"The only way to grow is to compete against the best."
Johannes van Overbeek of Flying Lizard Motorsport
(First in a series)
By Kate Shaw
Photos courtesy Margot Orenchuk

TORONTO, Canada (January 31, 2004) – Flying Lizard Motorsports is one of the more unusual names for a racing team, but don’t ask them how they decided upon the name! Undoubtedly it’s a good story, but they all solemnly explain to the world that they are forbidden to divulge its source. Flying Lizard is a new team for 2004, competing both in Grand Am and the ALMS, and one of its six principals is Johannes van Overbeek of Danville, California. Johannes began his racing career in 1993, when he ran his first SCCA Club Racing event at Thunderhill. He made his debut with the World Challenge in 1997, scoring eight top-10 finishes for a very good rookie season. He then moved on to the American Le Mans, driving in a PTG BMW M3, finishing 3rd in the GT Championship. In 2001 and 2002 he drove in the Speed World Challenge and recorded a win, two poles, six top fives and eight top 10s. And today Johannes and fellow Lizards Mike Rockenfeller, Lonnie Pechnik and Seth Neiman, along with P.D. Cunningham of RealTime Racing, came second in class and third overall in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. “To finish second in the Rolex 24 is an honor,” said Johannes, who takes such things calmly. “Of course we would like to win, but what we accomplished this weekend pleases us.” We caught up with Johannes a couple of weekends ago and he filled us in on the genesis of Flying Lizard and their plans for 2004.

Kate Shaw: How did you decide on the name “Flying Lizard” for the team?

Johannes van Overbeek: That isn’t easy to answer. Let’s just say that it isn’t for a family audience.

KS: Tell us about the decision to go from “renting” a team to becoming a team principal. How did you decide on a joint ALMS/Grand Am campaign?

JvO: There are six principals of Flying Lizard Motorsports, myself; Tommy Sadler- Crew Chief, Craig Watkins- Chief Engineer, Lonnie Pechnik- Driver, Seth Neiman-Driver and Eric Ingraham-Team Manager and we made the difficult decision. Our decision was made easier by having two strong partners, Shoreline and Brocade. To be sure, starting a team is far more work than “renting” one, but in the end we have accepted the difficult task and look forward to the day when our hard work begins to pay off. Ultimately, starting our own team was the only possible way to get where we wanted to go.

We have committed ourselves to 12 events this year. We put a great deal of thought into the decisions we made. The ALMS will provide us the ability to compete against the best in GT sports car racing in the World. It will be a very tough year, but we have always felt that the only way to grow as a team is to compete against the best.

The Grand Am races we have picked fill the gaps in the ALMS schedule, are great events, at great tracks and will give our fledgling team another opportunity to improve.

Yes. In the ALMS we will run two 2004 Porsche RSR’s. In Grand Am we will race the car we won at the Six Hours of the Glen with, an ex Alex Job (#22) 2001 GT3rs.

KS: You had a successful run in the Speed World Challenge GT, before you became a Flying Lizard. What do you think is the strongest appeal of the Speed World Challenge, and how do you think having the ALMS and SWC running together in 2004 will help both series?

JvO: World Challenge appeals to race fans and drivers with short attention spans. The appeal is two fold. The racing is a lot of fun to do. From a fans perspective, having the ability to watch the race and know who is leading and who is second, third etc. makes for an easy to race watch, especially for the novice race fan. The novice, or new, fan is where the growth of any sport is going to come from.

Both series have an appeal that any sports-car racing fan can appreciate. They both incorporate technology, competition, cool cars and personalities. The format is the primary difference. A fan of SWC should be convertible to an ALMS fan and visa versa. As the old saying goes, “A rising tide raises all ships.” An increase in popularity of either series can only help sports car racing as a whole.

KS: What’s the oddest thought you have ever had while driving, that you can produce for a family website?

JvO: Not that it’s odd, but “How did that guy get a license to race a car?”

KS: What are your goals for 2004, in either of the two series in which you will run?

JvO: Flying Lizard Motorsports goals are simple. We want to work hard, continually improve on our last result and learn how to be a “better” team with each outing.

KS: What question would you prefer that nobody ever ask you again?

JvO: “How do you spell your name?”

KS: Do the turn indicators on the Flying Lizard Porsche work? Are you ever tempted to switch them on?

JvO: Everything on the Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche works!

KS: Do you have an avocation not connected with racing? Do you get much chance to practice it?

JvO: I enjoy cycling. I do it every chance I get.

KS: Are there any types of racing you have not tried that you would like to try? World Rally? The Paris-Dakar?

JvO: I plan on trying Enduro (motorcycle) racing at the club level. I have a friend who did the Paris-Dakar on a bike last year and I was mesmerized by his experience. I love to do it, but in a car-I’m not tough enough to do it on a bike.

RFM Sports thanks Dave Arnold and Flying Lizard Racing for their assistance in obtaining this interview, and Johannes for being as quick to respond to an interview as he is on the track. We look forward to cheering you on at Sebring!

Next week:  Darren Law and Frank Biela!