Mike in Chi

Back when ESPN2 used to carry about 10 hours of the race (sigh), I seem to remember the announcers spending a lot of time talking about a 993 entered in the GT class that had just come off the boat. The team stripped out the interior,put in a cage and other safety equipment, beefed up the brakes a bit, and run what they brung.

I remember being very impressed, as it soldiered along while more purpose built entries fell by the wayside.

I think this was 95 or 96.

Anybody recall this?

Mr Michael B

Oh yes, I was there watching (my ride fell through again that year).

I also recall another year when a batch of Florida boys did the same thing with an Eagle Talon (or Eclipse). Dead stock, with cage and stripped interior. They finished like 50th or 40th?

It happens now & then. My pack & I watched both of them all night long, cheering for the underdog. Neat.

jes999

Did the 993 finish?

Greg Fishman

Mike,
Not doubting your story but in years past you had to actually qualify to get into the race. There were more people wanting to race than what they had spots for.
2 years ago Autometrics took the last NA aircooled 911 to the 24hr in Daytona and just barely qualified. They ended up with a good finish because they stayed alive even in the miserable conditions. This car is/was highly modified to 993RSR specs but did start life as a street 993. Rennlist was a sponsor in this effort also.
Look at this link and page down to the 23rd place for their entry.
<a href="http://www.grandamerican.com/events2001/rolex/official_results.html" target="_blank">http://www.grandamerican.com/events2001/rolex/official_results.html</a>

Here is a link to their car which is for sale: <a href="http://www.autometricsmotorsports.com/used/index.htm" target="_blank">http://www.autometricsmotorsports.com/used/index.htm</a>

Mr Michael B

Hey,

Nice profile shot there jes...

I recall the 993 finishing yes... But then again. you can park the car for 1/2 the race and just get it to run at the end... That is still finishing.

I am almost am sure that I remember them being out there all night, and through to the end (this was near 10 years ago ya know). Albiet at a slower pace. It was a white car if I recall correctly? Mike?

Mike in Chi

MB

Sorry you didn't have a ride that year Michael.

I seem to recall that it did finish while running all through the night. the story helped the announcers fill all that time.

Can't recall the color. Knowing the race is this weekend made me think of it.

Now that you mention it, I recall that Eclipse as well.

Somewhere in the basement are tapes with both on it. But that would be an archive search I don't think I'm up to.

Greg, they probably got in because they were an established team that was allowed to enter/qualify.

BTW, I remember the announcers made a point in 2001 about that being the last air-cooled 911 for that race.

All in all, running a basically stock car in that race is a cool testimony to these cars.

Greg Fishman

MB and Mike,

I wonder if there is an article in Pano or Excellence regarding this car. Sounds like a fun experiment.
Entrants can vary year to year so it may not have been a problem qualifying. This year there are only 45 cars vs. previous years with over 70.

Mr Michael B

Only 45 cars this year Greg!?

Cripes, whatya figure... With standard 24 hours attrition, 9 will running at the end?

Man, I guess there are less "gentlemen racers" with expendable income entering this year...

Greg Fishman

MB,
It is worse than that unfortunately. The Prototypes have been eliminated with the new Daytona Sports Prototypes and only 5 or 6 of these cars are entering. The GT battle will be great with lots of 911's and Ferraris.

Grand AM is trying to eliminate all classes except the DSP and GT cars. They want a NASCAR, spec formula for sports cars.

In the ALMS the Sebring race will have more cars than places. So I don't think there problems can be totally blamed on the economy.

Oour buddy BJZ is in a Ferrari for the ALMS series this year.

OTEcupracer

I worked with and test drove with Rusty and Max Schmidt in 98 and 99 in a 97 RSR and I remember they told me they did such a thing but it was with a 964 in 94. They finished the race and 11th in class I believe.

Cary

I beleive the guy with the white 993 was from Portland OR. He bought the car brand new put a cage in it and DROVE it across the country to Daytona to break it in. I think it was 96 and I remember someone lending him a floor jack because they were using a star wrench for the lugs and the jack out of the TRUNK to change tires!!! I also think I remember he turned it more in to a race car later but think the car got written off in a crash some time later.

When ever there is a change in the format the field tends to be down. Over the past few years I remember as many as 20 teams being sent home. I think you see it back up there in the next couple years.

BTW...Big BIG congrats to K Buckler and TRG. Not sure we'll ever see a GT car win over all again.

Martin S.

Jeff Zwart ran an essentially stock 993 TT at Pikes Peak and won a few year back. The car he intended to drive didn't arrive from Europe. With his Mobile 1 sponsorship, he was required to show up at the event. He then bought a bone stock TT, took it over to Andial and installed a full roll cage, and had a few suspension tweeks done. I believe R. Millen may have done a little tuning on the car, not much I was told. Jeff then took the car to Pikes Peak and won. About a year ago, the car was at Andial, and was for sale for about $80,000...Jeff later changed his mind and kept the car. I should have bought that beast at that time. For more info on the carr see: <a href="http://www.zwartracing.com/" target="_blank">http://www.zwartracing.com/</a>

DCLee

Guys:

I remember the stock 993 issue a little differently. I believe the guy that ran an essentially bone-stock 993 was Nort Northam, who is a Porsche/exotic car dealer in South Florida. I believe Nort (who has campaigned in the 24 Hours numerous times) used a car off the lot for his science project. I don't remember how or whether he finished.

Re Daytona this year:

Am I the only one who thinks this was a sad spectacle? The DP cars, while undoubtedly cheap(er), displayed old tube-frame technology and looked like squashed bread vans. Do they have to be cheap AND homely?

I was a little surprised by the weakness of the GTS class. The factory'Vette team could have walked off with this event--if they cared. The Ferraris are things of beauty, as always, but break, like always.

Re GT: A great job by Buckler. I'm not taking anything away from this guy. But I think Porsche, which doesn't exactly deserve it, just got an advertising windfall worth untold zillions with the overall win. Better to celebrate a return to racing at the top tier.

Re the spec tires for GT class-- After watching zillions of Dunlops blow, are you ready to switch to, say, Kumhos?

Weirdness Index of Performance Award-- to the Russian Yukos Oil team. Rael could have walked off with the trophy, but was busy trying to clone his GT3R engine into a twin-turbo.

Lee in D.C.

Greg Fishman

Lee,

Yes the DP cars are sad. I can forgive ugly quicker than I can forgive slow.

I think the Schumacher team tried a different set up and mis-caluclated the effect on the tire. The Dunlop tires do suck compared to the other stuff out there but it is the spec tire.

The Vette or the 550 GTS cars aren't legal in Grand Am so they weren't eligible. An old 993GT2 was there but was restricted heavily and didn't make it many laps. A old GT1 could have run but they restricted it so much that it literally wouldn't idle or run with a GT3RS. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />

Cary

I don't remember if Nort drove or not but it wasn't his car, it was owned by Jerrit &lt;sp&gt; Freeman from Portland OR. Not sure if they actually drove it out there but, for sure remember a friend lending them a jack.