Atlanta Motorsports Group

AMG Wins at Thunderhill

AMG — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 20:05:29 +0000

SHELTON, CONN. (December 5, 2011) – Elivan Goulart, SCCA 2011 Spec Miata National Champion and North East Division Driver of the Year, joined Team Atlanta Motorsports Group in their successful bid to win the United States Air Force National Auto Sport Association 25 Hours of Thunderhill race last weekend, December 3-4, at Thunderhill Raceway Park in Willows, California. Goulart, along with Team AMG teammates Jim Daniels, Mike Cooper and Jessie Combs, came from the back of the pack and overtook the lead in the 25-hour race called the longest automobile endurance race in the western hemisphere.

“What an incredible, exhausting and exhilarating experience,” Goulart said. “Coming out on top is a true testament of our frivink skills as well as the entire Team AMG (DriveWithAMG.com) on car preparation. I cannot thank Jim Daniels enough for putting together this opportunity.

“I got the call to join the team on Tuesday afternoon, and from that moment on, the true race began. It was very fast paced getting travel plans and arrangements to spend time in the car, and from the beginning it was a challenge,” he said

Although the team was scheduled to practice on the 3-mile track before the event, mechanical issues ended up leaving Goulart with no wheel time in the MX-5 Race car before the grueling race began. Because of the mechanical problems the team was unable to make qualifying, and was forced to start the race from the back of the pack, adding to the driving team’s challenge.

“We started running really consistent, quick laps, and moved up steadily in the pack – until we lost what we had believed to be a transmission (ended up being just a shifter) only 1 hour into the event. We got the car back to the pits, and this amazing crew changed the tranny and got us back onto the track in less than 25 minutes. Those guys were a huge reason we were able to keep on racing and jump to the top of the pack.

“I ended up driving more than ten hours of the race, and it was some of the most fun racing I have ever done. There were almost 90 cars on the track at the start, so there was always someone to be looking out for, and the track was a challenge, especially at 3 o’clock in the morning!

“Of course, a race like that isn’t just about driving, it’s about the vehicle standing up to the challenge, and I have to say this Mazda is a great car. We passed the competition (mainly BMWs) built up a huge lead, and were able to out-last the battle of attrition because of car failures,” Goulart said.
Overall, running in the E0 class, the team ran 615 laps – more than 1,800 miles – and beat the second-place team by 15 laps.

“It was a weekend I will never forget, and I’m sure I’ll really be able to enjoy it – once I get home and catch up on my sleep. I have to add, it was awesome to have my dad, Ademir, by my side the whole event, coaching me and encouraging me the whole way.” he said. Ademir is a key component of his son’s racing, serving as crew chief and engine builder/designer on several of the cars Elivan has piloted.

According to Goulart, his next racing adventure will be announced very soon, and will include a full season in 2012 as he continues to advance in his career.

Eilvan Goulart joins AMG at Thunderhill.

plosey — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:59:04 +0000

2011 SCCA Spec Miata National Champion Eilvan Goulart joins Atlanta Motorsports Group for the NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill. Along with Michael Cooper and with Jessie Combs.

Elivan Goulart, a proud U.S and Brazilian citizen, started his racing career in the United States with Karts in 1993 at the age of 12 where he won Rookie of the Year. After five years of a successful Karting career, Elivan received a manufacture sponsored ride in Formula 500.

Elivan’s highlights include:

2011 SCCA Spec Miata National Championship.
2011 Mark Donohue Driver of the Year award.
2004 Formula SCCA National Championship.
F500 SCCA National Championships back to back in 2001 & 2002.
Karting Championships, and a winning ratio of over 50 percent throughout his
entire career.

In 2004, Elivan was hired by Dolphin Motorsports to compete in the Cooper Tire Championship Series in a Formula SCCA powered by Mazda, where he dominated the series by winning 5 out of 8 races. In 2005 & 2006 Elivan raced in SCCA’s Pro Spec Miata Series and other National Events. For 2007 & 2008, he competed in select races in the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup. Elivan has most recently been actively racing in the very competitive Spec Miata series where he won 16 out of 22 races from 2009- 2011. He is the 2011 SCCA National Champion in the Spec Miata category. Elivan’s racing future is on a winning track. In addition to racing, Elivan is a well-accredited racing coach and Vice President of the Sports Car Driving Association.

You could be here.

AMG — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:49:43 +0000

Atlanta Motorsports Group is looking for a third driver for the 2011 SCCA World-Challenge Series.

AMG

AMG — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:12:04 +0000

Atlanta Motorsports Group is a full service professional race team serving clients in both professional and club racing series.

While specializing in Mazda racecars since its inception, AMG is capable and willing to achieve success with any brand available.

AMG’s recent success includes the 2009 and 2010 Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship.

This year AMG will be joining the World Challenge Series with Brad Adams in a 2013 Boss 302, Mike Cooper in a new Mazda 3, and with Shea Holbrook also in a new Mazda 3.

Mike Cooper

AMG — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:06:20 +0000

Michael Cooper is a 22 year old Syosset, New York native.

Michael began his racing career in 2009 via the Skip Barber Racing School system. He loved the Skip Barber series and won 3 out of the 4 races held that year. Looking for a larger challenge Michael moved into the Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup series in 2010. This series has produced some of the fastest drivers in the upper levels of Motorsports today with its close competition and identical “spec” car preparation.

While Michael enjoyed mild success in the 2010 rookie season but would shine in 2011. Micheal stood on top of the championship leader board winning the series’ highest honor, Champion. Along the way the pilot of the Atlanta Motorsports Group (AMG) Mazda MX-5 would lead the series with 6 poles and 5 wins en route to the 2011 Championship. This Championship earned Michael the Mazda Motorsports Ladder System award enabling young and talented drivers the funding to move up in the racing ranks. In the last race if the season, a grueling 25 hour non stop endurance event, Michael led the massive field of 86 cars to the victory in the E0 class driving the AMG Mazda MX-5.

Going into 2012 Michael has his sights set on the Pirelli World-Challenge series Touring Car class. Using his Championship award he will be piloting a Turbo Charged Mazda Speed3 in 2012, also fielded by AMG.

Racing Experience:

2010: Competed in 8 Mazdaspeed Challenge races taking 5 podiums, 2 wins and 1 pole
2010 cont: Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup With Atlanta Motorsports Group. 1 win and 4 podiums Finishing 4^th in the points
2011: Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup Champion with Atlanta Motorsports Group taking 6 poles, 5 wins and 7 podiums. Michael put in dominating performances at Lime Rock Park, Mazda Raceway and Brainerd to take wins by more than 10 seconds. Making Michael the youngest MX-5 cup champion
2011 E0 class champion at the grueling 25 hours of Thunderhill endurance race

Brad Adams

AMG — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:51:43 +0000

The New Orleans native Brad Adams will be joining Atlanta Motorsports Group for the 2012 season in a 2012 Ford Mustang competing in the SCCA World-Challenge Series. This will be Brads third year competing in the World-Challenge series.

First Race: 2004 Panoz Racing Series, Barber Motorsports, Birmingham, AL
Daily Driver: Aston Martin Vanquish
Favorite TV Show: Speed TV
Racing Heroes: Carroll Shelby, Sterling Moss
Favorite Food: Italian
Favorite Track: Sebring International Raceway
Interest/Hobbies: Collecting art, antiques cars and wine; restoring antique wooden boats; long distance cycling and spinning and of course racing.

Brad got started in racing on a spur of the moment in 2004 when he meet Tracy and Susan Krohn at a political fundraiser in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Brad Stated: During the cocktail conversation, I inquired of Tracy about places he may know about that teach you how to drive a race car. Tracy informed me that he was hosting a corporate school starting the very next morning, and the plane was leaving at 5:00 a.m. I told Tracy that I needed to check my calendar, glanced at my watch and immediately stated “I’m all in.”

We traveled to Sebring to the Panoz Racing School where I was introduced to Lisa Kay Golde, Joe Foster, Charles Espenlaub, Charlie Putnam, Eric Foss, Doug Smith, Andy Lally, Andrew Davis, James Gue, Nic Jonson, Beaux Barfield, Richard “Ebb” Watson, Richard Picut and many other instructors. I completed the racing school, the lapping days and joined the racing series sometime thereafter. Unfortunately, the Panoz Racing Series no longer exists; however, I’ve made numerous friends over the years through my racing endeavors. I have Tracy and the Panoz group to thank for the now acquired expensive, wonderful and exciting addiction that we all have.

Racing Experience:

Panoz Racing School 2004.
Panoz Racing Series 2004 to 2007.
SCCA Pro Mx-5 Cup Series 2007 to 2009.
The Mustang Challenge 2008 to 2010.
The Continental Tire Challenge Series 2010 and 2011.
12 Hours at the Point, 12 Hour Endurance Race at Summit Point in West Virginia, 2005 to 2009.
The Longest Day of Nelson, 24 Hour Race at Nelson Ledges 2006 to 2008.
12 Hours of Nelson Ledges, 2009.
13 Hours of VIR, 2007 and 2008.
Numerous SCCA Club Racing Events 2005 to 2009; and World Challenge GTS, 2010 – 2 Races Mid-Ohio and Miller Motorsports Park.
World Challenge GTS, 2010 – Entire Season, Finished 6th overall in points.
World Challenge GTS, 2011 - Entire Season, Finished 6th overall in points.