Guess who was at class with me today at Bob Bondurant?

[Wayne 962]

14-year old Pietro Fittipaldi, and his grandpop, Emerson!

I was quite distracted on the first day, didn't realize it. Very cool!



Man, I look pretty fried in that photo after driving all day in the 100+ degree heat, and then in the pouring rain (monsoon came in).

I was also kicking around the idea with those guys of organizing a Pelican Parts / Bob Bondurant group session. Might be something very cool in the future. My wife was along this time and spent the afternoon at the spa - could be a opportunity to bring the wives / GFs along for a weekend getaway! Just thinking out loud...

Here we are racing in the rain! That Z06 with the stability management is absolutely amazing. My instructor in front of me was all sideways in the Cadillac STS that they use, and this vette just stuck to the road with no issues whatsoever. Very impressive car.

[Wayne 962]

I also had the fastest time in our group for the autocross. I fully credit the abilities of the car though.



-Wayne

[Flieger]

Wow, that is cool. Emmo is one of the all-time greats. Where is the track?

My Dad got paid by Bob Bondurant to be a demonstration driver when Ford debuted the Lincoln Mk. VIII. Dad was president of PCA-Santa Barbara Region so he and a bunch of the autocross guys from the region were invited to go out and show the salesmen what the car could do.

My Dad noticed a strange brake vibration on one car late in the day. He told Bob Bondurant who said as long as it stops, it is fine since they could see nothing wrong.

Well, Bob took the car out for one last hot lap with some Ford mucky-mucks. He was pushing the car way harder than anyone else had been. He came around a fast sweeper and BANG! The car sat down on the front suspension and some sparks flew. When the car skidded to a halt, Bob got out, looked at the car, shrugged, and walked away. The brake rotor had fractured.

My Dad felt vindicated in that he was not making up the vibration.

[Mike Andrew]

Yes, it does get warm, especially in the afternoon sessions. Toss in the focus involved and it will drain you pretty quickly but makes for a sound night's rest.
Was Emo doing any driving or just the next generation of Fittipaldi racers?
I may be interested in a Pelican Bondurant experience if it happens.
Were you lucky enough to get a van ride around the track? I thought my instructor was going to kill us all and had no idea that a van could do what he had it doing.

[kevin993]

Emmo was probably talking with his friends last night. "Guess who I saw at Bondurant? You know that Pelican Parts guy? Yeah, the guy that just added a 962 to his garage to go with his 959? Yeah! He was there!"

Looks like a great time. Glad to hear it is living up to expectations. Enjoy!

[dw1]

Seriously - did you happen to mention your new project car to Emmo?

It might be interesting (or depressing?) to compare your lap times with it to his....

[WIL84911]

I was mad at him in 1989 when he took away Al Jr's first Indy 500 win.... But karma got him in 1994.

[MOMO3.2]

Wayne:

You are wise to take the driving school courses in light of your fabulous new acquisition (the Porsche 962).

Emo was SUPER kind when we ran into him in a huge crowd years ago while he was racing Indy cars. He posed for a photo, threw his arms around us, and had a beaming smile. What an amazing talent and genuinely nice person.

Congrats on the fast time too!

Mike

[David]

We saw Emerson in the customs line coming back from the Montreal F1 race. He was too far away to say anything, but the guy in front of him in line was a Houstonian on our same flight. When we got to the gate, I asked if he talked to Emerson. He said, "is that who that was?"

Come on, how can you be an F1 fan and not know of him!!! And that face is unmistakable if not a little scary.

[Wayne 962]

Nope, didn't mention anything about the 962. I like to keep a low profile in general when I'm out and about. He was out on the track driving the new Z06 with the traction control *off*.

-Wayne

[bkreigsr]

Originally Posted by WIL84911

I was mad at him in 1989 when he took away Al Jr's first Indy 500 win.... But karma got him in 1994.

same here....ever since he chose to drink ORANGE JUICE in victory circle (1993) !
nice mooooove Emmo

Wayne - what rain? track looks dry from here.
Bill K

[Flieger]

Maybe he's lactose intolerant? That's the reason I always heard for the OJ option.

[CCM911]

Wayne, you look pretty tall. Do you need to fold yourself up like a pretzel in order to get in to the 962? I am only 5'9 and have trouble getting in and out of cars with full cages.

[SpeedracerIndy]

Originally Posted by Flieger

Maybe he's lactose intolerant? That's the reason I always heard for the OJ option.

He or his family is in the orange business in Brazil, thus he was support his family business by drinking the OJ. He drank the milk AFTER he drank the OJ at that race. The next time he won the Indy 500, he drank the milk first. I suspect he was surprised to see how much it upset the fans. It always makes me laugh to see how important traditions are to that race.

Cool to see Emmo, I always like him as a driver.

[bkreigsr]

Originally Posted by Flieger

Maybe he's lactose intolerant? That's the reason I always heard for the OJ option.

I heard it was because he had a bunch of orange orchards in Brazil - still does?
unfortunately, the cameras never showed him drinking the milk.
(I think AJ gets a lot of credit for stirring the pot on this one.)

[David]

I don't think he realized the milk producers gave part of the prize money. When he found out, he donated it to charity.

[dicklague]

Wayne.....cool.

Sign me up for Pelican track day!!

[Flieger]

I thought they still have an OJ option, for the alergy reasons. Maybe they do a photo with the milk? Whatever, I am too young to care about that particular ritual.

[Buckterrier]

Originally Posted by Flieger

Maybe he's lactose intolerant? That's the reason I always heard for the OJ option.

Nothing to do with the orange groves he owns?

I always liked Emo also but that was a bit lame. I'll bet Tony George was kicking and screaming in his bedroom after that one.

"The crew did a fintastic job!"
Always liked the way he said fantastic also!

[Flieger]

Are they going to be drinking rum now that Brazil is taking over the IRL- pushing sugar cane Ethanol everywhere they can?