Guess i was the only one there yesterday. Got a Pic of Rene working hard, don't know how to post it. Said hi over at the garage to him, got my pic taken with Team Spirit of Daytona Jeff Ward and Scott Russell, I am still shaken from that one, two hero's i raced against or well watched them lap meback in the motorcycle days. Scott Russell really a nice guy, thanks!
Gooooo Spirit of Daytona!!

 

We're heading over there today... probably be leaving here by 2:00 or so.

 

oh no ... you're gonna miss the Koni Challenge


I think i actually like the Koni Challenge over the Rolex24 race ... sometimes

 

wish i could be there. i love daytona area.

 

I was there today but never did find a gathering of S2K's... there was a gaggle of them over by the Grassroots Motorsports area... think this will be my last time... Mr. France has pretty much taken the fun out of my long history of Friday before the 24-hour race... man, a few bucks used to get you into the infield, free roam of the garage area and the hot pits (during practice and qualifying)... now it's the "fan zone" and cookie cutter "prototypes." (Spec racers?) Man, it sucks getting old and being able to remember the "good ole days." I can remember approaching Dan Gurney the last year he was there with those rocket sled Toyotas... I showed him a little HO scale 63 Ford Galaxy I bought at NASCRAP collectable store and told him I watched him race the car at Riverside years ago... his eyes lit up, he smiled and invited me to sit down with him and "chat." Talk about making my day. We sat on a stack of tires in his garage and we talked about how he used to take the NASCAR crowd to school when they showed up at Riverside and tried to run a road course... and then he autographed the car...sorry for being so long winded but it just ain't the same. I just can't warm up to those Daytona prototypes... I reckon it's still a fun event... you guys have fun over there tomorrow!

 

we had a great day today.


I was parked in the Grassroots Motorsports parking. I have the GRM ticket and can say it is still the best deal. Essentially the same price as 'all-access' pass with even more ... especially a reserved parking area in the center of the track! Actual garage access and not just the Fan Zone.


I miss some of the older cars/classes. It was always amazing to see such a variety of 'cross-over' race cars from other series that were able to meet the Rolex standards. The open-cockpit race cars were just beautiful in shape. So ... there are a few things i miss. But, the racing industry did need to reel in the costs of racing ... hence the DP category.

 

Wish I had done my homework... the Grassroots Motorsports folks seemed to be a great group of people... should have hooked up with them and got the necessary credentials... I used to look forward to hanging out in the garage area all day and watching folks work on their cars...

Yeah, big bucks or the cost to compete has killed or at least changed many a series over the history of car racing... I can remember, as a kid, watching my first Can Am race... I was hooked... and, as always is the case, innvation and technology drove the costs of the series through the stratosphere... reckon it was the Penske Porsche who ultimately killed the series... Same thing for the GTP's... but those cars were incredible and personified the essence of what I have always beleived to be racing is all about... guys, smart guys, get together and come up with a car that is basically within the spirit of a rule book, they cobble it together, take it to a track, sneak it past the scrutineres, and, when the checkered flag dropped the smartest guys with the best cars won...

NASCAR, such at it is (or was), like it or hate it, had it right... same idea... bunch of good ole boys, you know, the Petty's, Junior Johnson, Cotton Owens, and oh yeah, that ole boy with the shop down my the Halifax River (Man, I miss Smokey), would build them a race car, show up and have themselves one hell of a race... sure, they were taxi cabs running around in nice little circles but those cats would put on a show... talk about spec racing... I actually liked to watch NASCAR races a few years back but now... no thanks. The circles are way too tidy and, from my cheap seat, are only there to provide a venue for sponsors to create rolling billboards where a gazillion of beer swilling good old boys and the new fans caught up in NASCRAP fever can bake in the sun for hours and somehow come up with the notiion that they are actually seeing a real race.

Yeah, the 24 is still a pretty good show... I would like it better if Danica would answer my email!

Might make it over for the start this PM and head over to JB's after the sun goes down... Probably saw your S2000 in the Grassroots compound... I parked just outside looking for some of you Honda guys...

Have a great time if you make it over for the race.

 

The 'good ol days' of racing were exciting ones and usually with fewer rules and restrictions (remember the Porsche 917 @ 1100hp!)

NASCAR has helped keep the costs down ... and that is REALLY important in times like these.

hope to see ya there.

 

We'll be leaving here in a bit... we weren't able to make it out in time yesterday to enjoy any track festivities, but today we will