BGB MOTORSPORTS CHOOSES SABBATICAL FROM GRAND-AM SERIES
02-20-2009, 04:01 PM
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BGB MOTORSPORTS CHOOSES SABBATICAL FROM GRAND-AM SERIES
Just received this in an e-mail update from John Tecce at BGB. This really sucks but is a sign of the times.
BGB MOTORSPORTS CHOOSES SABBATICAL FROM GRAND-AM SERIES
(Ormond Beach, FL, USA - February 18, 2009) For the first time in 5 years,
BGB Motorsports will not contest a season of competition in the Grand-Am
Koni Sports Car Challenge Series. The team is currently making preparations
to cease their Porsche program. The group supports two Porsche 911 Carreras
in the Grand Sport class and has been supporting Porsches in the series
since the inaugural Grand Sport race at Daytona in 2004, when the Grand
American Road Racing Association revised what was then known as Grand-Am
Cup, into 2 classes. Team Principal John Tecce commented:
"This is the first year that we are not able to secure season-long funding
commitments from drivers for at least one of our cars. In seasons past,
even if the deal came together after Daytona, we usually had something by
this point. With the uncertainty in the markets and with discretionary
spending, we're just as affected as everyone else, as we experience the same
problems as everyone else. We've had to make some difficult decisions about
the program. My first introduction to professional motorsports and the
first sports car race I ever attended was the Grand-Am Cup race at the
Watkins Glen in 2001, and I've only missed 2 events since."
At the first round in support of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, both BGB Porsches
led the 67 car field as a result of great pit stops, sound race strategy and
good race craft; like the other Porsches however, they couldn't match the
overall pace of the Mustangs. Tim George, Jr. and Craig Stanton finished
6th and teammates Joe Masessa and Nick Longhi finished close behind in 12th
finishing as the 2nd and 4th highest placing Porsches. Since 2004, BGB has
supported multiple Porsches, missing only one Grand-Am race weekend in over
5 years of competition. Beginning with the Porsche 911 Carrera 996 chassis
and then evolving into Porsche's latest 997 chassis, BGB has been led by
veteran Porsche pilot Craig Stanton for the last 3 seasons. With Stanton
pushing the team further up the ladder, BGB became the most successful entry
for Porsche, winning 3 races in 2008 and being the highest placing Porsche
entry in the Team and Driver's Championships for the last two seasons of
competition. Everything took form in late 2006 when Tim Traver and Mikel
Miller's won the 2006 6 Hours of VIR finale and locked up a Manufacturer's
Title for Porsche Cars North America, over BMW and Ford.
"We are going to withdraw the entries for the next round at Homestead Miami
Speedway and we are ceasing planning for all races thereafter. If down the
road things improve and we're able to secure full-season, market level
commitments from customers, we'll evaluate re-starting the program for 2010.
For now though, we're going to step back and create a plan to try and
sustain the brand while the world tries to figure itself out. We've tried
to find ways to reduce costs and lean things out but you can't trim enough
out and we can't compromise on the product we prepare and deliver. It's all
very unfortunate because as a team we've been able to create success
together, but with the lack of season-long revenue we've had to make the
difficult decision to let everyone in the shop go. We wish them luck in
whatever they choose to do, and while this is hard to say, we hope to see
them supporting other teams to be as successful as they've helped us to be."
For more information, photos, and videos, visit
http://www.bgbmotorsports.com.
BGB MOTORSPORTS CHOOSES SABBATICAL FROM GRAND-AM SERIES
(Ormond Beach, FL, USA - February 18, 2009) For the first time in 5 years,
BGB Motorsports will not contest a season of competition in the Grand-Am
Koni Sports Car Challenge Series. The team is currently making preparations
to cease their Porsche program. The group supports two Porsche 911 Carreras
in the Grand Sport class and has been supporting Porsches in the series
since the inaugural Grand Sport race at Daytona in 2004, when the Grand
American Road Racing Association revised what was then known as Grand-Am
Cup, into 2 classes. Team Principal John Tecce commented:
"This is the first year that we are not able to secure season-long funding
commitments from drivers for at least one of our cars. In seasons past,
even if the deal came together after Daytona, we usually had something by
this point. With the uncertainty in the markets and with discretionary
spending, we're just as affected as everyone else, as we experience the same
problems as everyone else. We've had to make some difficult decisions about
the program. My first introduction to professional motorsports and the
first sports car race I ever attended was the Grand-Am Cup race at the
Watkins Glen in 2001, and I've only missed 2 events since."
At the first round in support of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, both BGB Porsches
led the 67 car field as a result of great pit stops, sound race strategy and
good race craft; like the other Porsches however, they couldn't match the
overall pace of the Mustangs. Tim George, Jr. and Craig Stanton finished
6th and teammates Joe Masessa and Nick Longhi finished close behind in 12th
finishing as the 2nd and 4th highest placing Porsches. Since 2004, BGB has
supported multiple Porsches, missing only one Grand-Am race weekend in over
5 years of competition. Beginning with the Porsche 911 Carrera 996 chassis
and then evolving into Porsche's latest 997 chassis, BGB has been led by
veteran Porsche pilot Craig Stanton for the last 3 seasons. With Stanton
pushing the team further up the ladder, BGB became the most successful entry
for Porsche, winning 3 races in 2008 and being the highest placing Porsche
entry in the Team and Driver's Championships for the last two seasons of
competition. Everything took form in late 2006 when Tim Traver and Mikel
Miller's won the 2006 6 Hours of VIR finale and locked up a Manufacturer's
Title for Porsche Cars North America, over BMW and Ford.
"We are going to withdraw the entries for the next round at Homestead Miami
Speedway and we are ceasing planning for all races thereafter. If down the
road things improve and we're able to secure full-season, market level
commitments from customers, we'll evaluate re-starting the program for 2010.
For now though, we're going to step back and create a plan to try and
sustain the brand while the world tries to figure itself out. We've tried
to find ways to reduce costs and lean things out but you can't trim enough
out and we can't compromise on the product we prepare and deliver. It's all
very unfortunate because as a team we've been able to create success
together, but with the lack of season-long revenue we've had to make the
difficult decision to let everyone in the shop go. We wish them luck in
whatever they choose to do, and while this is hard to say, we hope to see
them supporting other teams to be as successful as they've helped us to be."
For more information, photos, and videos, visit
http://www.bgbmotorsports.com.
02-20-2009, 05:58 PM
#4
Nordschleife Master
"we've had to make the difficult decision to let everyone in the shop go."
Damn! Just from the race team side or the entire shop? If the entire shop, I don't understand that as I would assume they still would have a functioning business.
Damn! Just from the race team side or the entire shop? If the entire shop, I don't understand that as I would assume they still would have a functioning business.
02-20-2009, 08:00 PM
#7
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I'd like to first say thanks for all of the great wishes we've gotten thus far. It's actually making it even harder to know that we had this many followers. We're very fortunate.
I need to address something though that's discussed above. Due to the fact that we've existed solely for Grand-Am competition and because of the fact that we're on the road 12 weekends per year at least with the races, we’ve had a hard time trying to start the non-Grand-Am side of the business. Sometimes the transporter is gone for over a month at a time and it's for this fact that we've never had many...or any club customers. We just haven't been able to find a way to successfully be in two places at once. In addition, our location isn't what i would call "lush with Porsche cars." We're in a small beach town next to Daytona with very few Porsche owners. If BGB had recurring retail customers or club customers storing their cars in our shop, we would certainly have been able to keep employees. We've tried to make all of this work and we're finally getting exposure and maybe a little interest, but it's not enough to weather the storm.
I thank you all again for your kind words and to my man Bill Sisco for being our #1 fan and posting this information. Best of luck racing this year and take care.
John Tecce
BGB Motorsports
http://www.BGBMotorsports.com
I need to address something though that's discussed above. Due to the fact that we've existed solely for Grand-Am competition and because of the fact that we're on the road 12 weekends per year at least with the races, we’ve had a hard time trying to start the non-Grand-Am side of the business. Sometimes the transporter is gone for over a month at a time and it's for this fact that we've never had many...or any club customers. We just haven't been able to find a way to successfully be in two places at once. In addition, our location isn't what i would call "lush with Porsche cars." We're in a small beach town next to Daytona with very few Porsche owners. If BGB had recurring retail customers or club customers storing their cars in our shop, we would certainly have been able to keep employees. We've tried to make all of this work and we're finally getting exposure and maybe a little interest, but it's not enough to weather the storm.
I thank you all again for your kind words and to my man Bill Sisco for being our #1 fan and posting this information. Best of luck racing this year and take care.
John Tecce
BGB Motorsports
http://www.BGBMotorsports.com
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02-20-2009, 08:42 PM
#10
Rennlist Member
I'd like to first say thanks for all of the great wishes we've gotten thus far. It's actually making it even harder to know that we had this many followers. We're very fortunate.
I need to address something though that's discussed above. Due to the fact that we've existed solely for Grand-Am competition and because of the fact that we're on the road 12 weekends per year at least with the races, we’ve had a hard time trying to start the non-Grand-Am side of the business. Sometimes the transporter is gone for over a month at a time and it's for this fact that we've never had many...or any club customers. We just haven't been able to find a way to successfully be in two places at once. In addition, our location isn't what i would call "lush with Porsche cars." We're in a small beach town next to Daytona with very few Porsche owners. If BGB had recurring retail customers or club customers storing their cars in our shop, we would certainly have been able to keep employees. We've tried to make all of this work and we're finally getting exposure and maybe a little interest, but it's not enough to weather the storm.
I thank you all again for your kind words and to my man Bill Sisco for being our #1 fan and posting this information. Best of luck racing this year and take care.
John Tecce
BGB Motorsports
http://www.BGBMotorsports.com
I need to address something though that's discussed above. Due to the fact that we've existed solely for Grand-Am competition and because of the fact that we're on the road 12 weekends per year at least with the races, we’ve had a hard time trying to start the non-Grand-Am side of the business. Sometimes the transporter is gone for over a month at a time and it's for this fact that we've never had many...or any club customers. We just haven't been able to find a way to successfully be in two places at once. In addition, our location isn't what i would call "lush with Porsche cars." We're in a small beach town next to Daytona with very few Porsche owners. If BGB had recurring retail customers or club customers storing their cars in our shop, we would certainly have been able to keep employees. We've tried to make all of this work and we're finally getting exposure and maybe a little interest, but it's not enough to weather the storm.
I thank you all again for your kind words and to my man Bill Sisco for being our #1 fan and posting this information. Best of luck racing this year and take care.
John Tecce
BGB Motorsports
http://www.BGBMotorsports.com
Stay in touch, John.
-Dave Scott
02-21-2009, 12:00 AM
#12
Race Director
John, just to let you know I came to the Daytona Koni races to cheer for BGB and the fact I'd rather watch real production cars just like my 997 Porsche race than anything else.
02-21-2009, 09:12 AM
#13
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Will you sign that quote in a letter I'm writing to Porsche? That's awesome! I've always felt that there were true 997 fans that supported our cars because they know that while the Cup car is Porsche's flagship, purpose-built production race car, it's not like taking the actual street car that you drove home from the lot and going racing with it.
02-21-2009, 09:19 AM
#14
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02-21-2009, 09:56 AM
#15
Rennlist Member
They are, thanks, John. That's why I have been on the bench, coaching only, since 2006 when our daughter was born! But it looks like I will do a few races this year in a SPBOX and an SRF, we'll see if more is on the horizon.