SEBRING TRACK DAY MAY 5-6, 2001

(all photos and copy by Wei-Shen Chin)

OK, so it won't pass tech inspection but this cart SURE is FAST! (Scott McKay and his new toy)

Beautiful weather greeted well over 150 participants for our first Sebring track event of the 2001 season.  This is our HOME track and the turnout was fabulous.   We had a wide range of cars from 8L Vipers to a small group of S2000s.  We had the largest group of novice drivers so far....30.  Our instructors were busy all day and registration was a flurry of activity from the opening bell.

The Chateau Elan parking lot was tech inspection central with four staffers diligently looking over 40 cars and 40 helmets.  We all adjourned for a wonderful buffet dinner and generalized goofing off in the Chateau Lounge realizing that a 6am wake-up call was just around the corner.

(Vince Howard and Petra Scott at our registration table)

(Deborah "Vanna" Howard displaying the Chin Motorsports botique and our new company vehicle, a trusty Chrysler Town and Country minivan with 104K miles....yes a Chrysler will go THAT far)

(checking out the NSX albums at registration....Tom Hardy with radio in hand!)

(cars coming back in after parade lap one...photo by Brian Rasche)

Driver Eric Mashburn and his instructor get ready to head out

Jeff Albertine (driver) and Cliff Huff are just a BLUR accelerating out of the carousel (turn 4)

Following cars into turn 15 just before the back straight (photo by Jeff Albertine)

Gary Jensen and I had fun in our Formula Mazdas.....fastest laps in the 2:23 range....but we're just beginners (to put this into perspective, most of the novice drivers were around 3:00, the best NSXs around 2:35....and the national FM guys....how about 2:10!!)

Hohum....another dull boring day in turn 3.  We had only one off track incident with damage.  Not bad for a completely full event with a total of 60 cars running 5 hours each!

The usual suspects....my NSX buddies....and you guys are ready to drive????

Greg McCarthy and his NSX (left) with Elaine and Bob Fournier and his crew...I took Carl (far right) for a ride....NOW you know why I love the 400hp slick-shod Brembo'd C-NSX so much....particularly that cleverly placed door handle that keeps you on YOUR side of the car during those 1-G turns!

Larry and Tom came down from Minneapolis to participate in our arrive and drive!

Exiting the carousel, one of the longest slowest late-apex corners on the planet....see all that bare dirt at the exit on the right...hmmm....wonder why no grass grows there......must be the drought!

Aaron Weiss blasts into the carousel in his silver 993

Thumbs up for a Spec Racer passing by on the back straight (photo by Jeff Albertine)

The BaddddAsssss Viper RT-10 launching onto the straight

Flash to pass...QUICK!  Exiting turn 2 and entering the carousel

I....ahh....spun a little and bounced off a truck.....yeah that's it! (Carl's motorized vehicle will need body and engine repairs)

Three instructors, a lady race car driver, and a novice student goofing off....aren't you guys supposed to out on the track?

HEY....TAKE MY PICTURE!!!!   Ian Stewart and his Miata...

Ken Tozier in his #911 911 or is that 993 IXIXIII ??

A beautiful yellow S2K turning left, compressing right

M3 coupe in a similar spot....

Let's play follow the leader....Ernie Wilding has his running lights on (in the back)

The same Ernie Wilding giving another guest a "wild" ride...

Carl provides Gary with complicated mechanical assistance when his FM started "missing"

(wide angle self-portrait) Yours truly saying "you're the weakest link....goodbye" and see you all at ROEBLING ROAD JUNE 2-3....

NOTE:  I have many more photos of virtually all the cars.  If you are interested in getting copies of these digital pics, please drop me a note at wchin@ctinet.net, describe your car and car number.   I'll see what I have.  Each file is about 400kB so hopefully you have a fast connection!