Got to see #17R w/pics

[lowsonoma1999]

I haven't seen any pics of 17R posted here, so I figured I'd post mine. These were taken at the Car & Driver 50th Anniversary party at Indianapolis Raceway Park on July 23rd & 24th. Awesome weekend, and a definate once in a lifetime experience. $35 got you in for the whole weekend, $10 for a "supercar hotlap" where an editor or professional racer took you around the oval/road course, $15 to race an editor in a car provided by C&D, $25 for bracket racing. I signed up for a hotlap with Petter Solberg (WRC Champion) in a WRX Sti, but he destroyed 2 sets of tires on 2 cars in an hour. Ended up going out with editor Tony Swan in an Audi S4. I raced 2 editors, one in a C6 vette, and one in a WRX (auto, suck). Highlights were seeing this F1 of course, which later in the weekend was taking people out around the track at full throttle. (I would have died to get to do that, but I didn't notice it until I was leaving) Also taking people out on the track was an Merc. SLR McLaren, and a Porsche Carrera GT. Here are the pics of the F1 17R Links too all of my pics and my friends that was with me are at.

http://www.turbols6.com/gallery/view...%40-IRP&page=1
and
http://www.turbols6.com/gallery/view...e=caranddriver

[F1 monster]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing.
I really enjoyed the write up. Too bad you didn't get to have a go in the McLaren...I guarantee you, it would have been unforgettable.

[SD F1]

[quote=lowsonoma1999]I haven't seen any pics of 17R posted here, so I figured I'd post mine.


Sorry but I have to disagree with this statement. This car has been posted numerous times, at least 10 times by Peloton25 (I think this is one of his favorite chassis, but better to ask him) and mini magic combined.

Never the less, I appreciate your shots and what a lucky day! How much was the ride in #017R (lol!)?

Thanks for the shots!

WG

[jkbon]

Thanks for the nice pictures !

[lowsonoma1999]

Originally Posted by SD F1

[ I appreciate your shots and what a lucky day! How much was the ride in #017R (lol!)?

Thanks for the shots!

WG

The ride along in any of the cars was only $10 for 2 laps.

[ArchangelGTR]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaa. That was only 2 hours away from me......I can't believe they brought another McLaren 2 hours away from me. Oh well.. I guess I'll just hold onto memories of the 97 FIA GT race in Sebring.

$10. for 2 laps?.. I would have given them $100 and told them to keep going.

Does BMW-USA own that car? I've seen it pop up at various BMW events throughout the NorthEast.

Thanks for sharing the pics. Still can't believe it was only 2 hours away from me.

[lowsonoma1999]

Originally Posted by ArchangelGTR

Aaaaaaaaaaaaa. That was only 2 hours away from me......I can't believe they brought another McLaren 2 hours away from me. Oh well.. I guess I'll just hold onto memories of the 97 FIA GT race in Sebring.

$10. for 2 laps?.. I would have given them $100 and told them to keep going.

Does BMW-USA own that car? I've seen it pop up at various BMW events throughout the NorthEast.

Thanks for sharing the pics. Still can't believe it was only 2 hours away from me.

I have a picture of it on the track, but it looks like I forgot to upload it. I'll try to do that tonight.

Don't know if it's owned by BMW or what. Here is a pic of the booth it was in.

[drewwtms]

Pictures from last year's Lime Rock Vintage event:

http://douging.smugmug.com/gallery/214564/6 Hopefully it will be there this year too.

Who was driving it at Indy?

[Peloton25]

Originally Posted by ArchangelGTR

$10. for 2 laps?.. I would have given them $100 and told them to keep going.

Same here...

Does BMW-USA own that car? I've seen it pop up at various BMW events throughout the NorthEast.

Yes, BMW North America owns the car and it is kept/maintained at PTG Racing in Winchester, VA.

= = = = =

Someone on another forum posted this about his encounter with the car:

I was worried my second ride might not be what it was scheduled to be, but then it showed up, Fina McLaren F1 GTR! I was waiting for about 2 hours for it, but was it ever worth it! They only took one person at a time, and I sat to the left of the driver. I'm not sure who drove it, but he was only 20! I believe the car ran in the 1997 24 hrs. of Le Mans. This ride was again just as good as the last. Flat out the whole time. I have a video from my digital camera that I'll try and post at some point. It shakes, but its still good.

The video hasn't been posted yet, but he did share these photos:
























Not a McLaren, but still damn cool...





>8^)
ER

[drewwtms]

It's amazing how much use that F1 gets. Might it be the most-used GTR in existance? And the car hasn't suffered all that much from the hard use. I imagine they replaced the clutch a couple of times and maybe even the gearbox. But it shows up at every major event that BMW goes to.

The guy in the cowboy hat is long-time BMW/PTG mechanic Steve Becka. He's been with them for a long time.

[Peloton25]

Well #17R had a very short racing career, participating in just one BPR race and the 1996 24 Hrs of LeMans, so some GTRs would have it beat long before they got off the track so to speak. I'm sure it's the most used GTR now - Nick Mason's #10R is probably in second. The two JGTC longtail GTRs probably factor in somewhere - especially since one is back racing again this year.

>8^)
ER

[lowsonoma1999]

Well, those beat my pics and experience. That is one lucky sob

[Peloton25]

Well I happened to really like the shot of the interior you took and I always love shots of the chassis plaque - though I think that one has been posted before. He definitely got the ride of his life though. Time to go harass him for a copy of the on board video.

>8^)
ER

[peter i]

I though I can see the real F1 GTR long tail version.

[SD F1]

Originally Posted by drewwtms

Pictures from last year's Lime Rock Vintage event:

http://douging.smugmug.com/gallery/214564/6 Hopefully it will be there this year too.

Who was driving it at Indy?

When is this event? I would like to go so if you have any info, events and the like that you guys go to please fill me in.

Thanks
Wayne

ps tell Doug M. I said Hi.