| Author | Message | ||
| Kevin Butler (Challenge)
New member Username: Challenge Post Number: 8 Registered: 9-2002 |
Awesome story! I, too, have experienced Summit Point at high speed. Allie Ash (of Ferrari of Washington) took me for a couple of insane laps in his 92 F40. Jet-like straights and induced oversteer lit up by those twin turbos was beyond words. He says he only gets up to "low 150's" on the straight, but I don't believe him. Thanks Allie! Incidentally, his cars are on the cover of this month's Road & Track (and there is a writeup about his 360GT team). | ||
| Matt Karson (Squidracing)
Junior Member Username: Squidracing Post Number: 187 Registered: 3-2001 |
Jon, great experience pal. Wish I was exposed to what he was doing, real time. Being there will make anyone a better driver, lucky for you. Wish I was there. | ||
| Jon P. Kofod (95f355c)
Junior Member Username: 95f355c Post Number: 246 Registered: 8-2001 |
Rob, Michael did in fact get a ride in the Audi R8 and told me it was the most amazing car he had ever driven. He said the downforce was just plain amazing and that he joked with the R8 guys about how easy they had it. He let Capello and Kristiansen drive his S4 and they were also amazed. Amazed that he could drive the car as fast as he does with, as Michael calls them, "tires you can buy at your local store." I have never personally met Neil Sap but have seen him at SCCA events throughout the years. I think he came up through the solo and Pro solo ranks. He even ran some Nationals this year inclduing the season opener at Summit Point. It's nice to see many of these racers return to their roots from time to time. Dobson and Harvey recently ran a Pro Spec Miata race at Laguna. Kevin, I rode with Johnstone in his Acura GTP car at Lime Rock and was terrified. I had limited track experience in street cars and had never experienced such raw speed through the coners. The ride with Stuck in a 959 was no less exciting but if a bit more subdued. It was at Watkins Glen as a promotonal event for PCNA and he was driving fast but not pushing it too hard but I was still amazed at how he took the corners. People who go out for rides in my Challenge car often comment that it is not the straight line speed at 150 mph that got them nervous (or amazed) but the speed through the corners. I can only imagine what a 1000 pound 900 hp F1 car must feel like. Regards, Jon | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 2381 Registered: 12-2000 |
I think Galati had the talent to go about wherever he wanted, but not being a trust fund baby and going the typical Kart, FF/Skip Barber, Toyota Atlantic route has it's hurdles. I heard he wanted and Audi considered giving him a test ride in the R8. I know Derek is a wee older, but Michael consistently out laps Derek by a second a lap. He's so talented and how he got there is so much more amazing. Another one is Neal Sapp, who started out autocrossing, then club racing, then Neon pro series, and then SVWC. He's a great guy and I've exchanged several emails with him. I would like to do a season, but at minimum I'll buy a ride for one SVWC race. A middle of the pack team is only about $8k a weekend. That's many years down the road though. | ||
| Kevin Marcus (Rumordude)
Junior Member Username: Rumordude Post Number: 74 Registered: 9-2001 |
i had a few rides with parker johnstone in an s500 and a couple different renntech '02 mercedes last july. Definitely exhilirating! nice to see some other f355c's out there! | ||
| Jon P. Kofod (95f355c)
Junior Member Username: 95f355c Post Number: 245 Registered: 8-2001 |
Rob, The nice thing about Michael is his down to earth nature. Some of this stems from his origins as a SCCA club racer. He is not one of the F1 brats who started racing go-karts at age 6 and had a PR person by age 8. Michael started out racing much like you and I have, just getting an SCCA regional license and racing underpowered street cars. Michael started out racing Honda Civic hatchbacks he picked up in junk yards. I will post some pictures from the Audi event when I get them. Regards, Jon | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 2380 Registered: 12-2000 |
That is sooo awesome and I'm sooo jealous. Most guys here in Texas watch NFL, NBA, and MLB. I watch only SVWC, ALMS, GA, and F1. These are my heros and it's great to have such close access to them. | ||
| Bill Sawyer (Wsawyer)
Member Username: Wsawyer Post Number: 499 Registered: 2-2002 |
Who's the guy with the brown stain on his pants sitting next to the driver?  | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 2978 Registered: 5-2001 |
Very interesting to see his eyes focusing on the Apex. Great picture. Great article as well. | ||
| martin J weiner,M.D. (Mw360)
Member Username: Mw360 Post Number: 603 Registered: 5-2001 |
Interesting.Got a vicarious charge out of the post. Thanks. | ||
| Jon P. Kofod (95f355c)
Junior Member Username: 95f355c Post Number: 244 Registered: 8-2001 |
Bret, Galati is not really small. He had to hunch down in my seat because it is set up for me (5'10") and is non adjustable. The guy in the passenger seat is an event organizer who is about 6'1. Galati is about 6 feet. He just looks small in the picture because of his seating position. Regards, Jon | ||
| David Feinberg (Fastradio2)
Junior Member Username: Fastradio2 Post Number: 182 Registered: 4-2002 |
Nice story, Jon... Being a Ferarri owner, and having an S4 as my daily driver certainly made for an interesting read. David | ||
| BretM (Bretm)
Advanced Member Username: Bretm Post Number: 2742 Registered: 2-2001 |
It might be an illusion, but he looks a lot smaller than you. Are all really good race drivers small? I know the benefits, etc to it but I have to wonder if anyone taller than 5'9" makes it big. One of the F1 drivers a couple years ago was 6'2" 185lbs, but that is the only American size person I have ever heard of in racing. | ||
| Jon P. Kofod (95f355c)
Junior Member Username: 95f355c Post Number: 243 Registered: 8-2001 |
 At a recent track event (Audi National Event) at Summit Point Raceway I had the pleasure of being a passenger with Speed GT Champion Michael Galati driving my Challenge car. I have cut and pasted a review of the ride below from another post off the Audi message board. For those of you unfamiliar with Galati he is a two time SCCA Driver of the Year, five time Valvoline Run-Offs Champion, two time World Challenge Champion, Speedvision Touring car Champion (with Real Time Acura) and this past 2001 Speedvision GT Champion with Champion Motorsports driving an Audi S4. He is currently in the lead for his second straight Speed GT Championship with one race to go. Although he has never raced a Ferrari he is from Italy and list the following Ferrari people as his favorites: Fangio, Nuvolari, Lauda and Enzo Ferrari. I have been in a 959S with Hans Stuck and a IMSA Camel Lights Spice Acura with Parker Johnstone and have to say that Michael isn't far behind these guys in the talent department. Regards, Jon P. Kofod 1995 F355 Challenge #23 Copy of post: My pleasure. I am glad you got to go back out with Galati in the instructor run group because he was clearly pushing the car faster than in the student group. I am also glad I got a ride with him as well. The first few laps he was taking it easy (my friend Klaus said he was doing 1:25's) and I was a bit disapointed. About lap five Michael looked over to me and said "should I push harder..." I said absolutely, drive as fast as you feel comfortable. Well he took it up a few notches and was running low 1:19's according to Klaus. The track record in that car is a 1:17 and keep in mind Galati has never driven here before and he is in someone else's play toy. He used every inch of the track (and some dirt and grass too) and his shifting was lightning quick. What amazed me most was what he mentioned at the dinner banquet about being "one with the car" and being able to feel everything. In five laps he was on the limit, constanly using the brake, the steering wheel, and the throttle to take the car over the limit and back again. Every lap. He practically drove the car sideways through the carousel and had the tail out in turn 10 everytime. People who race at his level do everything by instinct. He was trail braking in turn 3, something I have never seen anyone do before. He was carrying so much speed that he was still getting off the brakes (left foot braking) well after turn in. I asked him about it later and he looked puzzled and said what do you mean? I told him he was getting off the brakes late but then realized that he is doing everything by instinct and is never really thinking about it. What surprised me even more was that he had fun driving my car. I pretty much expected him to be bored in my car compared to the Champion S4 which weighs much less and has more power. But he got out of the car grinning and commented how much fun it was to drive a real race car again. I asked him what he meant and he commented on the stiff ride and the "real" race rubber. Apparently he an all the Speed Gt racers hate those street Toyos. He said those tires make the S4 undriveable and the body roll is terrible. As most of you heard at the dinner, Capello and Kristiansen asked him how in the world he could drive that car with no grip. Mike is also a very down to earth type guy and was willing to talk to anyone. he stood and talked with me for at least 15 minutes after we got out of the car and seemed to be enjoying himself with all the Audi Club members. Special thanks again to Jon, Marc, Charlie, and all the other club organizers (also thanks to everybody who set up the great baquet dinner). Another fine event. See everyone at VIR in Decemeber. Galati's S4:  |