.  

The race will be live in ESPN3 tomorrow at 7:15pm Eastern, and shown in "highlight" form on Sunday on ESPN2...

By the way, does anyone know how to set up a proxy so I can watch the race?

_WRS

Pic Post: (vintage) Michael Keyser Sebring '76

Baltimore's own Michael Keyser scored an overall victory at the 1976 12 Hours of Sebring in this Porsche 911 RSR, set up and co-driven by the late great Al Holbert / Holbert Racing. I've said it once and I'll say it again...I was born in the wrong time.

Photo: Michael Keyser via 'Nigel Smuckatelli' Flickr

_WRS

Sebring Paddock: Princes to Paupers

 




The paddock at any big event like the 12 Hours of Sebring is a fascinating place to be. I almost prefer it to being out by the track in certain ways, as you get a much better feel for who the teams really are and what they're really all about. Sure you can see who's fastest on a time sheet, break it down into simple statistics, but that only shows half of the competition really. It's more than who's fastest, it's who's got the most cash, and from the top to the bottom of the grid, teams aren't afraid to spend some cubic dollars to one-up the next guy.

Video Post: Porsche and Walter Rohrl at Targa Tasmania. Leg 1

Plus a little behinds the scenes about the rally master Mr Rohrl and the Porsche 911 SC that he drove here 30 years ago.

VW Transporter, live from the streets of Mexico City

Josh is down in Mexico City for some kind of luxury / art handling / crazy event of some sort, and sent this pic over of an old Transporter delivery truck. Not everyday you see these on the road here in the states, but I would imagine they're a bit more common across the border. One thing is for sure, there are very few 'cooler' delivery truck options...

_WRS

12 Hours of Sebring 2011, Wed-->Thurs

 

For the second time in as many years, the crew (myself and Josh) have made the trek 1200 miles south from NYC to sunny Florida for the most important and exciting endurance race that takes place on United States soil: the 12 Hours of Sebring. So far we know one thing for certain, it's a hell of an adventure no matter how you slice it.