Z06Vette.com - Corvette Z06 Forum - DAYTONA ROLEX 24 Hours--IN A Z06

vettedriver32 · 10-19-2003, 09:34 AM

This is one of those things I just gotta do...

For many years, I have wanted to run the 24 hours of Daytona, but never had the right car... We tried it a couple of times in a Firebird, but while it was fun, we were never competetive...

Well, Now Grand Am has moved the Grand Am Cup Corvettes into the Rolex series and that means the Z06 lightweight can run the Daytona 24 hours, in a class it can win. It will be matched up against Porsche GT3's and Saleens, but in testing in January this year we were actually faster than all of them...

Phoenix Performance has the Cars, the crew and the know how. All it needs is some sponsors and codrivers. (that translates in to $$$)...

We can run one or two cars in the race, with 4 drivers each... Both cars will be prepped the same. We will put the fastest four drivers in the lead car and the second 4 drivers in the second car....

You can all guess who the lead driver will be in the lead car...

If any of the drivers have any sponsors that want signage, we can accomodate them...

We are putting a budget together now...

If any one has any interest, let me know.... This will be expensive, but a whole lotta fun...

Are we nuts, or what....

Call me if you want to talk about it ...800-217-7870...

scottiew · 10-19-2003, 09:37 AM

That sounds awesome

I don't have my Z06 anymore but it sounds like an awesome idea! Good luck with it!

Subdriver · 10-19-2003, 09:42 AM

Joe,
You are killing me.

Drop me an email with dates, dollar estimates, and what a sponsor would get for those dollars (i.e. how much space on the car).
Guess I better send in my application for my pro-license, eh?

ROSSO Z · 10-19-2003, 10:53 AM

Just curious. What is your connection to Joe or Phoenix?

Daytona 24 would be a blast! Good luck.

I'll probably be going down there next year with a bunch from work.

Heinrocket to drive?

David Pintaric · 10-19-2003, 05:56 PM

Joe,

You have mail.

BTW, consistent 13s today at N/L on old, old tires. I want to brake fast Freddie's track record. Heck, I want to be the first to card a 1:09!!!

DMP

David Pintaric · 10-19-2003, 06:11 PM

ROSSO...

Joe is Joe Aqualante, owner of Phoenix Performance. His shop built my T1 Corvette as well as subdriver's...Brad Neff.

His shop also provided the SCCA Valvoline Run-Offs winning T1 Corvette for John Heinricy, and his brother Tom Aqualante built the A/Sedan Camaro JH won with, also.

The water in southeastern PA must be right for race car builders, 'cause those people know what they are doing.

JOEZ06 · 10-19-2003, 07:38 PM

Please keep me informed of this endeavor.

Worse case, I volunteer for the all night work involved to support you in the pits. I can change tires, pump gas, work a radio, and make coffee :-). I am sure you would get some local help from Florida Z06vette guys as well.

I have heard stories (not sure if they are true) of fat cats that fly in from Europe with 10K in pocket to get limited seat time in the race, and it sounded like they just approach teams with open seats... Can anyone confirm if this is fact or fiction?

Another question... Do the same rules apply for the 12 hours at Sebring?

Subdriver · 10-19-2003, 07:45 PM

Joe,
Not sure about the fat cats, but that wouldn't surprise me.
I'm not sure about the 12 Hours of Sebring. The SCCA and ALMS just announced the two series would merge next year, hence Joe's interest in the 24 hours of Daytona, so I'm guessing the same rules/classes will apply to the 12 Hours of Sebring next year as well. But I'm not positive yet.

http://www.world-challenge.com/news/03press258.html

AJA · 10-19-2003, 08:08 PM

Totally Different

Well up till last year, there would be couple handfuls of teams from Europe coming to run in the 24 of Daytona, but since GA got rid of the prototypes and changed its GT rules, their cars don't fit, so they stay in Europe or come over for Sebring and Petit, hence the C5-R's, Vipers, Saleens, disappearing from the running of it(along with other LMP and GT teams), and sadly its cut car counts in half.

World Challenge and ALMS are not joining classes; WC will just be a support event at most of the ALMS races.

ALMS is the American Lemans Series which hosts the 12 hour or Sebring plus Petit LM and 7 other races. They work under ACO rules which govern the 24 Hours of Lemans

Grand American is operated by NASCAR, and runs the 24 hours of Daytona, and runs at WG, Phoenix, and a few other rovals and road courses.

ALMS classes are LMP 900 and 675 (prototypes) Thought changing rules for them next year
GTS (C5-R) and GT Production based racing machines.

Grand Am has their Daytona Prototypes (cookie cutter tube frame NASCAR take offs), GT (the GT from ALMS combined with Trans am cars) and now for 04 SGS which is what GS1 was in the Grand Am Cup for this year. Though very similar rules to WCGT...

Sadly it’s not the same anymore, now that GA and ALMS formed 2 different series back in 98 I think (PSCR ->ALMS, and USRRC->GA)
Also the SGS and WCGT are not legal for ALMS due to ACO rules requiring crash tests on the cars... Like my dad said we used to run Firebirds in 97 and 98 at Daytona and Sebring, but that is impossible now...

Hope that clears it up.

Andrew A.

Mark Olson · 10-19-2003, 08:10 PM

Im getting ready to retire, Let me know the numbers, like supdriver, what lic is needed, FIA, SCCA Pro? I would think is would be cheper then the Racers Group ride. ($45k for LeMans)

David Pintaric · 10-19-2003, 08:11 PM

Is this young Andrew?

AJA · 10-19-2003, 08:31 PM

oh darn you got me

camshaft · 10-19-2003, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David Pintaric
ROSSO...

Joe is Joe Aqualante, owner of Phoenix Performance. His shop built my T1 Corvette as well as subdriver's...Brad Neff.

His shop also provided the SCCA Valvoline Run-Offs winning T1 Corvette for John Heinricy, and his brother Tom Aqualante built the A/Sedan Camaro JH won with, also.

The water in southeastern PA must be right for race car builders, 'cause those people know what they are doing.

Southeastern PA? Are there major racing shops here that I don't know about? I know one or two little shops around here that work with club racing, but nothing major.

Thanks,
Austin

vettedriver32 · 10-20-2003, 05:48 AM

Hi Austin...

we are just west of Phoenixville Pa at the intersection of Rt 23 and 724.

Not a big shop, about 4000 SF in total and just a few race addicts that take preppeing Z06's very seriously. Been doing F bodies since 1987, and Corvettes since 1999.

We have a full alignmnet rack and scales for setting up suspension, along with a chassis dyno with wide band o2 for tuning the pcms.
we are ls1 edit literate...

We also have Body shop with paint booth and a Car liner frame system. we sppecialize in bringing wrecked C-4's and C-5's back from bad crashes.... we also do custom paint work and body panel installs for Corvettes...

If you are in the area some time, stop by and we will show you our humble abode...

We love making Z06's go fast!!! Our specuialty is T-1 for SCCA racing and Solo 2. Plus the Grand Am Cup Lightweight cars...

camshaft · 10-20-2003, 01:56 PM

Thanks vettedriver32. Sounds like you guys aren't too far from me. I'll def make an effort to stop by when I'm back home during one of my college breaks.

Austin