Wolf Henzler is the MAN !!!

Frank and I dejectedly Push the 85 CTF car back from post qualifying tech

Wow!
What a Day. They talk about the highs in lows in motors sports, I feel like I’m Bipolar after today!!We arrived at the track at 7am Got everything ready for Wolf Henzler to shake down the car so we could start our rotations. Wolf had an incident when the splitter separated from the car. No contact or off road excursion. So We had to replace the splitter which took up the rest of the practice session. Wolf got back in and the car was tight into the corners and snappy loose off just as it was last month. The crew worked diligently to get the set up right with one hour before qualifying we found there was an issue with one of the vacuum lines which had to be replaced. We were now ready for qualifying, Wolf took the car out and reported a vibration on his out lap, to the point he could not drive the car, He brought the car to pit road, our hearts dropped. Grand Am said we couldn’t touch the car. Wolf went back out and with a HUGE vibration in the car he started turning laps and getting faster and faster. Any vibration in a race car is bad, he laid down a 1:51.0 we were estatic, over the radio We hear in a German Accent, “think I can go faster”, Next lap 1:50.5, Frank, our gruff but loveable crew chief tells him to park it. He wants I more lap, He turns a 1:49.885 and the time P3. We end up 5th in Spot. This guy has LARGE ones!!. That is why he is one of the best Porsche drivers in the world.

Wolf Henzler, No. 85: "I left the pits and then I had a big vibration in the car. It was too risky, so I pitted immediately. The crew couldn't find anything, so I said I would go out again and I would do only one timed lap. I did 1:50.1, then I heard on the radio that Andy Lally [in another Porsche] was doing 49.5 and I knew I could go quicker. So I decided to do another lap. Even with the vibration, it was better and the more laps I did, the quicker I went. The crew did a good job and prepared the car very well."

Our goes through tech, Frank and I are down waiting for them to release the car. When I here the official call for Frank, We are disqualified from the session our car is too low. Which means we would have to attempt to qualify for 20th spot tomorrow. We were crushed. Frank takes the car back to the garage to get ready for the night session and finds that our splitter had be damages which caused our infraction. He calls the official over to show him and they allow us to appeal the ruling. Hours go by and we hear nothing. At that point is was my turn to get in the car, I jump in around 7:30 and start winding out a few laps. Never really get a clean one, but into the low56.s Then as I come into the bus stop a Ferrari in front of me stops at the turn in I have to jump on the binders and Do a big loopy spin at about 120mph Mostly on the pavement as I’m Locked up backwards I see the comforting sight lights of 3 DP’s bearing down on me. I keep the car running and Hustle out of there with no damage other than to my shorts, and a few flat spots on the tires. Turn a few more slow laps and turn the car over to Dan who goes a great job, down in the 56’s as well.
We head back to the garage. As we are putting the car away for the night, we are told we have won Our appeal (which never happens!!) and our 5th place run counts !

Back to Happy
We’ll see what tomorrow Brings.
I hope less drama !! But I doubt it
Ron