MazdaratiRob

I just want to say thanks to everyone. Starting off with a big thanks to Levent, Kurt, and Mike for all of their help in the paddock and the pits during the race. This was one of our toughest weekends in a very long time. It seemed as though that just about everything that could go wrong did. Everyone worked really hard to get as much sorted out as we were able to do. Some of the bigger tasks were changing transmissions, fabricating new exhausts with another muffler, and repairing leaks in the fuel systems and all of that was on both cars. So again, a very BIG THANK YOU to those guys, the rest of the crew as well as SpeedSource, Blackforest, I-Moto, and the other teams that provided advise and equipment when asked.

I also wanted to thanks to all of the RX-8 club members that stopped by the paddock and apologize for not being able to spend anymore time with everyone. I really missed being able to talk to everybody about our cars and improvements since our last visit to Barber. So again thanks for taking the time to stop by and I hope you will excuse my inability to spend more time with everyone. I am sure you saw how frantic the team was trying to finish everything up before the race.

What happed to Silver8? Did he make the event?

I look forward to seeing everyone at Road Atlanta in August.

Rob

SilverEIGHT

Rob, I was on vacation in Washington and Victoria, BC. Didn't get back until 11:00 PM Saturday night. I really wanted to go but just could not work it out. Wish I could have been there to root you guys on, visit and take photos. Next year!

TrackAddict

Rob - thanks for posting. We were all looking forward to ROAR's performance and despite one of the cars not starting, the 62 seemed off to a good race working its way up through the field. Sorry to learn about the retirement though. No worries about not being able to hang out with us and chat. you had a team to run. We came to support, not distract.
Looking forward to August at RA with you and a large contingent of Georgia RX8 Club members.

olddragger

iTrader: (3)

Ditto
olddragger

dbright007

I will give a little recap - I am sure I will miss a ton....

Met up with Mr and Mrs Gimlet, Wes and Sarah, and L8 at IHOP sat morn. We had a nice little caravan of 4 Tit Grays headed down I-20. We got some looks for sure!
Met up with Val, TA and his daughter, Matt from Alabama, RX8Steve and wife showed up, Herblenny and some of the 7's guys, etc...

ROAR was really picking up spots. Didn't end so well, but was great watching them run.
We got some good paddock time and really got to check out the ROAR cars, take pics, and they took a group pic of us. Really nice folks. Rob, you guys were awesome

We also checked out Speedsource, and again, lots of nice folks, pics and signed posters. TA, really enjoyed watching your daughter check out all the cars. By the time she is ready to DE-1, I will probably still be there and can she can go flying by me.

Afternoon race was a blast watching Speedsource. Just such a great day. Lots of great folks, and great racing, beautiful weather.

Those of us that were staying the night headed off - I decided to try the directions I had and got lost deep in the hood. I mean DEEP IN THE HOOD! Wes, Sarah, Val, L8 and I eventually met up to eat some average Mexican food and laughed our *** of. Well, at least I did. We really had fun.

Fun races on Sun. Wes cooked chicken biscuits on his engine. The asswads at the track made us take the EZ-up down, so it got hot. But the early race had lots of early cautions, cars running many laps with parts dragging, etc. But still, a really nice day. Cut out during the DP race, but again, great to watch.
Bad *** rainstorm on the way home right when we were on the freaking railroad track pavement. That was interesting.

Pics to come. I had a blast. I need better sunscreen.
Gonna go look at pics now. More later..

Herblenny

Great Meeting some of you 8 owners.. And than Val for some pointers on the 8.. I'm definitely going to offer the guy what you said.

I'm sorry about us 7 owners not stay that long... We had a to meet up with few others for lunch and also had to attend our seminar.

I'd taken few pics and will post tomorrow.

I wished some of you could of made it to dinner with us... Had about 17 rotorhead at dinner (0= 8 owners).

dbright007

Sorry we couldn't meet up with you guys for dinner Herblenny. We hung out at the track pretty late, and the few of us that stayed over wouldn't have made it there till late. Looking forward to your pics! You always have some good ones.

mattrotary34

i have to say.. all of the times ive been to barbers.. this had to be the best.. by far.. thanks for the awesome time.. and of course meeting all of yall its wonderful putting a name to face now.. and again. thank you for letting me join you guys in the club gathering.. i plan on doing it again next time around.. peace. and safe driving

L8APEX

I had a blast. I took over 500 pictures, and then the battery died. I will try to post some the the relevant pictures of 8's this a.m.

The caravan over was fun, 4 grays in a line was pretty cool, and it was fun, got to hear Gimlet's new exhaust setup, and now I know I have to have the RP high-flo cat. it sounded really nice.

The racing was good, the spectating in the pits was good, and the camaraderie was great. Can't wait to do it again. We will have to get a big group together for the Petit this year.

valpac

iTrader: (2)

I second what everyone else posted. While the group was smaller it was no less fun. Time in the paddock with Roar was cool. You could definitely tell they had lots to do and we were underfoot. But they still spent time with us. Class.

Speedsource, again, welcomed us like relatives and gave us some great posters. Their cars did great, too even though last lap, last turn passes are tough to take.
http://results.speedtv.com/results.php?schedule_id=762

The DP race was good. But you knew who would take it (barring any mechanic/driver screw-ups) The 99 Gainsco car was/is awesome.
http://results.speedtv.com/results.php?schedule_id=642
Makes the signed hats and poster that much sweeter. John Fogarty/Alex Gurney had a makeshift autograph session in the Car Corral. And being the swag ho that I am I managed a couple hats and a poster.

I took a ton of pix that I have to sort thru.

And on to next year...

Herblenny

Here are some pics..

Herblenny

And this one just for Val..

legokcen

With that bulging fender and round hood, it almost looks like an old VW Beetle....

SilverEIGHT

Haha, it does!

valpac

iTrader: (2)

thanks phil.

Herblenny

NP Val! FYI, I'm part of the club now.

valpac

iTrader: (2)

cool, man. did you get the 8? if you did, post them pix.

Herblenny

Val, Here is one teaser pic...

L8APEX

looks good, and already has an MS nose, nice choice. rare color too.