Panoz Motor Sports Signs Bill Auberlen For 2005 ALMS Assault
http://www.speedarena.com/news/publish/sportscar/article_5370.shtml

http://www.speedarena.com/news/uploads/sportscar/750_temp_013.jpg

Billy's going to be a busy boy next year. Wonder what this means for Turner and PTG... Racing season can't start soon enough. Rolex in less than 40 days. :redspot

Sweet. Panoz is one of my favorite teams.

Too bad it is not Boris Said going to Panoz.

I hope he does good with it cause I would like to see them move up in the class.

Billy's going to be a busy boy next year. Wonder what this means for Turner and PTG... Racing season can't start soon enough. Rolex in less than 40 days. :redspot

I would guess it has virtually no affect on PTG. Im not sure what the complete Turner plans are next yr but I hope to see him (and Justin) back. 2 yrs ago he was a busy guy with Speed GT, Speed TC, some GA, and some ALMS. Bill simply loves to race, its amazing to talk to him about it cus he is so enthused. He told me that basically he knows he is at his prime and doesnt want to let it go by...which is why I think he is doing so much.

edit:

just found some pics on lmsr.net ... a great insider road racing site. These were from his test with Panoz. Track conditions were around freezing!!!!
http://www.lmsr.net/auberlintest2.jpg
http://www.lmsr.net/auberlintest.jpg

I've heard that Bill gave up his BMW contract this year because of BMW's unwillingness to go Prototype racing. Can anyone confirm or deny whether Bill is still a BMW contract driver?

From what I heard, Bill feels like he's in his prime and wants to move back towards something faster than GT cars...perhaps his jump to Panoz is an indication that they'll be building a Prototype within a year or two?

With Boris and possibly Bill leaving BMW, it seems that the American BMW driver lineup may be thinning out a bit.

Say it's not so!

Boris is out too? :help

Boris is out to pursue NASCAR. From what I understand he wasn't too happy about losing the Grand-Am Championship earlier this year when he and Auberlen were split up and Marks was made Billy's co-driver.

Here's a thread on it from earlier (see my post about halfway down):
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=262892&page=3

Kill me now.
Wonder where young Milner will show up in the PTG lineup this year.
Nepotism. Bah.

Just who is pulling the strings for Justin? Nice enough guy and seems a talented driver but...

Great post... I'm sure Tom's going to love to read that. :rolleyes

I believe Justin has some strong family backing, but I don't know for sure. They've certainly gotten him into some hi-profile rides.

Young Tom Milner has shown some serious speed. Son of team owner or not, he's proven he deserves a seat. Now I just need to find out if his father will adopt me as a second son. ;)

DannO - Going to Winterfest?

Great post... I'm sure Tom's going to love to read that. :rolleyes

I'm sure Tom will be fine...after all, he's living most of our dreams. :buttrock

I just think the use of "Neptoism" is a little harsh in this case.

DannO- Need we remind you that Milner was a winning co-driver in a Grand American race this yr. Quite an accomplishment.

Also, I have heard nothing about Bill leaving PTG this yr but that doesnt mean it isnt happening. I would find it rather hard to believe. I mean look at what he is wearing in the test pics I posted...BMW driver suit, BMW Motorsport coat, etc. I agree with him in his prime but this isnt the first time that he has raced something other than BMW. They let Boris run Trans Am, NASCAR, etc for yrs. Bill has driven for Panoz in the past, he has driven for Doran, he has driven for other teams...I simply look at this as Bill gettin another "job" doing what he loves.

About Justin,
The kid is 23 yrs old. He is 3 yrs older than me and running in some amazing cars. He ran with G&W back when they ran the Porsches (with Van Overbeek) and is now with PTG. Sure he has a lot to learn, and Bill has said that in plenty of interviews that that was the hardest part about teaming up with Justin. He went from one of the greatest in the country in Boris to a young-talented but less experienced driver in Justin. I mean Justin is completing his Sr yr of college this yr...its not easy to race and go to school...Ask Tom Jr who missed at least all or part of the Homestead test because he had school. I look for Justin to be a world class racer in the future.

As far as I know Bill will be racing with PTG next year unless something has changed recently.

Justin is hardly just a "pay driver." He may not have those 3 or 4 tenths that seperate him from Bill in sheer speed, but he is consistent and can run with the best. I can't wait to drive with him next year.

As for me, I've known going in that some people will think I've gotten a ride in the car because I am the team owner's son, and that is pretty much true. I wouldn't have gotten the opportunity if I wasn't his son. It's up to me to prove to myself, my dad, and everyone else that I can do just as well or better than those who have done before me. I can go fast for at least a lap, I think I've shown that, but thats hardly the name of the game in endurance racing. I'm serious about this, and if Porsche called me tommorow and invited me to drive for them, I'd do it in a heartbeat (first I'd see if BMW would match the offer though of course ;) ). I've got a hell of an opportunity to race with the best sportscar team in North America, in the best car, with the best drivers and you can bet I'll do whatever it takes to do well. I'm not expecting to win every race, but if I can keep up with Joey and Bill, and continue to learn; if I just keep doing what I've been doing I think things will work out well.

As for Boris and Bill's comments, like a lot of things in the media, I think they got blown way out of proportion.

Now, that's a good honest reply.

So what if his dad's the owner???? So he got an opportunity that most people don't get...so what? What's he going to say? "screw that?" Yeah right. Can't spite him for that-if anyone does, that's just sour grapes. You can't always ask to be put in a good or bad situation. On the same note, if he didn't drive to the level that his father expects of his team drivers, I don't think he's going to keep him on there.

Getting in is one thing, staying in is another. Good luck man! :buttrock

Guys, guys - come on - I'm JEALOUS!!!
Justin Marks is a great asset and a nice guy to boot, from what I've experienced. I don't begrudge him anything at all. Except that I'm too fat to fit in his seat and to slow to keep up. Ditto for young Mr. Milner.

Sorry to get your hackles up. I wish nothing but the best for these guys. The PTG drivers are the cream of the crop in my book.

Geeze - I leave the boards for a few months and come back to find Tom Milner posting. Wow!

Bryan -

My dad and I are signed up for Winterfest. With any luck I'll be there with the pollinator. Unfortunately it's the weekend after my project of roughly 3 years goes Beta. May the force be with me!

You?

Congrats to your dad on the win at Roebling! (right?)

Tom -

Sorry for the overt jealousy. You are obviously a class act. Best of luck this year! I'll introduce myself if I run into you. You can bitch slap me then. ;-)

Hey man, no problem. I didn't care about your comment but I figured it would be best if I responded. :)

Tom

You?

Planning to be there. Trying to convince dad to wire up some lights for the 3 hour night enduro!!!

Congrats to your dad on the win at Roebling! (right?)

Well, we were leading the enduro until a spin over a curb busted up a lower rear control arm. I've never had these Dunlop slicks go away but at Roebling we corded two sets and by the time I handed the car over to dad in the enduro the tires were almost undrivable...dad went out and spun within a couple laps. It was just bad luck, he hit the curb hard and bent up the control arm mount...a couple laps later it just broke. Roebling needs to be repaved!!!

Cool. I'll look forward to meeting you there in person then.

It's kinda cool at Roebling in December, isn't it? Were you able to get the tires up to temp? I had planned on getting my CR license at that event but just couldn't make it. Sounds like it was a great event.

As far as I know Bill will be racing with PTG next year unless something has changed recently.

Justin is hardly just a "pay driver." He may not have those 3 or 4 tenths that seperate him from Bill in sheer speed, but he is consistent and can run with the best. I can't wait to drive with him next year.

As for me, I've known going in that some people will think I've gotten a ride in the car because I am the team owner's son, and that is pretty much true. I wouldn't have gotten the opportunity if I wasn't his son. It's up to me to prove to myself, my dad, and everyone else that I can do just as well or better than those who have done before me. I can go fast for at least a lap, I think I've shown that, but thats hardly the name of the game in endurance racing. I'm serious about this, and if Porsche called me tommorow and invited me to drive for them, I'd do it in a heartbeat (first I'd see if BMW would match the offer though of course ;) ). I've got a hell of an opportunity to race with the best sportscar team in North America, in the best car, with the best drivers and you can bet I'll do whatever it takes to do well. I'm not expecting to win every race, but if I can keep up with Joey and Bill, and continue to learn; if I just keep doing what I've been doing I think things will work out well.

As for Boris and Bill's comments, like a lot of things in the media, I think they got blown way out of proportion.

Dude....you needn't defend yourself or your last name.

Your obvious talent speaks for itself.

Best wishes for 2005!!

As for me, I've known going in that some people will think I've gotten a ride in the car because I am the team owner's son, and that is pretty much true. I wouldn't have gotten the opportunity if I wasn't his son. It's up to me to prove to myself, my dad, and everyone else that I can do just as well or better than those who have done before me. I can go fast for at least a lap, I think I've shown that, but thats hardly the name of the game in endurance racing. I'm serious about this, and if Porsche called me tommorow and invited me to drive for them, I'd do it in a heartbeat (first I'd see if BMW would match the offer though of course ;) ). I've got a hell of an opportunity to race with the best sportscar team in North America, in the best car, with the best drivers and you can bet I'll do whatever it takes to do well. I'm not expecting to win every race, but if I can keep up with Joey and Bill, and continue to learn; if I just keep doing what I've been doing I think things will work out well.



Tom best of luck man :) don't listen to all those out there that try to put 'ya down (and I'm not sayin' DannO...just speaking in general) ...sure being the son of the owner of PTG got you a test in the car, but like you said, it's gonna be up to you to keep pushing and stay there and become better...and you've got the talent to do so man! :buttrock

you were very impressive and VIR and Fontana at the end of the '04 season and I think it's only gonna get better for you from here on out...when your bigtime, just don't forget about the local enthusiasts :D ;) ...hangin' out and drinkin' Starbucks shootin' the shyte about cars, racin, and PTG :)

see ya guys at the upcoming Jan open house...