NASCAR at PIR

Jimmie and Jeff

The Winning Duo

The Artist at Work in Victory Lane

JTG Pit Wagon

AJ Allmendinger

The Red Bull Car

Marcos Ambrose

Michael McDowell's Ride (Image credite: Dicken Wear)

Marcos Ambrose Spotter, Al DiRusso and the Editor at PIR April, 2010

It's always good to see old friends and fellow Karters do go in mainstream Motorsports. And it was great to see AJ get his first pole at one of our favorite tracks. AJ Allmendinger described his first NASCAR Sprint Cup pole as "a small victory" - with the fervent hope that it leads to something bigger, as in a race win.

Allmendinger led a quartet of former open-wheel stars in Friday's qualifying session for Saturday's SUBWAY Fresh Fit 600™ at Phoenix International Raceway. With a lap at 134.675 mph (26.731 seconds), Allmendinger's No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford edged Scott Speed's No. 82 Toyota (134.373 mph) for the Coors Light Pole Award. (Ed Note: Both AJ and Scott raced Karts with us as did Sam Hornish, Jr before he moved onto Indy Cars).

Sam Hornish Jr. (134.198 mph) qualified a career-best third in his No. 77 Dodge, followed by Marcos Ambrose (133.814 mph) in his No. 47 Toyota. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was fifth fastest at 133.640 mph.

"I knew we were going to be quick," Allmendinger said. "We were quick in practice, but you go out there and you just don't know how much grip is going to be on the racetrack. I knew I was going to have to get everything out of it to have a chance of beating (Speed).

"It's a small victory for us to get our first career pole together, and to start up front is really cool, but the big picture is (Saturday), and that's what we're focused on."

Speed was the 13th driver to make a qualifying attempt. Allmendinger went out 30th and had the benefit of a slightly cooler track.

"As soon as Turn 1 started getting shaded - that's when Scott ran his lap, when the shade had kind of come over - I knew the grip was going to be there, but it was a little surprising how gripped-up the racetrack got," Allmendinger said.

"It was still really hot out there, but it seems like, at a lot of these older racetracks, a couple of degrees, when it gets cooler, can really change the racetack a lot."

Speed was sporting a shaved head at Phoenix, a far cry from the blue-black dye job he had for the last two races, at Bristol and Martinsville.

"I had to shave all the black hair because that seemed to be bad luck," Speed said. "I also named our car. Her name is 'Rattlesnake.' I think it's kind of mean and sounds fast. We're in Phoenix, so it fits. I don't know which one of those has changed our luck around, but we'll continue doing all of them."

It was a game of numbers - two and four.

Capitalizing on a late caution that extended Saturday's SUBWAY Fresh Fit 600™ three laps past its scheduled distance of 375 laps, Ryan Newman and crew chief Tony Gibson snatched victory from Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Kyle Busch with a two-tire call under the final caution.

Both Busch and Johnson took four tires on Lap 373, under caution for Scott Riggs' blown tire in Turn 4 one lap earlier. Gordon, who took two tires and left pit road with the lead, spun his tires on the decisive restart on Lap 377, allowing Newman to surge into the top spot.

After two circuits under green at the flat one-mile track, Newman crossed the finish line 0.13 seconds ahead of Gordon to win his 14th NASCAR Sprint Cup race and his first since the 2008 Daytona 500 – ending a 77-race drought.

Johnson charged from seventh to third during the green-white-checkered-flag finish. Mark Martin, also on two tires for the final restart, ran fourth, one position ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya. Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer and Joey Logano completed the top 10.

Johnson extended his lead in the series standings to 36 points over Kenseth in second and to 96 over third-place Greg Biffle, who finished 22nd Saturday.

"I've got to throw Gibson under the bus - he wanted to go four, and I said, 'Just give me two,'" Newman said. "I liked the track position. I'd rather block than have to boot. I was in a good position there, obviously.

"I had restarted on the bottom side earlier tonight and could not get going. On two tires, I was kind of impressed - but there were a lot of cars behind us with two tires. It was a good situation to be in. It was just the right time, right place."

Busch and Johnson had dominated the two long green-flag runs that preceded the two-lap dash to the finish. In fact, Busch, who tied Johnson for most laps led with 113, stayed out front from the time he passed Johnson on Lap 262 until Riggs' accident 110 laps later.

"I can't freaking believe this," Busch lamented on the radio to crew chief Dave Rogers when the ninth and final yellow flag flew. "What do you want to do?"

Busch and Rogers opted for four tires. Johnson made the same call for his No. 48 team.

"I was excited to see the caution come out, because it was an opportunity to win," Johnson said. "I decided - I made the call for four tires. It's the first time that I can remember in a long time that I actually said what I wanted for a pit stop, with the way Martinsville played out and Bristol and last night's (Nationwide) race (where four-tire calls proved successful). I knew with the green-white checkered there weren't a lot of laps, but I felt we might get a caution with everybody racing so hard.

"So I made the call for four and made the most of it. We got from seventh to third and just did what we could. So, not a bad night at all. Excited to see us stretch out the points a little bit and get another top-five finish here."

Racing for the first time since March 31 surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee, Denny Hamlin completed the race in 30th place, two laps down.

Asked after the race if he was in pain, Hamlin replied, "More than I can tell you. I'm pretty sure I didn't do any damage or anything like that, but I'm absolutely exhausted right now."

Hamlin had Casey Mears standing by as a relief driver, but opted not to use him.

"I got a lot of encouragement from the team," said Hamlin, who fell three spots to 18th in the standings. "Through thick and thin, we're a team. I feel like they'd give their left leg for me and do everything they could do to make sure we were successful, and I felt like it was my duty and my job and that's what I'm hired to do, is to try to do the best I can and keep this team as good as we can."

Editor's Note: PIR has always been a fun track to go to for me since moving out West in 1997. When I was the President of the Arizona Sports Racing Association, we held many events at PIR. I also helped start a Kart Racing Group within ASRA after the Open Wheels Classes died off. It runs to this day in the Southwest at various tracks. As the President of the Professional Test Drivers Association of America (PTDAA), I have spent many days of private testing for OEs at PIR, and always find the staff there very helpful. A special thanks to Griffin Hickman and his staff at PIR in thee Media Center for all their help and understanding.

WC St. Pete: Dan Gardner Does It Again

Image Credit: DG-Spec Scion

WC St. Pete: Dan Gardner Does It Again:

DG-Spec Scions Take St. Pete by Storm, Racking up Awards at World Challenge Season Opener
Drivers Gardner and Stout Put Scions on Podium and Secure Five Awards along the Way

This past weekend, at the World Challenge season opener in front of an estimated 150,000 fans, the DG-Spec Scion road racing team proved again that Scion is the real deal, even at the top of the pro ladder. Three podiums and five awards of distinction were racked up by drivers Robert Stout and Dan Gardner , driving the number 18 and 36 DG-Spec Scion tC Touring Cars, respectively.

The event was a double-header, with a race on Saturday and another on Sunday, both for season championship points. Stout qualified well, putting the number 18 car third on grid, with Gardner a couple rows back. The Qualifying session would determine starting order for both races.

Saturday’s race saw Stout battle with the pole sitter, big-motor Honda Civic, eventually getting the best of the Civic and finishing second place, along the way collecting the MTM Special Ops Best Move of the Race award for avoiding the spinning Civic. Gardner blasted through the field, gaining 9 positions overall, which netted him the third spot on the podium along with the Sunoco Hard Charger award.

Sunday began with a bang, as Gardner laid the rubber down on the start, zipping through the field, earning the Optima Batteries Best Standing Start of the Race award. He also repeated; again collecting the Sunoco Hard Charger award, en route to a fourth place finish. Stout’s 18 car partially collected a spinning GT Porsche three turns after the start. Even with the damage to the body and suspension, Stout pushed his way back up, battling the Honda Civic, and eventually getting the best of him. The pass on lap 24 earned him the Invisible Glass Clean Pass of the Race award, en route to another second place finish.

“Aweome, awesome, awesome,” said team owner and driver, Gardner. “First place would have been nice, but it’s hard to have expected more at the season opener. This is great for the team, the drivers, our sponsors, and especially Scion, who just showed the world that even at this level, we’re still the real deal.”

Stout, at just 18 years old, is the youngest driver in the series. That made no matter, as he piloted the number 18 DG-Spec Scion to the second step on the podium both days, proving that he knows how to get the job done. Both drivers are rookies in the series, but showed their mettle all weekend long.

“What a great run,” Stout Said. “My hat’s off to Dan and the entire team. I had a great car the whole weekend. It’s hard to be more pleased with my first pro race starts. A podium both races…it doesn’t get much better than that!”

Credit the crew of Sean Morris, Brad Allen, John McNulty, David Fredrickson, and Jayson Altmiller with keeping the cars 100-percent bulletproof, as the cars didn’t blink all weekend. Tom and Robyn Lepper supported everyone all along the way.

Stout ends the event second in the championship points race, with Gardner in fourth. The two also netted Scion 14 manufacturer points, instantly launching the brand to second in the manufacturers’ championship standings. Scion trails VW by just 4 points.

Standings and results can be viewed at http://www.world-challenge.com/index.php. The race will be broadcast on the Versus Network on Sunday, April 18 at 2 p.m. Eastern.

The team now readies for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the only race of the season in the team’s backyard. The event will take place through the historic streets on April 16-18. The World Challenge race starts that Sunday at 4:15 p.m.

The team’s progress throughout the season can be followed at www.scionracing.com and www.facebook.com/scionracing.

The DG-Spec team uses and is supported by:

· Scion-supplied OE parts

· TRD-supplied supercharger and intercooler, front big brake kit

· Jackson-Dawson Communications

· Pilot Automotive HID driving lamps

· Nitto NT-01 tires for testing

· Enkei PF01 17x8 wheels

· OS Giken Super Lock Limited Slip Differential (LSD)

· Dezod-supplied AEM standalone engine management, plug-and-play harness, fuel rail, injectors, end links, and stainless clutch line

· Church Automotive Testing dyno tuning

· Moton Suspension remote reservoir coil over shocks

· Vogtland springs

· DG-Spec Progress Technology rear sway bar and camber kits

· Motul brake fluid, engine oil, transmission fluid, and super coolant

· Racepak IQ3 logger dash and VNET sensors

· AEM sensors, EMS , and dry flow air filter

· Kaminari carbon-fiber roof and composite headlights

· Reflections body work

· America’s Tire Co. tire mounting and balancing

· Racetech Viper head-restraint race seat and 6-point harnesses

· Centerforce clutch and low-inertia steel flywheel

· AIT carbon-fiber hood and hatch

· DG-Spec Wild Pony Motorsports-supplied camber/caster plates

· Goodridge fittings and lines

· Carbotech XP10 and XP8 brake pads

· G-Force racing suit, gloves, helmet, window nets, and other safety and crew gear

· DC Sports header

· Energy Suspension bushings and motor mounts

· HoseTechniques silicone hoses

· Tri-Mountain Racewear team gear

· NST supercharger pulley, Braille batteries, and shifter bushings

· SquareSkull designs

· Sampson Racing Communications (SRC) radio systems

The World Challenge is North America 's top production car-based racing championship. Divided into three separate classes (World Challenge Touring Car, World Challenge GTS, and World Challenge GT) races follow a sprint format and are 50 minutes start to finish.

Each race features thrilling standing starts, adrenaline filled door-to-door action, and top-notch drivers. Drivers pilot cars from the world's most popular manufacturers. Race prepped versions of the cars we drive on the streets! The World Challenge is sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing and races at North America 's premier road and temporary street courses.

DG Spec is a line of parts designed and endorsed by National Champion Scion road racer Dan Gardner . Gardner draws up the specifications for the parts himself. The parts are then tested and proven on the track. The goal of DG Spec is to provide enthusiasts with parts that have been developed on the track and that have significant performance advantages at an honest price. Parts are offered either in hardcore track trim, identical to what Gardner and his team race with, or in Gardner-specified standards more appropriate for enthusiast use on the street.
(HT: Story and Photos courtesy DG-Spec)

REVIEW: Driven to Race

Driven To Race documentary movie poster outside of premiere screening which kicked off the 2010 MAZDASPEED Motorsports Star Mazda Race Series season. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

REVIEW: Driven to Race

“Driven To Race” or The best Documentary that every wannabe Race Driver should see.

This past Wednesday night March 10^th, 2010 we got the chance to preview and see what could have been the basis of the best racing movie since LeMans. “Driven To Race”, is by far one of the best documentaries ever made about open wheel racing, and where the world finds these new up and coming drivers. While this is not news to those of us who have spent any time at all around Motorsports, it is eye opening for people new to our industry.

This documentary follows the 2008 Star Mazda Race Series. Interviews with Team Members, Sponsors, Drivers, Crews, Officials, and the behind the scenes look at what goes on in one of the best run race series in the US today. While not being the biggest fan of open wheel racing after Karting, I did spend many years working in almost this exact division of Motorsports. (I worked around Formula Ford, Sports 2000, and Formula Atlantic series, and shifted focus to production based series using cars with fenders, doors, and roofs).

But I watched this film with great understanding and also wishing above all else that this small production studio (three people) will have a far reaching effect on all those who see this film. Many movies, some with major stars and multi-million dollars budgets, have failed to covey to the viewer what this great independent film has accomplished, on a budget that most productions would have spent on “Craft Services” (snacks) .

“Driven To Race” if distribution can find a way to get this out to more than just the Teams and Officials that were filmed during the production could be the next Oscar nominee for a documentary.

Cargo Productions followed the series throughout North America for the 2008 Star Mazda Series. The men at Cargo Productions started with a plan to go to one race and see what would happen. They wanted to see if they found a spark, and if they had discovered a series, sport, or industry that would tolerate these outsiders following them around for an entire season. Had they met with resistance, or friction among the teams or officials, they would have called off the plan. Or if the subject matter have proven too dull, or hard to follow, again they would have walked away.

What this small but energetic group had found was the wonderful, real world drama that comes with a quest for victory sometimes against all odds. The people at Cargo Productions took hundreds of hours of film, countless interviews, and must have worn out many pairs of sneakers to follow the teams, officials and drivers around as they followed the exploits of the 2008 Star Mazda Series. While I'm sure there was enough footage shot to have made a complete multi week series for the “Speed” Channel, (and maybe that can still happen) the group at Cargo edited down all those hours first into a three and a half hour movie. Then with more thought about how long anyone can sit still and watch a documentary, they went back to the editing room and whittled it down to the final two hour version we got to see before almost anyone else in the world.

There is no romantic sub plot, evil team owner, or prima donna race driver with an ego bigger Stallone or Cruise as in movies past. What you do get from this film is an real understanding of what really goes on, and some of the hard work that goes on to compete in a race series.

It's not my place to tell you how they do it, or who wins what. But to tell you if you enjoy, understand, or have a friend who is new to Motorsports, than this is your film. I just wish they had made this film when drivers such as Pruett, Dismore, Lazzaro, Ave, Nadeau, Till, Fish, and others were coming up through the ranks on their way to Pro Driving Careers.

I hope the Discovery Channel, or Speed pick this film up and give it a good showing. This film is a must see if you want to make a career in Auto Racing, weather it be Open wheel, road racing, or any other form of Motorsports. The people at Cargo Productions hit the nail on the head. You only hope it will be this good, but above all else, this is the real story of what it takes. Luck, Money, Talent, Desire and Dedication.

Cargo Productions is an independent production company generating content for television, films and the internet. Founded in 2008 by Jeff Krueger and Brian Spillane, the company is currently in production on a documentary feature and reality television program focusing on the world of auto racing.

Jeffrey Krueger

Jeffrey Krueger (Producer) was Executive Producer for the award winning short film “The Salesman”, written by and starring Cargo Productions co-founder, Brian Spillane. His latest short film, “Intruder” (written by and starring Jeff), has been featured in the Long Island Film Festival and the Lake Havasu Film Festival, among others.

Jeff has been writing and acting in plays and films for over 10 years. He most recently wrote and starred in his original work, The Legalities of Love, which premiered at the Huntington Beach Playhouse in Huntington Beach, California.

Brian Spillane

Brian Spillane (Director) has been writing, acting and directing on stage, film and television for over 15 years. In 2001, his first independent film, “The Salesman” won Best Mockumentary Short at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival. Videos Brian has written and/or directed have been featured on The Discovery Channel and the CW Network, and in 2008, he received his first Telly Award™ .

Special thanks to Dean Case and the entire cast and crew at MAZDASPEED Motorsports.

This story compiled from Cargo Production web site, viewing movie, and personal experiences.

By: Dicken Wear, Editor-in-Chief

Vegas Baby, Vegas. NASCAR in Sin City !

The Winners
Victory Circle
Jimmie wins another one. (Will he win the 5th Sprint Cup?)

LVMS records ninth consecutive sellout for Shelby American
Sunday, February 28, 2010

Image Credits, LVMS, Dicken Wear, David Allio & others.
Las Vegas Motor Speedway recorded its ninth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series sellout with Sunday's running of the Shelby American.
Speedway officials sold the final grandstand seats Sunday morning prior to the green flag for the 13th annual event. The capacity crowd marked the largest crowd of the season.
"In what are still challenging economic times, today's turnout is a testament to the popularity of Las Vegas Motor Speedway, this great city and NASCAR's premier racing series," said LVMS president Chris Powell. "We really appreciate the thousands of race fans who chose to spend the day with us."

NHRA Final rounds of FC and TF at Firebird Raceway, AZ.

Russo & Steele's Auto Auction Gets Major Air

“There are downed electrical lines in there, wires, cables, propane heaters and canisters, broken glass, etc.,” Drew Alcazar, founder and co-owner of Russo & Steele, said in an interview Friday afternoon. “We hope to be allowed back in the site by Saturday morning. If we can, we’d like to reopen the auction Sunday, and maybe extend to Monday if there are enough interested owners and buyers.” /// About 600 classic automobiles, including the car that has perhaps piqued the most curiosity at this year’s Arizona collector car auctions — a 1948 Tucker 48 convertible — were in the tents at the time, Mr. Alcazar said. Image Credit: azfamily.com

Russo & Steele's Auto Auction Gets Major Air

After a successful and enjoyable breakfast gathering for inside auto-enthusiasts and members of the press, the day began well for the folks over at the Russo and Steele.

Russo and Steele in Scottsdale is a standout against the well publicized "No-Reserve" policy of the other major auction held this week at Barrett-Jackson, in that they hold an auction where all cars are held with a Reserve. This auction operation believes that quality consignments are the result of only two scenarios; either the owner had paid a premium or has endured a costly and laborious restoration. Neither of these two will entice this caliber of automobiles to simply be “sold to the highest bidder – regardless of price” ... hence, "No-Reserve".

These consignors want “top dollar” for their car. The challenge all auction companies face is how to attract quality consignments and consign them with appropriate reserves that will be well received by our knowledgeable bidders. A car does not get sold unless it meets the negotiated minimum price - The Reserve.

Russo and Steele’s Scottsdale sale occupies the middle ground of the collector car market — roughly $100,000 to $500,000 — offering mainly American muscle cars and European sports cars.

But the Russo and Steele auction, which began on Thursday, was interrupted that evening by one of the most severe storms the area has experienced in years. Winds tore at two of the tents the company was using to house cars going to auction, collapsing one of them and sending parts of the other blowing onto the nearby 101 Freeway.

This excerpted and edited from Examiner -

Russo & Steele's Scottsdale tents collapse during auction
January 21, 10:57 PM - Classic Autos Examiner, Jim Cherry

Severe weather punishing the American West struck Scottsdale, Arizona with full fury this afternoon during Russo & Steele's auction of ultra rare, blue chip classic cars. See details of Russo & Steele's offerings this year by clicking here.

The tents that collapsed were side structures. Thankfully, no one was injured as most attendees were busy watching the action in the main tent. Between 5,000 and 10,000 people were in attendance at Russo & Steele when disaster struck at 6 P.M., according to AZFamily.com.

Russo & Steele Auction was immediately evacuated. Even car owners had to leave without knowing the fates of their valuable classic rides. It is believed that several cars were damaged.

Arizona state governor Jan Brewer declared a state of emergency due to the extensive impact the severe storm has had all over the state.
Reference Here>>

In Scottsdale strong winds have blown over two tents at the Russo-Steele Auto Auction. The auction had to be evacuated and there is major damage to the tents. There were no injuries reported. Most people at the auction at the time were inside the main tent, which is still intact but two other tents were destroyed along with a lot of expensive cars. What was left of the massive tents at the annual auction in north Scottsdale continued to flap violently in the wind leaving the auction cars exposed to the harsh elements. A lot of the collectors' cars have spent years in garages and have barely seen any kind of weather, let alone a fierce storm. Image Credit: azfamily.com

And this excerpted and edited from the New York Times -

Storm-Damaged Auction Site Remains Closed
By JERRY GARRETT - January 22, 2010, 7:59 pm

McKeel Hagerty, president of Hagerty Insurance, which specializes in coverage for vintage cars, said he had surveyed the auction site from a distance. He said he estimated that perhaps as many as half of the 600 cars had suffered at least some damage. “You can see that some of them have been extensively damaged,” he added.

Was this the worst disaster the classic car industry has suffered?

“Hurricane Katrina was worse,” Mr. Hagerty said. “We lost 500 to 600 classic cars in that one. But, other than that, this is the worst I can remember.
Reference Here>>

For more background on Russo & Steele see: Russo and Steele Scottsdale 2010

... notes from The EDJE

(HT: originally published and re-posted with permission from The EDJE)

Still the Best!

22 years and counting. Steve Lewis and the staff at Performance Racing Industry still have, and put on the Best Motorsports Industry Trade Show in the US if not the World. For the few of you old enough to remember the SEMA Show from 40 years ago, it started as a Racing Trade Show. SEMA used to stand for Speed Equipment Manufacturer Association, now it is Specialty Equipment (neon, chrome wheels, car covers, and other automotive "Bling" .

While there is a new Racing Trade Show in the world (and there are many), the PRI Show is still the one you must go to if you are a Motorsports Retailer. And if you are a company that makes parts or has services for serious Racing Teams, (NASCAR, NHRA, Grand-Am, ALMS, SCCA-Pro Racing) you must attend this show. The PRI Show is not just for the Circle Track crowd that likes the cold weather in Indy in December. While it is a nice thing when you can go to and be an exhibitor at your local "Home Town" Race Show, if you are a member of a Professional Race Team, a Driver for a Professional Race Team, (or want to be), you must be at the PRI Show wherever it is held. And lets just hope it stays in a nice town that knows how to treat "out-of-town" guests, has great resturants, lots of hotels, and lots of great things to do after a long day of working at a trade show (as an exhibitor or attendee). While I wish I didn't have to fly to the other side of the country for a show, (Las Vegas or Anaheim would be better for me), not going, is not an option. We in Motorsports Media have to go to certain events every year. When it is in our back yard, that just means we can sleep in our own beds at night. But when you are in this Industry, you learn to travel well, and live in Hotels. If you can't do that, you're in the wrong business. So if you have to go out of town for Races, Trades Shows, and Awards Banquets, they should at least be in cities that have good weather (much of the time). After all, why do you think the Racing Season is set up for each regions weather?

(We don't Race in Phoenix in July and The Indy 500 is held at the end of May, not the end of November).

That means Las Vegas, Orlando, and Anaheim. These cities know how to deal with large numbers of out of town guests, keep them safe, keep them moving, and treat them nicely. The cities that haven't learned how to do that (or can't for various reasons) should not be in the convention business. Now remember a few things about this process. We in Motorsports can't really take time off during the season for a Car Show or Trade Show when the weather in some of the other cities in the US that can host really great Trade Shows or Conventions . Boston, Chicago, Indianapolis, Phoenix, Dallas, and many other great cities can offer wonderful places for a Trade Show. But not during the time of year when we could attend them. Also, as our Industry Grows we need to have a venue that can shrink or expand with our needs. SEMA needs to learn that Las Vegas doesn't actually have the best venue for the SEMA Show. But Las Vegas is the Capitol of Grand Excess, and Gratuitous Bling, so the SEMA Show may never move back to where it belongs in Anaheim, CA. And while the City of Anaheim might like the money that came into town during the SEMA years. Anaheim is an "Anti Car- Anti Motorsports" town now, and may not want the silliness that comes with the purveyors of "Bling".

The Orange County (Florida) Convention Center in Orlando, FL does seem to like having us there, tries to be helpful, and if it didn't rip us off for parking, would be perfect. Note to the OCCC in Orlando, FL "Stop Ripping us off for parking at your venue. We bring enough money into town, (I'm sure you got paid plenty for the building rent) must you also hold us up for parking in a building where we come to "Work"? Do your employees have to pay to park when they come to work?

So if there has to be one really important, must go to, Motorsports Trade Show in the US (and there does have to be), then I'm glad Steve Lewis picked Orlando. Las Vegas has more parking problems, a disjointed/bad flowing building, and Anaheim has found a way to kick almost every Motorsports/Automotive Manufacturer out of town.

I've been going to the PRI Trade Show since Day One, and this new show, is the best one of it's kind anywhere. We even get to Race at this show. Steve Lewis, John Kilroy, Pete Evanow, Alan Jones, Susana Furlong, and all the Great Staff at PRI, year after year put on the best Motorsports/Racing/Performance Trade Show in the World. Keep up the great work, thanks for moving to Orlando, and lets make it bigger next year and work on the minor details that make an otherwise perfect show, just Great.

Note to Grand-Am: We have to go to las Vegas and Orlando, plan your awards banquets accordingly. And why didn't you have a booth at the Show?

Dicken Wear, Editor-in-Chief, "The Motorsports Report"

(qualified 8th finished, 7th in the Media Race)

Motorsports Director

of the Original Competiton Engineering.