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Pics from ALMS @ Lime Rock!
What a great day to be at the track! Low 80s, sunny, breezy and dry (low humidity is a rarity in CT in July)... not to mention the chance to see some of international racing's best in person. An added treat was the news that this would be the venerable Audi R8's last IMSA race (the R10 will replace it regularly from here on out).
PCA had a special "paddock" set up for members (as did the Corvette club), and gave out free goodies to members ("Porscheplatz" hats, and 911GT3 lanyards with credential pockets). Here is a blurry shot of the corrall (sorry for the low quality!):  The first thing that greeted us in the PCA pavilion was a brand-spankin-new 997 Turbo. It looks much better in person than in the magazines...  Also parked in the pavilion was the first Noble I've ever seen in person... it also looks much better in the metal than on paper.  This little guy was zooming back and forth in the parking lot, and I couldn't for the life of me figure out what kind of car it was. For some reason the word "Manta" pops into my head... or maybe some kind of Marcos?... but I could be wrong. I couldn't get a great pic of it because it was in motion and the shutter on my camera has a bad delay, but this was the best I could do:   Many, many more to come (uploading extra slow tonight)...
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Current Stable: Black 07 Porsche 987 Cayman S: Long-Tube Headers; FabSpeed Exhaust; VividRacing ECU Tune; IPD Plenum; 997GT3 Throttle Body. Blue 1983 Porsche 928S. 1985.5 Porsche 944 Rat Rod. 2011 Acura MDX. 2008 Mazda 3. Gone But Not Forgotten:Garnet Red 86 Porsche 951("The Purple Pig"). Alpine White 83 Porsche 944 ("Alpine Wolf"). Guards Red 84 Porsche 944. |
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07-01-2006, 05:39 PM
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Preliminary races...
Before the big event, the running of ALMS's New England Grand Prix, which is stop number 4 in the ALMS, there were three different preliminary races - IMSA lites, which are cars like the Radical, which feature up-and-coming starts of sports car races, American GT Challenge, which features modified Corvettes, Camaros, and Mustangs, and F2000, which, near as I can tell, feature open-wheeled cars with small engines.
Here are some American GT Challenge pics:   F2000 pics:     Many more to come...
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Current Stable: Black 07 Porsche 987 Cayman S: Long-Tube Headers; FabSpeed Exhaust; VividRacing ECU Tune; IPD Plenum; 997GT3 Throttle Body. Blue 1983 Porsche 928S. 1985.5 Porsche 944 Rat Rod. 2011 Acura MDX. 2008 Mazda 3. Gone But Not Forgotten:Garnet Red 86 Porsche 951("The Purple Pig"). Alpine White 83 Porsche 944 ("Alpine Wolf"). Guards Red 84 Porsche 944. |
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07-01-2006, 06:04 PM
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In the paddocks...
Between the preliminaries and the big race, we were allowed to go down to the paddock and finish line area to check out the ALMS and IMSA lite racers.
Aston Martin had a tent set up, and displayed what might be the best-looking car on the market today, the DB9:  The DB9's 6.0 V12:  Swinging by the Porsche area, mechanics were hard at work on one of the cars:  Extra body parts:  Ferarri team pushes its cars through the pits:  More to come...
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Current Stable: Black 07 Porsche 987 Cayman S: Long-Tube Headers; FabSpeed Exhaust; VividRacing ECU Tune; IPD Plenum; 997GT3 Throttle Body. Blue 1983 Porsche 928S. 1985.5 Porsche 944 Rat Rod. 2011 Acura MDX. 2008 Mazda 3. Gone But Not Forgotten:Garnet Red 86 Porsche 951("The Purple Pig"). Alpine White 83 Porsche 944 ("Alpine Wolf"). Guards Red 84 Porsche 944. |
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07-01-2006, 06:23 PM
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Writer/Teacher
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In the pits...
 Patriotic gal marks the Alex Job 996GT3RS:  Now, some of these pics aren't perfectly centered or framed... that's because there were such huge crowds around the cars that I had to comprimise and take pics from some unflattering angles. Lola LMP2 racer:  Panoz GT2 racer:  Grid girl with Aston Martin DB9R:  Aston driver Pedro Lamy celebrates Portugal's World Cup victory:  More to come...
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Current Stable: Black 07 Porsche 987 Cayman S: Long-Tube Headers; FabSpeed Exhaust; VividRacing ECU Tune; IPD Plenum; 997GT3 Throttle Body. Blue 1983 Porsche 928S. 1985.5 Porsche 944 Rat Rod. 2011 Acura MDX. 2008 Mazda 3. Gone But Not Forgotten:Garnet Red 86 Porsche 951("The Purple Pig"). Alpine White 83 Porsche 944 ("Alpine Wolf"). Guards Red 84 Porsche 944. |
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07-01-2006, 06:40 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Stow MA
Posts: 183
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If someone can point me to a tuturial on how to post pictures I will glady post some tommarow afternoon. I'm going to bed right now before I fall asleep at my computer.
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07-01-2006, 06:44 PM
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In the pits...
The aptly-numbered Aston 007:
 ... and then there was the RS Spyder... The security around Porsche's only prototype racers was SO tight... every two feet around the parameter of the car was ... geez, I don't know what they were. Stuttgart Secret Service? Anyhow, security was tight and the crowd around the RS Spyders was DENSE, so I did the best I could with the limited views I had...      More to come...
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Current Stable: Black 07 Porsche 987 Cayman S: Long-Tube Headers; FabSpeed Exhaust; VividRacing ECU Tune; IPD Plenum; 997GT3 Throttle Body. Blue 1983 Porsche 928S. 1985.5 Porsche 944 Rat Rod. 2011 Acura MDX. 2008 Mazda 3. Gone But Not Forgotten:Garnet Red 86 Porsche 951("The Purple Pig"). Alpine White 83 Porsche 944 ("Alpine Wolf"). Guards Red 84 Porsche 944. |
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07-01-2006, 07:04 PM
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Im was there too. Great race! The R8 won, but the RS Spyders and the Astons were awesome!
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John Original owner '81 911SC blackmetallic coupe. Terbatrol, SSI, M+K Gen 4, SC+ cams, A/C delete, console delete, heater backdate, 7 & 8 x 16 Fuchs with polished rims, Turbo tie rods, tensioner update, Rennline engine mount bar, Mainely Custom sump plate, new top-end, corner balance. |
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07-01-2006, 07:06 PM
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Writer/Teacher
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In the pits...
 Sascha Maassen and a fan (an AUDI fan, apparently  ) The BMW M5 and Corvette C6 pace cars:  LifeStar, just in case:  Some views down the main straight:   More to come...
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Current Stable: Black 07 Porsche 987 Cayman S: Long-Tube Headers; FabSpeed Exhaust; VividRacing ECU Tune; IPD Plenum; 997GT3 Throttle Body. Blue 1983 Porsche 928S. 1985.5 Porsche 944 Rat Rod. 2011 Acura MDX. 2008 Mazda 3. Gone But Not Forgotten:Garnet Red 86 Porsche 951("The Purple Pig"). Alpine White 83 Porsche 944 ("Alpine Wolf"). Guards Red 84 Porsche 944. |
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07-01-2006, 07:11 PM
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The race...
The tower:
 The ALMS race begins! The Porsche RS Spyders took an early lead, but the Audi R8 proved to be about a second faster per lap and eventually took the top spot. The Audi drivers (maybe because it was the car's last race?) seemed more aggressive in traffic as well, taking more chances. It was when the cars met up with a pack that the Audi was able to gain on, pass, and put distance between itself and the Porsches. The Porsches leading the Audi and a LMP1 Mazda:  The GT1 race turned out to be a really good battle between the 007 and 009 Astons and a couple of the C6 'Vettes:  A Ferrari 430 trails a BMW M3:  Another pass by the RS Spyders:  Ferrari has engine trouble as the Audi creeps up on the Porsche:  C6 and Mazda hit the wall:  More to come...
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Current Stable: Black 07 Porsche 987 Cayman S: Long-Tube Headers; FabSpeed Exhaust; VividRacing ECU Tune; IPD Plenum; 997GT3 Throttle Body. Blue 1983 Porsche 928S. 1985.5 Porsche 944 Rat Rod. 2011 Acura MDX. 2008 Mazda 3. Gone But Not Forgotten:Garnet Red 86 Porsche 951("The Purple Pig"). Alpine White 83 Porsche 944 ("Alpine Wolf"). Guards Red 84 Porsche 944. |
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07-01-2006, 07:24 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 2,271
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DB9 is one hot car... test drove one yesterday at a dealer's little test drive event. They had several Vantages and DB9s on hand. MY GOD those are some BEAUTIFUL cars!
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Matt J. 69 911T Targa - "Stinky" 2001 Boxster "Stahlgewehr" |
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07-01-2006, 07:28 PM
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Quote:
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1987 Venetian Blue (looks like grey) 930 Coupe 1990 Black 964 C2 Targa |
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07-01-2006, 07:32 PM
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The big race...
Audi is now in the lead, and gets ready to lap GT1 and GT2 cars:
 The Audi R8 would win by about 15 seconds... by all standards a close race, especially since the Porsches and Audi changed places a few times over the 2.5 hours of the race. Porsche did not secure an overall win, but their showing was impressive considering that the Audi was in a faster class. Porsches finished 1-2 in both LMP2 and GT2. I'm not 100% positive, but if memory serves me correctly, the overall finishing order was: 1) LMP1 Audi R8 2) LMP2 Porsche RS Spyder 3) LMP2 Porsche RS Spyder 4) GT1 Aston Martin DB9 5) Chevrolet Corvette C6 Although it did not race, the now-retired R8's replacement and heir apparent (unless Porsche unveils a LMP1 car soon) WAS present at the race. Behold, the mighty (Diesel!) Audi R10:  A CBS chopper covered the race:  Porsche RS Spyder pulls into the paddocks:   RS Spyder was scorched and scarred from the race:  More to come...
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Current Stable: Black 07 Porsche 987 Cayman S: Long-Tube Headers; FabSpeed Exhaust; VividRacing ECU Tune; IPD Plenum; 997GT3 Throttle Body. Blue 1983 Porsche 928S. 1985.5 Porsche 944 Rat Rod. 2011 Acura MDX. 2008 Mazda 3. Gone But Not Forgotten:Garnet Red 86 Porsche 951("The Purple Pig"). Alpine White 83 Porsche 944 ("Alpine Wolf"). Guards Red 84 Porsche 944. |
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07-01-2006, 07:35 PM
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A final look at RS Spyder:
 And a final look at the winning car:  The Porsche Paddock after the race, thinning out quite a bit. Any pelican cars present? 
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Current Stable: Black 07 Porsche 987 Cayman S: Long-Tube Headers; FabSpeed Exhaust; VividRacing ECU Tune; IPD Plenum; 997GT3 Throttle Body. Blue 1983 Porsche 928S. 1985.5 Porsche 944 Rat Rod. 2011 Acura MDX. 2008 Mazda 3. Gone But Not Forgotten:Garnet Red 86 Porsche 951("The Purple Pig"). Alpine White 83 Porsche 944 ("Alpine Wolf"). Guards Red 84 Porsche 944. |
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07-01-2006, 07:38 PM
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"O"man(are we in trouble)
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: On the edge
Posts: 16,452
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Great pics, LR is a fun track and the crowds didn't seem too bad. Thanks for the update. Sorry I could not be there.
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07-02-2006, 05:53 AM
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Registered
Join Date: May 2004
Location: A few miles west of old London town.
Posts: 709
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Nice pics! Lime Rock looks like a great place to spectate. This car is interesting.
I don't think it's a Marcos the 60's-90's Marcos cars all had very similar generic styling. Early  Mini Marcos http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/press/mini_marcos_1.jpg Mid eighties. http://www.carsonpaper.nl/marcos2.jpg[/img] Full race. http://www.racingsportscars.com/photo/2001/Donington-2001-07-22-019.jpg What ever it is, its pretty unusal, certainley not a well known European classic thats for sure. |
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07-02-2006, 07:34 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Clinton, NJ
Posts: 12,782
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Quote:
Here'a a link: http://www.intermeccanica.org/vehicles/phoenix/phoenix.htm
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______________________________ Dave 1969 911T Coupe 1972 911E Targa |
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07-02-2006, 01:05 PM
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I wasn't asking, as much as I was trying to say: That's John Fitch. The car is unmistakeable, and even though all I see is rearview mirror and shadow, I can see that an older gentleman driving it. Except for the Memorial Day races this past year, pretty much every time I go to Lime Rock, I've seen him (and his car) there. He's usually in a red sportscoat, greeting people and shaking hands.
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1987 Venetian Blue (looks like grey) 930 Coupe 1990 Black 964 C2 Targa |
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07-02-2006, 01:17 PM
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Quote:
Woops. I got beat.
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John Original owner '81 911SC blackmetallic coupe. Terbatrol, SSI, M+K Gen 4, SC+ cams, A/C delete, console delete, heater backdate, 7 & 8 x 16 Fuchs with polished rims, Turbo tie rods, tensioner update, Rennline engine mount bar, Mainely Custom sump plate, new top-end, corner balance. |
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07-02-2006, 02:47 PM
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cool, didn't realize i was seeing a bit of history. Thanks, guys!
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Current Stable: Black 07 Porsche 987 Cayman S: Long-Tube Headers; FabSpeed Exhaust; VividRacing ECU Tune; IPD Plenum; 997GT3 Throttle Body. Blue 1983 Porsche 928S. 1985.5 Porsche 944 Rat Rod. 2011 Acura MDX. 2008 Mazda 3. Gone But Not Forgotten:Garnet Red 86 Porsche 951("The Purple Pig"). Alpine White 83 Porsche 944 ("Alpine Wolf"). Guards Red 84 Porsche 944. |
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07-02-2006, 09:04 PM
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drag racing the short bus
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Location, Location...
Posts: 21,983
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Great photos, CJ. I watched the race on CBS. It amazes me how fast the Corvette and Aston Martin are. It seems they could almost compete in LMP2.
The in-camera shot/sound of the Audi R8 and the Porsche Spyder was very interesting. The Audi, under McNish seemed much more calm and controlled, than Dumas' work in the Spyder. But then, Dumas'-Spyder-Penske was playing catch-up for a good half of the race. I also found it interesting that the R8 sounded much healthier and stronger than the newest Porsche. It must be the torque or something with the Audi's engine, because it had a very low growl and crisp shiftting and braking, and did not appear stressed like the Porsche. At first I thought it was the R10, then realized it was the R8's swan song. McNish looked like he was crying at the end. At any rate, it amazed me that a seven-year-old race car (more than less) from a lesser brand (Audi), kicked butt over a brand new, higher branded race car (Porsche).
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The Terror of Tiny Town |
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07-02-2006, 09:27 PM
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2007 Porsche Cayman S
The Viridian Falcon
SOLD! -- The Purple Pig
SOLD! -- Mighty Mouse
SOLD!! -- Alpine Wolf
1981 Porsche 911SC
Ducati
1987 Porsche 930 3.3T
