I strap into the back of a Porsche Cayenne Turbo to play driving games the proper way…while getting driven around the track by Skip Barber instructor/Polizei Racing Captain/Grand-Am driver Rene Villeneuve.
Tanner, your move.
Tag Archive for 'Laguna Seca'
Here’s the next wallpaper…also depicting 144P assaulting the Laguna Corkscrew…check out the suspension compression. Click on it (or here) to download the hi hi hi-rez version, or check out our full wallpaper gallery here.
(This is Part 2 of Polizei Racing Team Captain Rene Villeneuve‘s ongoing series about a life spent racing. Read Part 1 here.)
Enter Alex Roy…I thought he was pretty crazy when I first met him, and those of you who know him know I was right to think so. But it didn’t take long for me to discover he had something, and I wasn’t sure even he knew he had it. He was doing a great job promoting his book at the time, but it seemed what he was really promoting was himself. Sure he’s a great personality and a wonderful speaker, not to mention the things he’s done that most people only dream about. The rest of us are trying to prove our self worth through extreme sports and stunts, as nowadays it seems that if you’re willing hurt yourself on TV someone will watch. There’s no other rhyme or reason to it all. It’s just silly.
Here’s one of my favorite shots taken at Laguna Seca…this one showing 144P coming around Turn 11. Click on it (or here) to download the hi hi hi-rez version, or check out our full wallpaper gallery here.
It was an interesting transition into our new team’s first car – the Porsche GT3 Cup soon to be known as 144P. I was excited to be getting some testing time, since it is always hard to show up and get in a car for the first time on the day official practice starts. I’ve been there. And don’t want to do it again.
As I prepared for the first test at Infineon Raceway, I looked at the shoes that I had brought along: standard Sparco race shoes – a few seasons old and well broken in – and two pairs of Piloti’s newest racing shoes, a high top and a mid-cut boot. I had been bugging Piloti President Kevin Beard for these boots ever since he told me they were in testing, and here I was two years later, staring at two brand new pairs in my race bag. It was such a kind gesture for Kevin to have sent them, I knew I owed them a try. I laced them on and began the first of many critical preparatory days prior to Team Polizei’s inaugural Grand Am Race @ Laguna.
It was Morley vs. Roy in Forza. It was many things. It was amazing. It was MotoGP @ Laguna Seca. And Team Polizei WILL return. Because I...WE...loved every minute among our 2-wheeled friends. And they enjoyed watching Morley crush Roy. Once. Just once.
Have you ever felt the like the best part of an epic wasn’t the actual driving, but the stories and friends made on the way? That’s the feeling among all at Team Polizei after our first Moto GP weekend.
Danny Pedrosa gave The Doctor some bad medicine, but that was only 48 minutes of our far more grueling 76 hour deployment at Laguna Seca. We made some great friends, including soldiers, police officers and myriad emergency personnel – native and foreign, active and retired – every one of them a fascinating and delightful new face we hope to see again…on the road preferably, for it’s those chance second meetings that only occur on the road – far from home – that make life worth living.
As for Roy…the Forza 2 king wwas dethroned and new champions were crowned. We ate too much pizza and didn’t get nearly enough sleep. Wearing a helmet and leathers on two wheels may be crazier than driving on four, but is anything crazier than us wearing some…er…newly de-classified helmets whilst droving 144B? Probably not. Except for El Jefe Liz Moses getting on TV again. Again. Or maybe Team Polizei’s Mystery Racing Theater 3000 commentary on the actual race.
About which Alex Roy knew nothing. And still knows nothing. He was too busy buying motocycle helmets to match his outfits, solely to use them as man purses. Yes. It’s true. He doesn’t even know how to ride. A bicycle…maybe.
Would we do a Moto GP weekend again?
Is the E39 M5 the best BMW made?
Thanks for all your support…we will be posting more news and picsin the next few days!
Enchanted huntress Liz Moses appeared on the local Monterey NBC affiliate discussing the impact the economy has had on spending at the Red Bull US Grand Prix. Still, neither rain, nor gloom, nor an Adolph Spreckels-grade case of syphilis could keep the motorcycling hordes from a race they’re so completely fanatical about — today’s monster MotoGP showdown over the rolling hills of Laguna Seca is sold the heck out. If you’re here, stop by, swaddle yourself in Polizei swag, meet the crew and challenge us to Forza Motorsport 2.
We’ve decamped once again to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, this time to pay tribute to our Motorradfarher bretheren at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix! If you’re out for the race this weekend or happen to be in the Monterey area, come visit us at the booth. Those of you sporting or purchasing Polizei swag will have a chance to take us on at Forza Motorsport 2, ogle Polizei Interceptor 144B and configure your very own Polizei Skirmish 1 jacket.
“Stay Focused”
It is no secret that The Verizon Festival of Speed at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on May 15-17th, 2009, marked my first outing in top-level sports car competition in 5 years. The last time I raced was in Speed World Challenge, in an uncompetitive car with an uncaring team.
The months leading up to the race were dominated by preparations, for which I was grateful, for left to my own thoughts I surely would have become my own worst enemy. Until last month I had never driven a purpose-built, race-ready Porsche. All my 20 years of experience had landed me in single-seaters or front engine/rear-drive race cars. I also knew it would be physically demanding, so there was a need to accelerate my physical and mental capacities.
Some might ask, why the 5-year break? Well, there are a few reasons and I really don’t mind sharing them although they may surprise some of you.
Continue reading ‘VILLENEUVE: My Journey Through Racing, Part 1′
Villeneuve, Richard, Roy. 144P. The TRG crew in action. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Polizei Interceptor 144P. The Rolex Grand-Am Series at the Verizon Festival of Speed.
Part 2: Two Drivers, One Cup Car.
