Any Corvette Racing fan going to the ALMS LB race? An invite with the Corvette Race Team and the NCM at Long Beach! http://www.corvettemuseum.org/registration/longbeach/info.shtml


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2012 Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series At Long Beach

Street Course , Long Beach, California, USA
April 13 - 14, 2012

Long Beach info:

TICKET INFO: 888-82-SPEED (77333) DEADLINE APRIL 5, 2012
http://www.gplb.com/downloads/2012%20DiscountOffer_vCC.pdf

SEBRING ENTRIES:
NOT POSTED BUT APPEARS TO BE 36 ENTRANTS DUE TO PADDOCK CONTRAINTS.

SCHEDULE:
http://www.imsaracing.net/2012/events ... e%20and%20Supp%20Regs.pdf

TRACK MAP
http://www.imsaracing.net/2012/events ... 20beach/circuit%20map.pdf

CORVETTE CORRAL:
NOT POSTED YET

2012 SPOTTERS GUIDE:
http://www.spotterguides.com/

RADIO FREQUENCIES:
http://lastturnclub.com/index.php?opt ... sk=view&id=788&Itemid=111

WEATHER:
http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/outdoors/weekend/90806

RACE TO WIN A CORVETTE AND TRIP TO LE MANS!
Fans can enter for a chance to win 2013 Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible, with the 60th Anniversary package, and a trip for two to Le Mans to attend next year’s race. Corvette and American Le Mans Series fans can visit www.RaceToWinCorvette.com now through June 20, 2012 to enter.

The upside of Long Beach? Infrastructure.

I live about 10 miles north of Long Beach, in San Pedro. Both towns boarder what is essentially the same port, the Port of Los Angeles.

Being surrounded by LA, as Long Beach is, we have tons of hotels, tons of food options and nearly unlimited cell access. If you have read the issues with Sebring, these issues are all solved at LB.

The downside to LB, no camping. There simply isn't space. The upside? Drive 10 miles and hotel rooms get cheap as sin. This is such a massive area, that short of being within walking distance do you get nailed with high hotel bills.

Please refer to the attached map for some of the locations. The big red circle is an approximately 20 miles from San Pedro. The pin mark is actually kinda close to where I live. If you consider coming, a few nearby areas to check hotels in:

Torrance, Gardena, San Pedro, Seal Beach, LAX area (El Segundo to the south and Marina Del Rey to the north). I wouldn't stay in Compton or Wilmington. Also, Manhattan, Redondo, and Hermosa Beaches are nice, but pricey! There are a couple of hotels on the 405 that would make for easy access. There is a Marriott property on 190th Street in Torrance that is real close to a freeway access. Do a route from LAX to Long Beach and look for hotels along that route.

As for air travel, there are a number of airports, plus a couple that are not on the map below. On the map, LAX, Long Beach and John Wayne. Outside the map are Ontario and Burbank.

Regardless of where you are staying, the best way to get to the race is via the freeways. There are street routes, but they are not as well marked, and you don't want to get lost in some of these neighbourhoods.

Use the 710 to get into LB proper. The arrow pointing north on the coast, is pointing at where the race is held.

In the second map, there is a close up of the track area and where the Corral has been the last few races. It could move, but I kinda doubt it. There are spaces for about 100 Vettes, and a few more will be parked down the middle. If it's like the past, the overflow is really nice parking shared with all the exotics - Ferrari, Porsche, Vette, etc.

The red circle is about where the corral and parking are located. The red line to the right of the map is where one must go off road to get to the parking area!

Each year, the turn out gets better and better.

If you are in SoCal, I recommend you come to at least one LBGP.

I will be there for Friday and Saturday, at least. I may do Sunday, donno yet.

Whew... any questions?

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Ok... it is sad... but the weather looks downright crappy for Friday.

I find it hard to believe, but it sure has all the makings for a washout. We shall find out, eh?

As it stands, I plan on being there both days, but only have a corral pass for Friday, so far. I am wondering if I might be able to get a Saturday pass from a disgusted fan. Or from the corral without car access... never know.

If you are coming to the race, you will find me in the GA seating at the far end of the front straight. This is where the ALMS cars pit.

Have you signed up yet? Win a Corvette and trip to Le Mans!

http://www.alms.com/contest



2012 Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series At Long Beach

Street Course , Long Beach, California, USA
April 13 - 14, 2012

ESPN3 Qualifying Stream April 13th at 7:00 PM CDT

ESPN2 TV Broadcast April 14th at 6:30 PM CDT

ESPN3 Race Stream April 14th at 6:15 PM CDT

U.S. residents: http://espn.go.com/espn3/index
http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index/_/source/espn3/

non-U.S. residents: http://americanlemans.com/index.php
http://www.alms.com/alms-tv

Justin TV link: http://www.justin.tv/rampageturke2


LIVE TIMING:
http://www.imsaracing.net/2003/lt/ltc.html
http://scoring.alms.com/

Live Timing for mobile device:
http://scoring.alms.com/mobile.html

LONG BEACH PIT NOTES:
http://twitter.com/almsnotes

RADIO ALMS
http://www.americanlemans.com/

Long Beach Entry List
http://www.imsaracing.net/2012/events ... 0Long%20Beach%20Entry.pdf

Spotters Guide:
http://www.andyblackmoredesign.com/

Long Beach Corvette Corral:
http://www.alms.com/sites/default/fil ... %20Beach%20Schedule_0.pdf

Long Beach Race Schedule:
http://www.imsaracing.net/2012/events ... e%20and%20Supp%20Regs.pdf

Corvettes to Start Second and Third on Streets of Long Beach



Grid Set by Championship Points as Rain Washes Out Qualifying for Second Round of ALMS



LONG BEACH, Calif., April 13, 2012 – The streets of Long Beach were awash today as qualifying for Saturday's two-hour American Le Mans Series at Long Beach was canceled due to rain and standing water on the temporary circuit. With the starting grid consequently determined by championship points, the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R driven by Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia will start second in the GT category, and the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R of Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner will start third.



Today's early-morning practice session was shortened by red flags and intermittent downpours, limiting the Corvettes to less than two-dozen laps in two hours. Eight hours later, qualifying began under sunny skies, but the rain returned shortly after the start of the 15-minute session for the GT entries. Race officials red-flagged the session and subsequently abandoned qualifying. In accordance with IMSA regulations, the grid was then set on championship points.



Gavin turned a time at 1:32.641 in two flying laps, the fourth quickest time in the rain-shortened session. "It was looking good on the first couple of laps," he said. "Our tires were taking a little time to come in with the cold track, but we had a good car and I was catching the cars ahead of me quickly. Then it really started raining as I came down the front straight. At that point I could see the mist on the circuit, cars were struggling to stop and were going down the escape roads. I knew the session would be red-flagged and thought we'd have to start wherever we were, P4 at the time. Subsequently the officials abandoned the session and we'll start on points instead.



"It’s a shame we didn't get a full run in the dry here, but I feel that the car is going to be good," Gavin continued. "I feel optimistic about the race tomorrow. I know the Corvette Racing crew is doing an excellent job setting up the car, and I'll take our Corvette over any other car in the field straight off the truck."



Magnussen was fifth quickest in two timed laps with a 1:32.872, but the No. 3 Corvette C6.R will start second based on its runner-up finish in the season-opening Sebring 12-hour race. The forecast for the race is dry.



"Today's qualifying just adds to the uncertainty for tomorrow's race," Magnussen said. "Qualifying is not a good guide because the track was damp, it was sprinkling from the start. So we've really had one timed lap, on slicks, when it was wet. We'll go into the race like we haven't been here at all."



Magnussen posted back-to-back runner-up finishes in Long Beach in the last two years, and the Dane is optimistic that he can improve in tomorrow's race.



"Usually we have a good setup and the Corvettes are strong here," he said. "Hopefully we can get through the beginning of the race, settle into a good pace, and be at the front at the end so we can fight for a win."



ESPN2 will broadcast the American Le Mans Series at Long Beach live at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 14. The 2-hour race will be carried simultaneously on ESPN3.com.



American Le Mans Series at Long Beach GT Qualifying (Top 10)

Grid set by championship points after qualifying canceled due to rain

Pos./Car No./Drivers/Car

1. 56 Mueller/Hand, BMW E92 M3

2. 3 Magnussen/Garcia, Corvette C6.R

3. 4 Gavin/Milner, Corvette C6.R

4. 55 Mueller/Auberlen, BMW E92 M3

5. 48 Miller/Maassen, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR

6. 44 Neiman/Holzer, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR

7. 02 Brown/Cosmo, Ferrari F458 Italia

8. 17 Henzler/Sellers, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR

9. 01 Sharp/van Overbeek, Ferrari 458 Italia

10. 45 Bergmeister/Long, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR

Long Beach this year, was, well, disappointing... and I don't blame them, it's all on me.

First fail, I waited too long and didn't get Corral passes for today. This is the downside of self employment and making sure you have the free time to go. Which meant I parked somewhere near the 710 freeway. Most of you might be aware, but my lower back has been giving me grief, and the extra walking didn't help.

I did get to go through the vendors at the convention center, that was neat. Lots of cool displays.

I did have Corral passes for yesterday, and I could have gotten in today, but I couldn't park there. That was the real rub. But yesterday was a weather washout. To get to any of the corrals, you have to drive over the beach! Well, the rain had turned that gnarly. I made it ok, but my wheels are still packed. Tomorrow, I am taking the car through the wash to make sure I don't get any salt staining. Pop up the 2nd picture and you will see what I mean (red lines).

Looking at that same map, to give you an idea, I was parked on the far left side of the that picture... where Ocean blvd fades off the photo. I was on the right side of the water, tho... The start finish line is kinda between the words "circuit" and "long" on the map on Shoreline Dr.

And it was cold and windy yesterday. They actually cancelled qualifying. The weather today was cool, but the skies were crystal clear. If you watched on TV, it was a lovely to see in person as it was to see on TV. Seriously; just cool, about 60F. Compared to last year, when it was 90F! Make up your mind!!!

So at about 2:30, I decided to leave the convention center and head towards the corral and then the paddock... when I realized two things, a) my back was killing me and b) (the other fail) I HAD FORGOTTEN TO PUT MEMORY IN MY CAMERA!!!

No pictures for you, asshole.

It was at that time, I was totally disgusted with myself, and decided to go home and watch the race on TV... I wasn't destined to do what I wanted, which was get some cool photos, so why subject myself to the worst parking exit after the race...

For me to get out, I would have to follow W Shoreline drive going TO the track area, then uturn around at this big parking garage, then head back towards the 710... and this area was simply FULL of cars...

So... memo to self and to others, if you are going to the LBGP, make sure you have great parking. For ALMS, bring your Vette. For Indy, I don't know what to suggest. Also, make sure you don't have a cranky back; I am sure the weather the last couple of days didn't help it one bit, because it barely complained last month at Sebring...

One last thing. I am going to send a note to the LBGP organizers, but they desparetly need to update their directions into the track. They are printed on the back of the parking pass (I followed them because I didn't know exactly where I was going to be parked). The exits they tell you to take off the 710? Well, they don't exist anymore - RENAMED! I am glad I knew how to get to the general area I was trying to get to, but for a new visitor, it could have been dicey. And they need to add 710 to their instructions. They simply call it the "Long Beach Freeway", which, again, is great for locals, sucks for the visitors...



Enough of my pity party...

.... Ok, I'll say something stupid about parking info: The larger Corvette Clubs in your area probably have directions and specific parking info for the corral and surrounding track area? I'm sure that someone in their group would have given you specific information to make that part easier.

I know that we work with the Corvette Corral organizers and the Grand Prix people to get this info as soon as it is available. We are working it right now getting our foot in the door for the Baltimore Grand Prix later in the summer/fall. If another Vette guy called us, we would give him the same parking info so he could join us at the paddock area. I'm not sure how LBGP is laid out but in Baltimore last year the Corvette Corral was directly adjacent to the paddock and Corvette Racing.

Did you get to see any of the race? I missed all but a few short parts. It appears Gavin did good though!

Andy, you really need to hit Laguna or Infineon, much less pain.
You still have to walk but it's all on track property.

Corvette Racing Wins Long Beach ALMS



Gavin and Milner Score GT Victory on Streets of Long Beach; Magnussen and Garcia Finish Fourth in Battered Corvette



LONG BEACH, Calif., April 14, 2012 – Corvette Racing drivers Tommy Milner and Oliver Gavin won a hard-fought battle in the streets of Long Beach today, claiming a GT class victory in the second round of the American Le Mans Series. The pair completed 84 laps on the 1.968-mile temporary circuit in the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R, finishing 4.26 seconds ahead of the runner-up No. 56 BMW. Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen brought their No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R home in fourth place after a first-lap accident left their car battered and bruised.



The win was the first for the Milner/Gavin driver combination, and Milner's first career ALMS victory. "Finally a win!" exclaimed the 26-year-old racer. "I've been racing in the ALMS since 2006, and I've had podium finishes and great races. I felt confident that we had a car today that would be competitive and comfortable to drive. We were racing hard, but I kept a gap around me and it worked out well this time. Today the Corvette Racing team had the best combination, and I'm very happy to be part of that."



Milner started the No. 4 Corvette third on the GT grid after qualifying was canceled due to rain. He avoided a first-lap chain reaction accident that damaged the sister Corvette C6.R, and then set off in pursuit of the class-leading No. 56 BMW. Milner passed for the lead at 24 minutes into the two-hour race, and then surrendered the point to the No. 01 Ferrari before the first and only pit stop. Gavin drove the second stint, moving from third to first with 45 minutes remaining after passing Scott Sharp's Ferrari and Dirk Mueller's BMW.



"Tommy did a brilliant job of staying out of trouble at the start, and that was the key to our race," Gavin said. "If he'd been caught up in all of that, we'd have been struggling. Tommy did all the hard work at the start and he handed the car over to me in perfect condition. The car was spectacular straight off the truck thanks to the work of the Corvette Racing engineering team and crew.



"I managed to get past the Ferrari pretty quickly and caught up to the BMW. Dirk was making it a little difficult, but I got on the inside and squeezed through. After that it was all about looking after the tires. Michelin did a fantastic job and we're very pleased with the tire performance. I'm delighted to be in the car with Tommy for his first ALMS win."



Garcia started the No. 3 Corvette C6.R from second on the grid, but had yet to drive a lap at Long Beach on a dry track. When a pair of prototypes tangled on the first lap, the closely following pack of GT cars accordioned. Garcia made contact with the car ahead of him, and was in turn hit by the car behind him. The chain reaction accident left the Corvette with a damaged front fascia, a missing hood, a broken rear wing, and a cracked diffuser. In spite of the altered aerodynamics, Garcia ran second for 12 laps before ceding the position to Milner.



"Everything was a little wild, especially with me not knowing the track very well," Garcia said. "I don't know how much losing the hood hurt us, but I was struggling with understeer. The Corvette is a very strong car – that's a good thing."



Garcia handed off the battered car to Magnussen under a full-course caution shortly before the halfway point. After challenging the No. 56 BMW for second, Magnussen was passed by the No. 01 Ferrari in the closing minutes.



"The car was a handful, but we hung on to the end," Magnussen said. "When I got in the car I was as fast as anybody, but I got caught up in a lot traffic. The aero downforce was gone after the first-lap incident – I made the tires last for a long time, but I was fighting hard with the BMW and in the end I didn't have anything left. If the car hadn't been damaged, we'd have been in with a good chance for a win."



The victory was Corvette Racing's first in the GT category in Long Beach, and its fourth since the team moved from the GT1 class in 2009.



"We felt very good about our baseline setup going into this event," said Doug Louth, Corvette Racing engineering director. "We didn't make any significant changes all weekend. The car engineers, Chuck Houghton and Kyle Millay, made major gains with our street course package at Baltimore last year, and today's result was a continuation of that success.



"Track conditions were a challenge early in the race with only one day of running," Louth noted. "The Long Beach circuit historically changes over the course of the weekend and tire performance and wear improve. After the track came in, we were good to go – our Michelin tires did the trick. All four drivers were exceptional today – especially Antonio, who had never turned a lap here in the dry until the first lap of the race."



"Today's race underscores just how good the engineering team and crew are at Corvette Racing," said Doug Fehan, Corvette Racing program manager. "We had absolutely zero track time in the dry, yet both cars moved immediately to the front. That is a testament to the quality of this team."



Corvette Racing's next race is the six-hour American Le Mans Monterey at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on Saturday, May 12.



American Le Mans Series at Long Beach GT Results (Top 10)

Pos./Car No./Drivers/Car/Laps

1. 4 Gavin/Milner, Corvette C6.R, 84

2. 56 Mueller/Hand, BMW E92 M3, 84

3. 01 Sharp/van Overbeek, Ferrari 458 Italia, 84

4. 3 Magnussen/Garcia, Corvette C6.R, 84

5. 007 Fernandez/Turner, Aston Martin Vantage 83

6. 17 Henzler/Sellers, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 83

7. 45 Bergmeister/Long, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 83

8. 48 Miller/Maassen, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 83

9. 44 Neiman/Holzer, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 81

10. 02 Brown/Cosmo, Ferrari F458 Italia, 80

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Stupid parking: It was really my fault for being late in ordering tix. I had no idea that the parking I was getting was nothing more than one long street with cards nosed in on both sides! At the same time, we were sharing space with all sorts of trucks and haulers.

The Corvette Corral has the best parking around, no question. If you look at the map, it's right behind the front straight.

This was, by far, a comedy if my errors and bad weather.

I watched the entire race from home, after finding my camera without memory, the entire experience just fell out of favor... odd how that happens... toss in my aching back, and I was about done. Oh, and I didn't mention this, my stomach wasn't feeling all that sporty, either, so something had to give. As I said, a comedy of errors.

Next year, I will be parking at the Corral on both days. No questions asked. And if Corvette isn't racing? I won't be going. I will still watch on TV, but I won't be going. At the same time, the Corral was still full on Friday and I am sure packed on Saturday. So the popularity is still there, in spades.

From where I parked to where I had to get to enter the track was 1 mile. They did have shuttles for that part of the trip.

I then went into the convention center and spent the next 3+
hours checking out the various sights and vendor displays. This was MOST EXCELLENT! LB State had their SAE project cars out, Motul was there, Maguier's wax, Tamiya, auto art/posters, car customizers, time attack sanctioning body, and other like vendors. Very good variety and quality. I wish the LA Auto show's aftermarket area was this varied and interesting.

From the convention center to the paddock is what killed me... With the limited routes - having to go over the track in multiple places - it would have been another mile of hiking and by then, my back was toast.

The map lays out my annoyance. Again, the road I was parked on was full of cars, parked very randomly, intermixed with haulers and such. The red line as a driving route is approximate, but could you imagine the traffic upon end of race? At least I can hang in the corral for a bit! The corral exit rocks, cause I can take surface streets.

Also remember, just because the map says I can go somewhere, roads are closed and limited on race day. I don't know what all was really open or not.

The memo to self is simple: Get Corral passes... lose weight so my back doesn't go out. I am not blaming any of this - save the outdated directions on the back of the parking pass - on the organization. They did fine... I just wasn't thrilled with some of the results and my own pleasure was dinged by a back back and no camera memory. It really sucks when you plan on taking a few hundred pics and realize you are without the tool to do it. That's a let down.

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On my list. I want to do Laguna next month, if possible.

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Don't be so hard on self.... You and I have so many similarities. I wish I lived nearby we could commiserate.

At least you had some good vendors to check out. We did not. I hope this year brings some better vendors to the Baltimore Grand Prix.

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Walking up the hill to the corkscrew is a bitch.

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A friend has a trailer she takes to the ALMS/GrandAm races.

Her name is Lil and is an older French lady. Lots of Euro items, many books and die cast, but also a lot of stickers/decals.

I know she will be at Baltimore.