Morgans Get First Taste of Grand Am Competition
April 30, 2005, (Monterey, CA)---The first visit to Laguna Seca by the Grand
American Rolex Sports Car Series was also the first chance veteran sports
car drivers Charles and Rob Morgan to experience Daytona Prototypes in
competition. Driving the Number 31 Margraf Racing Pontiac-Riley sponsored
by Querencia Golf Club in Cabo San Lucas, Rob Morgan qualified a respectable
15th out of 24 prototypes with a lap time of 1 minute 27.260 around Mazda
Raceway Laguna Seca. "Fifteen minutes is not a lot of qualifying time. I
only got seven laps, so I'm pretty happy with where we ended up. I've gone
quicker in each session this weekend. I have to remind myself that I
haven't driven in competition for a few years. I'm used to being closer to
the front, but the race is another matter. The more I drive, the more
comfortable I feel, and so I am really looking forward to the race. With
the right pit strategy and a few breaks, we'll have a good finish."
Charles Morgan was equally pleased. "It feels good to get back into a race
car at Laguna Seca. It's been a long time since I drove a sports
prototype. Every lap I'm getting more and more feel for the car.
Tomorrow's race will be a real challenge. Racing the prototypes against
the GT class will keep me extremely busy. There will be a lot of passing.
I'm ready for it."
Team owner Bill Margraf has been impressed with the professionalism and
race sense both Morgans have. "Charles and Rob have been around racing for
a long time. They know what they want and how to get it. They're real
racers with a lot of race experience and savvy. I predict a strong debut
for the Morgans, " said Margraf.
The Number 31 Margraf Racing Pontiac Riley is sponsored by Querencia Golf
Club, in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Designed to take place among the world's
most prestigious private and residential communities in the world,
Querencia offers a private Tom Fazio-designed championship golf course
nestled within an exclusive 880-acre community along the Sea of Cortez.
Other sponsors include Truspeed Motorcars in Costa Mesa, California and
Nolte Engineering in Sacramento.
-mr-
