SPOT LIGHT:  Keep Up The Good Work
by Len Simpson

Being a Georgia boy all my life and growing up watching dirt track ovals and NASCAR races, it was a strange experience when I attended a race in 1970 at a new track called Road Atlanta. The cars were really different and the track was unique in every way. So many places to watch from and the speed was amazing. I still have the 1st event program from that race. My favorite driver was always Peter Gregg, he had to be the fastest every time on track and l don’t remember seeing anyone outrun him. I have attended every Petit Le Mans and always look forward to the next. The event is truly unique and the schedule is perfect for race fans. I always collect the posters for the event and my office is covered with framed posters. The autograph session is my favorite fan activity; I have a signed helmet from last year’s event in my home. Keep up the good work.

Len Simpson
Flowery Branch, Ga

SPOT LIGHT:  SPEED IS GOOD
by Parrish Preston

My favorite Road Atlanta moment, was in 2007 or 2008, please forgive me I forget the year.  It was a rain-drenched practice session that is etched in the forefront of my mind. All of the American Le Mans fans and their teams went into their dry huddles.  Me, the diehard, sat in my GTI at the top of turn one hoping for sun. 

Then, after about 5 minutes I heard a rumble in my chest.  I got out of my car, went to the fence and I then saw these halogen headlights ablaze, cutting through the raindrops.  I couldn't believe it!  It was the gold DHL sponsored P2 RS Spyder!  It rocketed past me, through the esses with no fear, it was Pat Long! At the bottom of the curves, up spectator hill, it was a blur, with an 18 to 20 foot rooster tail being sprayed by the Michelin pilots... Wow, I still get goose bumps as I remember my favorite Road Atlanta moment.

I am a tennis pro in Atlanta, GA and racing is my passion.  I've not missed a race since the American Le Mans started.  My home track, Road Atlanta, is my favorite.  The best place to watch the race would be at the top of turn one before the esses as the cars carry the power out of turn one and down shift before the esses as they hit the curbing …SWEET! 
 

The Day I Met a Legendary Hero
By Lindon Curtis

I have attended at least three events a year at Road Atlanta since 1981 so I have many great memories but I'll share my favorite.

It was a Saturday afternoon in '92, I believe, of an IMSA weekend when I took a walk by myself to the old paddock, the only one at that time. As I passed behind the main office and garage building I noticed a man in a Toyota team shirt, khakis and loafers walking up the steps from the timing tower. I recognized him as he neared. It was one of my biggest heroes, Dan Gurney!

Having been on stage and back stage at many concerts I'm not often 'star struck' so I continued on and met him at the top of the steps. I said, "Hello, Dan. It's a pleasure to meet a hero." After introducing myself and shaking hands I mentioned that I had read that the team had made a change to the front suspension of the Mk III GTP's. Dan confirmed that and began explaining the changes when he said, "It would be easier just to show you. Do you want to take a look?" That was a "Is the Pope ...., Does a bear ... kind of a moment! Without hesitation I assured him that I did want to have a look. We chatted about their lap times and qualifying that weekend as we walked to a garage door. Dan unlocked and rolled the door up and there was a spare Mk III! He told me to go around the left side and pop the 'Zeus' pins on the nose of the machine. Having wrenched on some race cars I knew what those were, so I didn't look too stupid! We popped the nose off and leaned it against the wall and then school began! Dan spent at least ten minutes describing and explaining all of the geometry, not just the changes, but the science behind the choices they made. Center of gravity, weight distribution, sprung weight, etc. It was truly amazing to find that a sportsman of his caliber was such a gracious man both on the inside and the outside.

Before I headed on my way I thanked him again and proved my knowledge of his career. I congratulated him for bringing Porsche (a two syllable name) their only F1 win, for building and driving the only American built car to win an F1 event, and for his continued success in IMSA GTP. He smiled, chuckled and thanked me while we shook hands again. As I walked away I turned and said, "Oh yeah, Dan, thanks for sneaking to the race tracks instead of going to your violin lessons in your teens!" He laughed hard, waved good-bye, turned and continued on his way chuckling. Dan Gurney proved to be one of the finest men that I have ever met ... a true champion in life. What a moment!

Lin Curtis
Cumming, GA

My Favorite Memories from Road Atlanta
By: John Denton
January 12, 2011

Road Atlanta was always my favorite track. My father, J.W. Denton, was the whole reason I got interested in racing. From about 1957 to 1985 if it happened in Daytona or Road Atlanta I either heard about it from my father or saw it myself. I saw lots of history at Road Atlanta and met tons of great people.

The track in the 70s was very laid back and had lots of energy. The sound of those rotary Mazda's will still make you deaf. And, Heaven forbid if you were behind Al Holbert or Greenwood when they fired up the Monza or Corvette. All seems like another life. I have not been back to the track in over 26 years but I would like to come back sometime soon to see the new track.

Needless to say, we loved Road Atlanta and were there often! Here are some of my favorite memories of the track growing up.

	My Dad's car was a "Beach," built by Gene Beach and Mark IV. It was painted Playboy Blue and was the most beautiful car I had ever seen. This was taken in front of our house in Hiawassee.
Once Al Holbert was testing out the brand spanking new Can-Am Car. He came out on a cold Saturday while the Ferrari Club had the track rented. We didn't mind having him screaming around the track, but he went out and didn't come back. We all got in our cars to see what happened and found Al and one other person with a shovel and a fire extinguisher. His car was on fire! That was the end of that car; it melted down to the ground!
	These are some of my favorite shots of the track back in the early 70s. Lots of sun and humidity! Here is a photo of Brian Redman, he clearly was not used to the hot Georgia sun and his back and shoulders were very sunburned. OOPS!
Here is the photo of Redman's Formula F5000, his Lola was funded by Jim Hall.
	Our favorite place to sit was inside the gate where the hospital was across the pit entrance, along the fence, watching them come down the hill to turn 12. It was always fun because we knew most of the drivers, all the medical staff and the owners of the track. I have a Black and White shot of my Mom sitting there in our favorite spot. We also enjoyed sitting along the back straight, this was before the chicanes were put in!
I was at Road Atlanta when P.L. Newman won the championship for the first time. I remember that he and Bob Tullis would always play tricks on each other during race weekends. Garbage trucks would appear at the Tullis camp, don't know from where, planes would fly over with some smart quip about Tullis or Newman. Always something going on!

Ian Cross
Marietta, Georgia

"While attending this year's Petit Le Mans with my four year old daughter Kasey we were asked the question, "is this her first Petit?". I was proud to answer, "No sir, it's her fourth."

I have been an avid race fan since the mid 1990s. In 1999 I attended my first Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta and was completely awed by the beauty of the circuit and the amazing machines racing. It was love at first sight.

Road Atlanta holds such a special place in my life which is why I was thrilled to bring my daughter and show her the beauty of racing at its finest. Kasey has quite a range of races under her belt at the age of four. She's attended three NHRA events, five NASCAR races, four Petit Le Mans races, two Road Atlanta Superbike Showdown races and over two dozen events at our local dirt track Dixie Speedway. The sights and sounds of being trackside bring out the kid in anyone.

The excitement starts many months in advance to the Petit. Watching the 24 hours of Le Mans at home with the grill going gets us excited and ready to head north to Road Atlanta in the Fall. I always arrive at the Petit Le Mans on Wednesday evening and setup camp to get ready for the rest of my family. The fans and friends of this race are what make it such a special event. Watching my child give a driver like Ron Fellows a high-five from atop my shoulders on the starting grid is something every dad should experience. Road Atlanta is one of the cornerstones of what makes family, fun and racing such a wonderful part of my life.

Thanks to all the wonderful people who make Road Atlanta our favorite get-a-way of the year! Keep up the great work!

Cheers, to my favorite place on earth... Road Atlanta!
Ian Cross

Wedding Engagement at 13th Annual Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda2
Amanda Patrick and Ned Jung
Date: October 2, 2010
Location: Starting grid before the race at Road Atlanta

Amanda Patrick:
My name is Amanda Patrick. Within the past five years of me working at Costco in Buford I've befriended many members who shop there. A close friend of mine now, Dick Barbour and his wife Ivanna, are a significant part of the Robertson racing team of which I've been a fan of theirs for a while. I appreciate any time I can spend talking with the many team members, and have learned lots from them. I'm slowing developing my own racing career to hopefully be a driver for a team as big as them one day.

One day at work a few years ago I mentioned to a man who was buying a cooking magazine with a picture of a cake on it that if they buy it they have to make it look just like the one on the front cover. He smiled and said, "I'd love to do that for you, I'm actually a Chef." Ever since then when I saw him I asked if he needed help catering any events in that I would love to just help out and get knowledge on a new kind of experience. Who knew I'd be engaged to this man about six months into dating him once I finally helped him with a catering of a wedding. We fell in love in the kitchen it seems, and now engaged on a race track's starting grid. Odd couple he and I but I love him!

Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta this year was my boyfriend's first time at the races, we've been there for the three days before the race as well as the day of the race! He told me a few weeks before he had plans to ask me to marry him some other time but not at the race. I was starting to boil inside because getting proposed to at the starting grid would be the most romantically perfect place ever for me seeing I love that race dearly. Come the day of the race, we were walking and taking pictures with the cars on the starting grid. We got to the Robertson's team's cars, the Ford GTs, I asked, "Do you want your picture?," he said, "Yes, get my picture in front of the car." As I was getting my camera ready, turning the digital view screen on, I looked through the screen and as I did I focused in to take his picture then blindsidedly noticed what he was doing in the picture. I looked out of the screen and onto his smiling face; he was on one knee shaking, tearing up, and holding out a beautiful ring asking me to marry him! An on looker grabbed my camera to take our picture as I walked up to him. All I could focus on was him, saying yes, and trying to fathom that this was really happening! I thought we were just here for an amazing race, this just made this already incredible day memorable. Everyone around started clapping and taking our picture and congratulating us.

The rest of the day we were so happy, smiling, and had the most excellent time watching the race! I wanted so bad to call my family and tell them, but with the cars so loud racing the whole day I knew I would not be able to hear their reply. We surprised them with the news that night after the race. This is my romantic love story, I hope to see you all at the races! Congrats Peugeot on your win! Every team ran wonderfully this year and the weather was perfect compared to any year I had been there. The whole day was perfect. I owe it all to my mentor Mr. Barbour, and the Robertson Race team for keeping Ned's engagement to me a secret and running a great race!

Ned Jung:
I've known Amanda for about five years now through her working at Costco. I've listened to her talk about and have seen her passion for being a professional driver. She loves the Petit Le Mans races!! She told me that it is the best of all the races that are out there. Me being a Chef and a food guy, I'm not really into racing. Please don't take me wrong I love old school muscle cars!! As far as the Petit Le Mans race goes it's the Iron Chef of races. I can say that I have a love for racing after seeing it through Amanda's eyes. She has the same passion and drive for racing that I do for food.

About six months ago Amanda asked me if she could help me out at a particular wedding I was catering. I said yes, sure, I'd love to have your help. And the rest is history; I fell completely in love with her while she was cutting melons up for this wedding. The wedding was a huge hit and everyone was so happy with the food and the professionalism of my staff. The only thing that kept me going through all the chaos was Amanda's smile and her calming touch as we ran by each other. Our relationship has taken off like a 3.5 second car. A few months ago I knew I wanted to ask her to marry me, but where?? I had come up with a few great ideas, but none like at the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. The real question was where and when? In the morning drive up to Road Atlanta on day one of four day's over coffee and biscuits she told me that the day of the race we could go onto the starting grid. That's when I knew when and where. Race day came and the ring was in my pocket for as in racing, timing is everything! When to drop the hammer? And then all the pieces came together...me...her...the team she wants to be a part of, the car she wants to drive, her and my friends, both new and old, Mr. Barbour and his wife Ivanna, Mr. and Mrs. Dave and Andrea Robertson, it's time to drop the hammer. So shaking to no end I took a knee and became the happiest man on the planet. She said "YES" I have to say...after five years in Military Special Forces, this was the most nerve racking thing I've ever done.

One last thing to say, I give my undying Thanks to Dick Barbour, his wife Ivanna, Dave Robertson and his wife Andrea as well as the whole Robertson Race Team!! Thank You Guys for being an unknown part of the happiest day of our lives!! "So far! There is more to come!!"

Trey Forrest

I am going to date myself here … However I have a very fond memory at Road Atlanta when I was a child…

This story is pre turn 10A and 10B when the "dip" was still a major factor in how drivers took on Road Atlanta. My Dad at very early age got me involved with SCCA crewing for a family friend on his Triumph TR-7. At the time this car was extremely competitive and won a couple SCCA PRO-IT championships. In PRO-IT the rules stated that cars had to have a passenger seat. PRO-IT cars were/are former street cars turned to racecars.

This particular fall weekend SCCA was holding ride-arounds in these racecars. Our family friend Scott Holton was doing drives with his TR-7. At the time I was probably between 10-12 years old. I climbed in the car very excited to take a couple laps around the track that I had grown up around. Scott started out slow and progressively began to pick up the pace. Lap two we start going down the back straight and Scott starts pointing to the passenger side floor board - Unfortunately, I was not able to hear anything he was saying however he continued to point to something in the floor! He continued the ride and we flew down into the dip and as we hit the bottom of the dip - I flew up and hit my helmet on the roof! Being 10 years old and riding in a race car it was not until later that I realized the head ache that developed!

When we returned to the false grid ... Scott turns off the car and says, "I am sorry you hit your head on the roof - I was trying to tell you to HOLD ON to the roll cage!"

This is just one of the many fond memories I have of Road Atlanta, a true World class facility.

Jock Ellis
Atlanta Region member 1966-1974 

Being the owner of a race track apparently didn't mean much to a hotel near Sebring. In 1970, after the Friday races, Earl Walker and Charlie Earwood were standing somewhere near the racetrack with worried looks on their faces when I saw them and asked what was wrong. They had gotten to the hotel late, Earl said, and found that their reservation had been given to someone else.

I told them not to worry; that my Aunt and Uncle would let them stay at their house in Avon Park. Nice of me to volunteer their home!

So, they followed me to my relatives. The next morning, my Aunt made a big breakfast for everyone and they went on their way.

Fan Input: Do you have any pictures or historical facts you would like to share with Road Atlanta?  E-mail Carol Donovan at cdonovan@roadatlanta.com or call her at 800.849.7223!