Ferrari Challenge - any dates?

I haven't seen any dates posted for the 2005 Ferrari Challenge series in North America. They're not on FNA's website; does anyone have any information from elsewhere?

I suspect they'll still be using 360s but switch to F430s in 2006.....

 

Jim,

April 1-3 Fontana/Grand Am
May 15th Las Vegas Speedway
June 10-12 Montreal/F1 GP
June 24-26 Mont Tremblant
July 7-9 Lime Rock
Oct Italy


Regards,

Jon P. Kofod
www.flatoutracing.net

 

Thanks Jon.

 

I'm glad to see they are supporting the Candian GP, I really enjoyed watching that last year.

 

That's it?

Seems like the participants spend a heck of a lot of money for 5 North American race dates.

(but I'm not in the target market, so I guess it really doesn't matter )

 

Tillman,

It's been declining since the hey day of 2002 when 30+ cars showed up at Watkins Glen. There were 6 races in 03, 5 last year and 5 again this year.

It's simply too expensive for what it is.......amateur racing in one off cars. Last I head it was about 13-15K per weekend if you owned the car and over 20 if you wanted to rent one.

I personally have sour grapes over the entire series. I built my 355 C after speaking to FNA in 2000 about running half the 01 series. Just a week or so before the season was to start they informed me I had to pay for the entire season regardless of how many races I wanted to run. I had already done some test days, the car was built and someone decided they didn't want me in the series.

The same has happened to other drivers (one of who posts here). It's an old boy network of people who can't cut it in real racing and are scared of competition.

Personally I hope the Maserati series catches on over here. I am interested more in that than Ferrari Challenge.

You can do SWC for that amount or run in the Rolex Series with TV coverage.

Much better deal.

Regards,

Jon P. Kofod
www.flatoutracing.net

 

Jon,
Ahah! That explains a few things.... Now can someone tell me why they are not racing at the USGP anymore? I have heard stories about how somebody didn't want them there, blah, blah. I also heard the same thing about the Historic GP guys, but never really got the total scoop. Can someone edjumacate me?

I get so tired hearing that "blat! blat!" of the stupid Porch Cup cars! The 360's sounded so sweet flying down the main straight! And for that matter the Historic guys with their Cosworths and that OH SO SWEET Ferrari flat 12! Excuse me, I have a tear in my eye....

Jim

 

Jim,

It's my understanding (someone correct me if I am wrong) that Tony George never liked the Challenge series because of it's amateur status (non-professional drivers). From what I was told, George raised the entry fee in 03 to a high enough level that Ferrari decided against going there.

Regards,

Jon

 

Jon,

"It's an old boy network of people who can't cut it in real racing and are scared of competition."

Do you really want to defend that offensive and insulting statement to me? You want to tell people like Doug Peterson and Todd Morici that they can't cut it in real racing? That they're scared of competition? That is utter nonsense.

The schedule also omitted the August 5-7 Road America event.

During the USGP weekend Tony George is not the final authority. In the practical sense this is a track rental by FOM, who have full authority. Challenge drivers were polled about running only one GP, and chose Canada over Indy. Given the price asked to run at Indy, this was a good decision.

Old Guy

 

I apologize to you if you were offended and/or insulted by the remarks. However, it doesn't change my view that it is not a fair playing field.

At one time I would agree that the Challenge field had some world class drivers (Earle, McCormick, Kenton, Peterson, Bauman, Wagner.....). I know most of them have considerable successes in other forms of racing, but the talent level nowadays is sparse.

But I was also told that someone (who posts here) was told to leave the series after he won a race because he held a rinky dink BMWCCA race license. I know you know who I am talking about.

I know you worked on the series and spent considerable time with the Challenge and Historics but I still have a bad taste in my mouth over how FNA treated me. Possibly that jades my view.

The fact remains that I told FNA of my intent to race 3 races in 01 and they assured me that as in years past I did not need to run the entire series. I had no race experience, save karting when I was much younger and about 5+ years of track events.

With this information and assurance I purchased the lone remaining Challenge kit from FNA and had FOW build the car. I then went to a private test day with several Challenge cars from Wide World and one other dealer (not FOW) at Watkins Glen. Present at the test were two other 355 that's would be competing in the series. I ran very competitive lap times to say the least.

A week later I was informed by Allie that I had to commit to the entire season, or at a minimum fork over the entire race season's FNA fee. I spent well over 50K to convert the car and felt that FNA screwed me. I have no proof what occured but I think most would find this rather strange that late in the ball game after I had filled out most of the paperwork FNA wanted, gotten a physical and Grand Am License, and attended some test days.

I converted the car for one purpose, to run in the series. I didn't need the kit for any other purpose as the car was already a partial Challenge car with added parts. Before we built the car it could still have been reconverted rather easily to street status, but once the conversion was done I couldn't go back.

Again I apologize that I offended you and I do know you commited considerable time and effort to the Challenge Series.

If I get to Daytona and we meet up, I'll be happy to apologize in person and buy you a beer or two. Hope there are no hard feelings.

Regards,

Jon

 

Jon,

I won't comment on your situation, as I really don't know the details from the FNA side.

As to the young driver you mention, I am still working with him (and his father) to try to help his career. Let me only say this, and I thing he will agree: the fact that he held a BMWCCA license, etc., had nothing to do with his situation. The major issue was that he didn't own the car. There was more too it than that, and I won't argue that he was treated entirely fairly, but the situation is somewhat different than you describe.

I don't drive beer, but I suspect we can find a mutally acceptable beverage at the Rolex.

O.G.

 

O.G.

Thanks for shedding light on the real reason he was asked to leave the series.
But it somewhat inforces my ill feelings toward the series. I think winning his first race was the major problem but that is just an outsider (me) looking in.
Imagine if you had to own the car to race in Grand Am. That would wipe out 90% of the field.

Ironically, I talked with FOW/Allie last season about renting a car for a race and wasn't told I needed to actually own the car.

Hope to be at Daytona to buy your a beverage of choice !

Regards,

Jon

 

That is correct Jon!

The new rule that came down at the start of last year was that you do not have to own the car you drive and you can run as many events as you wished. I'm looking to see if that rule is still in effect for 2005. I'm planing a Reunion Team for one race. That race will be the Finale at Misano. We will rent the cars in Italy and run a two day test at the track (acording to the rules). We also will be making arrangements for drivers who do not want to run the race but would want to run the two day test. They would use regular 360's for the part of the track time that is unless they want Challenge cars and we will make those arrangements. Thinks are in the planning stages. It will include tours of the factory, Ducati, Lambo, Maserati and a couple more. Plus prime shopping locations and days in Bologna.

Email me if you would like to be put on the list to receive info on the tour. Or keep an eye open on our site www.forza.cc for the info.

Let's go racing!!
Bruce

 

Jon,

You can't compare GrandAm (a professional racing series) and the Ferrari Challenge, which was developed to allow Ferrari owners to enjoy their cars. The rules still prohibit professional drivers from participating.

This concept is why the rules from the beginning required that the driver own the car. That rule was relaxed last year, to increase entries and rebuilt the series from a low point. While entries were indeed up, almost none were rent-a-drivers.

If I had my way it would still be for owners, but I understand the decision. It made sense.

 

Hey, Oldie, but still above ground, Guy, what are the odds of a Maser Challenge series?

Dale

 

Good Morning!

In Europe most of the drivers are paid professionals. It has been that way from day one. Only in the USA was the rule about pro drivers ever inforced but a few still made it in.

Bruce

 

Dale,

Beats me. I've heard that some of the Maserati marketing people are still trying to do that one here, but it seems to be a long way from getting off the ground. Doing the European concept here requires some SUBSTANTIAL investments in cars, maintenance bases, mechanics, transporters, etc. Think Skip Barber with much more complex closed-wheel cars. I would never say never, but right now I have lots of doubts.

O.G.

 

Well, I just that it might be a good way to move some cars. (Just kidding. Just kidding.)

It is good to hear from you. How is Daytona shaping up?

Dale

 

Unfortunately there are only two Ferraris at test days, both JMB 360s in GT. No Maseratis, nor none expected for the 24 Hours. HOWEVER...58 cars here, and the drivers entered are just stunning. I was walki ng through the paddock and passed Paul Tracy, then 50 feet further the LaBonte brothers (they bought a DP and are doing several races.) Met Dario Franchitti, who is racing with his younger brother. Rob Dyson's here, racing with his son and having fun. On and on....

I'lve talked to a lot of people, and had dinner with a couple of team owners. There are some people who aren't going to like (or admit) this, but GrandAmis a huge success, and that's a major topic of conversation. Creating a new class and in three years going from four DPs to 33 -- more DPs than entries in ChampCar, IRL, ALMS, etc. And there are ten more DPs which were ordered which could not be delivered for the 24 -- the shops were already at capacity. It's quite a story.

Dale, someone here calculated that the Rolex grid has won 88 major championships; there are five Cup winners, at least two FIA GT, ALMS, IRL, the last three ChampCar champions, Toyota Atlantics, TransAm, you name it, the champion's here. (And that doesn't include "mere" winners of the Indy 500, LeMans, Sebring, Daytona, etc.)

Watch this one. It's the best field ever assembled for a road race in North America.

O.G.

 

Thanks! Hmm... Feb 5 & 6. If Paul Newman is going to be there, I may even be able to talk my wife into going. Didn't they just change the track layout?

Dale

 

This is the link for the Ferrari Challenge NA: It has the schudle in it:

http://www.ferrarichallenge.us/calendar.asp?series=Challenge

2005 Ferrari 360 Challenge: Season Calendar

Date Event

Apr 1-3, 2005 California Speedway, Fontana, California
Grand Am California 200
Includes Historic Challenge.

May 13-15, 2005 Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Nevada

Jun 10-12, 2005 Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, Canada
Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix

Jun 24-26, 2005 Mont Tremblant, Canada
Ferrari Festival
Includes Historic Challenge.

Jul 7-9, 2005 Lime Rock Park, Lakeville, Connecticut
Includes Historic Challenge.

Aug 5-7, 2005 Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
Includes Historic Challenge.

Oct TBD TBD, Italy
Ferrari Maserati World Finals
Includes Historic Challenge.

From Ferrari Spa, this is the date and location for the finale:

Oct 21-23 Misano, Italy (FC Finale)

 

Very disappointed there's no Road Atlanta date. Last year everyone there, including the racers, seemed to have a great time.

 

The Maserati Series in Europe is sponsored by Vodofone. The drivers pay a small fee and show up to drive. Until a company in the USA decides that such a program would be of benefit to them, there most likely not be such a program in the USA.

Bruce

 

Received word today from Ferrari Spa that the last race may not be Misano as predicted in the magazine. The finale word will be in about two months. When I hear, you will hear.

Bruce