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Le Mans / ALMS
ALMS: CJ’s New Adventure
Renowned Hollywood stunt helicopter pilot David Calvert-Jones embarks on new chapter as American Le Mans Series driver...
A former private equity investor from Australia, David Calvert-Jones moved to Los Angeles eight years ago to pursue a career as a helicopter movie pilot and has since taken on the challenge of sports car racing. (Photo: Bob Chapman/Autosport Image)
While many gentlemen drivers escape to the race track to get their adrenaline fix, David Calvert-Jones already enjoys a fast-paced lifestyle that arguably equals taking the Corkscrew at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
By day, Australian-born Calvert-Jones, who goes by “CJ” for short, is a helicopter movie and stunt pilot, who is often tasked with making daredevil-like maneuvers in the air while filming for major motion pictures.
As the owner and president of Helifilms, an aerial production company based on four continents, CJ has credits in box office hits such as “Transformers,” “Contraband” and “Horrible Bosses.” He has also provided helicopter footage of major sporting events including the Baja 1000 and America’s Cup.
He began his racing career less than three years ago, purchasing a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car from Alex Van Halen, of the rock band Van Halen, and competing in historic and regional events before stepping up to IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama for 2012.
Having enjoyed considerable success in his rookie year, the 43-year-old will continue his rapid rise next weekend at Road Atlanta when he makes his American Le Mans Series debut in the 15th annual Petit Le Mans.
CJ will join Bob Faieta and Michael Avenatti in a GTC-class Porsche fielded by Competition Motorsports, the same team that preps his 911 GT3 Cup car in the ALMS development series.
“It has been a pretty steep learning curve,” CJ says. “As it’s been my first full year, I’ve had to get used to driving these cars also and also brand-new tracks for me, each weekend.
“But coming from flying helicopters, the certain work I do is not straight and level-type flying. I've done 60 feet off-the-ground, sideways, filming a car or another helicopter. I have to feel the machine through my gut, really. And it's similar when jumping into a car. It’s made it easier.”
While the unique transfer from cockpit of a helicopter to the seat of a Porsche Cup car appears to have aided CJ, he’s also relied on some of the most accomplished GT drivers in the sport, including Marc Lieb, Patrick Long and Damien Faulkner, for coaching and advice.
And with eight class podiums in ten starts in Gold Cup competition, including a win at Mosport, CJ has proven to be a quick learner in the single-make series, which has often served as a stepping stone to the ALMS and other professional sports car championships.
“When I started this year, I put down some objectives that I wanted to achieve,” he says. “One of them was to do some driving in the ALMS and the ultimate aim is to go to Le Mans at some point in the future. That was the natural step up and I'm really excited that I've got the opportunity to jump up to the ALMS so quickly.”
And while CJ is targeting a full season of ALMS competition for next year, likely in GTC, he also has his sights set on other world-renowned races, such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but also the Bathurst 12 Hour in his native Australia.
In fact, he’s already lodged an entry for next year’s around-the-clock enduro at Mt. Panorama, with two high profile drivers, including a star Porsche factory driver, set to join him in a 911 GT3 Cup car.
“It's been a pretty crazy 12 months for me with driving the car, managing and getting a sponsor on board and getting an ALMS drive and doing Bathurst 12 Hour early next year,” CJ says.
“It will be important to get a full season of ALMS under our belts and then look at the end of 2013 for other races."
Given the breakout success of other gentlemen drivers, such as David Heinemeier Hansson, who have taken similar paths up the motorsports ladder, the sky could be the limit for this fast-paced Australian daredevil and his racing ambitions.
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
By day, Australian-born Calvert-Jones, who goes by “CJ” for short, is a helicopter movie and stunt pilot, who is often tasked with making daredevil-like maneuvers in the air while filming for major motion pictures.
As the owner and president of Helifilms, an aerial production company based on four continents, CJ has credits in box office hits such as “Transformers,” “Contraband” and “Horrible Bosses.” He has also provided helicopter footage of major sporting events including the Baja 1000 and America’s Cup.
He began his racing career less than three years ago, purchasing a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car from Alex Van Halen, of the rock band Van Halen, and competing in historic and regional events before stepping up to IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama for 2012.
Having enjoyed considerable success in his rookie year, the 43-year-old will continue his rapid rise next weekend at Road Atlanta when he makes his American Le Mans Series debut in the 15th annual Petit Le Mans.
CJ will join Bob Faieta and Michael Avenatti in a GTC-class Porsche fielded by Competition Motorsports, the same team that preps his 911 GT3 Cup car in the ALMS development series.
“It has been a pretty steep learning curve,” CJ says. “As it’s been my first full year, I’ve had to get used to driving these cars also and also brand-new tracks for me, each weekend.
“But coming from flying helicopters, the certain work I do is not straight and level-type flying. I've done 60 feet off-the-ground, sideways, filming a car or another helicopter. I have to feel the machine through my gut, really. And it's similar when jumping into a car. It’s made it easier.”
While the unique transfer from cockpit of a helicopter to the seat of a Porsche Cup car appears to have aided CJ, he’s also relied on some of the most accomplished GT drivers in the sport, including Marc Lieb, Patrick Long and Damien Faulkner, for coaching and advice.
And with eight class podiums in ten starts in Gold Cup competition, including a win at Mosport, CJ has proven to be a quick learner in the single-make series, which has often served as a stepping stone to the ALMS and other professional sports car championships.
“When I started this year, I put down some objectives that I wanted to achieve,” he says. “One of them was to do some driving in the ALMS and the ultimate aim is to go to Le Mans at some point in the future. That was the natural step up and I'm really excited that I've got the opportunity to jump up to the ALMS so quickly.”
And while CJ is targeting a full season of ALMS competition for next year, likely in GTC, he also has his sights set on other world-renowned races, such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but also the Bathurst 12 Hour in his native Australia.
In fact, he’s already lodged an entry for next year’s around-the-clock enduro at Mt. Panorama, with two high profile drivers, including a star Porsche factory driver, set to join him in a 911 GT3 Cup car.
“It's been a pretty crazy 12 months for me with driving the car, managing and getting a sponsor on board and getting an ALMS drive and doing Bathurst 12 Hour early next year,” CJ says.
“It will be important to get a full season of ALMS under our belts and then look at the end of 2013 for other races."
Given the breakout success of other gentlemen drivers, such as David Heinemeier Hansson, who have taken similar paths up the motorsports ladder, the sky could be the limit for this fast-paced Australian daredevil and his racing ambitions.
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
Monterey
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