Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/745887
November / December 2016 16 TECHNICAL EDITOR By Karl Wilen I n 2011, the guys picked up a previously raced old 1985.5 944 race car to start endurance racing in a new series called "Chump Car." There has been an article or two pop up in Der Sportwagen in the past about the race exploits of this team. It was a misfit of a crew including Chris McIntyre, Al Hess, Richard Bennett, Bob Wayman, and John Clark. At the time, Chump Car was trying to start a $500 race car se- ries, mostly see- ing who could complete a lon- ger race like a 24 hour race and still have a running, driv- ing car by the end. The crew quickly decided on a team name; "Car 54 Where Are You" and got out their roller paint brushes and painted the car like a police car, complete with a red light on top. Off to the races she went. In the beginning, you could have a major break down, get the car fixed and back on track and still have a chance at a podium. Af- ter a few races though, the teams showed up better prepared and better equipped, eventu- ally getting to the level that if you came in for anything unscheduled other than fuel or driver change, you wouldn't be making the podium. Car prep and team prep became critical. Driver stints were 2 hours+. If you think you can just hop in a race car and race on the edge for 2 hours, I've got news for you…..not many make it their first time or two. Eventually, our highly trained drivers became driving machines, blowing through those two hours like they were nothing. Actu- ally, in all hon- esty, our buddy Mike Armen- trout said it best this weekend… . . " E n d u r a n c e racing is like having never worked out and then going out and running a marathon….then go to sleep, and get up the next day and do it again." Over the years, the series got better and better, team mem- bers came and went, but the car was stead- fast in completing her 5-6 races a year, any- where from double 7 hour races, to the full 24 hour races. Richard Bennett left to form his own team F1 1abs, and I believe they de- cided after a night out at the bar to run an E36 BMW. They campaigned it very suc- cessfully as well, and I heard it recently sold to a new owner for like a million bucks with like 87 podiums to it's name, so that was Photos by Karl Wilen *Actually quoted by Ricky Bobby in Talladega Night. ~ Editor The 944 That Wouldn't Quit DEATH OF A RACE CAR "America is all about speed. Hot, nasty, badass speed." - Eleanor Roosevelt, 1936 *