Gand Am race

[bkwagonss]

Was anybody else at the Grand Am race at NJ Motorsports Park in Millville NJ this past weekend?

My wife and I were there and we had a great time!
We saw both the Continental Tire Series on Saturday and the Rolex Series on Sunday.

I'll post some pictures tonight when I get home.

I am used to going to NASCAR races where you have to buy a special pit pass to get to the pits and even at that you are roped off to the teams.
At the Grand Am race we could walk around anywhere. We went right up to the garages and even inside to meet the teams and drivers.
I'm not really an autograph hound so we didn't bug the teams.
We were also able to sit anywhere, in any of the bleachers of bring a chair and sit right next to the fence.

We will definetly be going next year, maybe even plan to stay down there all weekend instead of coming home each night.

["prima"Donna]

Originally Posted by bkwagonss

Was anybody else at the Grand Am race at NJ Motorsports Park in Millville NJ this past weekend?

My wife and I were there and we had a great time!
We saw both the Continental Tire Series on Saturday and the Rolex Series on Sunday.

I'll post some pictures tonight when I get home.

I am used to going to NASCAR races where you have to buy a special pit pass to get to the pits and even at that you are roped off to the teams.
At the Grand Am race we could walk around anywhere. We went right up to the garages and even inside to meet the teams and drivers.
I'm not really an autograph hound so we didn't bug the teams.
We were also able to sit anywhere, in any of the bleachers of bring a chair and sit right next to the fence.

We will definitely be going next year, maybe even plan to stay down there all weekend instead of coming home each night.

I had planned on going, but decided against it at the last minute because of the hot weather forecast... :(

I have made friends with Jeff Bucknum and Matt Bell that drive the #6 Sunoco Camaro...

I am a lifelong NASCAR fan, but this year since the Camaro has returned to racing, I have become a HUGE Grand Am Racing fan...

It is my new favorite form of auto racing and I hope to make the NJ race next year...

I constantly put threads in the Sports Section on Camaro5 with info supporting the races...

I have bought Sunoco Camaro and Stevenson Motorsports team t-shirts to wear proudly on race day to show my support for the teams...

I would LOVE to see any and all photos from both races this weekend...thanks!!!

[SMPdude]

Thank bkwagonss for coming out and enjoying yourself. Donna, you missed one hell of a show from the Camaro's. Sadly enough it was not a good show, lol. "We (Stevenson Motorsports) carried 4 Camaro's to the race and wrecked 6. Yes that's right six" As our team manger put it. Another way to sum it up was said by John Stevenson (team owner) "looks like KILL a Camaro weekend".
Our 6 car spun out and backed into a tire barrier on the first lap of the first practice session, damaging the LH qtr panel. Nothing the Porta Power could not help with.
Next was the 97 GT car. It was trying to avoid contact with another car when he spun and hit the wall tearing up the whole right side of the car. This was just before their Qualifying session. The 97 crew fixed the car just in time to make qualifying, the took it to the track to get P2 on the grid with the 57 car right behind with a P3.
Then the GS race starts. One hour into the GS race a car comes across the track and hit the 9 car in the LF taking the car out of the race for the day.
The the GT goes out for one more pratice, the 97 hit the wall again damaging the front end. They fix the car again in time for the race and back out it goes......then the 97 comes into contact again with another car ending its day.
At the end of the race a car makes contact with the 57 car and damages the rear of the car.
Now you think...wow what a weekend. We that was just our 4 cars.
Autohaus (GT Camaro) had contact with the wall, damanging the right qtr. We loaned them one so they could get back on track also.
Mitchum had a fire under the hood tacking them out of the race. Momentum launches an engine (BIG TIME) taking the 06 car out of the race and the 05 had rear damange but was able to finish.
Like I side......lots of action at NJMP
Make sure you watch the race this weekend to see all the action. You will not regret it.

[2010 SSRS]

cool, can't wait to ses the pics.

[BackinBlackSS/RS]

Hopefully this will be on speed channel soon. I absolutely love watching this racing and especially watching the Camaro's. They look so freaking good on the track.

[bkwagonss]

We were in one of the back corners most of the weekend, where we were told a lot of the action happens. We weren't disappointed, the passing in the tight corner was wild!
SMPdude thanks for the update from the race. Only thing wrong with watching in the back is we couldn't hear the announcer and had no idea how you were doing.
Even when you were running 1 & 2 for a while we didn't even know it.
Great thing about a DVR though, I just watched the whole Rolex race tonight and the Continental Tire race is programmed in for next Sunday.
Next year we'll come up and say hi, we weren't used to being able to walk around the pits we didn't want to get in anyones way.
It was hot (I'm sure even hotter for the drivers), but it was the best time I've ever had at a race.
Here's a link to my pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/bkwagonss/GrandAm#
It was the first time with my new camera.

Good luck to the Stevenson cars and all the Camaro!
(by the way, we did notice the Stevenson eagle on the corner of the Autohaus car)

Donna thanks for the heads up about the Sports section, I didn't even realize there was one, that's why I posted here.

["prima"Donna]

great photos, thanks for sharing...it looks like you had a great seat for the race!!!...very cool...

["prima"Donna]

Originally Posted by SMPdude

Thank bkwagonss for coming out and enjoying yourself. Donna, you missed one hell of a show from the Camaro's. Sadly enough it was not a good show, lol. "We (Stevenson Motorsports) carried 4 Camaro's to the race and wrecked 6. Yes that's right six" As our team manger put it. Another way to sum it up was said by John Stevenson (team owner) "looks like KILL a Camaro weekend".
Our 6 car spun out and backed into a tire barrier on the first lap of the first practice session, damaging the LH qtr panel. Nothing the Porta Power could not help with.
Next was the 97 GT car. It was trying to avoid contact with another car when he spun and hit the wall tearing up the whole right side of the car. This was just before their Qualifying session. The 97 crew fixed the car just in time to make qualifying, the took it to the track to get P2 on the grid with the 57 car right behind with a P3.
Then the GS race starts. One hour into the GS race a car comes across the track and hit the 9 car in the LF taking the car out of the race for the day.
The the GT goes out for one more pratice, the 97 hit the wall again damaging the front end. They fix the car again in time for the race and back out it goes......then the 97 comes into contact again with another car ending its day.
At the end of the race a car makes contact with the 57 car and damages the rear of the car.
Now you think...wow what a weekend. We that was just our 4 cars.
Autohaus (GT Camaro) had contact with the wall, damanging the right qtr. We loaned them one so they could get back on track also.
Mitchum had a fire under the hood tacking them out of the race. Momentum launches an engine (BIG TIME) taking the 06 car out of the race and the 05 had rear damange but was able to finish.
Like I side......lots of action at NJMP
Make sure you watch the race this weekend to see all the action. You will not regret it.

I followed the LIVE feed of the Continental race on the Grand-Am.com site...can't wait to see it this weekend on SPEED...
I watched the Rolex race on Sunday, and when your #57 & #97 Camaros were in P1 & P2, I was standing in the middle of my living room, wearing my Stevenson Motorsports Camaro t-shirt and jumping up and down like a crazy kid...
I also follow all updates on facebook for qualifying and practicing, so I was well aware of the many 'mishaps' all the teams experienced...
A win is right around the corner, I know it is...
Keep up the good work!!!....those Camaros are the best looking cars on the racetrack!!!...

[bkwagonss]

Originally Posted by "prima"Donna

great photos, thanks for sharing...it looks like you had a great seat for the race!!!...very cool...

SEATS! Beside the VIP box seats you can sit anywhere in any of the grandstands and get up and go to another one.
You can also bring a chair and just sit along the fence anywhere.
We also found out later that you can rent a golf cart for the day for $100 and drive it around anywhere.
I can't believe the access that's available, nothing like NASCAR.

They need more speakers around the track to hear the announcers.
And eventually I would expect a leader board or two.
Because basically my only complaint was we didn't know what the standings were during the race.

MRN was broadcasting, guess I'll have to get a set of racing headphones.

["prima"Donna]

Originally Posted by bkwagonss

SEATS! Beside the VIP box seats you can sit anywhere in any of the grandstands and get up and got to another one.
You can also bring a chair and just sit along the fence anywhere.
We also found out later that you can rent a golf cart for the day for $100 and drive it around anywhere.
I can't believe the access that's available, nothing like NASCAR.

They need more speakers around the track to hear the announcers.
And eventually I would expect a leader board or two.
Because basically my only complaint was we didn't know what the standings were during the race.

MRN was broadcasting, guess I'll have to get a set of racing headphones.

[MrsLT1PWRD]

FYI... if anyone is SERIOUSLY interested in going to this race next year and having an even BETTER time, please let me know. My hubby and I put an event together for Mid-Ohio last month and had a BLAST (see our event at http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71869)!! We can give you the contact info for the GRAND-AM folks which gets you a bunch of goodies....door prizes, discounts, special parking, MEET & GREET with the drivers/teams and more. I tried to get someone to head up the event at NJ Motorsports Park this past weekend, but didn't get any takers (here's my original post http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92452). This is something that is DEFINITELY worthwhile!!! ALL the teams really appreciated having a group of Camaro enthusiasts there and knowing they had a cheering section!!!!

[bkwagonss]

Camaro groupies huh!
I saw your post but it seemed a little too close to the event to pull it off.
I asked around the Camaro owners I've met and didn't get much interest.
I only saw one other 2010 Camaro in the parking lot all weekened.
Maybe after seeing more of the races on TV and people like us telling everyone what an awsome time we had there will be more people interested next year.
I'd like to see if we can do all that next year, I can't wait!!

[orange10s.c.]

Originally Posted by SMPdude

Thank bkwagonss for coming out and enjoying yourself. Donna, you missed one hell of a show from the Camaro's. Sadly enough it was not a good show, lol. "We (Stevenson Motorsports) carried 4 Camaro's to the race and wrecked 6. Yes that's right six" As our team manger put it. Another way to sum it up was said by John Stevenson (team owner) "looks like KILL a Camaro weekend".
Our 6 car spun out and backed into a tire barrier on the first lap of the first practice session, damaging the LH qtr panel. Nothing the Porta Power could not help with.
Next was the 97 GT car. It was trying to avoid contact with another car when he spun and hit the wall tearing up the whole right side of the car. This was just before their Qualifying session. The 97 crew fixed the car just in time to make qualifying, the took it to the track to get P2 on the grid with the 57 car right behind with a P3.
Then the GS race starts. One hour into the GS race a car comes across the track and hit the 9 car in the LF taking the car out of the race for the day.
The the GT goes out for one more pratice, the 97 hit the wall again damaging the front end. They fix the car again in time for the race and back out it goes......then the 97 comes into contact again with another car ending its day.
At the end of the race a car makes contact with the 57 car and damages the rear of the car.
Now you think...wow what a weekend. We that was just our 4 cars.
Autohaus (GT Camaro) had contact with the wall, damanging the right qtr. We loaned them one so they could get back on track also.
Mitchum had a fire under the hood tacking them out of the race. Momentum launches an engine (BIG TIME) taking the 06 car out of the race and the 05 had rear damange but was able to finish.
Like I side......lots of action at NJMP
Make sure you watch the race this weekend to see all the action. You will not regret it.

Damn yall had a bad day !!!! good luck on the next one.

["prima"Donna]

Originally Posted by MrsLT1PWRD

FYI... if anyone is SERIOUSLY interested in going to this race next year and having an even BETTER time, please let me know. My hubby and I put an event together for Mid-Ohio last month and had a BLAST (see our event at http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71869)!! We can give you the contact info for the GRAND-AM folks which gets you a bunch of goodies....door prizes, discounts, special parking, MEET & GREET with the drivers/teams and more. I tried to get someone to head up the event at NJ Motorsports Park this past weekend, but didn't get any takers (here's my original post http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92452). This is something that is DEFINITELY worthwhile!!! ALL the teams really appreciated having a group of Camaro enthusiasts there and knowing they had a cheering section!!!!

Originally Posted by bkwagonss

Camaro groupies huh!
I saw your post but it seemed a little too close to the event to pull it off.
I asked around the Camaro owners I've met and didn't get much interest.
I only saw one other 2010 Camaro in the parking lot all weekened.
Maybe after seeing more of the races on TV and people like us telling everyone what an awsome time we had there will be more people interested next year.
I'd like to see if we can do all that next year, I can't wait!!

hope to go next year....