"Stef Schrader" (stefschrader)
02/17/2014 at 09:00 • Filed to: Roar Before the 24, TUSC, CTSCC, endurance racing, test day, Fluffy Bunny, Eater of Souls
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"Stef Schrader" (stefschrader)
02/17/2014 at 09:00 • Filed to: Roar Before the 24, TUSC, CTSCC, endurance racing, test day, Fluffy Bunny, Eater of Souls | 5
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A few people asked "where's the Puffalump?" on my !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . She's been quite busy. I couldn't pry myself away from my LeMons build in Austin long enough to sneak along with a friend for the Roar Before the 24 at Daytona, so I did the next best thing—I sent Fluffy.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
This marked the first event (not race yet, but event) of the merged Tudor United SportsCar Championship series, as it was the big test day for both the TUSC as well as its support series, the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. The cars and classes may have slightly changed, but aside from that, it seemed to be business as usual.
My friend Michael Johnson was testing the #11 Mitchum Motorsports BMW 128i that will run in the CTSCC race that happens right before the Rolex 24 at Daytona and offered to stow Fluffy away in his luggage.
If he looks familiar, it's because he's one of the other people who !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Oops.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
The Roar Before the 24 is scheduled much like a normal, run-of-the-mill track day. Different classes of cars are separated out into different run groups, giving everyone an opportunity to shake down their cars at Daytona before the series start racing in a couple weeks.
Evidence of Fluffy's arrival quickly appeared on my !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , via PotatoMessage.
The Roar Before the 24 is also an opportunity for drivers to promote themselves, just like anything else that involves a large number of racing drivers in one place.
For Michael, this meant getting up early to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! about the Roar Before the 24 test, the upcoming Rolex 24 race weekend, the Mitchum BMW and—something I've never seen before—Johnson's attempt to crowdfund a sponsorship for his CTSCC ride.
While I've seen several crowdfunding attempts from club racers and LeMons/ChumpCar teams (shoot, we've even got a "buy us kolaches" link on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ), this is the first time I've seen anyone at the pro level try to crowdfund more seat time using a service like Kickstarter or in this case, Fundrazr.
So, if you've ever wanted to sponsor a professional driver and don't have thousands of dollars, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! to throw in as much or as little as you want.
This is either going to be an interesting sidenote or become another way for racers to reduce the expensive barriers to entering costlier series like the CTSCC. Only time will tell.
The rest of the day was testing, testing and more testing. Many teams have drivers for the Rolex 24 weekend who may or may not be signed on for a full season, so this is an important opportunity to get some much needed seat time in for those drivers.
Whenever Michael wasn't driving, he took Fluffy around to tour the facilities. One of the best things about both ALMS and Grand Am was the open access to the pit area and all of the cars, so I'm glad to see that return as part of TUSC.
Mmm...one of the Turner BMWs. Fluffy wants.
Fluffy's ability to be used as a projectile makes it easy to toss her between different garage spaces.
Fluffy even got to test a couple of the cars herself: the #11 BMW 128i and the #62 Camaro GS.R. Never mind that she couldn't reach any of the pedals.
Mitchum hasn't run their Camaro in a while, but they brought it back out for the Rolex 24 to give winners of the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! karting competition the opportunity to drive in the Rolex 24.
When Michael had to go back out on track, Fluffy curled up in one of the many convenient rabbit holes at the track.
While I would have much rather been wandering around Daytona myself, all of these status updates on Fluffy's location made for a pleasant distraction from hitting my 944 with a hammer. Best idea ever .
To find out more about Michael Johnson's plans to race in the CTSCC and elsewhere, look for updates on his Facebook page !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .
Photo Credits: Michael Johnson
Agrajag
> Stef Schrader
02/17/2014 at 09:13 |
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You should somehow find a way to hide Fluffy in a car, where the in-car cameras will see her. Instant fame. She would probably find a way to free herself though and cause the driver to wreck, so don't do that.
ihm96
> Agrajag
02/17/2014 at 09:47 |
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That would be amazing. Fluffy would just need a custom 5 point harness haha
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Stef Schrader
> Agrajag
02/17/2014 at 09:48 |
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Fluffycam!
I've taken her on a lot of trackday, autocross and even rallycross events. Puff squishes into one place and she's fine. I don't think I'd be willing to put her in a racecar during a race, though. With my luck, she'd end up in the wrong car at the wrong time. :o(
The Transporter
> Stef Schrader
02/17/2014 at 10:38 |
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"What the...?"
ddavidn
> Stef Schrader
02/17/2014 at 11:18 |
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I agree with Fluffy. Do want.
pdthedeuce
> Stef Schrader
02/17/2014 at 13:00 |
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glad to see Fluffy got some seat-time .
GRawesome
> Stef Schrader
02/17/2014 at 21:20 |
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Was fluffy at the actual 24? I saw someone similar to him in one of the pits, I'll have to go back through my pictures and check.
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Stef Schrader
> GRawesome
02/18/2014 at 10:50 |
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No. Even my friend got bumped for another guy who signed on for a full season. :o(
I'm very pro-bring-your-Puffalumps-to-a-race, though. Hooray Puff!
Michael J.
> Stef Schrader
02/20/2014 at 19:10 |
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Fluffy had a good time, even though she had to hang out in the driver's lounge while I was on track. In CTSCC, our lounge is NOTHING like what my pals Tom Long and Ryan Dalziel have in the Prototype class. If only I had the funding to get there.
Thanks, Stef, for writing the article. And thanks to everyone who contributes to the crowd funding sponsorship. Skip a latté this week and contribute $5. Every little bit helps.
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Michael J.
> Stef Schrader
02/21/2014 at 00:10 |
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I was there, but the Puffalump wasn't. Although originally I was going to drive for Mitchum Motorsports, I was trying to drive for Irish Mike's or Freedom. Neither ended up working out.
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Stef Schrader
> Michael J.
02/21/2014 at 00:28 |
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I told Fluffy to fix my LeMons car. She didn't. Something about no opposable thumbs.
Also_Ran
> Stef Schrader
02/21/2014 at 15:23 |
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Came here for the Puffalump. Wasn't disappointed. Yay!
Oh yeah, and the writing's always a good read too.
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GRawesome
> Stef Schrader
02/21/2014 at 17:21 |
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Finally went through my Daytona pictures and realized this guy looked nothing like fluffy. Still, maybe a friend of fluffy's?
CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
> Stef Schrader
02/22/2014 at 08:18 |
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Ohhhh thats fluffy!
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Stef Schrader
> GRawesome
02/23/2014 at 11:28 |
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Haha, Alf rules!