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Laddie's Motorsports Adventures
2004-10-03
Some of the Motorsport activities we've particapted in during 2004. ............................10/02 & 03/2004------------------------- On Saturday (10/02) we ran the Grand Bayou Race #4 out at No Problem on the 1.8 mile road course. Regular race schedule 65 minutes of racing (30 min practice session; 15 min Qualifying race; 20 min Feature). Jimmy had to work the St. Jude car show, so Fritz Mueller (original owner of our #78 and very good experienced driver) joined our team for the weekend. Now, Fritz hadn't driven the car since 1992. Fritz was bubbling with the opportunity to drive and see the results of his initial concept and design of converting the 78 Vette into a race car. Now, Jimmy built the motor and the car from the trailer load of parts I bought from Fritz and Jimmy used additional parts he had accumulated and, I bought some additional new parts to complete the project. We're now into our 3rd year of the project and 2nd race season. The car is handling and running strong. Fritz ran the Qualifying race with a Best Lap Time of 1.25.8 and I ran the Feature and took 1st Place in our Vintage V8 class with a BLT of 130.0 (my newest BLT). Fritz is beaming even more now... It must be like riding a bicycle (you never forget), after 14 years Fritz jumps in the car and now thinking he could get down to the low 20s... We had several other members of local Vette clubs racing with us on Saturday. Johnny Walter, Mike Poupart, John Centani, Pete Kent Alimia (ran his 1st race of the GBRS) and our supporting families were there. There was some tight racing in the Super Production between Mike & Johnny. Mike Poupart took 1st place driving Alan McDonnell's Viper. I ended up taking 1st place in the Vintage V8 class dueling Winston Landymore. And, I was very happy to have improved my BLT by 1.6 seconds. Also, Tom Walter was the Race Director for both races. The Wheels America Spec Miata group (25 racers) came over to run their Series with our GBRS group. The combination gave us the largest turnout in GBRS history with around 80 entries for this race weekend. The Wheels America Spec Miata group (25 racers) ran in their own class under SCCA rules and all the feedback was very positive on the track. They'll be back... Now, on Sunday (10/03) we had two Enduro races (one for the Wheels America Spec Miata in the morning) and all the GBRS racers in the afternoon. This was 110 min of racing (20 min Qualifying session; And than a 90 min Enduro race). We had to make one minimum Five minute pit stop during the 90 min Enduro. Fritz joined our team for Sunday so we had three drivers Fritz, Jimmy & me. It meant one extra pit stop but, Jimmy and I didn't think we could make the entire 90 minutes. Our race strategy was for Jimmy to run the 20 min Qualifying to get the feel of the car and than Fritz would drive 1st leg of 90 min race. We had our pit strategy on checking the motor, fueling the car and manning the fire extinguisher The gas filling required all parties to be in Fire suit gear. My daughter Michelle ran the stop watch and gave us the countdown. We pulled off the pit stop right on the five min time frame and switched drivers with me taking over the 2nd leg. When it was Jimmy's turn to drive, it took me two laps to see him flagging me down. I came in on next lap and switched drivers and Jimmy was out to race to the finish. Our pre-race mission was just to finish the race. Well, we had 30 cars start the race (four classes) and 21 cars finished the race and we finished 1st in our class 3.0+ liters (15 overall). Mike and Johnny split time and drove one of Chris Wilken's Miatas in the Enduro. There was some intense racing during this race and some "off-road" trips through the grass and a few spin outs by yours truly... Fritz told me we should rename our race team "Grass roots" racing.... Hey, it was a blast and terrific weekend... Our next race is Nov. 2nd & 3rd with the GBRS on Sat. & the 90 min Enduro on Sunday. Final race of the season will be on Dec. 4th. ............................6/19/2004 ------------------------------On Saturday, June 19th, 2004, our NORDA (New Orleans Race Drivers Assn.) a loosely formed club with no dues, no officers, no rules, just meets once a week for lunch and has a large email list. Similiar in many ways to our POA as an internet type of club for people interested in a common activity such as racing. On Saturday we had 17 cars & around 30 folks show up at Ruby's Roadhouse for a cruise in... Ruby's provided some BBQ while we took in some cool refreshments. It was hot outside (as you can see from the sweat on our shirts). It was cool on the inside (just a lil smokey). Most of the interest comes from Drivers from the Grand Bayou Road Race Series. We had a good turnout of Mopars at the cruise in. ----------------------5/08/2004 --------------------------On May 8th Jimmy Talbot (my racing partner) drove my #78 Vette to 1st place in Vintage V8 class in the 3rd race of the season in the Grand Bayou Road Race Series. I was unable to attend due to another commitment - only there in spirit... We're in 1st place points wise for the year. Next five races start up in Oct. We'll be running the normal race on Saturday Oct 2nd & than on Sunday the 3rd we divide the nine classes into two groups and have a 90 minute race. That will take some getting in shape and will be both a test for the drivers & the cars..... ----------------2/21/2004------------- On Saturday, Feb. 21st we had our 2nd race of the season in the Grand Bayou Road race series at No Problem Raceway on the 1.8 mile road course with 14 turns. We have nine classes of race cars that run in four groups. We have a 30 min practice session, 15 min Qualifying Race & 20 min Feature race over a five hour period of time. My partner & I race a 78 Yellow Vette #78. We alternate driving the feature & qualying from race to race... -------------2/20/2004--------------- The SRT4 Nationals had their track day at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, La. one Prowler, 50 SRT4, 12 Vipers, 12 Vettes & 15 other race cars. The group spent the day doing touring and hot laps on the 1.8 mile road course. Some classroom sessions and Woodhouse sponsored the event. PVO was there with some on their SRT4s and the World Record setting SRT10 Viper Truck with a speed of 154.5 mph for a stock off the showroom production truck.------------------1/31/2004------------------------- We had our 1st race of the season in the Grand Bayou Road Race Series at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, LA. It's a 1.8 mile road course which has 14 turns.

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  My Prowler and 78 Vette road race car out at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, LA. for the SRT4 Nationals on Friday, Feb. 20th.  
 
 
  Woodhouse was one of the sponsors for the track day and brought four cars. 
 
 
  couple of the Woodhouse cars. 
 
 
  Chrysler PVO group was there with four vehicles & five engineers from the staff. Stephen & Gary and don't remember all the names. They had three SRT4s and the RAM SRT10 Viper Truck which set the World's speed record of 154.5 mph for a stock production truck. 
 
 
   
 
 
  PVO Stephen & other engineers conducting tech session and answering questions. 
 
 
  Here's the manifold with signatures for the World's Fastest Producion truck speed record of 154.5 mph.... 
 
 
  Here's the Truck. They gave rides in it all day. And, it did go around the road course in the sessions throughout the day. 
 
 
  Another SRT10 Truck participating. The owner is from Texas and that is Stephen in the black T-shirt. 
 
 
  Some of the SRT4s lining up for a grop picture after track day. 
 
 
  This reminds me of us (Prowler group) taking a group shot at our Crazy Horse Event in 2001. 
 
 
  A group getting ready for their session on the 1.8 mile road course out at No Problem Raceway. 
 
 
  1st lap through turn #13 after green flag start in our Feature Race for Super Production, GTO & Vintage V8 classes. We all run at same time and timed for your class (three winners at end of race). It's Lemans type racing... This was the 2nd race of our Grand Bayou Racing Series at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, La. The course is 1.8 miles long with 14 turns. 
 
 
  Here's my partner Jimmy driving in the feature in our 78 Yellow Vette during the feature. I drove the qualifying race. We alternate race to race on who drives which race. We're in the Vintage V8 class. We ended up 2nd to the Red Vette. 
 
 
  Johnny Walter in the GT1 Vette would catch Bob Woodhouse in this turn #13 each lap and they be closer than this going around inot turn #14 and onto the 1,900' straight away. On the straigh away Bob in his Viper Comp Coupe would take a four to five car lenght lead going into turn #1. Than coming out of turn #8 we could see Johnny starting to close the gap until #13. They ran like this for 13 laps until Johnny through a oil pump belt and lost oil pressure and pulled off the track. Bob took the checkered flag in lap #14. Bob ran a best lap time of 1:16:18 and Johnny had best lap of 1:16:34. It was fantastic spectator race. 
 
 
  Bill Pemberton of Woodhouse raced in the Spec Miata class and had a very close race against one of our local racers. Bill won and set a new track record for Spec Miata on our track of 1:26:30. 
 
 
  While Jimmy and I came in 2nd place today, we each got new best lap times. Jimmy had a 1:30:07 in the Feature and I had a 1:31:80 in the Qualifying race. So for today we'll have to settle for better lap times... 
 
 
  Bob Woodhouse, Rick (lead Viper Tech) Joel & Bill Pemberton. 
 
 
  Some of our local Vette friends hanging out with Bob before the Feature race. Mary Pat, Patty, Johnny (GT1 Vette), Christian, Mike (Bowtie Automotive) & Bob Woodhouse. 
 
 
  The Viper Comp Coupe. 
 
 
  Johnny's GT1 Vette. 
 
 
  Rick & Joel discussing the Viper Comp Coupe with Tommy our chief Flag station crew chief. 
 
 
  Bill Pemberton & his Spec Miata. 
 
 
  Our race group (Super Production, GTO & Vintage V8) staged in grid for Feature race. 
 
 
  The other staged cars for our Feature. 
 
 
  Here's our 78 Vette. Jimmy took one of our BRCC members Raymond on some touring laps during the lunch break on Friday's SRT4 Nationals. 
 
 
  Here's Fritz Mueller taking some laps during our lunch break at Saturday's race. During lunch touring laps are allowed around the 1.8 mile road course. Fritz was the original owner of our 78 Vette. 
 
 
  Just relaxing between races... Seated: Mike, Christian, Johnny, Lori, Patty, Mary Pat - Standing: Mike (Jimmy's son) & Jimmy. Not shown Tom Walter & Jimmy Clark - they were in race tower. Tom was race control director today. 
 
 
  Saturday, Jan. 31st 2004 was our first race of the season in the Grand Bayou Road Race Series out at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, LA. It's a 1.8 mile road course with 14 turns. We run in Vintage V8 class. There are nine classes that race in four groups. Our group includes Super Production (1:22 & faster), GTO (1:22 to 1:27) & Vintage V8 (1:28 & above). It''s Lemans type racing. You all race at same time and are timed seperately and in our case three winners at end of race. 
 
 
  Lining up at staging lanes for qualifying. Jimmy and I decided this year we would split the driving rather than run two classes. Today, he was driving in the Qualifying and I would drive in the Feature race. Typical race day. we have a 30 min practice session; 15 min Qualifying race; 20 min Feature race over a five hour period of time.  
 
 
  Here's Jimmy going through turn #13 in the Qualiying race. 
 
 
  Here's the track records on road course... 
 
 
  Today, Jimmy drove in the Qualifying (1:33.6 best lap time) and I ran the Feature (1:32.2 best lap time). Jimmy qualified us for 1st position in the Vintage Class Feature race. By the time the Feature started, we were down to 11 cars in all three classes for our group. Only two in Vintage. So, all I had to do was stay in front.... After four laps, I had built a good lead on the other Vintage car (Troy) and I was staying on the tail of three GTO cars after four laps. Than on lap five going into turn #4 (hard braking and down shifting corner) I spun out and off the track. It took me a little time to get the car started and I watched a few cars go by including my competition (Troy). I finally got back on the track, and was off to catch Troy. Than, going into turn #11 (hard braking and down shifting corner) I mistakenly down shifted all the way into 1st which swung the back end of the car around and off the track I went again... I was able to get the car started a little quicker and the track was clear for me to reenter. As I was getting back on the track, I noticed Troy going down the straight-away (which meant he was around ½ lap ahead of me). All that was going through my mind was the hard time Jimmy was going to give me for blowing the lead. So, I got on the pedal and said I'm going to try and catch Troy. I was making up some time on each lap and than another car spun out and slowed up the traffic ahead of Troy which allowed me to close the gap a little more. I finally caught up with Troy on lap 10 but, it took me another lap before I could get by him on the straight away. After retaking the lead on lap 12, I slowed down a little to make sure I didn't mess up anymore and finished 10 seconds ahead of Troy for my 1st Win.... Troy's best lap time was 1:34.5 in lap #7. So, it took a little good luck to catch up and get by him. It was quite a rush...  
 
 
  Here's me and Jimmy with the 1st Place Plaque.  
 
 
  Here's some of the Formula cars running through turn #13 in Grand Bayou Race #3 on May 8th, 2004 at No Problem Raceway. 
 
 
  Johnny Walter leading the Super Production class through turn #13 on May 8th race. Super Production, GTO & Vintage V8 classes run at the same time within each race. Lemans type racing where winner determined within each class... 
 
 
  GTO class in May 8th race...  
 
 
  Vintage V8 class chasing GTO class around turn #13 on May 8th... 
 
 
  Jimmy Talbot (my racing partner) driving my #78 on May 8th. Jimmy won 1st place in the VIntage V8 class. I was unable to make the race and was only there in spirit...  
 
 
  Here's my Red Prowler in front of Ruby's Roadhouse... This was our NORDA (New Orleans Race Drivers Assn.) cruise in on Saturday, June 19th, 2004. Thanks to Tom & Chris for planning & coordinating the get together...  
 
 
  Some of the cars lined up along the Hwy 190 in Mandeville. 
 
 
  Some of the folks wanted to see the Paxton supercharger. So, I raised the hood. 
 
 
  Some of the Mopars... 
 
 
  Pic from the side road. 
 
 
  Closeup of the Mopars.. 
 
 
  Another pic from side street... We ended up with 17 cars and around 30 members & guest at the cruise-in... 
 
 
  Members of our Big Easy Mopar Assn. Kevin, Jeff, Troy (on the left) and Bryan (honary member with his one Mopar part) & Al (Jeff's Dad). The wifes of Kevin, Jeff, Troy & Bryan are in the center... 
 
 
  Big Easy members in front of their rides... Winston also was around somewhere... 
 
 
  Raceway Park - Englishtown, NJ. Come join us on Friday night Aug 6th for the North East Prolwer Ashphalt Assault along with other members of the 3.5L DC cars... 
 
 
  Wall Speedway - NJ only NASCAR track left in New Jersey We'll be there Aug 7th for Prowler Event 
 
 
  Green Flag Driving Experience at Wall Speedway. We'll be there on Saturday morning Aug 7th. Come join the fun with other members of the Prowler family and DC 3.5L family of cars... 
 
 
  Fritz checking car before Saturday's race... 
 
 
  Super Production, GTO & Vintage V8 in Grid ready for Qualifing race on Saturday. 
 
 
  Fritz driving #78 for Qualifying race. 
 
 
  Here's Fritz and me with our 1st place plaque for Vintage V8 class. I drove the 20 minute Feature and had quite a duel with Winston Landymore... 
 
 
  Sunday morning. Jimmy is buckled in to run the 20 minute Qualifying race before our 90 Minute Enduro race... 
 
 
  Here's our race team for the Enduro (Fritz, Jimmy & Laddie). We were the only race team with coordinated T-shirts. #78 with the C3 & Chevy logo on the back... 
 
 
  Our ROUTAL Racing Pit crew. Jimmy, Michelle (my daughter from Sacramento), Karen (my wife), Kathy (Jimmy's wife), Fritz, & Bryan (fellow racer who we let share our pit and helped with his pit changes)... 
 
 
  Fritz driving through "Hot Pit" area on parade lap before start.. 
 
 
  "Green Flag" Start 2x2 30 cars at the beginning of race... 
 
 
  Laddie congrtulating Bryan after completion of race. Bryan drove the entire 90 minutes... 
 
 
  Three Happy & Proud Racers... 
 
 
  Fritz, Laddie & Jimmy with our two (2) 1st Place trophies. One for Saturday's Vintage V8 class. And, 1st place on Sunday in the 3+ Litre class.... 
 
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