Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona 2007

Post by **Sput** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 1:55 pm

I have received my 2007 Grand-Am membership 'hard card', I should be ready to go to several events again this year. Although we were forced to miss Daytona test days, it looks good right now for getting to the 24 Hours at Daytona later this month.

The 2007 event schedule ( http://www.grand-am.com/CONTEN..._2007% ) and entry list ( http://www.grand-am.com/Events...D=175 ) are up.

The #45 TEAM HLM Infiniti Crawford is listed to race, with drivers;

Doc Bundy, Gainesville, GAJohn Lewis, Birmingham, ALBryan Sellers, Centerville, OHJoey Hand, Sacramento, CA

and sponsor eautomall.com .

These are some familiar names, and I really look forward to seeing Joey Hand at the wheel. Doc Bundy makes a very interesting (wonderful) addition to this line-up.

I have not yet confirmed this, but the word from Daytona test days was these four drivers will be split for the shorter races this year, with two drivers in this #45 and two drivers in the #54 Infiniti Crawford.

If you look at the Grand-Am entry list, you will notice the team is listed as Howard Motorsports. Again, I have not been able to confirm this with anyone at Team HLM, Howard Motorsports, or Crawford Race Cars, but I have read the reason for this was to gain preferential garage and pit assignment as part of Howard Motorsports and the two Daytona Prototypes they will be running at the 24 Hours of Daytona.

The TV package will include FoxSports and SpeedTV. Also you can listen to the webcast and good friend & announcer Mike (just pazzin thru) Paz via the Grand-AM website. They also carry a live Timinf & Scoring webpage. Also, if you would like to chat on line during the race, I know there will be a chat session through the Cognoscenti at http://www.garra-fans.com.

Sput

Post by **Sput** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 2:15 pm

As additional note, it wouldn't be fair not to point out the 'cousins' involved this year in Grand-Am Rolex GT class - the Nissan 350Z cars;

# 29 GT Extreme Motorsports Group Anthony Puleo, St. Augustine, FLSqueak Kennedy, Port Orange, FLRay Webb, Holly Hill, FL Nissan 350Z Extreme Motorsports Group

#33 & # 35 GT Playboy Racing/ Unitech Tommy Constantine, Scottsdale, AZMike Borkowski, Miami Beach, FLDavid Murry, Cumming, GAHal Prewitt, Boca Raton, FL Nissan 350Z Playboy

Yes, currently the #33 and #35 cars are listed with the same drivers. I would like to point out Mike Borkowski and David Murry have been extremely gracious to Jacob over the years; Jacob has multiple, multiple souveniers, autographs, and photos with these gentlemen. This is shaping up to be a great race!

Post by **audtatious** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 5:59 pm

Great update Dan!!!!

Post by **r10apple** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 6:43 am

The wife and I are going to the 24hrs w/ infield and garage passes. My parents are there supporting Brumos. Anyway, it would be really cool if there was someplace to get HLM apparel to support the cause (rather than the Infiniti stuff we already have)...

Post by **Amoore** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 6:15 am

I will have some samples of our apparel with me at the 24 Hour. I may have some that I can sell so try to catch up with me at the race. Try looking for me around our garage. (I'll be the good looking guy in the handsome Team HLM white adidas polo. )

Alex MooreHoward & Law Motorsports

Post by **maxhopper** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 8:33 am

Good luck guys! I'll be looking for you on the Speed Channel.

Post by **jmark** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 10:23 am

Sput wrote:As additional note, it wouldn't be fair not to point out the 'cousins' involved this year in Grand-Am Rolex GT class - the Nissan 350Z cars;

# 29 GT Extreme Motorsports Group Anthony Puleo, St. Augustine, FLSqueak Kennedy, Port Orange, FLRay Webb, Holly Hill, FL Nissan 350Z Extreme Motorsports Group

#33 & # 35 GT Playboy Racing/ Unitech Tommy Constantine, Scottsdale, AZMike Borkowski, Miami Beach, FLDavid Murry, Cumming, GAHal Prewitt, Boca Raton, FL Nissan 350Z Playboy

Yes, currently the #33 and #35 cars are listed with the same drivers. I would like to point out Mike Borkowski and David Murry have been extremely gracious to Jacob over the years; Jacob has multiple, multiple souveniers, autographs, and photos with these gentlemen. This is shaping up to be a great race!

Looks like the #33 & 35 350Z GT cars were withdrawn at the last minute.....

YouTube · Post by **EZcheese15** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 1:55 pm

Make sure to keep checking back on the forums for live updates from Daytona this weekend. I will be down there with the team, armed with a laptop and a camera. I will try to write a quick update and a few pictures every few hours. Stay tuned!

Post by **AZhitman** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 2:08 pm

Rumor has it that neither 350Z will be participating... Looks like our G35 will be repping Nissan / Infiniti on its own!!!

Best of luck to Team HLM this weekend - Drive it like you stole it!!!

Post by **jmark** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 2:00 am

AZhitman wrote:Rumor has it that neither 350Z will be participating... Looks like our G35 will be repping Nissan / Infiniti on its own!!!

Best of luck to Team HLM this weekend - Drive it like you stole it!!!

The 2 350Z's in GT have been withdrawn.

Post by **AZhitman** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 3:58 pm

Sucks to be them - Here's hoping the Infiniti kicks some butt.

YouTube · Post by **MeanGreenS13** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 6:07 am

Tori Informed mark and I this morning that the G broke a timing chain tensioner, When we went to sleep, the G was 17th in GT series and about 46th overall. They did make almost 1/2 of the race though which is VERY impressive to me, for it being the first time. The G was definitely one of the Faster GT cars that we followed on the timing and scoring in our car. Progress seemingly has been made the car looked really good up close and the motor sounded EXTREMELY strong.

YouTube · Post by **MeanGreenS13** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 6:11 am

here arre a couple quick pictures that I snapped, im sure that tori has more and better pics.

Phil

YouTube · Post by **EZcheese15** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 8:30 am

MeanGreenS13 wrote:here arre a couple quick pictures that I snapped, im sure that tori has more and better pics.

Phil

Actually, unfortunatly I have hardly any pics. Because the credentials office didn't know what they were doing, I spent the first half of Saturday trying to get inside. By the time we got settled, it was starting to get dark, which made picture taking very difficult. Not only that, but I was plagued with technically difficulties. I had two cameras, only to find out the batteries were dead in both of them. However, I didn't know they were both dead until I went out and bought batteries for one of them and was already back to the track. That's when I tried to use the other camera, and it was also dead.

Post by **Dano** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 8:50 am

Dam Torr, that sucks, sorry mang

-Dan

YouTube · Post by **MeanGreenS13** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 10:45 am

that makes me really glad i managed to get some halfway decent pictures. I think all in all it was a good race, very exciting to the last lap, but the rain kinda killed my spirits about the end.

Post by **audtatious** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 2:11 pm

I'd love hi-res of those pix if possible

Post by **maxhopper** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 9:50 am

Although ultimately, I'm sure they're disappointed at not being able to complete the race; they have much to be optimistic about. They showed they could lay down times and speeds to rival pretty much anyone in the GT field. Once the bugs get worked out, I'm really excited to see how well they compete.

Post by **Vipergtsz3** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 6:21 am

About two weeks before the 24 Hours of Daytona, I actually went on a trip to the Porsche Driving Experience in Alabama. A number of the instructors there are current Rolex series drivers, the biggest name being Hurley Haywood. I also got to meet John Lewis and talk to him a bit about the Infiniti. He seemed to really love the car, but thinks it may take a few races to get set-up properly. Hopefully by the next go around they will be more competitive.

Post by **FloridaRacing** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 11:03 am

that car is baller. Whats the power plant in it? It sounded just like the C7 vettes. i went back to the hotel to sleep and came back, didnt see the car anymore. im still sorting thru my shots so give me a few days, i have more.

Post by **FloridaRacing** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 11:07 am

EZcheese15 wrote:
Actually, unfortunatly I have hardly any pics. Because the credentials office didn't know what they were doing, I spent the first half of Saturday trying to get inside. By the time we got settled, it was starting to get dark, which made picture taking very difficult. Not only that, but I was plagued with technically difficulties. I had two cameras, only to find out the batteries were dead in both of them. However, I didn't know they were both dead until I went out and bought batteries for one of them and was already back to the track. That's when I tried to use the other camera, and it was also dead.

really? i was in and out in less than 10 minutes.

YouTube · Post by **EZcheese15** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 1:56 pm

FloridaRacing wrote:

really? i was in and out in less than 10 minutes.

Oh yeah...don't get me started on the credentials office. They took 4 hours of my life away from me for nothing.

The HLM G35 uses a VK45DE.

Those pics you got are freaking sweet man. I hope you have more!

Post by **FloridaRacing** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 5:14 pm

nothing fantastic actually. i went to the hotel to sleep and check my pics and never got a good in focus shot of the car. i run AI servo with all focusing points active. from what i can see was that it kept focusing on the flames bc every pic the flames are perfectly in focus. when i got back in the morning i wanted to shoot on just the center AF point, but the car was not longer in the race.

i figured it was a VK, but it just sounded like a lot more ci then a 4.5L sounds.

YouTube · Post by **MeanGreenS13** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 5:23 pm

when i was standing in their garage stall talking to frank, and they fired up the car, it sounded eerily like an old 427 big block... actually on the track, unless i was looking, i couldnt tell teh difference between the Vette and the G lol

Post by **FloridaRacing** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 3:13 am

MeanGreenS13 wrote:when i was standing in their garage stall talking to frank, and they fired up the car, it sounded eerily like an old 427 big block... actually on the track, unless i was looking, i couldnt tell teh difference between the Vette and the G lol

exactly what i was thinking, sounded too deep to be a small block v8 IMO

Post by **audtatious** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 3:54 am

You knowz I B hittin u up for hi-rez

Looking for some additional photos for a gallery on G35GT of the Daytona event. If you could send me the untouched orig images I would appreciate it. I will make sure to add a watermark logo for FloridaRacing before posting any of your images up.

Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona 2007

Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona 2007

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