Bullish Racing

Silverstone, UK - June/Juin 8 - 10

2007-06-18T11:15:00.000+02:00

Hello Everyone, I realise this post is long overdue, but I've had exams this week, and since Eric has lost his gmail password and the will to get off facebook, I'm cramming this in before being shipped off to the army.

As a preface to this post, I'd like to mention that the Silverstone event was no normal event like Monza or Misano. To mark the 60th anniversary of Ferrari's inception Ferrari GB/UK organized the Ferrari Race Days, which comprised of various activities and parades to celebrate Ferrari's new and old alike. The main attractions were the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli (Europa), Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Coppa Shell (Europa), the F1, FXX and Vintage Clienti as well as the Guinness world record of the largest Ferrari parade - which comprised of a staggering 385 Ferrari's, new and old. To add to all this excitement, Bruno Senna - nephew to the late, great Ayrton Senna - was battling it out in the Trofeo Pirelli as a guest entrant.

With all this excitement going on us fans were quite distracted. Furthermore, Silverstone being a colossus of a circuit, getting the even bigger fan base to good locations with only 2 scooters at our disposition wasn't an easy task! Needless to say we had a great weekend and although certain mishaps for the Bullish Racing - ACM cars in the races followed by fallouts with the race stewards we had a great weekend! Thanks again to the whole Bullish Racing - ACM team, from the motorhome attendants to the mechanics. Sempre Rosso!!

Team changing Ange's Tyres during Q2.

Watching the team work a pit stop is an event in itself!

Eric, mentally preparing himself for Q2 - seen here talking to BR-ACM's Telemetry expert - Fred.

Tapani documenting Eric's inspirational words, Lloyd in the background also getting ready.

Earplugs (earphone), Balaclava, HANS device and helmet is everything a driver has to put on his head before getting into the car. Safety first!

Eric in his car, ready for Q2.

Lloyd getting into his car.

Pitlane, before Race 1, last minute checks before a warmup lap and grid placements.

Eric in action.

Eric's new logo - ELM.

Lloyd was caught catching some Z's and some sun in between Q2 and Race 1. unusual place to sleep!

Bruno Senna Exiting the pits.

Eric in front of one of only 39 250 GTO's ever built. many beleive that this Scaglietti designed Ferrari is the most beautiful ever built. One of these fetched $15million in an auction in the early nineties.. all we know is she's a beauty!

A sea of Maranello beasts!

Even more!

Lloyd battling it out in Race 1.

107 exiting a corner.

Start of Ange's first race. Having had a good start our enthusiasm was short lived.

Having been blatantly harpooned by Nathan Kinch - whom subsequently said he'd pay for the damage, but never lived up to his word - Ange's car came back to home base in very bad state.

Mechanics and Gerard assessing the extensive damage to Ange's car.

Mechanics frantically working to fix the car, they all stayed up till 2.30 am. prepping Ange's car for Race 2 the next day! BRAVO!

Visibly Ange's whole left rear side was demolished, suspension struts were gone, fairings teared off, even the chassis was hit. This needed a thorough and extensive overhaul of the car.

Ange's forged Aluminum wheel mount totally demolished. This attests to the violence of the impact.

The impact was such that the Carbon ceramic disc brake exploded, puncturing the magnesium rim. wow!

Eric with his No.1 fan before race 1. Eric started 22nd and finished 24th after having spun 3 times. Lloyd stared 14th and climbed 5 places to 9th!

The Ferrari Parade - 385 of them!

Ange's Podium (race 2). While Senna finished first, he isn't in contention for the championship so the podium was: Piccini - Ange Barde - Cullen.

To us fans on the start finish straight, the last lap was action packed, but seemingly without incident. Think again! Ange gave it his all, and while his overtaking manouver didn't pan out, he was lucky to even get across the line at all!

How the tire didn't deflate is a mystery to all of us!

All's well that ends well. After a hard weekend for the whole team, Ange's second place was largely welcomed! Moments later ange chased Gerard down half the pitlane with the champagne bottle!

Ange Barde and Bruno Senna.

Eric being his usual self!

Eric and Lloyd practicing some Thai Kick Boxing moves in the motor home, that's how they deal with pre-race stress!

Eric and his posse!

Eric in his car, on the grid for race 2.

Eric.. and one of our hostesses...

Henri admiring the starting grid. Lloyd started 5th and Eric 24th. After 5 laps - while he was 17th - Eric's wheel bearing failed, he was forced to retire. Lloyd finished a brilliant 2nd, but was sanctioned for supposedly hitting another driver. His final classification was 6th. We were so disappointed!

ACM!!!

Standings after Misano - Classements après Misano

2007-05-03T19:19:00.000+02:00

Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Europe 2007 - Round 2

Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli - Coppa Shell - Europe 2007 - Round 2

Misano - Dimanche 22 Avril - Sunday 22nd April

2007-04-27T17:09:00.000+02:00

This is a video with the best moments from both race days, composed mainly of shots of Eric and Lloyd, with the odd snippet of Ange Barde. There is overtaking, spins, accidents, and some random moments from off the track! So watch and get an insight to the emotion we feel while we are on track! Pay special attention the to window of Erics car at the 3:15 mark.

Voici une vidéo des meilleures moment des deux courses. Elle se compose surtout de séquences d'Eric et Lloyd, avec quelques apércus de Ange Barde. Il y a des dépassements, des tête a queue, accidents et des moments de détente hors circuit. Donc regardez pour se rendre compte de l'émotion qu'on resents sur circuit au près de nos pilotes. Faites bien attention à la fenêtre de la voiture d'Eric à 3:15.

Here are some more pictures of Sunday.

Voici encores quelques photos de Dimanche.

Préparation avant course 2.

Preparing for race 2.

Ange félicite la performance des deux frères...Retour au réceptif..

Ange congratulating the two brother's performance in the race... back to the BR-ACM Lounge.

Misano - Samedi 21 Avril - Saturday 21st April

2007-04-23T18:33:00.000+02:00

Bonjour tout le monde, Je voudrais commencer - avant d'arriver au vif du sujet - par dire que ce Weekend fut plein d'émotions pour les fans de l'équipe Bullish Racing - ACM. Pour la première course d'Eric on etait tous tres excités à le voir tourner.. mais sans trop savoir ce qu'il allait pouvoir faire pour ca première sortie de piste en mode "Course". En tout cas il nous a tous bleufé.. comme dirait Amine.. "Il nous a tous fait Vibrer"..

Apres un long trajet jusqu'a Misano, sur l'adriatique on a découvert le ' tout beau, tout nouveau' circuit - Autodromo Di Santa Monica, Misano. La piste c'est avéré tres sinueuse et tres technique.. une vrai piste de pilote, ou les réglages serait primordiale. Après deux séances de qualifications dificile pour les deux frères La Marca dans la Catégorie B (Q Race 1: Lloyd 17ème, Eric 22ème - Q Race 2: Lloyd 9ème, Eric 13ème) Ange Barde nous à gracié d'une 6ème et 4ème place aux deux qualifications. Il etait alors temps pour les courses!Parti 17ème et 22ème respectivement les Lloyd et Eric remonte le peloton. Eric - un peu timide au premier tours de roues fini par vite se lacher.. et gère une première course superbe! finissant 14ème avec de belles batailles avec la voiture no. 146 en fin de course! BR-ACM FC etait tous fous! Lloyd fait une course quasi parfaite en remontant jusq'au pied du podium pour finir 4ème. Ange part 6ème pour finir 5ème apres une course dificile. Une bonne nuit de someil a permis aux pilotes de se resourcées, tant qu'a nous.. on a exploré Rimini et Riccione "by night".

Hello Everyone, I would like to start of - before getting to the crux of the matter - by saying that this weekend was an emotional weekend for all the Bullish Racing - ACM fans. We were all very excited to see eric drive his first race, but having never seen him drive, we were still not sure how he would fair against the other drivers. None the less he made us all very proud and like amine would say " he made us vibrate with passion".

After a long trip down to Misano on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, we discovered an 'all new, spic and span' circuit - Autodromo di Santa monica, Misano. We discovered a medium speed track with alot of technical corners, a real driver's circuit where car settings we're going to be paramount.
After two dificult qualifying sessions for the La Marca brothers in the B category (Q Race 1: Lloyd 17ème, Eric 22ème - Q Race 2: Lloyd 9ème, Eric 13ème) Ange Barde graced us with a 6th and 4th place. It was now time to race! Starting 17th and 22nd respectively lloyd and Eric climbed up the field. Eric - a little timid at the begining quickly gained confidence and drove an amazing first race! Finishing 14th after battling long and hard in the closing stages for 13th with car no.146. BR- ACM FC was extatic! Lloyd drove a near perfect race reaching the foot of the podium to finish 4th. Ange started 6th and after a long and hard battle only managed a 5th place finish. A good nights rest for the drivers allowed them to regain their senses for the next day of racing. Us on the other hand, explored Rimini and Riccione "by night".

L'entrée du circuit - Santa Monica, Misano.

The track's Entrance - Santa Monica, Misano.

Eric dans la voiture attendant le feu vert pour entamer la qualif 2.

Eric strapped in the car awaiting the green light to start qualifying 2.

C'est la que toute la magie se passe.. Eric, dans son bureau.

This is where all the magic happens.. Eric, in the office.

Le regard du geurier avant la bataille..

The eye of the warrior before the battle..

Dernier conseil de l'ingénieur avant la sortie sur piste.. Communication constante durant la course et les qualifs..

Last words from Eric's race engineer before going on track.. They communicate all through the races.

Sortie des garages.. tout le monde en ligne..

Garage exits.. everyone in line. :P

la sortie sur piste est iminent..

Qualifying is iminent..

La bête 125.

The 125 beast.

Qualification 2 - 13ème

Qualification 2 - 13th

Virage no.7 et l'entrée des stands au loins.

Turn 7 and the pit entrance in the background.

Tout content a la préstation d'éric en qualif 2.. Lloyd etait 9ème... le Fan club a officiellement conquis la colline au virage 7!!

Extatic at Eric's 13th place.. Lloyd got 9th (but was slowed down by others)... The Fan club officially conquered the hill on turn 7!!

Le garage de Bullish Racing - ACM.

The Bullish Racing - ACM garage.

No.125!!!!!

Meme entre les courses et les qualifs la compétition n'est jamais fini.. les courses de scooter dans les paddocks nous on été un autre moment fort du weekend!

Even between the races and the qualifications the competition is never over.. the scooter races up and down the paddocks were another highlight of the weekend.

Meme Lloyd s'en ai mélée.. LOL!!! c lui qui donne le départ.

Even Lloyd got involved.. LOL!! he's the one giving the start..

Les Ferrari clienti y etait en force..

Ferrari clienti were there in great numbers..

Attendant la Course No.1

Waiting for Race No.1

Les deux bêtes prêtes a bondir!!

The two beasts ready to pounce!!

Lloyd se prépare avant de se glisser dans le baquet.

Lloyd is preparing himself before slipping into his racing seat.

Ooh la la.. on ne fait jamais qq'ch a moité chez Bullish Racing - ACM.

Ooh la la.. at Bullish Racing - ACM we know how pimp it up.

Eric avant ca premiere course..

Eric before his first race..

La sortie du garage.

The Garage Exit.

Aie aie aie.. ca tappe fort au Ferrari Challenge.. un vrai sport d'homme..

Ouch.. Ferrari challenge is a man's Sport..

Monza - Course 2 - Dimanche 25 Mars

2007-03-28T23:53:00.000+02:00

Voila.. malheuresement les fans de Bullish Racing on trop dosé dans la soirée du samedi pour fêter les 2 podiums de Bullish Racing, donc nous etions pas la pour les courses du dimanche matin!! milan c'est de la tuerie!! Bon.. on remet ca pour MISANO dans un mois!!

Voici les Résultats du Weekend:

Peace!
Sempre Rosso

Monza - Course 1 - Samedi 24, Mars 2007

2007-03-27T18:37:00.000+02:00

Bonjour Tout le monde!!

Malgré la déception d'Eric le Vendredi pour qui la license italienne n'était pas complête et qui n'a pas pu courrir en course... on a quand meme passé un weekend bestial!!

Première prise de conscience pour les fans d'eric.. (venues nombreux.. certains on fait des aller retour de lausanne pour enfin arrivé a Milan.. ;) Amine..) de l'ampleure de cette aventure que notre Eric va entreprendre cette année. Voila le mister devant ca bête... :P

Heureusement qu'il y a le drapeaux Suisse!!

La bête No. 125 fesait - malheureusement - dodo ce weekend.. :(

Les fans dans les stands.. tous fous!

Le Toro No.125.. kel bête!

Amine au volant!

La voiture de Lloyd au Pits..

Les Pilotes de l'équipe Bullish Racing - ACM

Les Stands avant la course A - Samedi.

La Grille de Serie A - Course 1 - Samedi. Ange partait 7eme.. et a fini 2eme! BRAVO!!!

Ange dans les stands pour la minute reglémentaire..

Misslin dans les stands pour la minute..

Apres la course 1 de la Série A on a foncé vers la première chicane en bout de ligne droite pour y voire l'action qui y avait pour la course de Lloyd.

Notre moyen de transport etait.. pour le moins.. Efficace!! VIVE LE QUAD!!!

Kel horreur.. lol!!! 1 pilote, 6 passagers.

Parchoc arrière: Francois-Marie et Maya
Milieu: Eric (pilote) et Cindy

Sur le bord droit: Fig

Parchoc avant: Tapzeub et Philippe le Thai

Lloyd en 3eme position.. négocie la premiere chicane..

L'arrivé en 3eme place..

Tout content! THUMBS UP!!!

La bete apres la course... allé 107!!

Podium.. 1)Prette... 2)Forer... 3)Lloyd La Marca !!