I'm not sure what were the organizer's intent of the Speed Touring Car series and what niche it fills compared to the Speed GT championship... I was under the impression that the Speed Touring Car series was more or less a grass-roots type of racing series. And having a guy like Bill Auberlen drive in this series was pretty much rediculous, given that he's in a league of his own in terms of driving skill. he belongs in more professional series such as Speed GT and ALMS.

anyway, as can be seen by his rediculous nearly 70 point lead in the touring car series, i don't think anyone else had a chance... shouldn't pro drivers be kept out of what of a series designed to allow amatuer racing teams room to play in?

I have no problem with drivers like Bill Auberlen in speed TC. It only raises the bar and makes the other drivers that much better. If I was a team owner and had the chance to put a world class driver in one of my cars you could bet your life that I would do it. Beside, as long as you have a valid racing license for the series how can you tell a driver he can't drive.

I like having him in the sport. It adds respectability. He really worked hard to raise the bar and he is doing it. Anyone that can still be that fast with like 200#s of Rewards weight added to his car deserves all the respect he can get...

Originally posted by pikachu
I'm not sure what were the organizer's intent of the Speed Touring Car series and what niche it fills compared to the Speed GT championship...

It has nothing to do with GT vs. Touring. In fact, Touring is actually the more competitive and most popular of the series right now. Touring is more like BTCC, ETCC, etc, while GT is more focused on being more like the old Trans-Am. The top drivers in each series could do just as well in either. TC isn't a stepping stone to GT in ANY way, and was never meant to be.


I was under the impression that the Speed Touring Car series was more or less a grass-roots type of racing series.

Ha, grassroots with cars costing $100K-200K to build! It started out as more grassroots, but it is STILL professional racing. It can only be expected that as the series gains popularity and sponsorship $$, more and more professional teams and drivers will want to participate.

anyway, as can be seen by his rediculous nearly 70 point lead in the touring car series, i don't think anyone else had a chance... shouldn't pro drivers be kept out of what of a series designed to allow amatuer racing teams room to play in?

Umm, it's PRO racing...why should Pro drivers be kept out? Amatuer drivers can play in SCCA Regionals and Nationals all their life. World Challenge is PRO racing, with PRO TV coverage, and PRO payouts for race wins. All the drivers in TC ARE pros by nature of the fact that they race in a PRO series. It's not an amatuer series and never has been. It's always been a Pro series, we are just now starting to see some big time Pros competing because the series has caught on with fans and sponsors.

with the sentiments of the other posters that think have high profile drivers like Auberlen, Fitzgerald, Cunningham, etc. in the series is good for the sport.

The reason Bill A. has such a big lead is due to the DNF's of the people that were chasing him. Early in the season, Pierre was right there with him. With the REWARDS weight system and by making adjustments to the rules, the SCCA is trying to keep it a level playing field (it's a tough job).

But the racing is great. We were there at Laguna Seca and it's a literal dog fight everywhere on the track.

For some great pics of the race:

Laguna Seca SWC SPOILER and Pics (http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40038)

I'm a little suprised by this post. I can tell you that for me, having the apportunity to race against pro's would make my day. Especially being able to learn from them and sooner or later, or maybe never, become competative with them would just be a dream come true.

it is definitely a professional series, and professional drivers should be allowed to compete. Auberlen also drove in a Ferrari F550 Maranallo in the ALMS GT, and the PTG car in the Speed GT class... I dont see a problem, he is one hell of a driver and it was one of the best expeiences of my life getting to watch those races at laguna seca this last weekend.

It's not Auberlen's fault he's a great driver...

Having a great and consistant driver out front only makes the rest of the pack want to get to that level. Give it a couple years and we will see an even better driver at the front. No matter how good you are you can always be better.

I love people who start a thread and then don't respond:dunno???

It doesn't bother me at all. I can see where it would be frustrating being that he might e taking money away from people who don't make as much as him cause he has sooooo much ability but to be honest Touring isn't grassroots anymore so that isn't really an issue. oh and here is a little link that you might find funny on the TMS racing website :D

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/image/TMS%20Racing/2003/ballast_1.jpg

:lol: How would you like to have that show up on your door step?

How about that weight bolted to the inside of your car? I think Bill did awesome at Laguna Seca. He was driving a "lead sled."

Originally posted by 332 TMS car
I love people who start a thread and then don't respond:dunno???[/IMG]

the responses changed my mind,,, it is good to raise the bar as Auberlen did.

How is Speed GT a more professional series than Touring Car? There is nothing amature about any WC class... Not all the drivers are on the same level of Bill, but that's racing. Not to mention what Bill was probably getting PAID to do it. If you can't hang, get out of the series! (Like I did...)

One more note - Bryan is dead on. Touring Car is in my opinion much more competitive than GT. PTG is one of the few GT teams that really have the cars dialed - and they were penalized 150# + because of there efforts so the rest of the cars could keep up. Touring car has full factory efforts from Acura and Nissan and factory funded teams from Lexus and Mazda. Nothing small about it anymore.

I love PTG!!

I'm worried that Auberlen is going to get lead poisoning from all of the ballast oxidizing in his car :D

Auberlen rules...and he has time to contribute articles to Roundel as well.

Originally posted by Ian
Auberlen rules...and he has time to contribute articles to Roundel as well.

In other words, it's part of his contract with BMW and BMW CCA.

Originally posted by BMWRacerITS
In other words, it's part of his contract with BMW and BMW CCA.

What makes you say that??

What makes me say that? Just a hunch.

He's a paid employee of BMW NA, and the PTG cars have always run BMW CCA logo's. I'm guessing he writes for the Roundel not out of the goodness of his heart, but because it's part of his job. That's doesn't make it a bad thing. I just seriously doubt he writes articles for the Roudel simply for the joy of writing them. Have you ever noticed that the articles he writes are more of an advertisement for BMW racing than anything else? I'm guessing it's sort of a tradeoff with CCA where they get exposure on the cars and the team get's exposure by Auberlen writing articles.

In any event, they are fun to read and it's nice to have him contributing. I had the chance to race against him and talk to him in the paddock at the Octoberfest Club Race at Road Atlanta in 2000 and he's genuinely a great guy (with a very hot girlfriend/wife).

I agree with you. It just sounded like you knew something ;) :D

I have met him on several occasions and have always found him to be VERY nice. Plus he kicks arse at driving :D:D

1st: Auberlen rules! I love to see a driver be competetive when he/she is at a disadvantage(i.e. weight). He is an amazing talent who has my utmost respect.(you gotta respect a guy who is fast no matter what he is driving)

2nd: His girlfriend/wife is FINE!
-Ted

I think given an equal opportunity in an LMP, Bill could be one of the fastest out there. Jan Magnussen is another SUPER fast driver. ;) :D

Originally posted by TomM
I think given an equal opportunity in an LMP, Bill could be one of the fastest out there.

That is if he could keep it from taking flight. ;)

Originally posted by BMWRacerITS
That is if he could keep it from taking flight. ;)

Nah, that was just his audition for running an IRL car. :D

-Charlie

one of the best races I have even seen in my life was the 2001 Limerock TC race. Auberlin starts from pit row. It is PISSING rain, and he wins that shit. That was amazing. I have it on tape and watch it all the time. He's da man!

Originally posted by blubimmer
one of the best races I have even seen in my life was the 2001 Limerock TC race. Auberlin starts from pit row. It is PISSING rain, and he wins that shit. That was amazing. I have it on tape and watch it all the time. He's da man!


I love that race. he beats the audi quattros in the rain!

Originally posted by fast4d
I love that race. he beats the audi quattros in the rain!

There weren't any Audi's racing in Touring Class in 2001. :dunno

maybe he was thinking about one of the early races this year that had several BMWs blasting up through the field...

...behind the Audi's until Randy screws up and gives the win to Bill. :D

And there are Quattro Audi's in the Touring class (Stasis) but I don't know if they were entered in that race in 2001.

Tom, I know there are now...hence the reason I said "in 2001". ;)

Originally posted by BMWRacerITS
There weren't any Audi's racing in Touring Class in 2001. :dunno

maybe I was thinking about a different race. it definitely wasn't a touring class.

I think it was WC GT and it was either early this year or last season.

Originally posted by BMWRacerITS
Tom, I know there are now...hence the reason I said "in 2001". ;)

I must have skipped over your post Bryan.

:dunno

Bill won in GT early this year in the rain at LR against the audis. He did it by using 4 smaller front tires all the way around. Audi's protested. It stood. The rules were quickly amended.

Carrerax - the best part is that in the Speed review of the RS6 Audi claimed to dominate the race :D:D

The BMW used front tires, which are narrower, on the rear.

And the Audi did dominate, but Randy screwed up and allowed Bill to win. I'm not sure if the SPEED YIR said this, but going into Puerto Rico, Randy had lead 140 some laps thus far. That was more than double than the second place driver, which I think was Bill.

So much for the whole BMW domination. It's called consistency, something the Audi didn't have until the last two races.

After the success at Sears Point the SCCA added base weight to the M3, didn't they? The Audi looked like the wrong car to put in the series to start the year. Too heavy and the tire too small, etc. They claim that they finally got it all dialed in at the end of the year, but I wonder if they intended to stay close and then put it away in the last few races. Randy led a lot of laps, no doubt about that, but the car generally fell back as the tires gave up. Were they running the same tires at the end as they had all season? No surprise that PTG is moving on to GrandAm.

In case anyone is interested Bill Auberlen will be at Crevier BMW in Santa Ana, Ca January 15 signing autographs from 6-8pm.
http://crevierbmw.com

See You there!

Originally posted by f4im3
In case anyone is interested Bill Auberlen will be at Crevier BMW in Santa Ana, Ca January 15 signing autographs from 6-8pm.
http://crevierbmw.com

See You there!

Were you there (and I didn't realize)? I went and had a great time. :buttrock Bill and all of his family are great people.

I was there. I work for Crevier. I was wearing a black t-shirt from the 25hr race. Good people. Bill has some good stories, I would like to hear more. His brother Geoff drove for us at the race. I was one of two guys on the crew.

Shane