AER : Watkins Glen
 

Here's a recap video of last weekend's AER Watkins Glen event for team FCP Euro. It gives a good overview of what an AER event looks like. And you'll get to see how we fling around our Mercedes.

For those of you that want to get into Endurance racing, or done some in past, you'll want to see what AER is all about.

Great video!

Cool! Not at familiar with your series so I have a few questions.
1. What tire do you run? Is it a control tire for the series?
2. How did you settle on a C-Class Mercedes?
3. What's the approximate cost for a weekend like the Glen?

Thanks!

1) Per the rules, you have to run a street tire with a wear rating of 180 or greater. We tried several different brands, most provide great performance. Rules - http://americanenduranceracing.com/d...r_rulebook.pdf
2) FCP Euro wanted to expand their MB Catalog, so they went with a C300. Lots of build pics / info here - https://www.facebook.com/FCPEuroMotorsports/
3) I can only speak to entry costs, each event is $1,900 and includes three days. Two of those days are (9) hr races. More info here - http://americanenduranceracing.com/

I've run in a few of the other series as well, and really like the AER format. What's your team name?

Why aren't there a lot of Porsches in AER? Also it seems like there were a lot of car to car incidents at WGI. Is that typical?

There were quite a few Caymans out there and they did really well. You should bring yours!
I'm only aware of one car to car incident. At Watkins Glen, you need to respect the track or it can bite you and there were some cars that drove into the blue bushes.

I run (or at least did last year when I had some funds and hope to again soon) with Loose Canon Racing in a 944. Team just got a Koni BGB 997 they will campaign in AER too (Test ran it at the Glen last weekend)

AER is a great series. Never did a team concept enduro before - only did the 90 min PCA ones. We run 4 drivers per car usually, so with two 9 hr races, you end up with three 90 min stints per driver. Series sets a minimum number of pit stops depending on the race length - in 9 hours its five I think, so six 90 min stints works out perfect...and our 944 can easily do the 90 min on a tank of fuel.

Sahlens runs their Caymans at the Glen and a few races I think... Honestly...the series has a ton of BMW E30s. cheap running costs.

Simple classing - 5 classes based on lap times, and they reserve the right to change your class mid race (up or down) if you were sandbagging or if you had one hot shoe that did qualifying and the rest of the team are much slower....which we had happen a few times.

There are definitely more and more p-cars showing up!

Thinking about the 944 but would want to approach this in a very organized way with support a strategy and like minded drivers.

AER is great. i started by driving for a miata team 3 years ago and now run a team RS Racing where we run E36 M3.

It is so much fun and the format is great. somebody mentioned cost, other than entry it depends on what you do and how fast your car eats consumables... do you stay at a hotel or camp, do you eat out or make sandwiches, do you ball your car up or do you bring it home shiny.

feel free to PM with other questions..

Would a Spec Boxster be competitive? A buddy and I are trying to start a team for next year. Would three drivers be sufficient?

What kind of consumables do people go through? I've budgeted for 1 set of front / rear rotors and pads each weekend, 2 sets of tires, oil change per event, brake fluid flush per event, and about 300 gallons of fuel for 27 hours (9 hours each day).
From my numbers, the cost ends up being around $1k per day for a $3k weekend per person.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Contact Cody at Black Forest Racing http://www.blackforestracing.com/ and Loose Canon Racing https://www.facebook.com/pg/loosecanonracing/ about running a 944.