Another mixed bag day at New Orleans NOLA

Another mixed bag day at NOLA.  NOLA is a 2 year old track outside of New Orleans.  It is 2.7 miles and it is fast and very flat.  You have to remember that we are running these tracks on street tires that don't get quite the grip as race tires.  When competing you tend to get near the limit and I exceeded it again today and ran off on turn 4 on my second lap.  I was able to regroup and drive right back on but of course it cost precious time.  Because of the "off", my finish was low in the standings and I slipped a little lower in the standings.  The afternoon went a much better and I had a good run.  So good in fact I caught the car in front of me and had to make a pass.  They release cars on a time frame that usually keeps passing to a minimum, but sometimes it happens.  Unfortunately it likely costs both cars some time in getting the pass accomplished, or I would have had an even better time posted.  At least I have started to improve my standings an hope to continue in that direction.


It is now 1am and we just arrived in Daytona Beach.  Tomorrow we run the 3.56 mile road course that they use for the Rolex 24 hour race.    After we finish Daytona we head to Carolina Motorsports where the film "Are you faster than a Redneck".  On that show they only use about half the track.  We will use the whole track and run two events then head about 150 miles to Spartanburg for an evening event before heading for Virginia International Speedway.
Stay tuned for more reports.

Off Road excursion at Taledega

Sunday morning we gathered at Talledega Grand Prix Raceway in Alabama.  On our drive down from Indiana we encountered a lot of rain.  There was a lot of rain in the infield which I happened to find out by dropping a wheel and taking an off road excursion.  A local photographer who had a very hi tech camera got an amazing shot of me hitting the soggy infield and water flying 10 feet high.  It looked like my car was in the middle of a fountain.  If I can get the picture I will share it.  Obviously if you take this type of "shortcut" it doesn't help your times, so I had a terrible finish.  The afternoon was a little better but I was really sliding around.  I think I probably made a mistake on my tire choice this year, they don't seem to be getting the grip I had in the past.  Hopefully I will start to gain some positions on the next few days and start a climb back up in the standings.
It's hard to see in a small picture but the car is all splashed with dirt and grass from running through the infield. 

Here is one of the more interesting entries.  It is 2012 speedconcepts Mercedes that has been heavily modified.  To handle the supersized rear they built the fenders out about 2.5 inches each.  It is an awesome looking car and makes me think of cubic money.

After 407 miles we are now in New Orleans where we will compete at NOLA Motorsports Park tomorrow, the off to Daytona to run the same configuration they run for the Rolex 24 hour race.

Split decision on first day.

The day started out early about 8:30 am with the wet skid pad competition.  I got a .785 g's run which was good for a 13th place, kind of a success since last year I was 16th.  Scott Breneman really aced it with an .803 which got him a 7th place.  The less successful part of the day was at Grissom Air Force Base where I had problems with my ABS brake system which hurt me in braking.  Unfortunately I was only able to garner a 43rd place finish which dropped me from 13th overall to 27th.  Again Scott was on his game and came out with an 8th at the autocross and leaves him with an awesome 4th place standing overall.  Just got to the motel after a 600 mile run to Talledega, Alabama.  We will compete on the Talledega Grand Prix road race course while the big guys of NASCAR are over at the Talledega 2.66 mile oval.  The first event tomorrow will set the starting order for the rest of the week.  The higher you finish the sooner you finish each day and the sooner you get started on your transit drive to the next track.

Hope we can avoid the NASCAR traffic as we head to New Orleans tomorrow evening.

All registered and "stickered up"

We arrived at Tire Rack this morning and were one of the first to get there.  It was interesting to see the other cars pulling in.  From about 6 awesome Nissan GTRs to several Corvettes, Vipers, Camaros, Mustangs, Porsches, BMW's, a couple of Jaguars, Hondas, a Mini, one AMX, a 46 Plymouth (Corvette drive train underneath) and several other makes and models. Some arrived in 50 ft. trailers but most just drove in.  Many like us were pulling a small trailer to carry spares along.  Quite a few had no trailer and you have to be amazed how they carry a weeks luggage in cars like the Lotus Elise.  There really is a class for almost anything.

Tomorrow morning we start at 8am with the Wet Skid Pad competition, then on to Grissom Air Force Base, then  miles to Talledega, Alabama.  Hopefully we get to Alabama in time to get a motel and some sleep.  Check back tomorrow (late?)
and see how we are doing.

The Journey has started!

Well Rick Stauffer and I made it to Elkhart, Indiana today.  Just stopped a little short to get a good nights rest, have a nice meal.  Tomorrow is registration and "Sticker Day" when we put all the new (national sponsor) stickers on the car, as well as the big One Lap of America door banners.  We will have a kick off luncheon/picnic and probably a nice meal Friday night, then it will be fast food and gas station foods while we put on about 3500 miles traveling from racetrack to racetrack around the eastern United States from Saturday to Saturday. The competition all starts Saturday morning with a wet skid pad event, then off to Grissom Air Force Base for a couple big autocrosses on some of their runways.  After Grissom we will drive to Talledega, Alabama for the next mornings races.  I hope to have enough time to post about each days competition, keep checking back.

If you notice the roof of the car we are a little behind in collecting donations for the Pa. Breast Cancer Coalition.  We would like to fill the entire roof.  It's not too late, send me an email and I will put your name on the car.  For every donation of $10 or more we will put a pink ribbon sticker on the car with your name on or the name of someone you want to honor or memorialize.  If you send a check be sure to make it out to Pa. Breast Cancer Coalition or PABCC for short.  Check for address etc in last blog.

Tires and Brakes are on the car.

Last week we finished putting the tires and brakes on the car and we are starting to put the new donation stickers on the roof.  This year we decided to try the Continental Extreme Contact DW tires.  The Continentals have a very similar rating and at a much more acceptabel price.  It looks like a field of about 70 vehicles this year with a healthy contingent of Nissan GTR's, Corvettes, Porsches, BMWs, Vipers, Camaros (both new and vintage), and Mustangs as well as many others.  There is even a 1969 American Motors AMX.  There is a class for pretty much anything.

We still need help in our fundraising for the Pa. Breast Cancer Coalition.  Donations are a little behind this year and I would like to appeal to those who gave in past years and those who are sympathetic to the cause to send in your donation and help us help this great cause and meet our fundraising goal.  Don't forget anyone donating $10 or more will get their name on a Pink Breast Cancer sticker on the car.  Or you can name someone to honor or in memory of.   Please make checks payable to PABCC (Pa. Breast Cancer Coalition) and send to Jim Roberts 14 W. Main St. Mount Joy, Pa. 17552.

Please keep checking back as I will try to post on a regular basis during the competition to share the results and the story of the day;^)

JimBob Racing is proud to announce that Engle Printing and Publishing Co. will again be our major hood sponsor for this years running of the One Lap of America.  They are celebrating 59 years in business this year and publish many editions of the Merchandiser and similar newspapers as well as the Auto Locator and several specialty publications throughout Central Pennsylvania and are a very respected and involved member of the local community.

I would also like to mention our other sponsors without which I couldn't put this effort together. The Mount Joy Diner, Auto-Locator, Jim's Tire Service, Top of The Line Roofing, Krunch Kritters Spray Shop, PA. Breast Cancer Coalition, Jim Roberts' West Main Auto, Mick's All American Pub, SSC Tint & Graphics and the Lancaster County Corvette Club. We would like to thank all of our sponsors for their support.

As mentioned in a previous post we are fund raising for the Pa. Breast Cancer Coalition. We have started filling up the roof of the car with personalized stickers for those who donate $10 or more. At this point we are a little behind last year in donations but we hope to catch up. Don't forget if we get your donation before we leave in early May we will put your name on one of our Pa. Breast Cancer Coalition stickers and place it on the car and you can "ride along vicariously"on this world class race.  You can also put a sticker on in Honor of someone you know who has dealt with breast cancer or another cancer. You can also name someone in Memorial. We have had some families who for $10 each have put all the members of the family on to show their support for the fight against Breast Cancer. Rick Stauffer my trasit driver is from the Ephrata area and is actively seeking donations from his friends and neighbors as well. If you would like to donate please send your donations to Jim Roberts 14 W. Main St. Mount Joy, Pa. 17552. Please make any checks payable to Pa. Breast Cancer Coalition.  Donations to Pa Breast Cancer Coalition are tax deductible.
on this world class race.