Instructors and World-Class Tennis Players

[Michael Dolphin]

I have been asked to put together an autocross for the Women's Tennis Association star-players on Tuesday, November 9. Included among the fact that this is the WTA is the additional attraction that we will use a fleet of Cayennes for the parking lot autocross course. The venue is the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.

So far, and for the next few days, I have no other enticements to offer. I will, of course, be requesting some forms of compensation or renumeration for those of you who volunteer to join my intrepid group of Grand Prix Region management staff for the day. I will surely be requesting hotel rooms for those who travel from out-of-town.

If you're interested in a day-off-from-work (now my trademark type of event) and instructing Venus Williams, Anastasia Myskina, Lindsay Davenport or Svetlana Kuznetsova and wild rides in a Cayenne appeal to you than email me directly at carrera3@msn.com.

By the way, here is other info on the tennis event itself:

Porsche Race to the Championships

The purpose of the Porsche Race to the Championships is to determine the eight singles players and four doubles teams that will contest the WTA Tour's season-ending Championships presented by Porsche. The Tournament is an eight-player round robin singles tournament and four-team single elimination doubles tournament scheduled for November 8-15 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California.

Unlike the WTA Rankings, which are based on a rolling, 52-week system - using a player's best 17 results for singles and 11 for doubles over the past 12 months - the Porsche Race to the Championships starts at the beginning of the season, with all players at zero points. Points earned from all WTA Tour events played (round and quality points) are added to produce the separate weekly Singles and Doubles Team standings.

This year's WTA Tour Championships provides an added incentive to players – a Porsche Cayenne. In addition to the $3 million in prize money awarded to the winners of the Championships, this year's event also includes a car giveaway to the singles winner of the Race to the Championships. The player who finishes No.1 in the Race based on points standings the Monday before the Championships, will be awarded a 2004 Porsche Cayenne.

Remember, it will be a full day but surely an interesting one as well.

[Jeff Grow]

Shotgun on instructing Sharapova!

[Burl East]

Michael, sign me up

[Tim Comeau]

No conflicting race dates.......I'd love to help you out Michael.
I'll email you as requested.

[David J Marguglio]

I'm there. Anyone want to carpool?

[mnettles]

Restating David's question (now that it's closer).... Does anyone want to carpool?

mj

[David J Marguglio]

MJ: Yes.

Who is actually going???

Going:
Myself
Mary Jo
Tim C.
Kim C.
Beverly F.
Jackie C.
Jad D.
Amy D.
Ralph L.
Cecilia K.
Vvvvvvvvvince
Jim B.
Greg P.
Jeff G.
Mike M.

Not going:
Burl E.


Does anyone have a suggestion for a hotel close to the event???

[Jad]

Amy and I are going and I think Ralph is as well.

[Kim Crosser]

According to the last list of names, the following are going from SDR (names that I know):
Cecilia Knauf; Burl East; Jim Bohorquez; Vince Knauf; Greg Phillips; Jeffrey Grow; David Marguglio; MaryJo Nettles; Ralph Linares; Tim Comeau; Mike Mulligan; Kim Crosser; Jackie Corwin; Jad Duncan; Beverly Frohm.

I will be going up alone, as I will be flying back from Oakland late Monday into Orange County, and then driving up from the airport very late Monday night.

[Greg Phillips]

Check the Holiday Inn website, there is one right next to Staples Center on Figueroa which is where I have a reservation.

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hd/laxcc

Greg

[Kim Crosser]

There is also a Radisson 2 miles South on Figueroa (across from the USC main entrance), where I am staying - their parking is open air but secure/guarded. I got a room rate of $115 there.

[martinreinhardt]

If there is still need for more people, I can help out. What's the schedule?

[Kim Crosser]

He has mailed out invites/schedules to those who originally contacted him. His mail box is full (or at least, that is the error I get on about 1/2 of my e-mails and replies to him).

He has already gotten a list together and it may be too late to get on the "official" list (he has already put together a t-shirt order), but it sounds like they might be happy to have some additional help (track set-up, tear down, etc.).

There are already 35 persons on his e-mail distribution list, and I think there are only 10 player-drivers, so I doubt he is looking for more instructors at this point. I would guess most of us won't wind up instructing, either. On the other hand, we get a Cayenne t-shirt and might get some free track time, too.

He hasn't given out his phone # (although he might be in the Panorama listing in the back, as the Grand Prix Region President). You can keep trying his e-mail, but only half of my e-mails have gotten through.