2001 Poster
Thursday
Race
Report+
pictures
2001 Driving Team + Travel Guests
Don Kitch, Wade Gaughran, Dave Gaylord, Steve Miller, Kiichi Takahashi, Justin Marks, Dave Parker, and Mike Oberholtzer.
Team Seattle has been in full swing getting things ready for our VIP guests,
sponsors and race weekend. Wednesday was our set up day with everyone pitching
in to help get the camp in order. Team Seattle drivers moved in and parked
motor homes in very tight quarters thus making them qualified to participate
in this race. Everyone helped move over 20 golf carts into the RV area. Then
the big tent came, furniture, TV and cable making the Team Seattle headquarters
complete. Special thanks to team managers Gloria and Doc Doolittle for overseeing
this project. Drivers also spent Wednesday in the garage area getting the
cars prepped and decaled ready for their debut on Thursday. Wednesday was
on again off again rain so we were happy not to be out on the track.
Thursday marks the official start to the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Today we woke
up to drizzle. The morning session was wet but the racing line dried 20 minutes
into the 30 minute session. Our qualifying was a wet session with all cars
going out on grooved tires. The hot pits were a tense area with drivers and
crews making plans for the 45 minute session. Half way into the session the
rain stopped and the racing line began to dry. Some teams decided it was time
for slicks only to find out it wasn't! Darigold #66 and Carpoint #67 are safely
qualified into the field. The evening practice was exciting with the track
dry again and cars driving their way around the fully lit speedway. What a
sound 88 cars can make!
We anxiously await our 50 guests who arrive tonight. We have a special treat
for them! Kyle Petty will be joining us at our evening reception. He is excited
to do this and plans to bring some memorabilia, sign autographs and press
the flesh with our team. Kyle is also driving a Porsche in our class. Gotta
go and meet up with the group coming in. More news Friday.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Dash
on Carpoint #67 car. "Better hold on tight...the Darigold beanie
cow is in for a wild 24 hour ride." |
Dash on the Darigold # 66 car. "The race hasn't started and this cow looks like it wants out NOW.!" | The story in the official Rolex program, " IN FIVE MAKES $1,000.000 for the kids at Children's Hospital." | Crew prepares for both wet and dry qualifying tires. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Kami Sutton posing with her favorite driver Kyle Petty. Kyle made the audience cry with his praise of the Team Seattle effort. | Kyle
graciously autographs for our guests. When asked about the rain and
road racing his comment was, "you guys are crazy I'm not going
out there!" |
Holiday
Inn hosted an evening reception with all the goodies while guests
listened to an update of the team's progress. |
Ron
Burton was commissioned to design an original piece of artwork for
Team Seattle. Also pictured Harvey and Indigo Lakes Manager, Lexi
Duck. |
I'm back on line 5:00 pm Saturday raceday. Here is a recap of Friday's events. Friday was wet again dry again. Both #66 and #67 started qualifying with grooved tires and changed half way through to slicks. Both cars made the 80 car field as well as former Team Seattle drivers Bruno Lambert and Chris Bingham.
After qualifying drivers and guests headed to Daytona Beach. Yes, there really is a beach here, not that we racers ever get to enjoy on race weekend but it really does exist. Our dinner was held at the Adam's Mark hotel. Our 70 guests were wined and dined in fine style. Early to bed for the big day ahead.
I was having so much fun I forgot to take pictures at dinner. Better news race day.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Carpoint
Car #67 front view on in the hot pits prior to qualifying. "I apologize for the lack of shots today, very tense getting both cars in the field." |
Gwen
Lowery and Eric Hawley all decked out in team gear. "Their fun meter
has been stuck on full throttle all week long." |
Unique shot of a pit stop taken on the hot pit side of the pits. | Dave Gaylord practicing driver change with Mike Oberholtzer. "Drivers average 40 seconds change including, radio check, computer download, belts, fuel, and tires" Now that's moving! |
Saturday
February 3, 2001
Race
day starts early! Lot's of prep before the festivities begin. The
green flag dropped at 10:00 am pst with a car going out on the first lap...
first turn... of course causing a major bottle neck. Our two cars went
through the site without incident. Ten minutes into the race Don Kitch
in Carpoint Car #67 was on the high banks when three prototype cars came
out three wide. He forced his car as far onto the apron to allow them
room to pass but one touched his tire causing a blowout. The car was flat
towed in and a tire was replaced without incident losing only 4 laps to
the #66 car.
At
2:00 PMWade Gaughran in the # 66 Darigold Car experienced a corded
tire and came in for a pit stop including driver change with Steve Miller.
So many crashes and rain have added to the drama and stress to all the
teams. By 3:00 PM Don Kitch brought the #67 in and traded duties with
Dave Parker. Dave stayed out and traded with Dave Gaylord by 4:30 PM.
Dave's stint showed steady rain so the slicks came off and the rains on.
By 5:00 PM the drizzle became a steady heavy rain. Currently Car #66 is
in 39 overall and Car #67 49th overall out of the 80 car field. The 3rd
driver in the #66 rotation will be Kiichi Takahashi.
The mood of Team Seattle is as positive as ever. The official tote board
reads $422.00 a lap and changing by the hour, thanks to people like you!.
We figure for each hour on the track another $10,000.00 is raised for
Children's Hospital and Medical Center. Our lap total will be much lower
due to the wet conditions and numerous full course yellow flags due to
crashed race cars.
6:00 PM report Car # 66 38th overall out
of 80 Car # 67 40th overall Hour 7 Car #66 was hit and cut a tire down
forcing a spin. Justin Marks did a great job controlling the situation
the car came in for new shocks and tires and is running better now than
at the beginning of the race.
10:00 PM report Car # 66 44th overall 203
laps completed. Car #67 29th overall 227 laps completed! Current pledge
total is $425.00 a lap and growing.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Guild representative Elna Duffield and Kami Sutton prepare the official tote board complete with KRS bears and Darigold cows on display. | Driver Dave Parker and wife Mary anxiously await Dave's stint in the car. Drivers monitor both cars radio's for the latest news | VIP travel guests Kate and Peter Johnson having a great time with Larry and Elna Duffield. Thanks Johnsons for your continued support for per lap donations. | Jan
Oberholtzer getting a little TLC from orthopedic surgeon and team driver
# 66 Kiichi Takahashi. "Kiichi can drive the car and fix the drivers!" |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| VIP travel guest Robert Jackson gets comfortable in the 67 car. "Hey Bob it's time to get out, hey Bob, the cars are on the grid, Hey Bob!" | Don and Donna Kitch pose next to the 13 wonderful years logo marking the exact anniversary of the day they met. "Thanks Don, I was touched beyond words!" | Hospital representative Nancy Schenck and Libby Miller get creative and sell posters, clothing, buttons etc. while soliciting pledge in the hot pits. "You go girls!" | John and Shauna Mueller from Darigold enjoy their media exposure from their sponsorship of the# 66 car. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Official
group shot 2001. |
Gloria
Doolittle is the do it all gal with a smile. "Here she is ready to
chuck tires over the fence into the pits : ) |
Don
Kitch enjoys a little physical therapy by Teri Lynn Fraser while doing
a live interview on the phone. "Don do you ever take a break from
promoting Team Seattle?" |
Don giving an interview on Speedvision hour nine. The Team Seattle effort is currently lapping at $425.00. |
The rain continues to fall and Team Seattle cars continue to motor through the night. Both team cars did sustain damage during the deluge of rain. Car #66 went off track in the very muddy and slippery chicane bustop and sustained damage to the nose of the car and the radiators. The repair took about 45 minutes and the #66 car was back in the race. Car #67 was on fresh tires that were still cold and the driver was unable to avoid sliding under the very wet and frigid conditions. The damage was minimal and repaired in 30 minutes and the car #67 car was back on track. The Racer's Group crew did an outstanding job under the worst of weather conditions. From the hot pit area, the front straight looked like a hydroplane race with the prototype cars throwing up impressive rooster tails. Our cars were beginning to look like they had raced hard for 12 hours with the famous "racer's tape" holding bumpers in place. Many other teams did not fare as well and were unable to get back in the game.
As of 3:00 AM EST the Darigold # 66 was in 40th overall and the Carpoint #67 was 23rd overall. The 13 hour pledge dollar amount looks to be about $150,000.00.
Around 11:30 AM Sunday morning... the big moment five years in the making. Lap 517 marked the lap that put this campaign at the million dollar mark for Children's Hospital. What a celebration it was. All the VIP travel guests were in the hot pits to join the celebration. Champagne was opened and of course sprayed on everyone. Maybe you even saw the coverage of the event on the live coverage of Speedvision.
The last few hours of the race the cars forged ahead. This is the time when drivers start to hear or think they hear noises, feel the changes in gearbox, engine, handling etc. that they may have not noticed before. I think this is the longest hour of the race and the tension in the pits showed. Crew would not even think of celebrating until that beautiful hour of 1:00 PM EST when that striking black and white flag makes its appearance on the front straight! All three cars from The Racers Group lined up for what was a hard fought race... victorious and winners to all of us!
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Night, blinding glare from the speedway lights, slippery conditions added additional tension for Wade and Don managing the cars and drivers. | Wayne Gaughran in the hot pits being silly with Kami. | Bruce Whittaker from Carpoint continues to work through the night on surround video and movie clips all of us have enjoyed throughout this campaign. | Lap 517 what a beautiful number that was! The lap that brought the fundraising efforts to the million dollar mark. Both corks autographed by the 8 Team Seattle drivers. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Libby
and Steve Miller one hour to go! Another successful year for Steve's driving
at Daytona.
|
Owen and Laveda our Carpoint VIP travel package winners. This was a dream come true for them to be up close and personal with a race team at the 24. | Larry and Elna Duffield waiting and watching. Each lap seems like an eternity. |
Don and Kami visit the media center 20 minutes prior to the checkered flag. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| VIP travel guests Skip Nichols and John Bothell support Mike and Jan Oberholtzer the final half hour. | Dr. Peter Mortifee and physiotherapist Teri-Lynn Fraser on hour 23. The drivers will be very thankful for their services come Monday morning. | Let the celebration begin! Justin Marks and Dave Gaylord take the checkered at 1:00 pm EST what a beautiful moment that was! | The
# 67 drivers pose with Kami Sutton. Drivers Dave Parker, Dave Gaylord,
Mike Oberholtzer, and Don Kitch |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Mike and Jan Oberholtzer. "Its over, we did it, your first Daytona and your first finish what could be better!" | Wade Gaughran. "Thank Wade you have been a great teammate for 4 years, couldn't do it without you man." | Steve and Libby Miller. "You have brought a lot of energy to our campaign. Libby we love you, the tent was great!" | Justin Marks with parents Michael and Carole. "Congratulations on your first Daytona, you will always remember this and us as we will you." |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Dave and Jan Gaylord. "Dave you have been there from the beginning, we can always count on the two for anything! You are the best!" | Kiichi Takahashi. "Thanks Kiichi for driving with us. We love your big heart and are glad you are on our team!" | Dave Parker "What a shot! Is this happy or what! "Thanks Dave for doing a great job driving especially under such demanding conditions." | Parker
Family Pictured Don, Mary, Dave and Virginia Parker. "Thanks for coming down again and showing your support for your son and our effort." |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Millers pictured with Shauna Mueller (pronounced Miller) "thanks Shauna we really enjoyed having you down, boy you had a ton of fun!" |
Our cast and crew. Larry, Elna, Nancy without you, our supporters would not be back! You take such good care of the hospitality area and make everyone feel so welcome. | Carpoint representatives Mike Meredith and Bruce Whittaker. "These two do not know the word.. stop! They have been the ones responsible for all the good content on the Carpoint site." | VIP Travel Guests Gretchen and Brad Biggerstaff. "The two of you were too much fun. Kami gives you the award for most contagious smiles!" Thank you for your support and belief in our efforts." |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Jim and Dee Dee Sutton responsible for creating our bundle of joy Kami. You two are amazing, your efforts have made Team Seattle what it is today. Thank you for believing." | Lisa Kalmbach. Another year of support. Lisa it's so much fun to have you with us, what a car gal you are! Thanks for all your positive energy and support!" | Don and Ixtla Pickering pictured with Kate and Peter Johnson. "We were so happy to have you down! Now we will look forward to watching and hearing about your racing." | Team
Managers Doc and Gloria Doolittle "but the team has renamed you...
Doc and Gloria Do-A-Lot You two have style and class. The effort wouldn't
be the same without you." |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Owen
and Laveda. Leaving with lots of new friends and memories. "It was
a pure pleasure having you down and we will always remember you bringing
us good luck."
|
Bob and Patti Jackson. "You two are amazing, I don't think the two of you know the meaning of no! You make things happen. All I kept hearing was "that's your attorney? he is just too cool!" | Eric Hawley and Gwen Lowery. The team loved having you involved with us. You two looked so decked out in the Team Seattle clothing and cute cruising on the golf carts. Thank you for your support we wouldn't be here without you." | Don and Donna Kitch happy and relieved that the drivers are returned safe to loved ones and cars in one piece. To all of you, we couldn't do it without you! A "million" thank yous! We are a great team. See you next year. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| VIP
Travel Guest Skip Nichols. Thanks Skip for all your help especially with
the # 66 car! We appreciate you more than you know.
. |
Delta airline pilots and crew get in on the Team Seattle action with hats and sign! The pilot even read the press release over the airline intercom. Way to go Delta! | Media queen Bonnie Yonker far right. Channel 4, 5, 7, 11,13, NW Cable, Fox Sports, print and radio were all made possible by Bonnie's connections and perseverance. Bonnie donated all this time and service to help Team Seattle get the word out about Children's Hospital. | Finally... we get asked the question over and over why do you do it? The work, the long hours, the stress, the sour grapes, the whining. Well we see the bigger picture the hospital and the kids inside it! Once you get involved it seems you get more than you receive! Thanks everyone for a successful 2001 campaign |
