Speed World Challeng Lime Rock SPOILER thread . . .

Hi All -
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It looks like both races are on Monday this year (the Touring race was on Saturday last year IIRC.

For Qualifying, it looks like Billy A. can still keep his car at the front (we'll see how many races go by before the REWARDS weight begins to catch up) of the Touring group, with a field chock full of BMWs.

Apparently the SCCA has evened up the field in GT a bit with the Caddys off the pole. McMillin has last year's PTG built BMWs getting a little closer, qualifying 11th. Tom Stewart, who bought one of last year's PTG BMWs is still running in the back.

Looks like the races air next Sunday, the 6th.

Great Job and congrats on the Win!!!!

I followed both live timings. Jeff McMillin was doing some decent times after a while, but he was in 24th place I think when I began following it.

In the touring Billy and Turner are really tough, but it's nice to see Nic Jonsson on the podium in second.

I missed live timing (I was at Laguna Seca…Porsche CCA was there), but I jumped on the computer as soon as I got home and was so excited to see that Bill won!!! Congrats to him and the whole TMS team. I cannot wait to watch this on speed

It was great to win at our home track with all our friends and family around. What a great weekend!

Hopefully the coverage will show the battles back in the field as that is where the real excitement was.

BMW 1,2,3,4 in points after 2 races, and they are all California boys!

More photos here: http://dugmar.smugmug.com/gallery/130038/1

-Doug

Woohoo! What a weekend! My first time up to LRP and it was an absolute blast! Pictures and more when I recover!

Excellent pictures, thanks for posting them.

Thanks Doug for posting the pics. I like this one

Can anyone comment on the M3 situation? Is Jeff McMillin struggling or are the cars just not fast enough? They seem to be pretty far off the pace, but maybe the SCCA has stacked the series for V8's and the turbo Audi. They did allow some weight off the M3. It would sure be interesting to see what Bill A could do in one of the cars.

Originally Posted by SteveT

Can anyone comment on the M3 situation? Is Jeff McMillin struggling or are the cars just not fast enough? They seem to be pretty far off the pace, but maybe the SCCA has stacked the series for V8's and the turbo Audi. They did allow some weight off the M3. It would sure be interesting to see what Bill A could do in one of the cars.

It's probably some of everything you mention. With BMWs dominating the points in Touring, I doubt there's any urgency to make them front runners in GT. Now that they've brought the Caddys back to the field, they'll probably sit tight on the specs for a while and see what happens. And there's not a lot of Bill Auberlens to go around.

Tom Stewart seemed to make a little progress over previous outings. Maybe in a race or two, REWARDS weight may start to have an impact.

Originally Posted by SteveT

It would sure be interesting to see what Bill A could do in one of the cars.

McMillan was running similiar times to Billy A's 2003 Sebring times during the first race of this year before the M3 got the weight break. All the other cars are just faster this season.

Originally Posted by BMWRacerITS

McMillan was running similiar times to Billy A's 2003 Sebring times during the first race of this year before the M3 got the weight break. All the other cars are just faster this season.

I think they reduced the weight before the season also once it was clear that PTG wasn't coming back.

Originally Posted by scottn2retro

Thanks Doug for posting the pics. I like this one

Hahahaha...I was gonna post this too but didnt want to be rough on my aunt. She is at Summit Point now helping out some local guys run two 325s at the 12 hr race so its all good.

Originally Posted by SteveT

I think they reduced the weight before the season also once it was clear that PTG wasn't coming back.

yup...what do you think Milner thought of that. I still would pay $100 for PTG to start running the McMillin cars (ex PTG) just to see SCCAs reaction

Originally Posted by SteveT

I think they reduced the weight before the season also once it was clear that PTG wasn't coming back.

That's right, I was thinking of the mid-season rule change that allowed 3.4 liter motors.

BMW isn't dumping factory money into GT like Cadillac and Audi. Don't expect too many breaks too soon.

Read Frank Parise's second post in this thread. http://bbs.sccaproracing.com/ubb/For...ML/003278.html

Originally Posted by SLang

BMW isn't dumping factory money into GT like Cadillac and Audi. Don't expect too many breaks too soon.

Read Frank Parise's second post in this thread. http://bbs.sccaproracing.com/ubb/For...ML/003278.html

Frank Parise's post is good. Did you read Mark Kibort's further down? I guess I'd have to ask what is the SCCA's concept for this series? Sure, you can say that guys with enough money can come out and race, but some level of professionalism ought to be necessary. I've heard Tom Milner tell the story a couple of times about the Porsche 928 that must be Kibort. He was holding up people during practice and they couldn't raise his crew on the radio, so they said someone ask his crew to tell him to stay out of the way. Someone answered back that the driver and the crew are all out in the car...it's only him. The SCCA needs to recognize that the SWC with it's highly funded factory teams is beyond the individual and not allow that situation happen. What is SCCA Pro Racing after all?

I think they did allow the 3.4L motor and I'd contribute more than $100 to have PTG put Bill in Jeff's second car. I suspect the SCCA would be right there putting a bunch of weight on all the M3's to slow him down.

I just watched them. Great races. TC was more exciting... and shame that GT had to end under yellow. What a mind-bending wreck on the final lap of TC!

Weren't the Volvos supposed to be running GT this round? I didn't see them at all.

SWC is still the most exciting road racing on TV as far as I'm concerned!

After watching the GT broadcast, it's clear that everyone is unconvinced that the Cadillac has been fully slowed. They even cut off Max Angelelli's comments after the race. The presumption seems to be that given full laps at speed, Angelelli was going to put pressure on the Audi's. On a bigger track it might be harder for the Caddy's to be so slow.

Originally Posted by SteveT

I think they did allow the 3.4L motor and I'd contribute more than $100 to have PTG put Bill in Jeff's second car. I suspect the SCCA would be right there putting a bunch of weight on all the M3's to slow him down.

smt,

I'll put another $100 in to get Auberlen into McMillin's second car

I saw on anohter post that you will bea t the USGP w/BMWNA. If you have time, maybe we can meet up at the track one day. I know BMWNA will probably keep you pretty busy.

cheers,

Originally Posted by defcon1racing

smt,

I'll put another $100 in to get Auberlen into McMillin's second car

I saw on anohter post that you will bea t the USGP w/BMWNA. If you have time, maybe we can meet up at the track one day. I know BMWNA will probably keep you pretty busy.

cheers,

I'm sure we can work something out.