LUFT 10, At Universal Studios Backlot, The Air Era Was Breathtaking

Image Credit: Albert Wong (2024)

LUFT 10, At Universal Studios Backlot, The Air Era Was Breathtaking

Luftgekühlt, a marque display in its tenth year - LUFT 10, held at the iconic Universal Studios Backlot, was a celebration of the air-cooled Porsche era in a setting as cinematic as the cars themselves. An Octoberfest celebration of a German marque in the most dramatic way (event held October 5, 2024).

Image Credit: Lou Leto (2024)

The event, founded by Patrick Long and curated by renowned photographer and filmmaker Jeff Zwart, brought these timeless machines into a realm where they could be appreciated not just as cars, but as pieces of art. With the backdrop of movie sets, familiar yet surreal in their detail, this year's Luftgekühlt brought together automotive enthusiasts and artists alike in a way that transcended the typical car show experience.

Image Credit: Albert Wong (2024)

The air-cooled Porsches on display ranged from early 356 models to the legendary 917 race car, with nearly every variation of the 914, 550, and 911 in between. Attendees were encouraged to walk around each vehicle, giving them a chance to study every curve, contour, and color. Whether it was the sleek silhouette of a 550 Spyder or the muscular lines of a 911 Turbo, the craftsmanship of these classic machines was on full display, free from barriers and placards that might distract from the aesthetic experience. Visitors could discover the subtle details of each car, appreciating rare hues and custom finishes in a setting that felt intimate despite the event’s large scale.

Image Credit: Albert Wong (2024)

What set LUFT 10 apart from other automotive events was the seamless integration of these legendary cars into the environment of Universal’s backlot. The juxtaposition of timeless Porsches against the faux cityscapes of New York streets and European plazas created a surreal atmosphere, where the cars seemed to inhabit a dream-like world. 

Image Credit: Albert Wong (2024)

Each scene felt carefully crafted, as if the cars were actors placed in their perfect roles. It was an experience designed not just to showcase the vehicles, but to create a dialogue between art, history, and engineering.

Image Credit: Albert Wong (2024)

Photographers, both amateur and professional, found themselves in a playground of possibilities, with the challenge of capturing the perfect shot as the light shifted throughout the day. Unlike traditional car shows that rely on placards to provide information, Luftgekühlt kept distractions to a minimum by offering a simple QR code on each windshield. This left the cars to speak for themselves, allowing the visitors to focus on the form and beauty of the machines without the intrusion of excessive signage. The growing crowds made photography a test of patience, but those who waited for the right moment were rewarded with stunning images that captured the cars in their full glory.

Full photo album / CLICK Image >>> - all images by Albert Wong (2024)

The atmosphere was one of quiet reverence, where enthusiasts of all ages wandered the backlot with a sense of awe. Luftgekühlt is not just an event for Porsche aficionados; it’s a gathering where the art of automotive design is celebrated. The event attracts people from all walks of life, from seasoned collectors to younger fans just discovering the brand’s legacy. This shared passion for air-cooled Porsches creates a unique sense of community, where conversations about engine types and body styles blend seamlessly with discussions of aesthetics and culture.

Image Credit: Lou Leto (2024)

Though this is always a planned one-day event, Luftgekühlt offered a concentrated dose of nostalgia and inspiration that lingers long after the cars have been packed up and driven away. It’s an outdoor museum, where each car is a piece of rolling art, and every attendee becomes a curator of sorts, exploring the legacy of one of the world’s most iconic automotive brands. The air-cooled Porsche era may be a thing of the past, but at Luftgekühlt, it feels as fresh and relevant as ever.

Image Credit: Lou Leto (2024)

The magic of Luftgekühlt lies in its ability to take something familiar—an iconic car brand—and present it in a way that feels new and exciting. By situating the event in a film studio backlot, the organizers tapped into the sense of wonder and creativity that comes with Hollywood. The cars were no longer just machines; they were characters in a story that was both timeless and ever-evolving. The setting elevated the experience, turning what could have been just another car show into a cultural event.

Image Credit: Albert Wong (2024)

For those lucky enough to attend, LUFT 10 was not just about the cars, but about the experience of seeing them in a whole new light. It was a reminder that the passion for these machines transcends time, and that the air-cooled era, though long gone, continues to inspire and captivate new generations of enthusiasts. Each Porsche on display was a testament to the enduring appeal of design, engineering, and the sheer joy of driving. And in the context of Universal Studios’ backlot, these cars became something more—icons of a bygone era brought to life once again.
[ht: Lou Leto, Albert Wong - reflections and images]

... notes from The EDJE

FEATURED ARTICLE >>>

TAGS: LUFT 10, Luftgekühlt, Patrick Long, Jeff Zwart, Universal Studios, Backlot, Hollywood, Emory, RUF, Jerry Seinfeld, Lou Leto, Albert Wong, Octoberfest, The EDJE

Patrick Long's #Luft6 Outdoes Itself With Movieset Backdrop Location

Not your usual car show #luftgekühlt #luft6 — Not your usual custom Porsche vision with the Emory Motorsports 356 RSR on display at Universal Studios Hollywood (center left). Image Credit: Stan Kaplan via FB (2019)

Patrick Long's #Luft6 Outdoes Itself With Movieset Backdrop Location

Oh, to be in Los Angeles and a Porsche automobile marque lover at the beginning of the month of May.

What can best described as an annual Porsche cars & coffee carshow tradition on steroids, #Luft6, or Luftgekühlt (pronounced like "looft-guh-kyoolt" - eh, so-so) which is German for “air cooled,” got it's start as a dream of standout American Porsche factory race car driver, and local SoCal boy, Patrick Long along with noted Southern California creative director Howie Idelson.

This event has a preview party which starts the evening before at The Petersen Automotive Museum. This gathering starts out as a typical Petersen parking roof-top drive in but since this serves a a warm-up for the "Luft" ... nothing seems typical anymore.

Take, for example, this very unique MOMO 356 RSR Outlaw built by Emory Motorsports whose operation is located near McMinnville, Oregon.

As captured here by Petersen photographer Ted Seven, the MOMO 356 RSR Outlaw was sitting in the Petersen Vault before being revealed to all who joined in for the pre-Luftgekühlt 6 gathering.

This excerpted and edited from  Gauge Media Group Inc. -

MOMO Porsche 356 RSR OUTLAW BY EMORY MOTORSPORTS
September 28, 2018

MOMO, in collaboration with Rod Emory at Emory Motorsports, was delighted to unveil the MOMO 356 RSR Outlaw at its public debut during Rennsport Reunion VI at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Rennsport Reunion, Porsche’s heritage event, was the perfect backdrop to reveal this project, which honored MOMO’s 50-year history with Porsche enthusiasts.

The concept for this very special sports car dates back to 2012 when Porsche 356 specialist Rod Emory imagined the ultimate 356, one worthy of Porsche’s RSR designation in reference to the legendary 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR. A rendering was posted to social media and led to a call from Henrique Cisneros, Chairman of MOMO Automotive Group in 2014. His aims were clear: “It needed to have cool MOMO wheels and spit flames from the exhaust,” Rod recalled of the conversation.
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Drawing inspiration from MOMO’s classic five-spoke center lock wheels fitted to the Porsche 935 and 962 race cars of the 1970s and ’80s. The result is the MOMO Heritage 5 wheel, which provides a focal point for the MOMO 356 RSR Outlaw.

The wheels measure 17×7” front and 17×8” rear, fitted using original Porsche 911 RSR centerlock hubs. A crowd pleaser since its first public appearance at the 2017 SEMA show, the MOMO Heritage 5 wheel was the basis for the MOMO Heritage 6 wheel launched earlier this year.

Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires – the Italian company’s stickiest road-racing compound – were fitted to all four corners, with 225/45 ZR17 specified for the front and 255/40 ZR17 on the rear.
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MORE Build Particulars >>>
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The MOMO 356 RSR Outlaw by Emory Motorsports debuted at Rennsport Reunion VI where enthusiasts were able to see it in the MOMO booth. The car also appeared at SEMA 2018, where it showcased MOMO products and promoted the brand.
[Reference Here]

This was the first time this special "one of" car created for MOMO will be seen 100% finished and complete - for everything Luftgekühlt 6.

The other grand output from this very special cars & coffee marque party is the photographic images shared on social media.

Best image seen that encapsulates the look and the feel of this very special venue of Universal Studios backlot for Luftgekühlt 6. Stan Kaplan captured that moment in time where light and composition makes it's own statement at leaving the perfect impression. Image Credit: Stan Kaplan via FB (2019)

Strolling the backlot movieset streets filled with air-cooled Porsche after air-cooled Porsche, as with all previous mid-Spring Luftgekühlt events here in ol' Southern California, has one wishing for more.

ADDITIONAL Walk-Around Video >>>

Photographer Kurt Bradley captured this tribute to the 914 during his first Luft event - such a perfect and unequaled backdrop from the Universal Studios Hollywood backlot movieset. Image Credit: Kurt Bradley via Twitter (2019)

ADDITIONAL Images >>>

That's right, Luftgekühlt has evolved into the best one-day mid-Spring annual cars & coffee event, complete with mirror hanger ID locator cards, on steroids ... that, given its early history, will undoubtedly become a Porsche Only Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance style event of LA LA Land - we all welcome its growth and can not wait for what #Luft7 has to offer in venue, experience and images.

... notes from The EDJE




TAGS: Luftgekühlt, #Luft6, #Luft7, Universal Studios, Backlot, Movieset, backdrops, Patrick Long, Howie Idelson, Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, #porschetechtalk, The EDJE

Pirelli World Challenge's 2017 "Roar By The Shore" Re-Titled To "A River Runs Through It"

Alvaro Parente, a 32-year-old driver from Porto, Portugal driving his No. 9 K-PAX Racing McLaren 650S, held off a turn one challenge by local star Patrick Long of Manhattan Beach, Calif., driving the No. 58 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3-R and extended his winning margin at the checkered flag to 2.86 seconds in a wild event that saw flooding between turns eight and nine due to a fire hydrant incident from off track on Ocean Blvd.. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2017)

Pirelli World Challenge's 2017 "Roar By The Shore" Re-Titled To "A River Runs Through It" 

The Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) is noted to bring a level of competition in sport car racing that delivers strong yet unexpected results. This third race of the 2017 PWC series season follows two races in Saint Petersburg Florida when the Verizon IndyCar Series also opened its 2017 season ... also by the shore.

But, hey, The Toyota Grand Prix Of Long Beach is squarely based in the land of fruits and nuts ... and Hollywood productions, so why not just script something memorable into this special sportscar racing mix. After all, this event is the longest continuous running temporary street course on the IndyCar schedule which has become a "Rites Of Spring" hallmark event in American motor culture.

On Lap 10 of the 50 minute timed race, as if on cue to bring in a very unique course hazard, not too dissimilar to golf course sand traps, someone up the hill on Ocean Blvd. ran over and broke a fire hydrant causing a massive amount of water to flow across the back straight between Turn 8 and Turn 9, setting up a potential for additional destruction due to a hydroplaning kind of skim-boarding (aero-sealed racing undercarriages) at well over 100 mph.

How cool ... professional auto racing with the unexpected addition of a water feature.

Water hazard interrupts Round 3 PWC race course. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2017)

Alvaro Parente, who got off to a very tight start from his pole qualifying position, was leading the race at the time with Patrick Long, winner of round two at St. Petersburg, in his No. 58 911 GT3-R close in tow.

"That was a little crazy with the water on the track," said the Portuguese born Parente in the post race press conference. "I went into that turn [Turn 8] and all of a sudden there was a river in front of me, so I just went foot off throttle, and prayed that I wouldn’t crash or anything, and just skidded through the puddle. It was last-minute for me; you’re flat out on that straight and suddenly you see a black shadow there, the water from the fire hydrant."

As for longtime factory Porsche competitor and local racer Long running in P2, "It was probably 20 feet of running water and with slick tires at 140 mph, that’s not what you want to see. It’s one of those situations where you sort of just stay calm, sort of relax, and let it end. I’m happy we didn’t have an incident and everyone responded really well, so hats off to the track and World Challenge series for their handling of an unnatural disaster. But, that’s Long Beach and that’s street racing. This series is about sprint racing and everybody’s racing hard."

Jim Jordan, a manufacturer motorsports executive for over 25 years in various roles and currently is a part of the Pirelli World Challenge management posted this on his Facebook timeline:

My good friends know I have always valued collecting experiences more than anything else. This season I have taken on a new responsibility in race control for the Pirelli World Challenges races. Not particularly complicated but I serve as the communications link between Race Control and the TV production crew. Most times this means fairly simple communications.

Today not so much. During the middle of our GT/GTA race at Long Beach there was an accident on Ocean Blvd where a vehicle wiped out a fire hydrant. We did not know this of course, but the corner workers quickly reported a "flood" coming down to the track!

All hands on deck! Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2017)

It was a weird situation, and the team did an amazing job of reacting without over reacting, fixing, communicating, and only losing 1 minute total of racing [Red Flag - 15 minutes]. It was very impressive to see the way the group worked together, from the track crew, to IndyCar [Holmatro Safety Team], to SCCA Cornerworkers, IMS Productions, and the WCVision staff. Very fun to have been a part of, and I imagine it will go down in "racing lore," the Long Beach Flood!

Full Race Results >>>

Naw, this 43 year old Toyota Grand Prix Of Long Beach venue deserves a water feature hazard incident with the verve of a Hollywood title - "A River Runs Through It."

... notes from The EDJE



TAGS: Pirelli World Challenge, Long Beach, roar by the shore, a river runs through it, Toyota Grand Prix Of Long Beach, Alvaro Parente, K-PAX Racing, Patrick Long, Wright Motorsports, Bryan Sellers, Jim Jordan, Holmatro Safety Team, Water, The EDJE

ALMS Season At 1/3 Point With A Mazda Surge, BMW Dominance, & Late Race Assessments

The Muscle Milk Aston Martin (right) pulls off a pass on the pole position Dyson Racing Mazda early in the race at Lime Rock Park, race three of nine in the ALMS 2011 championship season. Image Credit: American Le Mans Series

ALMS Season At 1/3 Point With A Mazda Surge, BMW Dominance, & Late Race Assessments

Chris Dyson and Guy Smith drove their Dyson Racing Lola-Mazda MZR-R to their first win of the 2011 season.

The hunt for the LMP1 championship in the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón lost none of its intensity over the Series` two-month break. Dyson Racing maintained its title lead with a victory in the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix. The duo of Chris Dyson and Guy Smith exchanged the lead six times with Muscle Milk Aston Martin Racing on Saturday and took the overall victory. BMW Team RLL also picked up where it left off, scoring its third consecutive GT victory.

Dyson Racing won by 19.969 seconds over the Muscle Milk Aston Martin squad. It was the first ALMS win for Chris Dyson at his home track. Dyson`s second Lola-Mazda, driven by Humaid Al Masaood and Steven Kane, finished third.

Starting from the pole, Dyson Racing`s Chris Dyson had his work cut out for him in the No. 16 Lola-Mazda, holding off Lucas Luhr`s No. 6 Aston Martin-powered Lola in the opening laps through a swarm of traffic on the 1.474-mile road course. Luhr dispatched Dyson on lap 16, but was then forced to pit early to replace a flat tire.

"It was great fun," Dyson said. "Lucas and I were going back and forth from the get-go. It was all about where you positioned yourself. It felt a bit like a video game. Our Mazda was fantastic from the start. I think the car really came into its own at the end of the race. We were lucky to catch the yellow when we did. They fought us hard all the way like they always do."

After three races of the nine-round ALMS season, Dyson and Smith lead the drivers’ championship, Dyson leads the team, and Mazda leads the manufacturers’ championships. The driver points lay out as follows - #1) Dyson Racing Mazda's Chris Dyson and Guy Smith - 66 points each, #2) Muscle Milk Aston Martin Racing's Klaus Graf and - Lucas Luhr - 36 points each, #3) Dyson Racing Mazda's Jay Cochran - 30 points.

Team RLL's Joey Hand in the #56 BMW as it approaches a clutch of competitors, as fans watch from a hill at Lime Rock Park, Connecticut. Image Credit: American Le Mans Series

BMW Team RLL extended its GT Class winning streak to three as the No. 56 BMW M3 GT of Joey Hand and Dirk Mueller topped Flying Lizard Motorsports` Patrick Long and Joerg Bergmeister in the No. 45 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR.

"Team RLL, BMW, Dunlop, have done a very nice job," Hand said. "The things we have now have made the car more comfortable and more in the zone. That`s how you win races. That`s a real key and real testament to BMW Team RLL and BMW Motorsport. Dunlop is really stepping up. They have a very consistent tire now."

"Winning is always very sweet and very important and it`s good to collect the points," Mueller, Hand's teammate said. "Like Joey said, we`re in year three. Everything is now coming together like it is supposed to. I think we turned three screws on the car before we started the race. The break [between Long Beach and Lime Rock] was massive but we tested in between. At the level we are racing, it has changed so dramatically. Now we have a car that you need to push from the first second. Winning three times in a row looks so easy now."

A smart opening-lap pass by Long on the No. 55 BMW M3 driven by Dirk Werner enabled the Porsche driver to move into second and chase after Hand. Behind them, havoc in West Bend damaged both of the Corvettes, Werner`s BMW and the No. 02 Extreme Speed Motorsports Ferrari F458 Italia.

Long and Bergmeister kept their Porsche within striking distance of the leading BMW throughout the race. Though constant traffic provided some hair-raising moments, a true opportunity for a lead change never materialized.

Fresh from a podium finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Robertson Racing scored its first ALMS podium with a third-place finish Saturday for David Murry and Anthony Lazzaro. Starting seventh in class, the No. 04 Doran Ford GT first appeared in the top three following the chaos in West Bend. The Ford was eventually caught by Team Falken Tire`s No. 17 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. Lazzaro was shown in fourth at the line, but a 90-second avoidable contact penalty on Team Falken Tire elevated Murry and Lazzaro to the final podium position in GT.

At the end of race interview, Patrick Long felt better about their Flying Lizard effort here in Lime Rock with a complete race under his and Joerg's belt. It helped to put behind his (Long's) troubles at Long Beach where he had a DNF after showing promise early just to crash out.

The biggest disappointment suffered in the GT Class had to be felt in the Corvette camp with Oliver Gavin and Jan Magnussen only able to post one point in the overall driver's championship and teammates Olivier Beretta and Tommy Milner post only two points.

With one third of the season having been played out, #1) BMW Team RLL drivers Joey Hand and Dirk Mueller with three successive wins have 70 points each, #2) Corvette Racing's Oliver Gavin and Jan Magnussen - 37 points each, #3) Flying Lizard Motorsports Factory Porsche Team's Joerg Bergmeister and Patrick Long - 34 points each.

The other two classes, LMPC and GTC, also have great competition but for the purposes of this inaugural post, we will focus on the overall leader competition and the class that gets the most attention because of the strong factory interest and participation between BMW, Porsche, and Corvette ... it doesn't get any better when racing full-bodied, beefed up sports cars.

Winner's All - The four classes of winners take to the podium to hoist high their bottles of series sponsor, Tequila Patron for the gathered crowd. Image Credit: American Le Mans Series

American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix
Lime Rock Park, Lakeville, Conn.
Saturday`s Results:

Finish Pos. - (Qual.) - Driver & Location - Racecar Type - (Finish in Class) - LAPS
[Winners In Class Highlighted In BOLD]

1. (1) Chris Dyson, Pleasant Valley, NY; Guy Smith, Bracken, Yorkshire; Lola B09 86/Mazda (1, LMP1), 187.

2. (3) Lucas Luhr, Monte Carlo; Klaus Graf, Dornham; AMR/ Lola Coupe B08 62 (2, LMP1), 187.

3. (2) Humaid Al Masaood, Abu Dhabi; Steven Kane, Newtownards; Lola B09/86 Mazda (3, LMP1), 182.

4. (4) Eric Lux, Jacksonville, FL; Elton Julian, Santa Monica, CA; Oreca FLM09 (1, LMPC), 181.

5. (5) Ricardo Gonzalez, Monterrey; Gunnar Jeannette, Salt Lake City, UT; Oreca FLM09 (2, LMPC), 181.

6. (6) Tomy Drissi, Los Angeles, CA; Kyle Marcelli, Barrie, ON; Oreca FLM09 (3, LMPC), 180.

7. (10) Joey Hand, Sacramento, CA; Dirk Mueller, Monte Carlo; BMW M3 GT (1, GT), 176.

8. (12) Patrick Long, Bellaire, FL; Joerg Bergmeister, Langenfield; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (2, GT), 176.

9. (9) Jarrett Boon, Phoenix, AZ; Anthony Nicolosi, Palm Beach, FL; Oreca FLM09 (4, LMPC), 175.

10. (7) Frankie Montecalvo, Highlands, NJ; Jon Bennett, Fort Mill, SC; Oreca FLM09 (5, LMPC), 175.

11. (18) Bryan Sellers, Braselton, GA; Wolf Henzler, Nuertingen; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (3, GT), 174.

12. (16) David Murry, Atlanta, GA; Anthony Lazzaro, Atlanta, GA; Doran Ford GT (4, GT), 174.

13. (19) Scott Sharp, Jupiter, FL; Johannes van Overbeek, San Francisco, CA; Ferrari F458 Italia (5, GT), 174.

14. (21) Bryce Miller, Summit, NJ; Sascha Maassen, Lontzen; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (6, GT), 172.

15. (15) Seth Neiman, San Francisco, CA; Marco Holzer; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (7, GT), 165.

16. (25) Mike Piera, Newtown, Conn.; Dion von Moltke, Coral Gables, FL; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (1, GTC), 164.

17. (26) Duncan Ende, Los Angeles, CA; Spencer Pumpelly, Mason Neck, VA; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (2, GTC), 164.

18. (27) Bill Sweedler, Westport, CT; Butch Leitzinger, Rebersburg, PA; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (3, GTC), 164.

19. (23) Tim Pappas, Boston, MA; Damien Faulkner, County Donegal; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (4, GTC), 164.

20. (11) Dirk Werner, Kissenbrück; Bill Auberlen, Redondo Beach, CA; BMW M3 GT (8, GT), 163.

21. (14) Olivier Beretta, Monte Carlo; Tommy Milner, Leesburg, VA; Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1 (9, GT), 161.

22. (29) James Sofronas, Newport Beach, CA; Alex Welch, Englewood, Colo.; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (5, GTC), 160.

23. (13) Jan Magnussen, Roskilde; Oliver Gavin, Yardley Hastings; Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1 (10, GT), 156.

24. (17) Ed Brown, Las Vegas, NV; Guy Cosmo, West Palm Beach, FL; Ferrari F458 Italia (11, GT), 153.

25. (24) Chris Thompson, Englewood, Colo.; Nick Ham, Evergreen, CO; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (6, GTC), 149.

26. (20) Cristiano da Matta, Belo, Horizonte; Bruno Junqueira, Brazil; Jaguar XKR (12, GT), 149.

27. (8) James Kovacic, Forrester Beach; Jon Field, Dublin, OH; Oreca FLM09 (6, LMPC), 126, Mechanical.

28. (28) Andrea Robertson, Ray, MI; David Robertson, Ray, MI; Doran Ford GT/Elan (13, GT), 116, Mechanical.

29. (31) Toni Vilander, Kankaanpaa; Jaime Melo, Milan; Ferrari F458 Italia (14, GT), 79, Mechanical.

30. (22) Peter Lesaffre, Rye, NH; Jaap van Lagen, Ede; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (7, GTC), 74.

31. (30) PJ Jones, Torrance, CA; Rocky Moran, Ladera Ranch, CA; Jaguar XKR (15, GT), 49.

Thanks to the American Le Mans Series for article and resource assistance in the crafting of this posting.

... notes from The EDJE


[Article first published as ALMS Season At 1/3 Point With A Mazda Surge, BMW Dominance, & Late Race Assessments on Technorati]

NASCAR In Portland: ALMS & History Are In The Mix

The Garage/Paddock of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Bi-Mart Salute to the Troops 125 at Portland International Raceway. Image Credit: Kevin W. Green/NASCAR

NASCAR In Portland: ALMS & History Are In The Mix

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Bi-Mart Salute to the Troops 125 at Portland International Raceway was a stock car race for the ages. For only the second time since 1986, a NASCAR sanctioned automobile race was held on the dragstrip straightaway and Festival Corners of Portland International Raceway this last weekend on Sunday, July 18, 2010. Twenty-Seven former NASCAR "Cup" (not to be confused with the Car Of Tomorrow) and Nationwide Series specification full-bodied 600 HP stock cars took the 12 corner, 1.98 mile road course for what turned out to be a very historic and eye-opening race that ended in a NASCAR "Green/White/Checkered" rule Yellow Flag parade.

David Mayhew after he won his second straight Coors Light Pole Award at Portland International Raceway Sunday, topping his own track record with a lap of 75.426 seconds (94.503) around the 1.98-mile road course. This was Mayhew's third pole of the season and fifth of his career. He held the previous mark at Portland with his pole time of 76.328 (93.386) last year. Image Credit: NASCARHomeTrack

As for history, one could not overlook the fact that Hershel McGriff showed up, qualified, and ran the complete scheduled 125 mile/63 lap (extended to 65 laps on the G/W/C) race as he had in 1986 (where he won the race), 2009 (where he defended his championship finishing 13th and set the record for the oldest person to compete in a NASCAR sanctioned event), and now in 2010 where he re-set the NASCAR record for the oldest person to compete in a sanctioned event at 82 years of age.

Hershel McGriff climbs out of his K&N Pro Series West Park Corporation Chevy after 65 laps of strong competition at Portland International Raceway. Image Credit: NASCARHomeTrack

Hershel did not qualify all that well at P23 in a field of 27 cars, but this did not stop him from working his way up through the field of drivers who could have been his grandsons. The race featured four caution periods for collisions, oil on the track for transmissions letting loose, and stalled cars but by LAP 32, McGriff worked his way up nine positions through to P14 where he was ready to pass and exceed his previous race finish of P13. This would have been the case if it were not for a right-front flat tire on LAP 38, after a Green Flag Restart on Lap 36, bringing Hershel into the pits and dropping him back to P17 where he held station throughout the rest of the race.

Patrick Long (45) leads David Mayhew (17) and Blake Koch through the corner. Image Credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images - Clairity Media

As for the American Le Mans Series influence on this NASCAR event, one could not miss the standout performance of the red #45 Speed Wong Dodge, once fielded by Chip Ganassi's NASCAR Sprint Cup team, driven by Patrick Long.

Long is best known for his teammate skills driving for the Flying Lizard Motorsports team behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 GT3-RSR against exotic sports cars of the American Le Mans Series. What is he doing in a Dodge? ... let alone shaking down a field of stock car specialists with a dominating performance that actually had a few heads turning in that he looked like he was in a different class. It was reminiscent of watching Tiger Woods, in his heyday, ripping through a field of top class golf pros in a major tournament.

Green/White/Checker ... Yellow Flag finish for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Bi-Mart Salute to the Troops 125 at Portland International Raceway. Image Credit: NASCARHomeTrack

At one point, on this somewhat short, 1.98 mile course, Patrick Long pulled away from his P2 starting position and led the track record breaking pole-sitter, David Mayhew - 75.426 seconds (94.503), by over 10 seconds (10.98 seconds) before his first pitstops. At one point, Long was shuffled all the way back to P15 during a Yellow Flag caution period ... and on the first lap of a LAP 36 Restart, Patrick pulled the red #45 Dodge up nine places in just one lap!

Patrick Long showed off his road-course expertise, dominating the BI-MART Salute to the Troops 125 at Portland International Raceway Sunday. Image Credit: NASCARHomeTrack

“I wanted to have a really good balance in the car,” Long said of his No. 45 Speed Wong Racing Dodge. “We went very different, or unconventional, in our set-up. I think it was really the edge that we needed. With that, we had unbelievable tire wear. That Speed Wong car [owned by Daryl Wong who also fields cars to race in the ALMS from his shop in Orange County] was just hooked up.”

Post-race tech commences on David Mayhew's car with the tire Brian Wong's Speed Wong Racing #89 car (race winner Patrick Long's team mate) in the foreground at the BI-MART Salute to the Troops 125, Portland International Raceway. Image Credit: NASCARHomeTrack

It is not known which 2010 NASCAR K&N Pro Series race Patrick Long will race in next but the win earned Long, who led a race-high 51 laps, a secure starting position in the postseason NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown.

As for the ageless Hershel McGriff, he is expected to show up with his blue Park Corporation #04 Chevy Impala SS, qualify, and race in the Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts Bonus Challenge at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah, the weekend of September 11-12, 2010.

UPDATE:

Hershel and his son (as owner/crew chief) finished ahead of another 11 drivers in the race held at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah. He finished ahead of some pretty notable drivers including the Portland race ringer/winner, Patrick Long, Joao Barbosa, and Brandon Davis.

2010 Toyota / NAPA Auto Parts Bonus Challenge - RESULTS
NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race number 10 of 12 - Sunday, September 12, 2010 at Miller Motorsports Park, Tooele, UT - 36 laps on a 3.048 mile road course (109.7 miles)

... notes from The EDJE

TAGS: American Le Mans Series, Hershel McGriff, KandN Pro Series, NASCAR, Patrick Long, Portland International Raceway, The EDJE