Sebring 2009

[Jeffvette]

Well, had an absolute blast at Sebring. The track is wonderful to drive, but horrible to spectate from due to the flat terrain. But an enjoyable experience none the less, since it got me into the sunshine.

Johnny O'Connell recorded his 8th Sebring win after the #3 car held the lead for over 11 hours after qualifying second. Audi (with the new R15) won P1 in another close battle with Peugeot. Acura claimed P2 honors and Ferrari got the GT2 win.

Currently Corvette racing will hit Long Beach after skipping the St Pete race, and then hit France for the 24 hour race and retire the C6R as we know it. In roughly three weeks, there will be a test with the new GT2 car at Road Atlanta. After completion they will start building the second car for racing. The new GT2 car will debut at Mid Ohio and finish the rest of the season on the ALMS circuit. Katech is not building the new GT2 motor, it is instead being built at the Wixom facility due to budget cuts.

A few other pictures of the cars. I will post some other pics later.

http://www.pnwzr1.com/images/ALMS/Sebring09/IMG_7209.JPG


http://www.pnwzr1.com/images/ALMS/Sebring09/IMG_7256.JPG


http://www.pnwzr1.com/images/ALMS/Sebring09/IMG_7411.JPG


http://www.pnwzr1.com/images/ALMS/Sebring09/IMG_7613.JPG


http://www.pnwzr1.com/images/ALMS/Sebring09/IMG_7627.JPG

[Jeffvette]

http://www.pnwzr1.com/images/ALMS/Sebring09/IMG_7672.JPG


http://www.pnwzr1.com/images/ALMS/Sebring09/IMG_7676.JPG


http://www.pnwzr1.com/images/ALMS/Sebring09/IMG_7710.JPG


http://www.pnwzr1.com/images/ALMS/Sebring09/IMG_7793.JPG


http://www.pnwzr1.com/images/ALMS/Sebring09/IMG_7798.JPG

[flyin ryan]

Thanks Jeff, interesting info regarding the engine builds...i'll give that one the big Hhmmm:???:

[Jeffvette]

Katech has been building some awesome thumpers for them, and durable as hell. Be interesting to see, especially when Petit rolls around.

[1990 415]

Cool pics! The #4 C6R looks menacing with the new paint job. Can't wait for Lemans.

[tomtom72]

Thanks Jeff for sharing the picts! Love that early morning pict of #4!:cool:

Kudos to Johnny O, he be the man!

JMHO, It was kind of sad to watch the 3 & 4 cars just racing themselves. The P2 cars were a bit thin also. I guess this will be really just the P1 and GT2 show going forward. I wish the Corvette Team much good fortune in their new class, hope they kick some P-car & F-car butt!

[RedSled]

Really appreciate the photos. Should be an interesting year to say the least.

[1990 415]

alright Jeff, where are the pictures of the flag bearers? I know you have a couple dozen of them.

[Paul Workman]

Excellent pix, Jeff! What a thrill! Yep!...Sebring is definitely on my "bucket list" ;)

That photo of the #4 car, back-lit by the sun is a classic. W/ your permission, I will make it my "desktop" photo.

Thanks for the headzup on this page too.

Paul.

[Jeffvette]

That photo of the #4 car, back-lit by the sun is a classic. W/ your permission, I will make it my "desktop" photo.



Paul send me an email and I will send the full size version.

[diamond zr1]

jEFF/WHERE ARE ALL THE GIRL PICS?

[Zr1 Destroyer]

Nice pics Jeff!!!

[GOLDCYLON]

Nice Pics Jeff :thumbsup:

[flyin ryan]

Katech has been building some awesome thumpers for them, and durable as hell. Be interesting to see, especially when Petit rolls around.I'm not sure how many on here know, as Jeff & I do, but Katech is a serious, very well respected organization in the R&D engine/racing world. i've dealt with them on a few occasions in the past, always been good to me. If G.M. thinks they can do as good a job in house...we'll see :neutral:

[bjurasz]

I'm digging that first shot, but I think with a bit of post-processing you could improve it quite a bit. Its a little washed out. The cars-on-track shots are good, but I'd suggest to try a slower shutter speed next time and pan with the car. It will get some motion in the tires and motion in the background, imparting a sense of motion in a "still" photograph. That's one trick to a truly great motion photograph -- making sure its apparant the car is actually moving, and not just parked on the track. You do have *some* blur in the tires, but a bit more would make what are already good images quite a bit better still. It also tends to blur the background a bit more, drawing attention to the car that much more. Thanks for sharing the pics!

[tomtom72]

I'm not sure how many on here know, as Jeff & I do, but Katech is a serious, very well respected organization in the R&D engine/racing world. i've dealt with them on a few occasions in the past, always been good to me. If G.M. thinks they can do as good a job in house...we'll see :neutral:

No doubt about KaTech. I can't remember when the corvette team has had a motor related failure in the past three seasons.

I figure that GM can just buy the parts from KaTech and put them together at the plant that does the ZO6 motors? Maybe that's how GM intends to save a bit of $?:dontknow:

[flyin ryan]

I figure that GM can just buy the parts from KaTech and put them together at the plant that does the ZO6 motors? Maybe that's how GM intends to save a bit of $?:dontknow:They might just end up with egg on their face...:neutral:

[tomtom72]

They might just end up with egg on their face...:neutral:

I hear ya Ryan. I just hope that they don't. If they bought the stuff from KaTech you know that the combinations have been tested and they work. I would think that any technical assistance needed would be more than forth coming, no?...or maybe as GM owns the team(?) they feel their own motor people can develope a motor + trans combination that would do well in GT2? I would think that the rules in GT2 are very restrictive vs those in GT1. My hope would be that the factory GT2 effort would be less descriminated against than it was in GT1.

[Jeffvette]

Here are a couple of videos. The first one is from turn 6 right at the bridge. The second one is at turn 17 at the end of the back stretch. Both spots I could reach out and slap a mirror if I wanted to lose a hand.

http://www.pnwzr1.com/Videos/MVI_4736.AVI

http://www.pnwzr1.com/Videos/MVI_4775.AVI



I'll have some flag girls up tonight for you pervs.

[1990 415]

awesome videos Jeff! this perv eagerly awaits the flag girls.