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California Speedway Grand Am (Photos)

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  #1  
Old 03-22-2005, 12:41 PM
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California Speedway Grand Am (Photos)

Grand Am at California Speedway

April 1st and 2nd, 2005


The following is an overview of the general events to take place at California Speedway. Tony Nuzzo should have other details to announce soon, but for now I wanted to get some of this information collected in one place.

MINI Specific Schedule

Tony Nuzzo and his team will be racing in the Grand Am Cup. There will be other racing going on each day. The schedule presented below are the times to view the Nuzzo Motorsports MINI COOPER S out on the track.

Friday, April 1



  • 1:00 PM 1:45 PM Practice – Grand-Am Cup
  • 4:50 PM 5:30 PM Practice – Grand-Am Cup
Saturday, April 2



  • 10:30 AM 10:45 AM Qualifying – Grand-Am Cup ST
  • 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM Driver autograph session



  • 2:45 PM START – Grand-Am Cup race 200-miles/71-laps/3-hour time limit
General Schedule

This is the schedule for all of the events on Friday and Saturday with the times highlighted for when the Nuzzo Motorsports MINI will be out on the track.

Friday, April 1



  • 7:00 AM Garages open
  • 8:30 AM 8:50 AM Practice – Ferrari Historics (drum brakes)
  • 9:00 AM 9:30 AM Practice – Ferrari Challenge
  • 9:40 AM 10:00 AM Practice – Ferrari Historics (disc brakes)
  • 10:10 AM 10:30 AM Practice – Rolex Series GT
  • 10:30 AM 11:30 AM Practice – Rolex Series combined
  • 11:30 AM 11:50 AM Practice – Rolex Series Daytona Prototypes
  • 1:00 PM 1:45 PM Practice – Grand-Am Cup (Nuzzo Motorsports MINI out on the track)
  • 2:00 PM 3:00 PM Practice – Rolex Series
  • 3:10 PM 3:30 PM Practice – Ferrari Historics (drum brakes)
  • 3:40 PM 4:10 PM Practice – Ferrari Challenge
  • 4:20 PM 4:40 PM Practice – Ferrari Historics (disc brakes)
  • 4:50 PM 5:30 PM Practice – Grand-Am Cup (Nuzzo Motorsports MINI out on the track)
  • 7:00 PM Garages close
Saturday, April 2



  • 7:00 AM Garages open
  • 8:00 AM 8:15 AM Qualifying – Ferrari Historics (drum brakes)
  • 8:20 AM 8:50 AM Qualifying – Ferrari Challenge
  • 8:30 AM Grand-Am cup qualifying driver nomination forms due
  • 8:55 AM 9:10 AM Qualifying – Ferrari Historics (disc brakes)
  • 9:20 AM 10:20 AM Practice – Rolex Series
  • 10:30 AM 10:45 AM Qualifying – Grand-Am Cup ST (Nuzzo Motorsports MINI out on the track)
  • 10:55 AM 11:10 AM Qualifying – Grand-Am Cup GS
  • 11:45 AM Rolex Series qualifying driver nomination forms due
  • 11:20 AM RACE – Ferrari Historics (drum brakes/20-minutes)
  • 11:45 AM RACE – Ferrari Challenge Race 1 (30-minutes)
  • 1:15 PM RACE – Ferrari Historics (disc brakes/ 20-minutes)
  • 1:45 PM 2:00 PM Qualifying – Rolex Series GT
  • 2:10 PM 2:25 PM Qualifying – Rolex Series Daytona Prototypes
  • 2:45 PM START – Grand-Am Cup race 200-miles/71-laps/3-hour time limit (Nuzzo Motorsports MINI out on the track)
  • 7:00 PM Garages close

Tickets (UPDATED 3/27/2005)

Friday :: Practice - Tickets are $10 per person and you can purchase your tickets at any ticket window at California Speedway. This pricing is already so cheap that the speedway doesn't offer additional discounts.

Saturday :: Qualifying and Grand Am Cup Race

Regular Price: $20 per person
Discounted Price: Two Tickets for $15

Discount tickets must be purchased in advance. If you only need one ticket for Saturday, then it still makes sense to purchase two in advance. You could either try to sell the extra OR just accept that you are still saving $5 over the regular price for one ticket.

How to purchase the discounted tickets:

  • Download this .pdf file
  • Fill out the pdf file. You should indicate you want to purchase Package B for Saturday. One package includes two tickets. Each package is $15. Be sure to indicate whether you want to pick your tickets up at the will call window or have them mailed out. Be careful about the mail option as this event is a week away as of this posting.
  • FAX the form to California Speedway (the number is on the bottom of the form)
NOTE: the package also includes entry into the special parking area. If you get your ticket request in early enough you should be able to just drive in. Otherwise, if you pick your tickets up at the ticket window, you have the option to either leave your car where it's at or move it.
 

Last edited by dave; 03-27-2005 at 01:26 PM.
  #2  
Old 03-28-2005, 07:59 AM
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Information regarding discounted ticketing has been added to the first post.
 
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Old 03-31-2005, 06:02 PM
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Is anybody here heading out...

To Fontana tomorrow (Friday)? My son and I are going to check things out, anybody wanna meet and caravan or just meet out there?
 
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Old 03-31-2005, 06:05 PM
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Originally Posted by mini d
To Fontana tomorrow (Friday)? My son and I are going to check things out, anybody wanna meet and caravan or just meet out there?
DiD and I are leaving West L.A. at 8am on the SATURDAY. You can PM me or DiD if you wanna tag along.

As for Friday, I'm working, but DiD might be going Friday too.
 
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Old 03-31-2005, 06:06 PM
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Looks like a hell of a good time and a great way to support our brand. See you there.
 
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Old 04-01-2005, 02:19 PM
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Went out there today.

Saw the Ferrari challenge practice, Ferrari Historics, Rolex Cup, Rolex Daytona Prototype, and Rolex Cup combined practice sessions. Made my blood pressure rise! Man, it was a blast! Saw the Nuzzo Motorsports MINI, cool car. Didn't want to bother anybody so my son and I just admired it for awhile and we had to leave before we saw it go . My boy did get to sit behind the wheel of a 1966 Ferrari that won its class at the Nurburgring! HOW COOL IS THAT?!? The gentleman that owned the car was extremely nice. Lusted over the F430 that was on display out in the parking lot and it only confirmed the fact that if I ever hit the lottery I will own one! All in all, it was a great day with my son. Thanks guys for posting this on here
 
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Old 04-01-2005, 07:35 PM
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I was out there too today, took a ton of photos, and talked to Tony and the crew. It was a great afternoon.

I'm going to start piling over all the photos and try to get some up tonight. :smile:
 
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Old 04-01-2005, 09:36 PM
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The following photos were taken today at California Speedway.
























 

Last edited by dave; 04-01-2005 at 10:31 PM.
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Old 04-01-2005, 09:46 PM
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For those coming out tomorrow

The will call office is in the credential building off to the South West of the speedway. Once you have your tickets from will call, proceed to the tunnel with your parking pass and they will direct you to the corral area in the infield for the reserved parking.

Tony's pit is at the very East end of the infield area. There are three garages. You will need to walk past all three garages, and then there will be two rows of semi's and some open pit areas. Nuzzo Motorsports is in the middle of the very last row.


 
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Old 04-02-2005, 02:56 AM
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Hagin with the Tony Nuzzo Team ! ! !

Friday was Great...No wind just SUN!!
Jack, Jarrad and I carravaned to Flo's Airport Cafe in Chino and had breakfast then on to Fontana...
Met Tony and His wifey and saw Richard and Skate Mom. Rich was a volunteer wrench turner.We drove the utility kart over to the pit area to set it up along with a easy-up.I had an oppertunity to work on Tony,s Mini..I installed a Zip tie,Ha,Ha... Fun,Fun. going to try to go again Saturday after the Flo's/Planes of Fame event with the So. Cal. MINI MANIACS
 
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Old 04-02-2005, 09:41 PM
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Auberlen?

no more Shane Lewis?

Fantastic photos Dave, as always! Looking forward to more photos and details...
 
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Old 04-02-2005, 11:33 PM
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Caught this thread at 1am on thursday night and couldn't miss out on the opportunity to take a day off and catch some of the action. Grand Am was much lower key than some of the other races I've attended in the past (F1, CART, world challenge, ALMS), so it was great to get up close to the teams, cars and drivers, take some photos and actually chat with some team members (who were quite friendly btw). Here are some photos I managed to capture of the Nuzzo MINI on the first practice session on Friday. David, great pics btw; you got some great angles and vantage points of the track. Was looking out for a Nikon shooter but didn't catch you that day Did you happen to have photo credentials? Look forward to more of your shots of the weekend.

Rick







 
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Old 04-02-2005, 11:56 PM
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I had a GREAT time at the track today (Saturday).

I got to drive Camel on the track during parade lap and I also got to hold a row marker for the start of the race. (Number 17)

I relaly loved the low keyness of the event because we could walk ANYWHERE, pits, garages, VIP suites, ANYWHERE, was bloody sweet.
 
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Old 04-03-2005, 12:09 AM
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Isn't Tony a great guy? I had the pleasure of hanging out with Team Nuzzo when they competed at the Inaugural Races of the new Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama in 2003. YuccaPatrol and I were treated to up close and personal fun with Team Nuzzo! It was VERY exciting!


Clover
 
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Old 04-03-2005, 12:47 AM
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Originally Posted by TonyB
no more Shane Lewis?

Fantastic photos Dave, as always! Looking forward to more photos and details...
I guess he's only driving prototypes this season?
 
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Old 04-03-2005, 10:49 AM
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04/16 on SPEED...

No mention here, and probably not footage in a couple weeks...

http://www.grand-am.com/News/Article.asp?ID=4090

Kudos to the new Mustang for the GT victory!

What happened during Qualifying?

http://www.grand-am.com/Events/Sessi...?SessionID=494

Given the poor Q, a 12th in class is not too shabby...

http://www.grand-am.com/Events/Sessi...?SessionID=495

Laguna Seca is calling...
 
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Old 04-03-2005, 11:05 AM
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http://www.grandamerican.com/CONTENT...GAC%203-28.pdf
 

Last edited by TonyB; 04-03-2005 at 11:08 AM. Reason: Each car has it's own weight criteria... my bad!
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Old 04-03-2005, 11:07 AM
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In qualifying the front brakes went out. Most of the parts associated with the front brakes had to be redone before the race.
 
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Old 04-03-2005, 11:09 AM
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Thanks Dave! That certainly would explain the time delta...
 
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Old 04-03-2005, 11:29 AM
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12th is a satisfying finish with the Q problems and since Fontana is an HP track and the MINI has brick-like aero.

Bring on the handling tracks like VIR!

Great job Nuzzo Motorsports!
 
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Old 04-03-2005, 12:15 PM
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The new mustang finished 1-2 at Daytona as well. The BMW M3 didn't have enough to reel the Mustangs in on the last lap.
 
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Old 04-03-2005, 12:56 PM
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Here are some more photos, starting off back in the pits with the front brake replacement.











 
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Old 04-03-2005, 12:58 PM
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More of the other Grand Am Cup cars



















 
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Old 04-03-2005, 01:06 PM
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Originally Posted by TonyB
no more Shane Lewis?

Fantastic photos Dave, as always! Looking forward to more photos and details...
It's my understanding Shane Lewis will be back for Laguna Seca. Auberlen was for California Speedway only.

Originally Posted by rpM
David, great pics btw; you got some great angles and vantage points of the track. Was looking out for a Nikon shooter but didn't catch you that day Did you happen to have photo credentials? Look forward to more of your shots of the weekend.
Rick, you got some great shots too.

I did get a photo credential, so I spent most of my time at the west end of the infield, since that was the photo spot since that was the closest vantage point to the track. On Saturday, I saw maybe half a dozen people lugging around 500mm lenses with one camera body and a 70-200 lens on another. It was an even split between Nikon and Canon.
 
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Old 04-03-2005, 01:28 PM
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Are those painted on headlamps Love the intercooler setup ...how come no one else is doing this? The front center lift point is very useful...how did they do that?
 


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