Patrick Dempsey - Patrick and Racing Thread #3: Patrick and his team finished 9th in class at Le Mans ! - "It's like a win to me" - PD

Eve_ · 06-15-2009, 07:53 PM

• • • Patrick Dempsey and Racing • • •

Appreciation Thread !

By ?

• • • Info • • •

Patrick Dempsey enjoys auto racing in his spare time, having driven the pace car in the Indianapolis 500, and raced in the Rolex 24 at Daytona sports car race and the Baja 1000 off-road race. He is currently the co-owner of IndyCar Series team Vision Racing and the Grand-Am team Hyper Sport/Dempsey Racing. In 2008, he competed in 5 of 12 races in the Rolex Sports Car Series. In 2009, he raced a Team Seattle Advanced Engineering Ferrari F430 GT in the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans's GT2 class. They finished 9th in class and 30th overall.

• • • Videos • • •

Panoz Racing Montage | Patrick Dempsey Highlights | PD GMA Interview Indy500

PD at the press conference of Indy500 2007 | PD on FOX News | PD on the Indy500 parade.

PD takes ED for a Indy 500 Pace Lap | Indy 500 Celebs: Patrick Dempsey | PD, ED take in the Indy 500 experience

PD interviews at Rolex 24 Hours in Daytona ('08) | PD interviews from Watkins Glenn and Daytona ('08) | PD at the Barber KONI race ('08)

PD at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montréal ('08) | PD at New Jersey Motorsports Park ('08) | PD at the Rolex 24 Hours in Daytona ('09) - Part 1

PD at the Rolex 24 Hours in Daytona ('09) - Part 2 | PD Rolex 24 in Daytona interview | PD at New Jersey Motosports Park ('09)

PD at Laguna Seca ('09) | PD at Watkins Glen | PD - "In your own words"

PD on Grand-Am weekly (radio interview) | PD at Daytona - July 4th '09

Le Mans Videos

Test Days - PD and Don Kitch Jr. | Test Days - PD & Don Kitch Jr. - P2 | PD Le Mans interview - P1

PD Le Mans interview - P2 | PD Le Mans Flash | PD pre qualifications interview | PD at Le Mans - Practice Session

PD at Le Mans - Qualifying Session | PD at the Le Mans Parade | PD Backstage at Le Mans | PD Le Mans Autograph Session

Interview right before the race | PD interview right before his last stint

Patrick Dempsey and Racing - From the GA S3 DVD

Patrick Dempsey Racing 1 | Patrick Dempsey Racing 2

- Recent PD racing interview (article)-

By hockeyish

• • • Previous Threads • • •

http://www.fanforum.com/f242/patrick...indy-62801923/
Patrick and Racing thread #2 : Because He's driving us wild

by Blog de dempsey-addict - Skyrock.com

• • • Fans of Patrick and his Racing • • •

oo1: Eve_
oo2: LostInTime
oo3: bluewhiteheart
oo4: PatrickDempseyRocks
oo5: Eternal Flame

By ?

• • • Dempsey Racing • • •

Dempsey Racing official site : Team Hyper Sport/Dempsey Racing

- About -

Formed in 2002, Hyper Sport LLC is a professional sports car racing team competing at the top levels of American endurance sports car racing.
Having just completed its most successful season yet, Hyper Sport garnered 2nd Place Team and Driver’s Championship honors with its Ford Mustang FR500-C program.
Beginning in the American Le Mans Series in a factory-backed Panoz GTLM, Hyper Sport has advanced into Grand Am sanctioned road racing and has competed both in the Rolex and Koni Challenge Series in BMW, Infiniti, Ford and Mazda products.

Since late 2005, A-list movie and television actor Patrick Dempsey has been a co-owner and driver for Hyper Sport in both its Koni Challenge and Rolex Series activities.
Bringing a new level of media value and competitive spirit to the team, Patrick has proven himself on track as well as ensured that Hyper Sport and its partners receive a huge return on branding investments. In 2009 the team changed it's name to Dempsey Racing, but still operates it's customer program under the Hyper Sport brand. The two organizations will operate as one, but will go racing as Dempsey Racing.

The Hyper Sport/Dempsey Racing team currently resides in a 10,000 square foot shop facility in Atlanta, Georgia. This state-of-the-art facility is equipped with all the engineering, fabrication and materials to build and maintain multiple road race cars. In addition to its technical capabilities, Hyper Sport can administered successful marketing partnerships during the last two years with high profile companies such as Mazda, Ford, Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, Patrick Dempsey's Center for Cancer Hope and Healing, Ironclad, Piloti and Specialized Bicycle.

...

Dempsey returns for his second season in Rolex Series GT class competition in 2009 with teammate and driver coach Joe Foster.

2010 Rolex Series Schedule

Eve_ · 06-15-2009, 08:02 PM

I'm gonna update the OP a little tomorrow ! It's needed

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New pics !

Patrick preparing for a night leg.

Don and Patrick interviewed on Speed TV.

Patrick prepares for the final Team Seattle stint in the car.

Woot!

LostInTime · 06-15-2009, 09:29 PM

Eve AWESOME title for the thread!! You ROCK!

Love the new pix.thanks for posting them
I am kind of fixated on his tongue in that pic with him and Joe being interviewed for speedtv... great shot lol

ok off to bed
TTY tomorrow

Thanks again for the thread

Bella Cullen · 06-16-2009, 04:42 AM

9th place is amazing, it so rocks!

Eve_ · 06-16-2009, 08:29 AM

On track with Patrick 'McDreamy' Dempsey

Quote:

This weekend I had the privilege of spending the entire night with Patrick "McDreamy" Dempsey (cue The Monster). Even better, we stayed up all night (accept it, the green-eye is here to stay).

What I should probably add, to soften the blow, is that we were in a dirty pitlane garage at the 77th 24-hour race in Le Mans, France. And we were by no means alone.

Mechanics, engineers and race officials dodged photographers as they tried desperately to get Team Seatle, Dempsey's charity driving team, refuelled and back on the road at one of the most famous races in history.

"We've got a long way to go," Dempsey said with a smile as the French press descended in time to see Dempsey take the wheel from teammate Joe Foster, for his second stint on the 14kilometre track.

Whether in a sweaty racing suit and helmet or white coat and scrub cap, McDreamy is exactly what it says on the tin - and more.

If you've ever wondered whether seeing your fantasy celebrity husband in a bad way would put you off completely, the definitive answer is no, no, no.

Dripping with sweat, un-groomed and with tired eyes looking out from under his race helmet, Dempsey still looked plenty Derek Shepherd.

It's all there: the floppy brown hair -which, by the way, is as silky as it looks - that "oh-so-Derek" head tilt as his soft, watery eyes speak with a sincerity of their own, and even the slouchy walk with his hands in his pockets. It's everything you'd imagine and more.

A talented racing car driver, Dempsey qualified for the 24 Heures du Mans, better known as the Grand Prix of endurance racing, along with fellow charity drivers Jo Foster and Don Kitch, in a bid to raise money for children from third world countries in desperate need of heart surgery.

"These children need our help and as a parent my heart goes out to them," he told me while sitting in his trailer before the race began.

"It's wonderful to be able to use sport to generate exposure which will help these children live their lives in a way the majority of us take for granted."

Casually dressed in a blue polo shirt and jeans, the actor thanked and laughed as his press agent reached out to move a stray lock of dark hair from across his forehead.

"I miss having wardrobe and make-up around, see," he said with a hint of sarcasm. "Now I just have to rely on him," he laughed. "From July to May I have someone doing my hair and make-up and you do get used to it."

As Derek Shepherd in the popular television series Grey's Anatomy, Dempsey talks of his fellow cast members with fondness.

"My schedule is extremely limited with the show, obviously - we film for 10 months and often do 15-hour days. But it's good that it's an ensemble and not just me. That takes the pressure off."

A team player to the end, Dempsey offers support to fellow drivers and crew as the hours pass by and the roar of the engines fill the packed grandstands overhead.

Team Seattle entered a Ferrari 430 GT, prepared by the FIA GT Championship winning team at Advanced Engineering, and Dempsey fast became one of the lads.

A 12-year effort to utilise sports car racing as a way to increase awareness and generate support for Seattle's Children's Hospital, Team Seattle had amassed a massive $250,000 (Dh918,124) before the race had even begun.

"I think there are alot of similarities between the entertainment business and racing. It's tough to get finance, it's a team sport with spirit and I'm representing that team.

"Everything I've learnt in my 25 years as an actor has helped me as a driver. You're all in it together and I don't think people understand how mentally demanding it is to drive like this.

"It's the deep end of the pool. All the greatest drivers are here and to be a part of that is humbling in many ways. It really tears you down and I think in the end it builds you up. Life experience is something you can't put a price on. This race will make me a better driver - a better person."

Heading out for the big Le Mans street parade, the crowds went wild as Team Seattle passed by. Youngsters waited patiently for autographs and others stopped to snap photographs of their favourite surgeon. A hit with the children, Dempsey gets a lot of practise from home.

"My daughter is seven and she wants to know about the racing. The acting is just a job to her. I talk to her about her horseback riding and we are slowly discovering their passions.

"The boys are so excited and fascinated about the racing. Derby is carrying around a picture of a race car which he sleeps and eats with and my other son is into painting. I think it's important we find and nuture their passions."

So what about the chances of them following in their father's footprints?

"If they loved it then I'd support them, but I don't think I'd actively encourage it. You have to deal with rejection 90 per cent of the time and success 10 per cent. I think it's how you weather that rejection and allow it to motivate you, not let it destroy your confidence, that's important.

"Honestly, there was a period for 10 years where I'd audition and not get anything," he said, those sad eyes opening up again.

"I always questioned what else I could do and the answer was nothing. I'm not qualified to do anything, I used to think, and it was hard. But I never gave up and the lesson it taught me was to stick with it and keep working at it."

Grey's Anatomy at first seemed like anything but a lucky break. Five weeks after production started in 2004, ABC shut it down, fearing they had yet another medical drama on their hands. Yet the series was eventually re-animated - and has gone on to earn hit-show status.

"I think the same applies to racing. You can't worry about the result, because it's really out of your control. You have to deal with what's in front of you at that moment with the experience you have. Give it the best at that moment and that's all that matters.

"That applies to racing, life, acting, it applies to raising your children. Racing is a great ritual in reminding oneself of that."

Featuring a stunning wife and husband duo and three beautiful children, a family portrait from the Dempsey household could easily be mistaken for a shot from the latest Ralph Lauren summer catalogue as Patric Dempsey introduces me to the family via a print he has with him.

"The boys are only two, which we thought was a bit young to travel this time so they didn't come, but they would have loved this.

"You know, because I'm on the road so much I love to just spend time at home when filming is over, although it's pretty hard to head out in the States without being recognised. There is so much attention, which is a good thing, but makes it hard to travel. The boys don't understand it and it interferes with their time, which is very special to me because its limited.

"Without the support of my wife and kids I don't think I'd be where I am today."

Dempsey and his wife, Jillian, live between three houses: a Spanish-style three-bedroom in LA with a pool, tennis court, and the Porsche, Jaguar, and Panoz racing car parked out in front; the house on the lake in his wife's native Texas; and the colonial farmhouse outside Portland, Maine.

"Home is very important to me - stability, quite honestly it's reality. I miss them. It's hard to be away. I think it's the biggest sacrifice, says Dempsey.

One big Grey family

Working with some of the biggest names in the industry, thanks to the success of the hospital-based series, Patrick Dempsey says the Grey's Anatomy cast and crew are like one big happy family.

"The others are great fun. We're like a big family because we are all together so much. You get to know everyone really well - the good, the bad. We've all had quite a journey together and it's amazing working on a hit show. We all came along at the same time and we're having a great time.

"Eric Dane [Dr Mark Sloan, or McSteamy] and I hang out quite a lot. He is such a funny guy and I think he plays such a great role on the show too. Justin Chambers, who plays Alex, is also someone I spend some time with, but everyone is great.

"Bailey [played by Chandra Wilson] is nothing like her character in the hospital. She's the softest, sweetest woman you would ever want to meet, and such a talented actress. She's actually off doing Broadway right now, which I believe she's very passionate about.

"Katherine Heigl, or Izzie, really speaks her mind, doesn't care what anyone thinks. And I respect that. She's great and a talented lady."

The final episodes of Season 5 are currently airing on Showtime across the Middle East, and Grey's Anatomy has a big audience in the region as well as a massive worldwide following.

"It's hard to believe it's been five seasons already. I think Season 5 is good because it kind of ties up a lot of loose ends, which needed bringing together. I have done more than 100 episodes and it feels like an eternity and at the same time feels like a blink of an eye. It has been incredibly challenging and intense."

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And a video from the parade : YouTube - Le Show Dempsey! : 24 heures du Mans Parade

**PatrickDempseyRocks** · 06-16-2009, 02:59 PM

Oh Cool New thread Thanks Eve

heartღaflutter · 06-16-2009, 03:38 PM

thanks for the new thread and the update on the OP!

love the new pics!

Eve_ · 06-16-2009, 06:44 PM

So I changed the OP a little (well... a lot

) !
I hope it's okay...

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The guy on YT who put some of his PD related Le Mans videos online for me, also sent me his pics of Le Mans

LostInTime · 06-16-2009, 07:06 PM

OMG he is looking smoking hot in these, I love the graying of his temples. My gosh he gets better looking every year
Thanks Eve and the OP is freaking AWESOME!!!!! You did a great job! thank you

Eve_ · 06-16-2009, 07:18 PM

Thanks

You wanna be added to the list ?

Right now I'm the only one on it

LostInTime · 06-16-2009, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eve_ (View Post)

Thanks

You wanna be added to the list ?

Right now I'm the only one on it

absolutely! add me please

heartღaflutter · 06-17-2009, 02:13 AM

of course its okay Eve

You're free to change any OP

Anyone for that matter

He seems to have such a blast at these races! Its fun to see!!

LostInTime · 06-17-2009, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eternal Flame (View Post)

He seems to have such a blast at these races! Its fun to see!!

I agree and I am starting to think that once GA is done this may be the only place we sae Patrick.. I will have to follow the speed channel after GA LOL

Eve_ · 06-17-2009, 09:23 AM

Well, he says he stays with GA to have the money to go racing and buy cars

It was meant as a joke, but we all know it's true

And I love PD the racer more than PD the actor now.
It's really weird to go from watching him race all weekend to being on his forum, talking about his acting...

I prefer the racing !!

3 more days utill the race in Ohio

**PatrickDempseyRocks** · 06-17-2009, 10:09 AM

Quote:

He seems to have such a blast at these races! Its fun to see!!

He does I get excited for him


Fan Forum > Male Celebrities > Patrick Dempsey > Patrick and Racing Thread #3: Patrick and his team finished 9th in class at Le Mans ! - "It's like a win to me" - PD