Last week the Rolex 24 Hour Race set new records: Most laps – 808; and the least full course cautions – 4.
In 1998, I ran a GT2 Porsche at this race with a brand new team that included Ron and Ryan Woltman, Mike Kilby, Rob and Tim Dale, Rick Williams, Rick Slinn and a whole bunch of talented people from Holland, the UK and the US. We took a one week old car and team through 24 hours to finishing 5th overall!
From there we entered the Sebring 12 Hour race, Ron Fellows set fastest lap while driving our car and we again finished on the podium.
Our next outing was Qualifying for the 24 Hours Of LeMans in May returning in June to run the race Vingt Quatres Heures Du Mans. An incredible experience as we were the only Canadian Team with the only Canadian driver entered that year.
The CJ Motorsports Team was based in West Palm Beach and Tim Dale worked full-time there, traveling with the team throughout the season. Totally into it, he earned his CDL Truck Driver license and drove one year for Powell Motorsport moving their Grand Am Corvette around North America. The next five years he drove truck for IMSA doing set-up and tear-down all over North America. He started in motorsport racing karts with NCKC and ended up working full-time living the dream.
Several of our OSCC members also work at various levels and in different capacities in motorsport and all it took for them to get involved was to get started at a club level. Whether working in the paddock or pit lane; flagging on a corner; working a checkpoint in a rally; coming out to club meetings and hooking up with someone who needed help with their race car;…………..whatever.
Its easier than you think and there is nothing needed except wanting to be more involved and putting your hand up and asking if you can help.
The Ottawa SportsCar Club is a ‘Can Do’ club where anything is possible. Not sure how to get started? Reach out to one of the Board members listed and let them know you want to get involved. Its that easy!!
The Ottawa SportsCar Club – OSCC: “OF the members, BY the members, FOR the members.”
<tsdale2@gmail.com>
