Hot laps around Watkins Glen Intn'l in M3
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Hot laps around Watkins Glen Intn'l in M3
So as some of you know, my brother is the president of Watkins Glen International. He spearheaded an $11M track re-pave done over the last 8 months. Last Friday, Bob Varsha emceed the official reopening of the track introducing Andy Lally and Derek Bell amongst others. Michael hired BMW to bring a couple M3's to the track and give the guests hot laps. Turn 1 we entered at about 80 mph, by the time we got to the Esses going uphill we were headed towards 100-110. On the back straight just before the chicane we hit 150. The drivers were BMW instructors and mine was a racer as well. Here's the lap, tons of fun.
and here's lap 2 about an hour later:
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Ho.Lee.Crap.
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Michael and Derek Bell, OBE
Bob Varsha, Andy Lally, Derek Bell, Michael, Sen. O'Meara and Tom Trainor, Corning, Inc. exec.
Varsha was the MC.
Bell was the master of hilarity.
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I told Derek about the time I asked for his autograph at a 6 Hour at the Glen race in the pits. He said "only if you help me celebrate my birthday and have some of my cake with me" which was in the transporter with the team and his friends-so I did. He said he remembered that birthday (he won). Here we are yukking it up a bit.
Opening weekend you can take 3 laps around the track for a $25 donation. That money is given to charities like the Southern Tier Food Bank to help feed the impoverished. This year was a record year for the event started by my brother when he became Prez.
http://www.twcnews.com/nys/binghamto...rnational.html
Opening weekend you can take 3 laps around the track for a $25 donation. That money is given to charities like the Southern Tier Food Bank to help feed the impoverished. This year was a record year for the event started by my brother when he became Prez.
http://www.twcnews.com/nys/binghamto...rnational.html
Last edited by Chief F1 Fan; 04-18-2016 at 06:23 PM.
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Driving or riding at the Glen is always fun. We had driven around on opening day in May a few times. you don't get to go that fast, but it's fun. The last time i had seen a race there was in 1992 when Jeff Gordon was starting his stock car career.
Your brother has a really cool job. Now we visit the wineries.
Your brother has a really cool job. Now we visit the wineries.
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Very cool. Thanks for sharing.
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glad everyone enjoys and thanks for the comments!
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Yes he did but Marcos Ambrose almost won the Nationwide Race on Saturday then the Cheez-355 the next day one weekend a couple years ago.
Last edited by Chief F1 Fan; 04-19-2016 at 08:19 PM.
#15
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freshly paved track + M3 .... Niceeee
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Damn that's fuggin awesome
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I told Derek about the time I asked for his autograph at a 6 Hour at the Glen race in the pits. He said "only if you help me celebrate my birthday and have some of my cake with me" which was in the transporter with the team and his friends-so I did. He said he remembered that birthday (he won). Here we are yukking it up a bit.
Opening weekend you can take 3 laps around the track for a $25 donation. That money is given to charities like the Southern Tier Food Bank to help feed the impoverished. This year was a record year for the event started by my brother when he became Prez.
Record-Setting Opening Weekend at Watkins Glen International
Opening weekend you can take 3 laps around the track for a $25 donation. That money is given to charities like the Southern Tier Food Bank to help feed the impoverished. This year was a record year for the event started by my brother when he became Prez.
Record-Setting Opening Weekend at Watkins Glen International
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Love hearing stories like that Legend. He joked about how when he drove Ferrari sportscars, Il Commendatore said to his drivers "no sex for at least a week before a race." Derek said in response, "but there's a race every week!
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^ I found this nice pic of Bell, Ickx, their families and Ferry Porsche at LeMans '81. Wonder what Ferry's rules were?
http://www.derekbell.com/photo/le-mans-group-1981
http://www.derekbell.com/photo/le-mans-group-1981
Last edited by Legend2TL; 04-22-2016 at 01:12 PM.
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oh nice!!! And nice on Derek Bell too.
love racing that track!!! on the video games.
love racing that track!!! on the video games.
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srika, interesting story: When Microsoft called my brother and said they chose the Glen for the new Forza game, there was only 4 people on his team that knew it counting him. Then MS called and said "we're coming _____, 2015, clear the track." Michael had to tell the local Sheriff that he couldn't have his event at the track that day with no explanation. MS shows up with this huge camera rig that took thousands and thousands of pictures and video clips to use to replicate the track. Again, the warning from MS was if you tell anyone or this gets out, the track gets taken off the game. Well, it's on the game obviously for you gamers' enjoyment. The track was replicated so minutely that my brother said all the marks on the track he uses to line up his apexes were on the game. Now that the track has been re-paved, all those marks are gone and he has to learn the track again. He takes a hopped up Camry with a full roll cage, racing engine, brakes, etc. around the track at his leisure. Talk about a cool job sometimes!