Florida GTs: GP St. Pete, Heffner Dyno Day, April 4-6, 2008, *pics post 240*

[Howard]

I have to add my thanks to David, Jason and all the GT guys who attended our first annual St. Pete gathering. I particularly enjoyed meeting some of the Forum characters in "real life". Tachy and I were discussing how our GT's are near clones of one another since his recent upgrades at Jason's. Let me know when the car is well again so I can pass the word to its brother in New Jersey.

Howard

 

[BlackICE]

Thanks for the offer. Already look in the garage with sadness at the empty spot where the GT stood! Might be a while before I can get behind the wheel of mine.

Sorry to hear about the spin, but the important thing is no one was injured. It can happen to anyone given the conditions of the roads nowadays. I have been on the roads in CA during rain where I have hit large puddles in the left lane that slowed the car done so much it felt like I was hitting a wall of water. I tend to avoid the lanes with the drains now for that reason and watch the cars ahead of me to get advanced warning of what is ahead.

 

[B O N Y]

Elliot I am so sorry to hear about your crash! Puts a cloud on the event.So grateful you and Gregory are ok. Cars can be repaired.

 

[STORMCAT]

Have to agree, fabulous group, had great time meeting and socializing with everone. Had pulley, tune, and dyno at Heffner's Thursday, great time at the races and dinners Fri and Sat. Boy (insert our own explitive), do I wish my son Gregory and I had stayed longer to have that last dinner Sunday, instead of hitting the road home. Got past the toll booth on I-75 north of the skyway bridge, in the rain, doing what I thought was a comfortable 60
mph in the left lane, about 2000 rpm in 4th gear, and suddenly was in a spin.
Right rear of the car hit the center guard rail, came to rest in the grassy median facing south. Fortunately no one was injured, no one else involved. Spent the next several hours in the night-time rain with FHP and the flatbed driver. Given a ride to meet up with the (very pissed off) wife by a fabulous passerby. GT delivered to the dealer for inspecton late today. Yet to hear the bad news. Everyone safe--could have ben much worse. Have been beating my head against the wall ever since!! Hope everyone else makes it home safely.
Eliot (TACHY)

Eliot,
I'm very happy to hear you and your son are OK. Of course I'm very sorry to hear the news about my Tungsten Brother !! Don't beat yourself up over the incident.. The car will be repaired and life will go on !! The important things are safe. Keep us posted.. Sincerely, Brian

 

[tmcphail]

Elliot I am so sorry to hear about your crash! Puts a cloud on the event.So grateful you and Gregory are ok. Cars can be repaired.

Indeed

 

[Lgaruti]

Eliot,
Really sad to hear of the spin.

Let me know if I can assist in any way

 

[fjpikul]

Wow, bummer. Hope damage is only superficial.

 

[TACHY]

Appreciate all of the kind words. Still awaiting the adjuster's evaluation. Haven't seen the damage myself in the daylight yet. Probably won't be able to do so before Thursday.

 

[SFLGT]

:frown:frown. Very sorry. Hopefuly the damage isn't to bad.

 

[Sinovac]

Elliot, sorry about your mishap. Glad you and your son are ok. I enjoyed meeting both of you.

My son and I had a great time and enjoyed meeting everyone. The event was great. Many thanks to Dave and the others involved in putting this together. Of course, this was the highlight of the weekend for my son...

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e91/Sinovac/DSC_0279.jpg

Dick Barbour and the Robertson team are first class. When the alternator went out in the GT-R and killed the battery during the race I told my son it was his fault because he must have pushed the wrong button when he was in the car, but he swears he didn't touch anything.

This was the highlight of the weekend for me...

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e91/Sinovac/DSC_0326.jpg

On second thought, THIS was the highlight of my weekend...

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e91/Sinovac/DSC_0209.jpg

Nope, this was really the best part...

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e91/Sinovac/DSC_0330.jpg

 

[dbk]

Thanks to everyone who showed up. I think it's safe to say we all had a really great time, and that tent ended up being priceless! Always good to (hopefully) add new faces to the list of "regulars" and see old ones. Getting to spend some time with the Robertson Racing GT team was great fun and it was awesome to see it on the track. Great weather the first three days and access to all the pits, great views all around the hospitality roof, loud races cars...this is where it's at!

Thanks to Mr. Bony for arranging all those fantastic dinners. In case you didn't know, 1418 can eat a 6lb Lobster, a 24 oz. Porterhouse, and another 24 oz. Porterhouse for dinner on successive nights.

Thanks to Mr. Heffner for hosting the cars and their owners and doing some dyno runs and p/t's. Somehow he got ahold of my car and there's all this funny shiny new piping in there. Feels really weird when I press the gas now too.

Shall we do this again next year? I'll tell them to book us again right now and we can FILL the tent next time?

 

[dbk]

Eliot, terribly sorry to hear about your accident. Let us know if we can help in any way.

 

[B O N Y]

Yes, for next year... !!

 

[PL510*Jeff]

2009 Sebring

DBK - YES for Sebring 2009.

Start a sticky soon.

that new shiny stuff under the glass -- we need photo's.

a little reminder - traction control is still your right foot and the limit of the adhesion of the tires. I'm sure you know how to use both.

 

[dbk]

I'll tell you Jeff, I thought the 3 day combo at St. Pete was awesome. I know Sebring is a great race but there are so many options around St. Pete to entertain yourself. And it's not in BFE! We'll throw it out there and see what the kids say.

 

[STORMCAT]

I'm in for St Pete in 2009 !!

 

[B O N Y]

The issue with Sebring is first class hotels where we stay together.
I am in for Sebring with that being part of the calculation.

This year the hotel was fine. We where close to the track at St Pete, Thursday evening we crawled through traffic due to a traffic incident, and on Saturday the bus was an hour and twenty minutes late due to traffic when it came to pick us up.

 

[pauleddy]

Count me in for St. Pete '09 as well as Sebring. BONY on the wine and chow, DBK on the accomodations...it's genius' at work!
Just for the hell of it, I will check on room availability at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort (T#:727-894-1000) in St. Pete, within walking distance of the track, it's on the water, 1st rate hotel, restaurant and bar and close by all the great nighttime St. Petersburg hot spots.
Saw DBK's ride on Monday morning...most sweet plumbing to the twin hairdryers! Jason Heffner's crew did wonderous things to my "Black Beauty" which you all saw in his shop for the pulley, headers and tune, now giving 621 RWHP and almost 800 at the crank. The car is ALIVE!!! Many thanks to everyone for a great weekend and I personally am looking forward to more of same, including new adventures.
Drive smart, drive safe...remember Aretha's words: R.E.S.P.E.C.T.!
Paul
P.S.: Elliot, let us know how we can be of help!

 

[B O N Y]

well... where are the pictures

 

[davisp]

Despite my scheduling problems I am in again for 2009. This time looking forward to going to the races. Thanks to DBK and Tom for helping me out with the the last minute changes. PD