Anybody see "Patrick Dempsey - LeMans"?

Jeff Lee · 08-30-2013, 07:10 PM

I think it was on Discovery Channel. 1st episode was Wednesday night. VERY well put together documentary; not your typical reality car, or freak, show.

Follows his racing once he makes the decision to ultimately race LeMans, starting with the American LeMans series. He's driver and team owner.
As he's on year #9 of "Grays Anatomy", insurers require he race a cockpit style race car. Lola is the only company offering such so for $750,000 the team buys one. It fits into the "prototype class" which I suppose is the ultimate for LeMans.

Following scenes show Dempsey and team meeting with the Lola salesman. Team Dempsey doesn't have the car.

Dempsey - "So where's our $3/4 million dollar race car, it's behind schedule"?
Lola - "Uh, ummmm, the chassis is waiting for the engine, should be any day".
Dempsey - "Then when do we get the car"?
Lola - "Once the engines in the car we can test and then deliver"
Race series is about to start. Team Dempsey see's worst case scenario, no race car, no race.

My wife interjects "wow, THAT SOUNDS FAMILIAR"!
I ad - "Yea, see, even millionaires get the shaft on delivery promises"!

Back to the show - Lola race car arrives.
Next day - Lola declares bankruptcy!
Team Dempsey doesn't get the promised technical support, parts support, etc.
Team Dempsey pulls it together and go racing, a few crashes, etc.
By second race they have a podium finish.
New episode on Wednesday.

Mike Gray · 09-10-2013, 05:07 PM

Turning corners may be fun but drag racing would probably be safer for his insurers.
If he owns the team and the car alone was 750K he could probably go Pro-Stock racing.
If it was me I would field a 2 car Stock and Super-Stock entry. Maybe a SS/AH car and a CJ, Drag Pack or a Copo stocker.
I'd have a blast!

08-30-2013, 07:10 PM	#1
Jeff Lee VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Anthem, Arizona Posts: 2,766 Likes: 0 Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Anybody see "Patrick Dempsey - LeMans"? I think it was on Discovery Channel. 1st episode was Wednesday night. VERY well put together documentary; not your typical reality car, or freak, show. Follows his racing once he makes the decision to ultimately race LeMans, starting with the American LeMans series. He's driver and team owner. As he's on year #9 of "Grays Anatomy", insurers require he race a cockpit style race car. Lola is the only company offering such so for $750,000 the team buys one. It fits into the "prototype class" which I suppose is the ultimate for LeMans. Following scenes show Dempsey and team meeting with the Lola salesman. Team Dempsey doesn't have the car. Dempsey - "So where's our $3/4 million dollar race car, it's behind schedule"? Lola - "Uh, ummmm, the chassis is waiting for the engine, should be any day". Dempsey - "Then when do we get the car"? Lola - "Once the engines in the car we can test and then deliver" Race series is about to start. Team Dempsey see's worst case scenario, no race car, no race. My wife interjects "wow, THAT SOUNDS FAMILIAR"! I ad - "Yea, see, even millionaires get the shaft on delivery promises"! Back to the show - Lola race car arrives. Next day - Lola declares bankruptcy! Team Dempsey doesn't get the promised technical support, parts support, etc. Team Dempsey pulls it together and go racing, a few crashes, etc. By second race they have a podium finish. New episode on Wednesday. __________________ Jeff Lee 7494 D/S '70 AMX

09-10-2013, 05:07 PM	#2
Mike Gray Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 519 Likes: 222 Liked 498 Times in 134 Posts	Re: Anybody see "Patrick Dempsey - LeMans"? Turning corners may be fun but drag racing would probably be safer for his insurers. If he owns the team and the car alone was 750K he could probably go Pro-Stock racing. If it was me I would field a 2 car Stock and Super-Stock entry. Maybe a SS/AH car and a CJ, Drag Pack or a Copo stocker. I'd have a blast!