Posted (06/07/2009) -
The Buffalo Flash Women's professional soccer team (3-0) were today the Grand Marshals of the Sahlen's Six Hours At The Glen race at Watkins Glen, New York, in a memorable team bonding exercise. The Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series race contained 18 Daytona Prototype (DP) teams and 16 Grand Touring (GT) teams. The six hour long race is made up of two man teams who alternate driving stints until six hours of racing at speeds nearing 180mph is completed.
The Flash W-League players, coming off the back of their third straight win the night before, were each taken on a lap around the race circuit in the pace car, which sped around bends at a velocity close to 100mph. The entire team, then, in unison, gave the order to start the race - announcing the customary "Gentleman, start your engines" down the loudspeaker, to get the drivers ready and raring to go. Head Coach Aaran Lines' mother then waved the green flag, getting the cars moving.
Buffalo Flash franchise owner Joe Sahlen sponsored the event, had his GT racing team participating in it, and also took his usual place as one of the team's drivers. For the first time, the Team Sahlen Corvettes carried the Buffalo Flash logo upon their roofs.
In addition to promoting the new soccer franchise and supporting the Team Sahlen racing team, the Buffalo Flash players were able to attend the drivers' meeting, eat in the Sahlen drivers' marquee, pair up with Grey's Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey (also a driver in the series) for photographs and autographs, and watch the race from the Victory Lane Media Center - all after half the team had taken their places inside the pace cars for the official pace car lap. The sun-filled day then concluded with the Sahlen family presenting the drivers with their trophies at the end of the race.
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