PPIHC Announces Hurley Haywood 2023 Grand Marshal

Image Credit: The Brumos Collection via The Speed Journal (2021)

PPIHC Announces Hurley Haywood 2023 Grand Marshal

Hurley Haywood, a legendary sports car racer, will serve as the Grand Marshal of the 2023 Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, brought to you by Gran Turismo. Haywood will make a demonstration run up the mountain in a Taycan Cross Turismo Turbo S on Sunday, June 25.

Haywood is highly regarded in American motorsports, having left an indelible mark on the racing scene. He has an impressive racing resume, including winning the 24 Hours of Daytona overall five times, the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times, and the 12 Hours of Sebring twice. He has also completed the Triple Crown of endurance racing, which is a feat achieved by only a few drivers.

Hurley Haywood, in sharing his memories and perspectives during a 2021 The Brumos Collections installment of “Inside the 59” chats, on the mid-engine 1971 Porsche 914-6 GT, recalls, “was very nimble, easy to drive and had great resilience.  Racing against equipment that was much faster than ours, we won because of durability and planning.  This was my first year of racing, so it was quite a learning process.” Image Credit: The Brumos Collection via The Speed Journal (2023)

The famous #59 Brumos Porsche colors, which Haywood helped popularize over his five-decade plus racing and associated activities career, will be present in the race as well. David Donohue will be competing in a Porsche GT2 RS Clubsport with the goal of setting a new Time Attack 1 record. Donohue was the 2022 Time Attack 1 champion and would love to repeat the mark in 2023.

Haywood expressed his excitement about being part of the event, particularly with the success Porsche has had on Pikes Peak and Donohue driving a Brumos car once again. He is looking forward to the event and expects it to be a thrilling experience for all involved.

David Donohue in the 2022 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb winner’s circle, under foggy conditions. Image Credit: Rob Hutton via Stuttcars (2022)

As for the car Haywood will be driving, the Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo is the top model in the Taycan range. The Taycan has previously completed a 1,400 mile journey to Pikes Peak, setting a Guinness World Record for the greatest altitude change by an electric car. The Taycan Cross Turismo features a Gravel mode, which adjusts various settings to enhance performance on loose surfaces like mud, sand, and gravel. Additionally, the car has body cladding to protect against rock chips. On paved roads, the Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 2.7 seconds. It boasts dual-motor all-wheel drive, adaptive aerodynamics, air suspension, and Porsche's PCM system.

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, known as The Race to the Clouds, is the second oldest race in America. It has been held annually since 1916 on Pikes Peak, near Colorado Springs, Colorado. The race features a challenging 12.42-mile (20 km) course with 156 turns and a significant elevation gain of 4,725 feet (1,440 m). The event showcases a variety of vehicles, ranging from production-based Time Attack cars to purpose-built Open Wheel racers and state-of-the-art Unlimited vehicles. The current race record, set in 2018, is held by Romain Dumas and Volkswagen in the all-electric I.D. R Pikes Peak, with a time of 07:57.148.

... notes from The EDJE

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TAGS: PPIHC, Hurley Haywood, 2023, Taycan, Turbo S, Cross Turismo, Brumos, Porsche, The EDJE

More Equals Less In Upcoming GTP Championship Season

Fruits of developments between Porsche and Penske Motorsports were shown at AutoMobility LA 2022 (LA Auto Show Press Day). This will be the fourth manufacturer to join in the IMSA Series LMDh Class for 2023. This union is the second introduction by Penske Motorsport to the highest level of prototype competition, the first being the championship winning Acura - ARX–05.  Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2022)

More Equals Less In Upcoming GTP Championship Season

Last year, NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver Will Power showed the world how a less equals more strategy can deliver a season series championship win (his career second). The WeatherTech GTP Class championship, however, has settled on a more equals less strategy to deliver a hybrid technology answer (more) to the reduction of carbon emissions (less) in a major professional motorsports competition series championship.

In a first of the new year ZOOM Call put on by IMSA, with the participants from teams representing the four major automotive manufacturers who will be competing in the 2023 GTP class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Series - Cadillac, Acura, BMW, and Porsche - most all of the technical team leaders expressed a few common themes.

WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTP class ZOOM Call participants - Left To Right In ZOOM Call Images:

Gary Nelson, Cadillac Action Express Racing

Travis Hogue, Acura Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport

Jonathan Diuguid, Porsche Penske Motorsport

Mike O'Gara, Cadillac Racing (CGR)

Justin Harnisfager, Acura Meyer Shank Racing

Brandon Fry, BMW M Team RLL

WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTP Class Teams ZOOM Call Part 1

IMSA 101 - DPi cars are being replaced by LMDh cars for 2023 >>> an LMDh (Le Mans Daytona h) is a type of sports prototype race car that will compete alongside Le Mans Hypercar entries in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class of the IMSA SportsCar Championship from 2023 - it also competes in the Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship.

The LMDh ruleset was created jointly by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) and the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO). The cars will serve as the successor to the Daytona Prototype International class, utilizing regulations that were planned to become the next-generation Daytona Prototype International ruleset, converged with the Le Mans Hypercar ruleset, showing off the latest technology in mating traditional internal combustion engines (ICE) with electrification (Hybrid Technology) - tap for more.

[ht: WIKI/IMSA]

In addition to having to integrate hybrid electric power units to the ICE power units (internal combustion engine) one has to consider what additional impacts will this have on a team as it prepares at the team shop environment, travel, and set-up at a track for testing and competition. 

Action Express Racing's Whelen Engineering sponsored GTP Cadillac. Image Credit: Mike Levitt (2022)

Gary Nelson, Cadillac Action Express Racing, was keen to point out that in previous DPi rules configuration, the team could just load up the car, parts, toolboxes and other support gear in one transporter. Here in the LMDh rules configuration, this will require two full transporters and a trailing 5th wheel trailer. 

We’re on the threshold of a thrilling new era in endurance sports car racing and Cadillac is all in! Cadillac Racing will contest the top category of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with its V-LMDh prototype race cars as the only U.S.-based manufacturer. The 2023 sports car racing season gets underway with the Daytona Roar (January 20-22, 2023) and Rolex 24 at Daytona (January 28-29, 2023). The first event on the WEC calendar is the 1,000 miles of Sebring, on March 17th. I encourage anyone inclined to enjoy any of the 2023 IMSA or WEC races in person to buy your tickets and make your travel arrangements now! #BeIconic @cadillac @CadillacRacing #IMSA @imsa_racing #ctmp @fiawec_official #fiawec @fiawec #richardprincephotography @richardprincephoto

Jonathan Diuguid (pronounced Do-gid), Porsche Penske Motorsport ended Part 1 with the one element to this racing equation that, in the beginning of any season is on the more side, tire compound choices that will deliver the fastest times with longer runs - less pit stops with less time involved with the completion of each lap.

Motorsports Journal/EVHNews was able to ask questions from Brandon Fry of RLL about how the new RLL HQ helps the BMW GTP  Class effort & Jonathan Diuguid about working with a manufacturer to introduce a racing effort to this level of championship racing series - first Acura, and now Porsche - these questions begin this next Part 2 video.

WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTP Class Teams ZOOM Call Part 2

<<< Again - Left To Right In ZOOM Call Images >>>

Gary Nelson, Cadillac Action Express Racing

Travis Hogue, Acura Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport

Jonathan Diuguid, Porsche Penske Motorsport

Mike O'Gara, Cadillac Racing (CGR)

Justin Harnisfager, Acura Meyer Shank Racing

Brandon Fry, BMW M Team RLL

Join us on our ROAD TO DAYTONA for insights into the BMW M Hybrid V8 project.

Episode 2: Tested in all conditions.

Sound on!#bmwmhybridv8 @IMSA @RLLracing pic.twitter.com/EUMQd7ymrn

— BMW Motorsport (@BMWMotorsport) January 5, 2023

Major concerns that are common with all teams and manufacturers as it relates to the level of confidence in the unknowns. Unknowns all track back to reliability during race day activities. As always, when something is new, one has no real idea if all of the bits, pieces, and tasked function parts will hold up to endurance race stresses and conditions. This is why we all push the limits of technology and application, this is why we race ... isn't it?

... notes from The EDJE

FEATURED ARTICLE >>>

TAGS: WeatherTech, SportCar, IMSA, GTP, LMDh, BMW, Porsche, Acura, Cadillac, ICE. Hybrid EV, Le Mans, Daytona, 2023, The EDJE

Trio Of Terrific Porsche Turbos On Display

Porsche 944 turbo sporting a hood scoop and a four hole vented nose panel. Image Credit: Rennlist

Trio Of Terrific Porsche Turbos On Display

The eighties called and they want their Porsche turbo sports coups back!

Someone shared this little video expose on a Facebook Timeline - and it will bring a bit of joy for those who appreciate and still long to capture a strong sense of the heady eighties.

Nothing never really competed with the presence of the sculpted wheel well bulges found on the Porsche 944 turbo. Especially one with a hood scoop or a four hole vented nose panel.

From WIKI -

The Porsche 944 is a sports car manufactured by German automobile manufacturer Porsche from 1982 to 1991. A front-engine, rear-wheel drive mid-level model based on the 924 platform, the 944 was available in coupé or cabriolet body styles, with either naturally aspirated or turbocharged engines.

Intended to be produced into the 1990s, major revisions planned for a 944 "S3" model eventually morphed into the 968, which became its replacement. Over 163,000 cars were produced in total, making it the most successful sports car in Porsche's history until the introductions of the Boxster and 997 Carrera.

... notes from The EDJE




TAGS: Porsche, 944 turbo, 1982, 1991, hood scoop, vented nose panel, The EDJE

43rd Toyota Grand Prix Of Long Beach Media Day Track Ride With GMG's James Sofronas

43rd Toyota Grand Prix Of Long Beach Media Day Track Ride With GMG's James Sofronas
In A Race Prepared Pirelli World Challenge No. 14 Porsche GT3-R

A two-lap trip around the Toyota Grand Prix Of Long Beach temporary street circuit by Managing Editor of Performance & Racing Tech Talk, Edmund Jenks with Global Motorsports Group (GMG) team owner/competitor James Sofronas driving the GMG race prepared Porsche 911 GT3-R. Video Credit: Edmund Jenks (2017)

GMG’S JAMES SOFRONAS COMMITTED TO FULL SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP; VANTHOOR FOR SELECT SPRINTX EVENTS

Returning for his 15th season of Pirelli World Challenge competition, Global Motorsports Group (GMG) team owner James Sofronas will arrive at next week’s Grand Prix of St. Petersburg fully committed to the series’ sprint rounds, continuing his commitment with Porsche Motorsport North America and the venerable Porsche 911 GT3 R. Beyond the five-race sprint championship, however, the team is proud to announce the addition of Porsche Motorsport works driver Laurens Vanthoor for the opening two rounds of the series’ SprintX championship, co-driving with Sofronas in pursuit of overall victory.

“It’s great to be back in the Pirelli World Challenge for another season,” stated Sofronas. “It’s incredible to think of how the series has grown over the years, and it’s been an honor to be a part of it. Our business has grown with it of course, and 2017 looks to be a great continuation of that. Last year we really enjoyed working with the current iteration of the Porsche 911 GT3 R in its first year of development, and headed in to this year we have a very good understanding of what to expect. Of course a big part of that is our relationship with Porsche Motorsport North America, and the addition of Laurens Vanthoor for our opening two SprintX events is a huge demonstration of our mutual commitment to one another. Porsche has been a big part of our business over the years, and bringing in such a talented co-driver is a great opportunity for everyone.
----
As a team with a rich history of competing with Porsche machinery, GMG and Sofronas’ return to the marque is part of a partnership that has been synonymous with the team’s growth. Not only did Sofronas take his first victory, as well as his best championship finish under the Porsche Motorsport umbrella, but the team also played a critical role in the 2008 and 2009 Manufacturer’s Championship won by the brand. In 2016, GMG also held the unique distinction of being the top sales team for the Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport, selling more cars than any other in North America.
----
Of course, beyond the team’s on-track performance, Sofronas and company will continue to use the series as a development for their expanding street tuning business. As the leading performance tuning shop in Southern California, the team has used their trackside experience with Porsche and a number of other marques to give them a unique advantage in understanding the characteristics of their street counterparts. In such, no other organization in the area has a deeper understanding of the dynamics and engineering to make their vehicles perform, which has translated to a number of street car performance products. In addition, the racing environment has created an incredible learning ground for team personnel, with the team offering the same championship-winning experience on the track for a client’s daily driver.

In addition to Sofronas’s full efforts behind the wheel of the No. 14, the team owner will also maintain a busy racing schedule with the team’s three car program. Beyond running Alec Udell and Preston Calvert in another Porsche 911 GT3 R, the addition of George Kurtz’s McLaren 570S GT4 GTS program will add another dynamic in the form of experiential entertainment, with Kurtz bringing on CrowdStrike as a primary sponsor. On any given weekend, CrowdStrike will use the team and series as an opportunity to host several dozen partners, clients, and guests, the type of program that Sofronas relishes in, fully aware of what the series has to offer.
(ht: GMG)

... notes From The EDJE



TAGS: 43rd, Toyota Grand Prix Of Long Beach, Media Day, Track Ride, GMG, James Sofronas, Pirelli World Challenge, Global Motorsports Group, Porsche, GT3-R, The EDJE

IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA At Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Turn 5

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama competitor No. 56 David Baker / Colleyville, TX (M) - TOPP Racing/Apex Capital Corp. dips into the apex of Turn 5 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and spins counter-clockwise, to stall the middle of the exit of the turn. Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien (2016)

IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA At Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Turn 5

At the recent Continental Monterey Grand Prix powered by Mazda, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama competitor No. 56 David Baker / Colleyville, TX (M) - TOPP Racing/Apex Capital Corp. dips into the apex of Turn 5 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and spins counter-clockwise, to stall the middle of the exit of the turn.

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama competitors No. 49 Sebastian Landy / Great Falls, VA TPC Racing Forto/Strong Coffee, No. 52 Kurt Fazekas / Indianapolis, IN (M) - Kelly-Moss Road and Race, and No. 11 Philip Bloom / New York, NY - Wright Motorsports take evasive action and pass next to the apex line of Turn 5 while No. 31 Michael de Quesada / Tampa, FL - Alegra Motorsports/Insync is forced to take a line that had him off-roading, into the gravel trap, on the outside of Turn 5.

All cars missed each other and continued on to race another day.

Photo Images - Brandon O'Brien  <>  <>  <>  Video Compilation - Edmund Jenks

Continental Monterey Grand Prix powered by Mazda, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama - RESULTS

... notes from The EDJE

TAGS: Continental Monterey Grand Prix powered by Mazda, Porsche, GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, #MRLS, #CMGP, The EDJE

Facebook Blessings For Porsche, Busby, and Knoop

Porsche #67 (top) and #68 as they race at full speed near the Start/Finish line early in the 1985 24hrs. of Daytona. Image Credit: Fan Photo via Jim Busby Facebook 

Facebook Blessings For Porsche, Busby, and Knoop

The image above was posted by a fan on Facebook and it caught the attention of its single signatour, car builder and racecar driver, Jim Busby.

This episode of a shared motorsports FB story reminds one of the syndicated Paul Harvey radio broadcast "The Rest Of The Story" ... a national radio program that ran from 1976 until Paul Harvey's passing in 2009.

You'll remember hearing - "'Hello, Americans,' he would say at opening the program. 'This is Paul Harvey! Stand byyy for Newwws!'"

This from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia -

The Rest of the Story was a Monday-through-Friday radio program originally hosted by Paul Harvey. Beginning as a part of his newscasts during the Second World War and then premiering as its own series on the ABC Radio Networks on May 10, 1976, The Rest of the Story consisted of stories presented as little-known or forgotten facts on a variety of subjects with some key element of the story (usually the name of some well-known person) held back until the end. The broadcasts always concluded with a variation on the tag line "And now you know the rest of the story."
[Reference Here]

Jim Busby's cover photo from his Facebook page. Jim (center) is sitting before a race with one of the comments of the photo stating "Looks likes Bob is ready to get on with the task at hand." Image Credit: Jim Busby via Facebook

This from Jim Busby on his Facebook page - 

How cool is Facebook! Someone just posted this. I don't remember signing it as a promo picture for BFGoodrich, so it must have been a fan's picture that they brought by for an autograph.

The best part of this picture is that it was snapped at the 1985 Daytona 24 hour race and the shot appears to be taken at the Start finish line with both of our cars in the frame. Both of these 962 Porsches were brand new for this race. Only minutes later the 68 car would be completely demolished at this same spot on the track. Pete Halsmer was lapping a slower car at 200 MPH. They came together and It sent Pete into the concrete wall. Pete was ok, but it was the end for the 68 car. The 67 car went on to lead much of the race and finish 3rd with me, Jochen Mass and Rick Knoop.

Thanks to Facebook I've seen many photos of our cars over the years that I may never have seen otherwise.
[Reference Here]

So, as Paul Harvey would be keen to say at the closing of his regular syndicated national broadcast daily noontime news program - 'This is Paul Harvey, ... Good day!' - which was delivered with a down note on Harvey, then an up-tone note on the word, day.

... notes from The EDJE


TAGS: Porsche, Daytona 1985, Jim Busby Rick Knoop, Jochen Mass, Pete Halsmer, 962 Porsche, Facebook, Fan, Paul Harvey, The EDJE

Interview - Tyler Tadevic - President, Team Manager TruSpeed AutoSport

Slone Urry navigates his #20 TruSpeed Porsche 911 GT3 in Turn 12 during the St. Petersburg Firestone Grand Prix Round #2 of the 2016 Pirelli World Challenge. Image Credit: TruSpeed AutoSport (2016)

Interview - Tyler Tadevic - President, Team Manager TruSpeed AutoSport

Interview Script:

As a former ChampCar, IndyCar open wheel, IMSA sports car team owner, and long time professional sports car team manager experiences in his background, Tyler Tadevic brings a wealth of motorsport experience from the very highest levels of competitive pursuit. He even fielded an effort that competed in the INDY 500.

Winning is not a foreign result to whatever type of racing series Tyler is involved in. From capturing a series championship title with Jon Fogarty in ChampCar to the most recent results at Circuit Of The Americas and St. Petersburg in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup class in the Pirelli World Challenge with Slone Urry, the proven understanding of process in the logistics, preparation, team coordination, and racing series political environment deliver consistent color at the bottom of the pan.

As Husband, Father, Friend, Teacher, Team Manager, and President of TruSpeed AutoSport, Tyler Tadevic expects top level results with everything he applies his attention to.

Welcome Tyler Tadevic:

TruSpeed AutoSport's team and driver, Slone Urry, are coming off of a string of three straight wins in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup class in the Pirelli World Challenge, one at Circuit Of The Americas and back-to-back wins during the second race weekend of eleven planned.

1) Before we discuss this season, when did you become involved in the Costa Mesa based TruSpeed operation, what was achieved working with the Rob Morgan and the Morgan family operation, and what led to your purchase of the TruSpeed AutoSport?

2) 2015 was a pretty big year for TruSpeed AutoSport, with a working partnership being worked out with Kelly Moss Porsche and driver Colin Thompson - the team had a hand in securing the Pirelli World Challenge's 911 GT3 Cup class championship and runner-up with Slone Urry. What were the keys to success in this break-out season?

3) On TruSpeed AutoSport's Facebook page it mentions that TruSpeed has drivers in both Diamond and Platinum classes competing this year in the Pirelli World Challenge and that you are fielding challenges in other series as well. Please tell us more about where TruSpeed AutoSport is racing and supporting.

4) As mentioned before, TruSpeed AutoSport's team and driver, Slone Urry, are coming off of a string of three straight wins in four races. Where, What venues do you see Sloan Urry, given his driving style, may have an advantage and which venues pose the biggest challenge?

5) Earlier in your career, you showed success in open wheel racing. This year Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be holding the 100th INDY 500, would you consider fielding an effort to contest the INDY 500 sometime in the future ... is this still a dream?

With the great season start, we look forward to following TruSpeed and Sloan Urry the balance of this 20 race Pirelli World Challenge season.

Thank You - Tyler Tadevic - President, Team Manager TruSpeed AutoSport
ENDS

... notes from The EDJE


TAGS: TruSpeed AutoSport, Porsche 911, GT3 Cup, Pirelli World Challenge, Slone Urry, Porsche, Pirelli, SecurityNational Mortgage Company, Zoro, Mothers Polish, Justice Brothers, Ironclad Performance Wear, Sterling Collision Center LLC, Fuel Safe, XRP Inc., PMG Awareness Organization, avasis.com, 5.11 Tactical, The EDJE

Champion Driver John Paul Jr. Now Drives Home A Cure

Van Nuys played host to Kevin Cogan (L) and John Paul Jr. (R) and a crowd of well wishers as they discussed increasing the awareness of Huntington's disease. Image Credit: Tom Stahler (2013)

Champion Driver John Paul Jr. Now Drives Home A Cure 

The following post, written by Tom Stahler, details a "where are they now" encounter with a motor culture icon this last weekend, a weekend that had many a Porsche owner and fan visit Southern California for literature, restoration/race-team open houses, and specialized Porsche commemorations using the LAX based 30th annual LA Lit and Toy Show as the excuse.

-- BEGIN --

The hardware earned throughout a career that spanned 19 years. Image Credit: Tom Stahler (2013) 

Many race fans around the globe remember John Paul Jr.  He was the youngest ever Champion in the IMSA GT series, Won at the 24 Hours at Daytona, scored a podium finish at the 24 Hours of LeMans, Led the Indianapolis 500, and won races in both CART and the IRL -- but then in 2001 he vanished, almost without a trace ...

John Paul Jr. would discover that his skills were rapidly deteriorating.  “My crew kept radioing to me that I was braking too early and decelerating into the corners.” said John Jr.  “I was always a late braker..”  John Paul Jr. didn’t notice how erratic his driving had become.  Sadly, as it would turn out, he would be diagnosed with the debilitating genetic disease, Huntington’s.

This would lead to his stepping out of the driver’s seat -- forever.  Like so many before him in the passionate world of big-time racing, the vortex of his career closed and the sport marched on with a new set of heroes.  But this hero has re-emerged to come forward with a message that he hopes will help many others.

John Paul Jr. (L) shares a moment with Vintage Motorsports magazine's Tom Stahler and John Morton at HD awareness event. Image Credit: Tom Stahler (2013)

On Saturday March 2, John Woerheide, a long-time friend and racer, gathered a number of notable race drivers, including IMSA legend John Morton, Indy star Kevin Cogan, collectors and friends of the embattled former racer to unveil the JLP-HD1 Porsche 935 -- encompassing all the great 935s that John Paul Jr. notably drove with so much success in IMSA.  The car will be campaigned throughout the year to raise awareness of the rare disease -- related to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

The awareness platform of JLP-HD1 Porsche 935 twin turbo to be driven throughout the year at selected racing events [Ctrl-click to launch VIDEO]. Image Credit: Tom Stahler (2013)

Similar to Parkinson’s, Huntington’s effects the brain and motor skills.  John Paul Jr. would step out of the racing seat and begin a new race -- one to fight for quality of life and find a cure for the degenerative condition.

Dr William Yang, a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at David Geffen School of Medicine, and head of the Yang Research Group at UCLA explained, “Huntington’s Disease is genetic and is present in 1/10,000 people.  if you have the gene, you have a fifty-fifty chance you will be effected.  The disease causes the degeneration of cells in certain areas of the brain leading to uncontrolled movements, loss of intellectual faculties and emotional disturbances.”

UCLA research Scientist Dyna Shirasaki has dedicated many hours and written many papers to finding the cause of the disease and reports, “We have isolated the gene and the protien that causes the disease.  We hope that though treatment of the cause that we will be able to develop treatments that will not only help with Huntington’s, but positively contribute to the treatment of Alheimer’s and Parkinson’s.”

Heads ... no longer in the game. Collectors and friends of the John Paul Jr. gathered in Van Nuys to raise awareness to Huntington’s disease. Image Credit: Tom Stahler (2013) 

Since HD is not as well-known as Alzheimer’s (AD) or Parkinson’s (PD), funding and research have lagged behind. However, while they are all different diseases, they share some pathological similarities. As a result, it is hoped that breakthroughs in the treatment of one disease may shed light on the others.

The JLP-HD1 that will promote John Paul Jr.’s cause is built on a chassis that attempted the 12 hours of Sebring six times, the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona three times and the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen twice, but never finished on the podium.

While it may never achieve the collectability status of the cars John Paul Jr. previously drove, it hopefully will help underscore the reality that it is the people who made previous victories possible, and it will again be the people who make the difference in the battle against HD that lies ahead.  As for John Paul Jr., he continues to make history as he competes against the toughest opponent he has ever faced: Huntington’s disease.

The car will make its competitive debut at the 12 Hours of Sebring, March 13-17, and during the year will be driven by a host of celebrity drivers including Brian Redman, John Andretti, Elliot Forbes-Robinson and racer/instructor Jim Pace.

-- ENDS --

This life is finite with infinite paths that can be taken. John Paul Jr. stands as an example of always braking late, at keeping the peddle down, and making the most out of the road ahead, no matter where the path leads.

Please follow champion driver John Paul Jr. on this path creating awareness and a finding cure for Huntington's Disease at www.johnpauljrhd.com.

 ... notes from The EDJE

2012 Dean Batchelor Award Is Snagged By "Porsche - Origin of the Species"

Book category finalists for the Motor Press Guild's Dean Batchelor Award. The annual award banquet singles out individuals demonstrating outstanding achievement in the profession of automotive journalism. Each year MPG presents the Dean Batchelor Award to the journalist judged to have produced the single piece of work which best represents the professional standards and excellence demanded by Dean Batchelor during his life as an editor, writer, and chronicler of the automotive industry. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2012)

2012 Dean Batchelor Award Is Snagged By "Porsche - Origin of the Species"

Every year since 1995, when the Motor Press Guild decided to bestow it's true highest honor by naming the prestigious process of recognition on the efforts of its community of communications professionals after Dean Batchelor, the Dean Batchelor Award has set the standard of  automotive journalistic recognition.

Dean Batchelor's career spanned many disciplines, from aircraft builder, B-17 flyer, to race car driver and automotive journalist and through it all he proved to be the consummate historian, editor, racer, designer, and hot rodder.

The award builds from a series of awards honoring three publishing categories defined as Best Article, Best Book, and Best Audio/Visual.

Dean Batchelor Awards Images Slideshow (20 images) >>

The three finalists in each category are culled from potentially tens of nominations submitted by Motor Press Guild members who have seen an outstanding published effort and thought it worthy of recognition with in the year of the honor.

Best Article Dean Batchelor Award 2012 presentation. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2012)

This year, the following finalists for Best Article were "Tambay: The Phoenix" By Thomas Stahler (Vintage Motorsport, May/June 2012) | "The Dillinger Trail" By Peter Egan (Road & Track, March 2012) | "The World's Fastest Hot Rod" By Greg Sharp (The Rodder's Journal, Spring 2012) with the Article of the Year Award going to "The World's Fastest Hot Rod" By Greg Sharp.

Best Book Dean Batchelor Award 2012 presentation. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2012)

The following finalists for Best Book were "In The Red" By Jade Gurss (Octane Press) | "Porsche - Origin of the Species" by Karl Ludvigsen (Bentley Publishers) | "The Stainless Steel Carrot: An Auto Racing Odessey - Revisited" By Sylvia Wilkinson (Brown Fox Books) with the Book of the Year Award going to "Porsche - Origin of the Species" by Karl Ludvigsen.

Best Audio/Visual Dean Batchelor Award 2012 presentation. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2012)

The following finalists for Best Audio/Visual were "Corvette ZR1 Review - Exotic Driver" By Todd Deeken and Paul Schmucker (EverydayDriver.com, September 27, 2012) | "A Look At London's BMW Art Drive" By Alistair Weaver (InsideLine.com, August 6, 2012) | "KBB Races A Mazda Miata" By Micah Muzio and Michael Delano - Kelley Blue Book (KBB.com, February 22, 2012) with the Audio/Visual of the Year Award going to "KBB Races A Mazda Miata" By Micah Muzio and Michael Delano - Kelley Blue Book.

The 2012 Dean Batchelor Award is bestowed upon a choice from one of these three category award honorees Article of the Year Award going to "The World's Fastest Hot Rod" By Greg Sharp | Book of the Year Award going to "Porsche - Origin of the Species" by Karl Ludvigsen | Audio/Visual of the Year Award going to "KBB Races A Mazda Miata" By Micah Muzio and Michael Delano - Kelley Blue Book with the 2012 Dean Batchelor Award going to Book of the Year Award going to "Porsche - Origin of the Species" by Karl Ludvigsen.

Book of the Month at Bentley Publishers becomes Book of the Year for Motor Press Guild. Image Credit: Bentley Publishers (2012)

This edited and excerpted from Bentley Publishers (and was included in the presentation from the podium during the award presentation) -

Classic and Sports Car - December 2012 
BOOK OF THE MONTH

Porsche - Origin of the Species 
by Karl Ludvigsen

It's hard to imagine that there's a Porsche stone unturned for respected marque historian Karl Ludvigsen. But, inspired by an early 356 - comedian Jerry Seinfeld's treasured Gmünd coupe 2-040 - the American historian set out to reveal the story of the landmark 1950s sports model. And top studio photographer Michael Furman provides a superb set of the historic survivor.

Ludvigsen's journey of fastidious research took him from factory archives to owners and specialists while unravelling this fascinating tale. This hefty, 344-page title covers the evolution of pre-war streamliners through to the early operations in the wooden sawmill in Gmünd, Austria. Putting Porsche's development in context, the book also covers VW Beetle-based specials and coach built variants.

Ludvigsen's writing style is a captivating joy to read, plus the main text is accompanied by fascinating panels including Robert Cumberford on styling, Miles Collier on preservation and Alex Finigan on ownership. The final pages are devoted to a complete reproduction of Porsche's trial reports on '040', and an early 1949 356 Betriebsanleitung (operating manual).
[Reference Here]

A wonderful time spent with like-minded folks and meeting new friends. The Petersen Automotive Museum provided the backdrop for the evening's presentations and all of the finalists from all categories were equally honored to be mentioned along side of the eventual 2012 Dean Batchelor Award honoree.

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2012)

Sponsors for the evening included Hyundai, Mothers, Jaguar, Land Rover, Honda, Ford, Audi, General Motors, Infiniti, Mazda, Porsche, Subaru, and Toyota - Thanks.

... notes from The EDJE


** Article first published as 2012 Dean Batchelor Award Is Snagged By "Porsche - Origin of the Species" on Technorati **

LA Auto Show Announces A Debut Event Of 40+ Vehicles

All electric Cadillac Converj concept on display at the 2011 LA Auto Show. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)  

LA Auto Show Announces A Debut Event Of 40+ Vehicles

The Los Angeles Auto Show announced today July 12, 2012 that more than 40 vehicles are anticipated to debut at the Show during the 2012 Press Days, held Nov. 28-29.

With four and a half months until the Show (beginning with Press Days - Nov. 28-29), it is noteworthy that at least 20 world debuts have already been confirmed by automakers. This breaking news, as well as other automotive trends, will be unveiled to a global audience consisting of media from more than 50 countries.

The debut lineup this year also promises a compelling mix of the hottest trends and cutting-edge innovations driving today's resurgent automotive industry, including world firsts from Chevrolet as well as European automakers such as BMW, Fiat and Volkswagen. Los Angeles attendees will also see global unveiling previews of new designs from Asian brands, including models from Acura, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan and Toyota.

The all natural gas-powered 2012 Honda Accord Green Car of the Year for 2012. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)


Green and alternative fuel technologies represented by types powered through fuel hybrid and all-electric vehicles, will be featured in several world debuts at the Show. There also will be an increasing number of high-mileage internal combustion vehicles, including clean diesel, on display.

Additionally, several automakers will unveil emerging technologies that are dramatically changing the modern driving experience and making it safer.

These technology-laden vehicles will share the media spotlight with a well-represented lineup of luxury and performance models underscoring the L.A. region's status as the largest market for these segments in the country. Of the 40 debuts slated, at least a dozen will come from these two categories, including unveilings from the likes of Acura, Bentley, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover and Porsche.

As stated by Andy Fuzesi, general manager, L.A. Auto Show - "As the first major North American show of the season, L.A. sets the tone for 2013 and we expect that automakers will pull out all the stops to excite new-car buyers. In virtually every category from the greenest electric vehicle to high-horsepower performance models, the technological advancements we are seeing today eclipse all previous automotive eras."

With California established as a global center for alternative fuel and advanced technology innovations, it should come as no surprise that the L.A. Auto Show will be a prime venue for breaking news on all the latest developments. The entirely new Automotive Technology Showcase, presented by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, is a Press Days expo designed to connect automotive technology companies with automakers, media, analysts, and other potential customers and partners. It will serve as a one-stop dedicated showcase covering advancements such as digital speech recognition, accident avoidance technology, navigation systems, real-time traffic data and solutions designed to mitigate distracted driving concerns.

Supporting the Showcase will be an expanded Ride and Drive called the Green & Advanced Technology Ride and Drive. This Press Days' event will include both "green" vehicles as well as those featuring in-car advancements such as automatic park assist, radar-based object detection systems and driver assist technologies. The Show's "green" credibility is further sustained with the Green Car Journal's annual Green Car of the Year® and Nielsen Automotive Green Marketer of the Year awards.

... notes from The EDJE


** Article first published as LA Auto Show Announces A Debut Event Of 40+ Vehicles on Technorati **

2011 Long Beach Pro-Celebrity Media Day: Five Minutes With Patrick Long

TruSpeed Motorsports Director, Tyler Tadevic readies a race prepared Porsche with ALMS stickers. Able assistance for sticker application was provided by Erin Cechal, American Le Mans Series Director of Public Relations/Media Services. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)

2011 Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Media Day: Five Minutes With Patrick Long

One might assume that it would be difficult to have a conversation with one of the more accomplished, yet under-publicized motorsports drivers of our era ... American born (actually Southern California born and bred) factory Porsche driver, Patrick Long.

Five minutes with Patrick Long leaves one with a strong and positive long-term memory of a person who is able to pursue & experience one's passion of mastering the art of driving an automobile in competition, establish strong interpersonal relationships at the pinnacle of performance, and make a difference in the context of this professional world on an international basis.

Audio Of Revealing Interview With Patrick Long, Here
(Patrick on World Challenge ride, open-wheel racing, general life issues)

Patrick Long gets ready to step into his office for the day giving rides around a track he has won at in the American Le Mans Series the previous two years. If he wins again (in any series) ... this threatens to bring a new meaning understanding to the name "Long Beach"! Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)

All of this may sound daunting and hectic given the goals of winning and the demands of representing the technology and corporate agenda of an international sports car powerhouse that is Porsche, especially when one considers that Patrick remains the happy, relaxed yet focused and professional Southern Californian that he is, but to Patrick ... it is all part of a life lived fully and well.

At the 2011 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Media Day, a day about one and half weeks before the event and where the celebrities are able to get familiar with the track lay-out for the first time as the city shuts down public access to the streets, Patrick Long joined his newest competition effort in the World Challenge for 2011. Patrick has joined forces with TruSpeed Motorsports (part of TruSpeed Motorcars, and TruSpeed Motorwerks - Porsche Sales, Service, and Racing out of Costa Mesa) in its desire to field a two car Porsche team in competing the Pirelli World Challenge Championship.

TruSpeed is best known as the premier source for air-cooled Porsches in the United States. Founded by businessman and driver Rob Morgan in January of 2001, TruSpeed has delivered absolute satisfaction and superior service to more than 4,000 customers worldwide.

Patrick Long grabs his helmet as he gets ready to take another hot lap, with a passenger in tow, around the temporary street course that is the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach race track. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)

Porsche, TruSpeed's founder and lead driver Rob Morgan, and TruSpeed's Motorsports Director, Tyler Tadevic are happy to have Patrick expand his competition awareness efforts outside of his primary Factory responsibilities of the American Le Mans Series and other corporate efforts ... as long as there remains no conflict on the Factory side. This TruSpeed Motorsports opportunity of teaming up with Rob Morgan fit the bill almost perfectly. Only one race, the Round 4 run at Miller Motorsports Park, Utah, would be effected with Patrick's absence. So far, Patrick has captured wins in Rounds 1 and 2 of the Pirelli World Challenge Championships from St. Petersberg ... and with 322 points, leads the driver championship by 89 points over the nearest competitor in the GT class.

This excerpted and edited from American Le Mans Series -

LONG BEACH VICTORIES TOUGH TO COME BY
List of multi-time winners is a short one

Since the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón first raced at the historic Long Beach circuit in 2007, multiple victories have been hard to come by.

Only one driver pairing in the last four seasons managed back-to-back class wins in the Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series at Long Beach – Jörg Bergmeister and Patrick Long for Flying Lizard Motorsports and Porsche in 2009 and 2010. In addition, Corvette Racing’s Olivier Beretta and Oliver Gavin took GT1 victories in 2007 and 2009.

The only other competitors to win more than once at Long Beach are David Brabham (2008 LMP2 and 2010 overall) and Simon Pagenaud (2009 and 2010 overall). There are 12 previous Long Beach class winners entered for next week’s race. In contrast 17 drivers will make their first Long Beach start in the Series.

This year’s race will be telecast in its entirety on ESPN3.com starting at 7:15 p.m. ET/4:15 p.m. local time. ESPN2 will provide television coverage from 5 to 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 17. Visit the American Le Mans Series' schedule page for information on tickets and area accommodations.
Reference Here

Come the weekend of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach (April 14-17, 2011), Patrick Long will be very busy doing what he feels he was born to do ... driving and promoting the expansion of the relationships he shares in the Porsche motorsports community by looking to notch his third victory in class for the Flying Lizards factory Porsche team with teammate Jorg Bergmeister and competing in his first season in the World Challenge with TruSpeed Motorsports with his own Porsche along side of teammate Rob Morgan.

Maybe, just maybe, he'll be able to win two Long Beach races during the same weekend in different series championships - if anyone can do it, Patrick Long can.

... notes from The EDJE

Profiling for profits ... it's a motor-culture good thing

Walmart - Link & Image Credit: Cool Aggregator

Profiling for profits ... it's a motor culture good thing

A just released study of consumer brands and automotive brands sold in the United States provides in-depth information on the relationships existing between new vehicle buyers and twenty-seven consumer brands. This information gives insight not only into who is buying the consumer brands, but what is important to them, what other brands are cross-shopped and how it all plays into their automotive brand preferences.

Auto manufacturers and suppliers use the AutoPacific Consumer Brand Study to better understand the target audience for the buyers of their vehicles. Consumer brands use the study to identify target markets and the mindset of the buyers attracted to their brand. In addition to US Automotive brands, the following 27 brands are analyzed: Target, Coca Cola, Old Navy, Levi’s, Walmart, Apple, Gap, Polo, Home Depot, HP (Hewlett-Packard), Louis Vuitton, IKEA, Lowe’s, TJ Maxx, Hugo Boss, Method, Trader Joe’s, Gucci, Costco, Axe, Whole Foods, Starbucks, LG (not cell phone), McDonalds, H&M, REI, and Sony.

The 2010 Porsche Panamera - Challenging the Mercedes-Benz CLS550 Coupe for its Division Heavyweight Title is the Porsche Panamera S, the Panamera’s base model. Weighing in at $127,000, the rookie contender Panamera S is knocked out in the first round by the Mercedes-Benz CLS550’s cool $69,825 price tag. Rallying for round two, the Panamera S offers a sizable counter attack with a 4.8-L naturally aspirated V8 engine, 400-hp, and an acceleration rate of 0-60 mph in about 4.5 seconds. The CLS550 matches the Panamera S’s efforts with a 5.5-liter V8 engine and 7-sp automatic transmission, but is ultimately out-performed with its paltry 382-hp. Caption & Image Credit: RideLust

This study highlights that one won’t likely find many Porsches parked in front of Walmart, for example. Only one in 17 Walmart Shoppers will even consider a Porsche. On the other hand one in six REI shoppers will consider a Porsche. A Generation Y new vehicle buyer is much more likely to also purchase an Apple product – computer, iPod, and iPhone than older new vehicle buyers. Shoppers at H&M – a trendy “cheap-chic” clothier – are much more into their vehicle’s image than their vehicle’s power and acceleration. Trader Joe’s customers are more likely to drive an Audi, BMW or Volvo.

“Our research indicates that American car buyers have dramatically different buying profiles for consumer brands. Selection of a consumer brand and selection of a vehicle brand and type are heavily tied together. The parking lot at Whole Foods is a lot different from the one at Walmart,” notes George Peterson, President of AutoPacific to LA Motor Culture Examiner.

“Target, Walmart, Home Depot and Lowe’s are cornerstone American brands that most people visit at least occasionally. The buyer profiles for these brands parallel new vehicle buyers nationally. It’s when you get to brands with more niche appeal like Apple, Starbucks, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, not to mention REI and H&M, where things get really different. Each consumer brand has a very distinctive footprint in types of consumers, factors important to them, vehicles owned and the ones they’ll consider next time.”

AutoPacific’s Consumer Brand Study is based on the results of AutoPacific’s annual survey of over 32,000 new car and light truck buyers in the United States. The study closely looks at recent buyers of new cars and light trucks and how they relate to twenty-seven consumer brands from Walmart to Louis Vuitton.
(ht: Dan Hall, AutoPacific)

... notes from The EDJE

A Gift For The New Year From Porsche

Carrera GT - P03. Image Credit Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG

A Gift For The New Year From Porsche

If you are traveling through Germany this next year, you may want to take a side trip on over to Stuttgart.

Ok, so you were planning to go there anyway because as any automobile-file knows, that is the “mecca” of Porsche sport cars … where they are made, but there is even a bigger reason to make the trek!

Porsche will be placing on display their over sixty years of automobile innovation history in a purpose built museum, the Porscheplatz, due for its debut at the end of this first month of 2009.

New Porsche Museum to be opened on 31 January 2009. Image Credit Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG

This excerpted and edited from press releases displayed at Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG website -

New Porsche Museum to be opened on 31 January 2009

Stuttgart. In the new Porsche Museum the final preparations are made for the opening on Saturday 31 January 2009.

At last, now that the scaffolding has been removed, it is possible to see to the full extent the bold architecture of the building at the head office premises of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG in Zuffenhausen:

The 5,600 square metres of exhibition space are supported on just three so-called cores of reinforced concrete – hence just seeming to hover in space. Inside the building the majority of approximately 80 exhibits are already in place.

Model range showing the 911 Turbo Cabriolet, the Cayman S, the Boxster and the Cayenne GTS (2008). Image Credit Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG

In the other areas of the new building – amongst them the museum workshops, the museum shop, the Porsche archive, an exclusive restaurant, a bistro and the capacious event areas – a team of experts are busy putting the finishing touches.

Three days after the ceremonial opening, which takes place on Wednesday the 28 January 2009, the doors of the new Porsche Museum will be flung open to welcome the first visitors. On a daily basis, apart from Mondays, the exhibition can be viewed for an admission price of eight Euros (reduced price: four Euros). Children up to the age of 14 get free admission when accompanied by an adult.

Building the engine into a Porsche 356 B (1960). Image Credit Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG

The restaurant on the second floor – which has both a view through the glass facade onto the Porscheplatz as well as through the glass partition into the exhibition itself – has its own separate entrance and is also open at hours different from those of the museum itself.

Porsche tractor Standard from c.1961. Image Credit Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG

With the new museum and its range of catering facilities additional capacity for conferences, company and private events in exceptional surroundings will come into being. We have already received hosts of inquiries.

Interested parties can get more detailed information from the internet on www.porsche.com/museum.

The following contacts are available for inquiries:

Group bookings and special guided tours:
Tel.: 0049 711 911 20911
Fax: 0049 711 911 20356
E-Mail: info.museum@porsche.de

Event inquiries:
Tel.: 0049 711 911 21911
Fax: 0049 711 911 21356
E-Mail: events.museum@porsche.de
Reference Here>>

Photos showing 60 year history of Porsche - HERE