So yea im a pit crew member..

WhtMa71

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So looks like me having a girlfriend has it's good points. My girlfriends uncle owns a race team. First of all, they have a Volvo s40 that they built to race in the Speed World Challenge Touring Car class..Anyway, the car has gone through engines like a fat person through cake...Three (5 cly turbo) engines have failed to live up to the task and they finally sent two to get sleeved by Benson Machine..and they are both getting rebuilt as we speak..

Anyways...I somehow got bought into the mix just because I am in the family now and I have a car service background..
They decided to get in to the Grand Am Koni Challenge racing series..They own a Volvo dealership in Stamford Conn. and just recently brought Mazda on board as a dealer for them as well, and race a '08 Rx8 in the series as an ST (Street Tuner) class. July the 5th was our 2nd race in that class. Our first race was at Limerock Conn. and the race we just completed was at Watkins Glen, NY.

What a fucking blast..I just had to tell somebody, sorry. What an unbelieveable opportunity just because I have a girlfriend.
The Rileys have been into racing for a while and have operated a Volvo dealership forever and they have two brothers that race in the Koni Series.. We finished 21st at Limerock and I believe they finished 21st at Watkins Glen this past weekend if I remember correctly( I was so busy going from the paddock to the pits in the end of the race gathering equipment and returning it to the trailer).. This past weekend IRL was there as well as the Indy Light cars and I passed Danica Patrick on our pit cart on her scooter on the way to the paddock.
Check out www.RileyRacing.com and http://www.grand-am.com/koni/ / http://www.world-challenge.com/ (if we ever get an engine in time) for more info. Also check out http://www.stamfordvolvo.com/ .

The next race we may compete in is in Canada on the streets at the Grand Prix De Trois Rivieres in Quebec and after that is in NJ if we can make it. I know for sure that we will be out in Utah at the Miller Motorsports Park sept. 19-21st.
So, check out the schedule and if any of you are in any of the areas at the time, come check out the races and come say hey to me in the Paddock. We're going to try to be in as many races as possible (if money permits) and hopefully next year we will move up in the Rolex GT class :crosses fingers: if at all possible.

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WhtMa71

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Thank you!

And if there are any non-believers

This would be me at Limerock, practicing the pit stop. (I have the jack in my hands..Yes i was the "jacker" at Limerock)
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Me and another crew member during pre-race check.( Im on the right..and btw, working on grass sucks!!)
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Me in my sexy fire suit :naughty: ( On the right in the white suit with the sunglasses on)
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And finally me and the two drivers checking out the practice times( me on the right again)
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The Koni series requires one pit stop for a driver change..as well as fuel and tires.
 
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WhtMa71

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Definitely do it!
I almost didn't take up this chance because of school and work but I decided it was a worthwhile opportunity. And DAMN, what a great decision!
 

speed

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Enjoy it man! I was on a Ferrari Challenge and StarMazda race team, its quite the experience! Crazy schedule though, I didn't much enjoy being gone so much. However, it is a SHITLOAD of fun, be sure to take pictures of everything, and get souvenirs from each track. I have at least a Tshirt from pretty much every track in the US :) Does your series require a SCCA or IMSA pass?
 

WhtMa71

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Wow Ferrari sounds fun and I definitely would love to be apart of StarMazda! I forgot to get something from Limerock but that place is pretty much a hole in the wall track. I did, however, grab a shirt from The Glen' . And no I just had to get a hard card pass for Grand Am. If we ever get the Volvo engines back from the builder and decide to run it this year I will have to get a pass for SCCA.

Road Atlanta was a blast last September..We just happened to be there the weekend of the Petite LeMans. The IMSA lights and World Challenge GT were pretty cool to watch as well. However this year, it will suck that we won't be able to make it to Road Atlanta since we will be at VIR for the Koni Challenge. Road Atlanta is one of my fav. tracks. Although I have yet to check out Sebring..I hear that place is wild.
 

foreverpsycotic

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Lol, maybe I will buy my next car from them. I went to that dealer to look at a car for my 1st, too bad they didnt have any 740 turbos or 850 turbos there.
GL and HF, Limerock is a hard course on cars, especially the brakes.
 

WhtMa71

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Thanks guys! and yea actually I would LOVE to drive one of these cars haha.

I may save up enough cash in the near future to go to the Skip Barber driving school for their 3 day thing..Maybe that'll get my foot in the door, not to mention my crew chief/team owner knows a shit ton of people in the industry. He's definitely a good guy to know.
Oh yea if you ever go to the dealership, the two sons (the drivers) work at the dealership. One is a salesman and the other is the Sales Manager.
 

speed

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Sebring and Road America are my two favorite tracks! Do what you can to go! haha.

..then again, the reason they're my fav is cause i've driven hot laps on them.... :D

But again dude, congrats, eat up each and every moment of it. It sounds like your schedule isn't as buttfuckinsane as ours was, which is good, we were all so stressed out the second half of the season is just not enjoyable.

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...3am race day, 2 cars weren't yet ready....


Looking forward to seeing some more pics from ya! The GT series has one I've always enjoyed watching on TV, I like seeing the variations in cars, and the Koni Challenge sounds interesting as well. Do tell us more stories when they happen!
 

WhtMa71

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^Haha, luckily I havnt had to pull a night like that YET. Worst weve had so far is just having to change a gearbox after a 5:30-5:45 qualifing session. We only stayed up until 9:30p finishing it...man im glad mazda's are easy to work on lol.
My schedule is pretty laid back as we are not planning to attend every event this year. Im pretty sure i will be attending at Road America, it looks like a fun track.

I'll be sure to update this as more races are completed.Ive been considering working as a wrench for Skip Barber for thier school cars so I could have my school paid for by working and get some seat time in on Road Atlanta.
 

WhtMa71

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So yea, speed channel lets me down once again. They're supossed to be showing the Koni Challenge race from Sunday at NewJersey Motorsports Park... But looks like they want to show some shitty fucking dirt track sprint car race.

Race was supossed to start now at 2 pm. Even says it on the channel guide.. Good job speed..you fucking idiots..