Robb's F355 Challenge Car History and Restoration

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Those Montreal pics bring back *A LOT* of memories. Here's one:

In '99 (I think) I was supporting Jim Place's car. Jim wound up finishing third and after parking the car in the pit lane, went up to the podium (where someone like Jean Todt or Michael Schumacher handed out the trophies!). I stayed with the car. After a few minutes, the marshalls were telling me to move the car out of pit lane. Me: "Uh, but I'm waiting for my driver..." Marshall: "Get it out of here!" Me: "Okaaaay...." So I hopped in, fired that bad boy up, made a U-turn at the end of pit lane (this was before the reconfiguration that we see now), and drove back up the main straight in the counter-race direction to the track exit along the long back straight. Along that front straight, people in the stands were cheering like *I* was the driver! Talk about feeling like a rock-star! heh heh....

 

What an amazing score! You've got me thinking I should try and find the mechanic that worked on my car. At least I should contact Ferrari of Beverly Hills, who were the car sponsors, to see if they have anything. Any chance you could convert the VHS to DVD? If so, would you be willing to share with other Challenge car guys? Of course I would be willing to share in the cost to do so.

 

Bill Story Sr. He was the team manager for us then. In thread #123 in the red jacket is Bill Story Jr.

Robb...Looks like Tom sent you some nice items there.

My driver got disqualified for pulling a NASCAR "maneuver" on another driver. LOL

 

Yep, that's what I thought! Bill Story was a GREAT guy to work with - I can't even begin to say how much I learned from him. Some little tips/tricks that I still use to this day (and probably painfully obvious to you pros!).

Bill Jr. was a good guy too - gave me a signed tech sticker (after the season was over, of course) for my scrapbook in '96.

Haven't heard from Bill Sr. in years - is he still in FL? Went to see his garage there once, was rebuilding brakes on his C4.

Thanks!

gp

p.s. - I think that's also Bill Sr. in the background of post #83 photo....

 

I visited with Bill Sr. in Florida many years ago also. We would usually talk at least once a year but it has been a couple of years since we spoke. I need to try and reach him soon just to see how he is doing. I'm heading down to Florida in October for a vacation so maybe we can visit again.He and I got along well but some of the guys didn't like his "military style" of doing things.

In post 83, that is me with #43 and Greg Dickson with #32. That picture looks more like Homestead than Texas but I could be wrong.

 

If you talk to Bill, please tell him George from FoW sends his regards. He and wife Jan were such super nice people - a couple of my very favorites from those days. I didn't mind his "military style" at all - kept me on my toes!

I'm not sure if it's Homestead (though I agree, it does look like it), but I am pretty sure it's NOT TWS. As I recall (and I could check my own photos to confirm) even the grandstands at TWS were concrete. And I think the front "straight" banking was steeper than in that photo....

Thanks again!

gp

 

TWS has grass on both sides of the wall that separates hot pit from the track, so pretty sure it is NOT TWS.

 

I spoke to Bill yesterday. He is still in Florida. 83 years young and still going strong. He has a Porsche 916 that he was working on at the time I called. Traded the C4 for a 575 six speed. Still sounds like the Bill I remember. The next time I talk to him, I will give him your regards George.

Robb: Bill said he may still have some things from the FCI Challenge days and was going to look and see what he can find.

Attached picture, Left to right, Jay Smith, Bill Story, Me, Tom Jackson.
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You're welcome, Robb. If you hadn't texted me that evening while I was at my computer, you might have missed that suit. I did a quick search for a SpeedVision Nomex racing suit and there it was!

Race Image USA is another good place to find a professional driver's suit. Although they sell race-worn NASCAR suits with tons of patches on them, I found this suit worn by Bobby Labonte in the 2006 Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona race. His suit fits me perfectly and is pretty low-key. It's perfect for track events. It will make its return to Daytona at a two-day event April 9th and 10th...
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Hey, great to hear from/about Bill, even remotely. Not too surprised about the 575, like an updated C4, right?

Another funny note - when I visited him, they had a first gen silver Miata. Bill found that a 348 grille (complete w/ prancing horse badge) fit in the mouth of the Miata, so there it was! I confess I stole the idea and put a prancing horse on the grille of my Spitfire!

gp

 

Now that is seriously cool. Going on the race suit?

 

Incredible. This is one of the top 5 threads in the whole house.