gaijin
09-09-2004, 11:50 AM
Dale White Goes from Off-Road to Le Mans - Interview by Doug Kelly ALMS
Doug Kelly 9-9-2004
Las Vegas, NV - Chuck Knox, longtime coach of the Los Angeles Rams, always spoke of the importance of what he termed 'The 6 P's.'
"Proper practice prevents piddling poor performance," was Knox's mantra and the same is true in sports car racing. Proper maintenance of the multimillion dollar racing machines is essential to success on track.
No one in an American Le Mans Series paddock knows this better than Dale White, founder/owner of White Lightning Racing and director/team manager for Petersen Motorsports. White is responsible for keeping the #31 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, driven by Craig Stanton and David Murry, in the fittest condition. Thus far in 2004, Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing has ascended the podium in five of seven starts and the team now turns its attention to Chevy presents Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta later this month.
AmericanLeMans.com visited White in the team's Las Vegas race shop to inquire about preparations for Petit and other subjects.
DK (Doug Kelly): Petit being a 10-hour race, do you prepare the car any differently than for the shorter (2 hours, 45 minutes) ALMS events?
DW (Dale White): You do in the sense that we have had time for a complete teardown of the car from Road America until now. During the summer, the races are so close together, you don't have time for a total wrap (teardown), so that is why we have a regular maintenance program in place.
DK: What is involved in a teardown as opposed to regular maintenance?
DW: You take the entire car apart, it's sitting there on the floor, you check every little thing, and then you put it back together again. In simple terms, you're looking for (parts) that might have rubbed together. Because the Porsche is so well-constructed, you don't have to replace a lot of components. What you're really looking for is hidden damage, something that doesn't stick out. The little things, the ones that can put you out (of a race).
DK: Prior to road racing, you spent many years in off-road competition. Any comparisons in terms of preparing the vehicles?
DW: Some. With off-road cars, damage tends to occur in the same areas. Cracks, things like that. The plumbing, the wiring, they are the same. Since Porsche cars don't really "break," you have to look constantly for wear and tear. Our guys are really good at that.
DK: White Lightning has gone 34 races in the ALMS with just one DNF mechanical. How do you account for it?
DW: A good car, good luck and a great crew that's the best in this business.
DK: In addition to preparing the car, you also have to get it shipped from site to site. What is involved logistically?
DW: Again, it is a matter of being prepared and making sure all the details are in order. Moving within the United States is pretty routine, but we had a lot of experience in Mexico during the off-road days. That'll prepare you for almost anything.
DK: What about going to Le Mans (where the team has two straight GT wins to its credit)?
DW: We had to have everything ready three days after Sebring. We received the new car in early January, and we transported everything to Sebring from Las Vegas. We raced the old car at Sebring, packed everything up, put it all on the transporter, then took it all right onto a ship. It took 15 days by sea.
DK: What is the key to getting everything through various countries' customs inspectors?
DW: Biggest thing is, have your paperwork in order. We do a complete inventory of everything that is on board, and we show that to the customs people. Anything that is considered hazardous material, you purchase in the country where you are going to race. Last year, going from California to Trois-Rivieres, several teams spent a lot of time at the Canadian border because their paperwork wasn't handled properly. The customs guys took a look at our inventory sheet and waved us through.
DK: How are your Petit preparations coming along?
DW: Very well. We have had a good season so far, but Petit and then Laguna are going to be the test for a lot of cars. If it's hot the weekend of Petit, that will have an effect on the cars and the drivers. It all gets back to endurance. Petit is the equivalent of three sprint events.
DK: Meaning more time for things to go wrong?
DW: Hopefully not. Having worked on Porsches for so long now, the guys are really good at knowing what to watch for. The drivers are easy on the cars, so that helps, too. I believe our previous off-road experience has really been beneficial in terms of maintaining the #31 and keeping it on the track. That's all any of us out here are trying to do.
Doug Kelly 9-9-2004
Las Vegas, NV - Chuck Knox, longtime coach of the Los Angeles Rams, always spoke of the importance of what he termed 'The 6 P's.'
"Proper practice prevents piddling poor performance," was Knox's mantra and the same is true in sports car racing. Proper maintenance of the multimillion dollar racing machines is essential to success on track.
No one in an American Le Mans Series paddock knows this better than Dale White, founder/owner of White Lightning Racing and director/team manager for Petersen Motorsports. White is responsible for keeping the #31 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, driven by Craig Stanton and David Murry, in the fittest condition. Thus far in 2004, Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing has ascended the podium in five of seven starts and the team now turns its attention to Chevy presents Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta later this month.
AmericanLeMans.com visited White in the team's Las Vegas race shop to inquire about preparations for Petit and other subjects.
DK (Doug Kelly): Petit being a 10-hour race, do you prepare the car any differently than for the shorter (2 hours, 45 minutes) ALMS events?
DW (Dale White): You do in the sense that we have had time for a complete teardown of the car from Road America until now. During the summer, the races are so close together, you don't have time for a total wrap (teardown), so that is why we have a regular maintenance program in place.
DK: What is involved in a teardown as opposed to regular maintenance?
DW: You take the entire car apart, it's sitting there on the floor, you check every little thing, and then you put it back together again. In simple terms, you're looking for (parts) that might have rubbed together. Because the Porsche is so well-constructed, you don't have to replace a lot of components. What you're really looking for is hidden damage, something that doesn't stick out. The little things, the ones that can put you out (of a race).
DK: Prior to road racing, you spent many years in off-road competition. Any comparisons in terms of preparing the vehicles?
DW: Some. With off-road cars, damage tends to occur in the same areas. Cracks, things like that. The plumbing, the wiring, they are the same. Since Porsche cars don't really "break," you have to look constantly for wear and tear. Our guys are really good at that.
DK: White Lightning has gone 34 races in the ALMS with just one DNF mechanical. How do you account for it?
DW: A good car, good luck and a great crew that's the best in this business.
DK: In addition to preparing the car, you also have to get it shipped from site to site. What is involved logistically?
DW: Again, it is a matter of being prepared and making sure all the details are in order. Moving within the United States is pretty routine, but we had a lot of experience in Mexico during the off-road days. That'll prepare you for almost anything.
DK: What about going to Le Mans (where the team has two straight GT wins to its credit)?
DW: We had to have everything ready three days after Sebring. We received the new car in early January, and we transported everything to Sebring from Las Vegas. We raced the old car at Sebring, packed everything up, put it all on the transporter, then took it all right onto a ship. It took 15 days by sea.
DK: What is the key to getting everything through various countries' customs inspectors?
DW: Biggest thing is, have your paperwork in order. We do a complete inventory of everything that is on board, and we show that to the customs people. Anything that is considered hazardous material, you purchase in the country where you are going to race. Last year, going from California to Trois-Rivieres, several teams spent a lot of time at the Canadian border because their paperwork wasn't handled properly. The customs guys took a look at our inventory sheet and waved us through.
DK: How are your Petit preparations coming along?
DW: Very well. We have had a good season so far, but Petit and then Laguna are going to be the test for a lot of cars. If it's hot the weekend of Petit, that will have an effect on the cars and the drivers. It all gets back to endurance. Petit is the equivalent of three sprint events.
DK: Meaning more time for things to go wrong?
DW: Hopefully not. Having worked on Porsches for so long now, the guys are really good at knowing what to watch for. The drivers are easy on the cars, so that helps, too. I believe our previous off-road experience has really been beneficial in terms of maintaining the #31 and keeping it on the track. That's all any of us out here are trying to do.