Today was the 'I'm-not-sure-how-many-times-this-has-happened' annual bike ride that my teammate Johannes (van Overbeek) puts together.  It's a fun, friendly, private bike ride from San Jose to Monterey, CA.  When completed, it's about 90 miles long, and includes 3500 feet of climbing!  I live in Florida.  It's FLAT in Florida!  Climbing on a bicycle is NOT my deal, but I tried my best.  And unlike last year, this year I had my bike equipped with the proper gears for climbing which certainly helped.  Many thanks to On Your Mark Performance Center for the last-minute changes & tune-up to my bike.  And my bike?  A Ridley Damocles RS that I picked up about two years ago thanks to the cycling guru's at The Racer's Edge.

After (WINNING!) the Long Beach Grand Prix with ESM I headed up to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for two days of Ferrari Challenge coaching, then up to San Francisco for a day in the city, then on to Sonoma Raceway to coach for that weekend's Ferrari Challenge race.  To keep the West Coast swing going my wife, Louisa, and I planned a little trip to Hawaii during this week we have off until the next ALMS race at Laguna Seca.  I mean, why not?  We were already half-way there from Florida!  It's our first time visiting Hawaii and we are having an AMAZING time...

​After two great days coaching at Laguna Seca and a great day in Oakland riding bikes and spending time with the van Overbeek's, Louisa and I spent the afternoon cruising through San Francisco and stumbled upon Coit Tower. Amazing views from up there, as well as from Vista Point, over the Golden Gate bridge. These were pics taken with my iPhone - Louisa's got all the GOOD pics from her camera, not yet uploaded. Good times!

WE'RE AT LONG BEACH, BABY!!!​  ​The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is one of my favorite events on the American Le Mans Series calendar.  It's not only one of the greatest street courses in the world that's challenging with a great flow, but it's one of the most fun and exciting events in all of racing.  I mean, they've got all this great racing, drifting, motorcycle exhibitions, the automotive trade show in the convention center, the weather is amazing, tons of fans attending, fun activities for people of all ages, ROCK CONCERTS, celebrities - you name it, it's here at Long Beach.  There is NO event with more energy and excitement than - LONG BEACH!