The 2013 Tour de Road America - BIKE RIDE TO FIGHT CANCER was another hit this year, successfully raising over $26,000.00 for the Austin Hatcher Foundation, Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic and LIVESTRONG. Over $1,000 of that $26k was raised by me, thanks to all of my friends, family and fans who donated on my behalf.
This week we are North of the border at the BAD-BOY of race tracks in North America - the insanely fast Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (formerly known as Mosport). This place was built back when men were men, if you know what I'm saying, with huge, sweeping, fast corners and tons of elevation change. Of all tracks out there, 'CTMP' really separates the men from the boys.
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Tonight the wife & I visited the Corning Museum of Glass, an icon of the area. After all my years coming to Watkins Glen I've never visited this place until now.
As they say, "The Corning Museum of Glass cares for and displays the world’s best collection of art and historical glass. When you visit, you’ll see more than 3,500 years of history displayed in the Glass Collection Galleries, from the glass portrait of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh to contemporary sculpture made in glass."
Guess where I'm going to be this week? That's right! At Watkins Glen International for the Grand-Am Rolex Sportscar Series famed Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen! I'll be joining Mike Hedlund and Johannes van Overbeek in the Extreme Speed Motorsports Tequila Patrón Ferrari 458 Italia Grand-Am.
Last year the three of us had a great run at the 6 hour, battling it out with Grand-Am's best in GT where we finished 4th. This year we will be strong again, but definitely looking to improve on that 4th place finish and bring home some BACON - or is that Hot Dogs...?
Extreme Speed Motorsports and I just wrapped up a very successful two-day test at one of North America's greatest race tracks - VIRginia International Raceway. It was a much-needed test that helped us gain a much better understanding of exactly what these Honda Racing HPD P2 machines really need to go FAST - and FAST is an understatement...
A few weeks ago I made it to my first NHRA drag race - ever! The Extreme Speed Motorsports Tequila Patrón drivers made a field trip up to Raceway Park in New Jersey to see how the other side of the Tequila Patrón racing family did things, and that was with Alexis DeJoria and Team Kalitta.
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!
