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Jun
09

NJS58 Racing goes to LeMans!!

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Definitely a BOP change is needed for the Mustang as they are just filling in a participant slot. Frustrating to watch as they don't seem to be able to keep pace with virtually any of the other LMGT3 cars.
 
Watched both of the MC races, those were both fun to watch, especially since they were using all of the 24LM cameras, angles, and high-framerate stuff. Both races entertaining, Race 2 finish was definitely exciting! Congrats to all who were able to participate; that's an elite list just to take the green.
 
Boy that 2nd race opening lap was a literal trainwreck. I would have thought it would have been even cleaner after the first race went pretty smooth. Seemed like everyone was out for blood on the 2nd race.
Yeah, and that's why I got out of "Pro" racing and went to running amateur races only. Too many rich kids who didn't give a crap how they drove and what the resulting carnage cost. Seems like Dad's wallet always had lots of cash in it.

I never once heard of a transgressor offering to pick up the tab for the carnage they caused. One guy did come over and apologize once, though it would have meant more if he had brought a cheque......
 
I have to look back at my W2W racing days and thank some of the talents I drove against, since over my entire mostly amateur career I only had a few rubber donuts on a couple of the cars and only one destroyed door on a Spec Miata. The guy who did the damage ( he did not put both feet in and shot back across the track ) actually gave me a used door to replace mine. My son crumpled a fender on one of the other Spec Miatas we had , and he took the blame , though the SCCA Race Chief said it was a racing incident with no one driver at fault. Two repairs isn't bad for bodywork, so pretty lucky but most of the accidents I have seen over the years mirror JDee's observation --- young driver's not concerned as racing on Daddy's money. Dad helped alot, but I did make my son pay his entry fees and tires along with helping with mechanical maintenance and though he complained back then , he admitted later it made him appreciate the cost of fun even more. It may be why he was only in one accident while racing door to door.
 
I think McLeod just didn't see the green flag there as there was no investigation. However I still try to understand what they can and can't change on the cars from what I know I thought they receive spec sheets prior to races with settings for the cars ?
We can adjust all settings. Limits of -2.81 degrees camber both front and rear, minimum front ride and splitter heights are the only restrictions. And of course no modifications to any homologated part. Cameron did miss the slow zone ending green, I think he just wanted to have a proper race and show Noaker who was Boss at LeMans. Sam got slammed in the lap 1 melee and our right rear toe got whacked from 1.5mm in to 2.5mm out. Try that setting and drive the car 60 miles at LeMans to a podium. As for the rich kids not giving a crap, my two cars and drivers were both privately funded out of their own pockets and hard work. The logistical and financial planning for this event stretched back almost exactly one year. The work involved with preparing the cars and equipment alone would have made most people just say screw it. The racing was unbelievable, it was estimated that over 150,000 fans watched our first race on Friday and over 200,000 were on hand early Saturday AM. And they loved every minute of those races, there is nothing like 40 V8 Mustangs rumbling at top speed (which was 173 mph in Cam McLeod's car) even with clutch issues, 4 times a lap. Even when restrictions to 250 kph were mandated the cars were spectacular. As for windshields, the gravel at LeMans is round river pebble, and it will stop a car better than any sand or gravel I have walked in the US. But when it gets tossed on track, the cars throw it up like 00 buck shot, hence the shattered screens. We were smart and had 4 tear off layers on the car, which saved us from needing to change. You what did happen though? Automatic Racing helped Ford locate 24 windshields in Europe, and arrange trucking, the Ford contracted local glass installers and the Ford Performance crew to change out 23 cars right up until 4 am to have all cars ready to get to grid. As for the speed limit situation, a calibration mistake the first time they flashed us, caused some cars to have only a 180 kph limit instead of 250. A big embarrassment for sure, but the Ford Team again worked through the night, with a couple of those "rich kid" drivers running the test calibrations up and down the airport runway again into the night to make sure the races were fair for every competitor. I appreciate the perspective of all my fellow TMO racers and fans, but you cannot underestimate or understand what racing at LeMans is like. Maybe the Indy 500 is comparable, the 24 at Daytona is similar, but the level of precision in everything we did there was unlike any of the 7 IMSA and 2 USAC events I have been privileged to Crew and Crew Chief for. And most certainly unlike any club NASA/SCCA event any of us have ever raced. Ricky Reynolds has done this for 20 years, he has won at Daytona, worked for Jack Roush, was Crew Chief on Grand Am and GS championship teams, and even he admitted he was in awe of the whole Event, so I will proudly and unapologetically say, what NJS58 Racing Eurosport and Sam Paley Cortex Racing did was something very few in the history of American motorsport have ever been privileged to do, and that will last a lifetime.20250610-a-08466.jpg20250611-a-04209.jpg20250611-a-04252.jpg20250611-c-03539.jpg20250613-a-06715.jpg20250613-a-06749.jpg20250613-d-04222.jpg20250613-d-04503.jpgSam Podium 1.jpgWD250610_02292.jpgWD250610_03756.jpgWD250610_06819.jpg
 
Flying back as I post this. An absolutely wonderful experience — beyond my wildest dreams!! I never even thought that racing this track would be an option.

Planning started a year ago, when the event was announced and a bunch of friends from England said they wanted to come. Steve was definitely in from day 1!

I found fantastic accommodations for 20 people, 30 minutes south of the track for them and most of the crew to stay in. Then by coincidence some other English racer friends, who signed up to camp in the infield last October volunteered to crew as well….

With a full IMSA and USAC schedule since February this has been pretty much a full time job, planning shipment of support equipment, having to inventory every last spare nut and bolt for customs, palletizing everything, pulling together credentials, booking meals, designing and ordering crew gear and coordinating travel etc.

Thanks go to Steve for helping with the prep and getting banners, flags and a few special polos designed.

The experience totally exceeded my and Steve’s expectations that had been building for a year!

The racing was fantastic. A 5th and 8th in class were icing on the very special cake, especially as I believe I was the oldest on the grid….

Special thanks to Steve and all the volunteer crew. A few additional photos below:

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Absolutely awesome racing overall and appreciate the insight. Noaker has obviously been on an absolute tear this season and I have to think that part of that final battle going the way it did was him driving the tires off of the car making it from last to 1st, even if it was only for half a lap or so.

The logistics of getting that many cars and parts to France had to be unbelievable and I'm sure Ford made some good impressions across the pond with the series. I just wish they were running as a support series for Petit LeMans as well at the end of the year.
 
Absolutely awesome racing overall and appreciate the insight. Noaker has obviously been on an absolute tear this season and I have to think that part of that final battle going the way it did was him driving the tires off of the car making it from last to 1st, even if it was only for half a lap or so.

The logistics of getting that many cars and parts to France had to be unbelievable and I'm sure Ford made some good impressions across the pond with the series. I just wish they were running as a support series for Petit LeMans as well at the end of the year.
For me the final battle was just the dirty side of the track paired with the worn out tires he should have waited and not try to overtake on the outside of the Porsche curves.
 
For me the final battle was just the dirty side of the track paired with the worn out tires he should have waited and not try to overtake on the outside of the Porsche curves.
Also true. Both of them were using ALL of the course and then some on the last 2 laps. I know I saw a couple exits out of both chicanes on the straight that saw all 4 wheels on the wrong sides of the entirety of the rumble strips.
 
So - how was the track itself? It must've been pretty wild holding it wide open on flat ground for that long! ha

Congrats, Nick! living the dream!
 

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