FYI: #66 changing hands

tomt · 04-23-2003, 07:21 AM

Anyone going to the event? Send pictures!

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Kevin Buckler of the Racer's Group to ``Hand Over'' Historic GT3 RS Porsche to Noel Lee of Monster Cable
Wednesday April 23, 11:01 am ET

BRISBANE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 23, 2003--On Wednesday, April 23, at 4:30PM, Kevin Buckler of The Racer's Group will be "turning over the keys" of the Daytona and Le Mans winning #66 Porsche RS to Noel Lee, The Head Monster of Monster Cable Products. Press is invited to the ceremony.
Racer's Group Porsche #66 made racing history in 2002 with a class win at the historic 24 Hours of Le Mans as well as the Rolex 24 hour at Daytona.

In 2003 car #66 roared to victory at The Rolex 24 hour in Daytona for not only first spot in the GT class, but the overall race win! The first time in 26 years at Daytona that a GT car not only won its class, but astounded the world with an outright win! 1977 was the last time a 911-based Porsche took victory.

"A truly Monsterous performance," said the Head Monster with real satisfaction. Monster Cable and Brisbane will be the new home for historic Porsche RS #66. Monster is located at 455 Valley Dr. Brisbane, CA 94005

The Monster Porsche will be used for promotional events around the world.

makaio · 04-23-2003, 08:53 AM

I thought the Le Mans 2002 winning car crashed in this years Daytona race?

Neilk · 04-23-2003, 09:00 AM

Now I see why Monster Cables are so overpriced!

Spud · 04-23-2003, 10:16 AM

I think it was his brand new GT3 RS that claimed overall victory at Daytona this year, and not the 2002 Daytona/Le Mans class winning cars. I got this from the TRG website:

#66 – 2003 Porsche 911 GT3 RS
Kevin Buckler, Sonoma, CA
Michael Schrom, Ghent, NY
Jorg Bergmeister, Langenfeld, Germany
Timo Bernhard, Miesau, Germany

#67, 2002 Porsche 911 GT3 RS and winner of the 2002 24 Hours of Le Mans
Tom Nastasi, Stamford, CT
Bobby Julien, Toronto, ON
Dave Lacey, Toronto, ON
Andrew Davis, Lilburn, GA

#68 – 2002 Porsche 911 GT3 RS and winner of 2002 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona
RJ Valentine, Hingham, MA
Jim Michaelian, Long Beach, CA
Tom Hessert Jr., Cherry Hill, NJ
Tom Hessert III, Cherry Hill, NJ

So it seems that the car they are handing over to Monster is the new GT3 RS, the car that won Daytona this year, and the only car of the 3 above that did not crash out.

makaio · 04-23-2003, 10:47 AM

This is how "true history" of a race car gets messes up. Now when Mr. Monster cable goes to sell it, you know it's going to be advertised as the Winner of 2003 Daytona, and 2002 Le Mans.

wdarner · wdarner's Garage

Seems to be conflicting info. The #66 that won Daytona last year was not the #81 that won Le Mans - that was a brand new car. The first post states one thing and the second conflicts that. I will find out.

Doug Zielke · 04-23-2003, 05:57 PM

I think Spud is right.
The '02 Lemans winner was wrecked in this years Daytona 24.
The current #66 was a brand new car at Daytona.

I have the RG poster of the ill-fated car on my garage wall. Did it become an instant collectible when the car was destroyed??

wdarner · wdarner's Garage

The original public statement was that one of the TRG cars wrecked at Daytona was destroyed. I believe it was later determined "fixable" and showed up at Homestead. It did not look too bad loaded on the trailer. The rear end was bent pretty badly, but it looked repairable to my untrained eye.

Doug Zielke · 04-23-2003, 06:17 PM

Thanks for the update, Dennis.
That's good news....if I was the Monster Cable guy, I'd want the Lemans winner.

wdarner · wdarner's Garage

Doug,
If I was the Monster Cable guy I would buy them both! The PORSCHE that won it's class at Le Mans, which was sponsored by Monster, is probably bigger in the long run than the "That little PORSCHE was Perfect!" PORSCHE that won overall at Daytona, also sponsored by Monster. Kevin/TRG et al. have been able recently to bring some Big Dogs into their sponsorship pool. I see continued GREAT things from them!

Dennis in SE PA
TRG Groupie
See you at Hershey!
FRS 9-8
TRG hat

wdarner · wdarner's Garage

This is what I got from Bob Chapman, the TRG team photographer:

2002 Daytona car ran as 66 at Daytona and Sebring (purchased new for Daytona). It then ran as 67 for the remainder of the season (although it ran again as 66 for a Grand-Am race or two--Watkins Glen was one such race, if I remember correctly, because The Glen fell on the weekend before Mosport ALMS, and logistics dictated that the "ALMS 66" not be in New York). It became 68 for the 2003 Daytona event and was the car that was rolled.

2002 Le Mans car ran as 81 at Le Mans (purchased new for Le Mans). It then ran as 66 for the remainder of the season. It became 67 for the 2003 Daytona event.

2003 Daytona car ran as 66 at Daytona (purchased new for Daytona). If the second TRG Le Mans entry gets into the race, I suspect it will run as #82 (?).

2003 Le Mans car is being purchased new for Le Mans.

What I'm unclear on is which cars ran as 66, 67, and 68 at Sebring. 68 from Daytona was not raceworthy. Thus, they were one car short... Perhaps there was a new car purchased? Not sure. I'll ask Kevin when I get a chance.