MPruett's avatar
Author:
Marshall Pruett
Login For More
Rate this article:
  • 0/5 Stars
  • Related Photos
SPEEDtv.com Store
Grand National:America's Golden Age of Motorcycle Racing, by Joe Scalzo
Joe Scalzo’s book captures the spirit of the Golden Age of motorcycle racing.
Our Price: $39.95
Visit Button
Buy Button
Man-Made Thunder
The book examines the sport of stock car racing through the eyes and ears of the men behind the wheel and the wrenches.
Our Price: $49.00
Visit Button
Buy Button
Unisex Sandwich Cap
Unisex Velcro back hat with SPEED logo on front. PINKS logo embroidered on left and PAO logo on right. One size fits all.
Our Price: $24.95
Visit Button
Buy Button
Speedway T-shirt
Men's 6 oz. 100% Cotton Jersey Short Sleeve Tee. SPEED logo imprinted on the front center chest.
Our Price: $24.99
Visit Button
Buy Button
Ferrari Red Classic Hat
100% cotton twill. Ferrari shield embroidered on front, piping on the peak and Ferrari logo embroidered on back strap adjuster.
Our Price: $30.00 ($27.00 Member)
Visit Button
Buy Button
Footer Bg
  • Zoom More Photos Button
  • Camera Icon
PRUETT: Lights Out for LG Motorsports?
Written by: Marshall Pruett   
06/23/2008
Oakland, CA
 
The father and son team of owner/driver Lou Gigliotti (right) and crew chief Louis Gigliotti (left) are without funding, about to be without a car, and fighting to remain active in the ALMS series. (Photo: John Thawley/Creative Communications Group) » More Photos


For an owner/driver accustomed to thriving in every racing series he’s participated in, Lou Gigliotti has found struggling to survive the first six months of most ambitious plan ever—to enter and run a Riley-built Corvette C6 in the American Le Mans Series, as anything but what he’d envisioned for 2008.

“It has been a tough year—not one we aren’t up for or weren’t prepared for, but some of the challenges we’ve faced have been more than your average team could dream of.”

Gigliotti, a winner in World Challenge and in TransAm with his Dallas-based LG Motorsports operation, sold all three of his World Challenge cars, cars from his personal auto collection, and even plots of land he’d bought to fund the purchase of Riley Technologies first ALMS GT2 Corvette.

While these moves might sound like those made by a wealthy businessman to finance his latest infatuation, Gigliotti is quick to stamp out that perception. “I’ve worked my entire life to earn what I have—I’m fortunate to have made a few dollars over the years, but I sold absolutely everything I had to buy this car—even some things I really wish I hadn’t. I put everything I had into it—all my savings. Everything. We have to come good with this car.”

And despite a strong showing at the last ALMS round at Utah, LG’s struggles started from the outset of the GT2 program. “Unfortunately, the car showed up late. So late, that we had to use the first race as one long test session, so it’s like we’ve done one less real race than everybody else.” With an un-finished car and few results to show after the first few races, the problems began to escalate between the Long Beach and Utah rounds, compounded by the departure of Lou’s co-driver and primary sponsor, Doug Peterson and 3 Dimensional Services.
Prior to their switch to Dunlops, their GT2-class C6 Corvette was more than a handful to drive. LG Motorsports started off 2008 with an unfinished car that only turned the page at the last round in Utah. (Photo: John Thawley/Creative Communications Group) » More Photos

“As far as Doug goes, it was his choice to drop out, which opened the door to our best finish of the season [with World Challenge Corvette driver Eric Curran.] Doug only signed up for the first part of the season and chose not to continue. His company is in Detroit where his company already did work for GM suppliers.
From a business standpoint all he wanted from racing a Corvette was more opportunities in the bidding process. When that did not happen, he felt it was not a good business situation, so he dropped out. I’d say we’re both at a crossroads; we’ll feel his loss on our team for sure, but we’re ready to keep growing and improving.”

Keeping a positive outlook on the situation is a must for Gigliotti’s small, lean team, but the reality of Peterson’s departure and the loss of his backing has called into question LG Motorsports’ immediate future as an ALMS entrant. “Now to go forward, we need to find funding for this Corvette GT2 project. It’s just that simple. Lime Rock and Mid-Ohio are almost 100% not happening, but I believe we can return for the rest of the season with the right partner or driver. We had Ferrari’s and Audi’s bouncing off of us at Utah, but Eric drove like a champ and showed what we can do, and I think I did a good job too. With the new Dunlop tires, we showed we’re fast and we’re reliable. I’m hoping not everybody out there wants to race a German or Italian car in GT2; our Corvette is gaining on them quickly. I have to believe there are companies and drivers that want to race in the American Le Mans GTs class in an American car.

Although he kept the specifics to himself, Gigliotti has also been faced with developing and improving a car that both he and Riley agree wasn’t quite ready for proper competition when it was delivered. “The Riley car was rushed and under the gun to make Sebring. And as such, it was not finished. We basically have two options here. Either we get funding from a new sponsor or driver, and with the help of Riley and some new parts that were originally designed for the car, we can complete the car in house and continue to R&D it and race it.

“The other option if we can not find funding is to turn the car back over to Riley so they can complete the project in-house where they will bring the final version out for the Petit Le Mans race in October. In that scenario, we’re effectively returning the car back to Riley and would be without a car to run.”


Page 1 of 2
Next Page »
1 2 >
View All Comments