24 hours of Daytona ...Yippeee...

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tinpan

Starting to Get Obsessed
Oct 17, 2013
133
2
Yep, as you read this I am making a Dagwood sandwich, will have probably eaten it and be well on my way to my mid afternoon nap. Replenished my wood pellet supply yesterday, did the kids driving lesson this morning, stocked up on eat'n supplies. Only thing left to do is eat my sandwich, take my nap and start watching 24 hours of some of the best car racing on TV on Fox at 2 PM today, whilst partaking with my trusty pipes.

 

davidintexas

Part of the Furniture Now
Jun 4, 2013
679
218
Hope you enjoy it Tinpan. Car racing, Daytona or otherwise, is just not something I have ever gotten into. Family growing up didn't watch it, and I've tried at times, but just got bored. However, kuddos to you and the gi-normous number of people that do enjoy it. Different strokes for different folks. Stay warm!

 

tinpan

Starting to Get Obsessed
Oct 17, 2013
133
2
Dang, KFC commercial just ran. Hit the pause button and off to KFC.
Let's see, two Peter Stokkebye pipe smokes so far

 

tinpan

Starting to Get Obsessed
Oct 17, 2013
133
2
I like Rolex and F1, just a while ago I watched a Viper, Corvette, Porscge 911 Ferrari 458 Italia and an Audi R8 all swapping paint and trading positions as the went through the bus stop. Those are also P1 through 5 in the GT class

 

ssjones

Moderator
Staff member
May 11, 2011
18,982
13,002
Covington, Louisiana
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I can't find it anywhere on my cable provider! The 24 Hours of Daytona means I've just about made it thru the winter and F1 is right around the corner.
Ha, found it!
Shoot, missed the overnight driving, my favorite. We have a local guy here in Hagerstown that is driven the 24 a few times, he won his class twice (Doug Mills). He was the night-shift specialist.
Thanks for the reminder!
I can't wait for F1 this year, the new motor spec will hopefully throw a spanner in the works.

 

anglesey

Can't Leave
Jan 15, 2014
383
3
Damn, can't get it here unless I pay sky about £15. Reruns of the IOM TT it is. Jealous.

 

daveinlax

Charter Member
May 5, 2009
2,092
3,035
WISCONSIN
Damn, can't get it here unless I pay sky about £15. Reruns of the IOM TT it is. Jealous.

Try First Row Sports, just click on, I wouldn't download. This how I watch Sky's F1 coverage. It's far from ideal. 8O

 

simnettpratt

Lifer
Nov 21, 2011
1,516
2
IMSA reversed the penalty, and called it a 'racing incident'. 555 won GTD fair and square; the penalty would have knocked them off the podium and down to 4th. Cool.

 

tinpan

Starting to Get Obsessed
Oct 17, 2013
133
2
Oh good, I was really bumming over that. The Level 5 team led most of the GTD category that was a real bogus move calling that penalty. I am glad they reversed it.
Now, was that some paint swapping or what. Let's see Sebring is in March LeMans is in May? plus all the USCC races oh boy.
I was going to post my pipe smoking progress but that didn't happen...I lost count

 

ssjones

Moderator
Staff member
May 11, 2011
18,982
13,002
Covington, Louisiana
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I need to put a TV in my workshop.... (nah..)

Throw up a thread when Sebring starts, that will make following the race fun!

I passed up an opportunity to see Sebring a few years ago. My brother drove down on Friday, watched the race on Sunday and drove back that night (to PA). I passed...

We used to do the "Six Hours at the Glen" back in the old IMSA days. We usually camped at the track. We were there last in 19996. On race day, pretty early, we hear the 333SP Ferrari light up, so we walk over to the garage. Giampiero Moretti was tuning the car (Max Papis the other driver). He shut the car down and we enjoyed some early morning cigars with him. I hadn't thought about him since then, his Wiki page says he died in 2012. What a gentleman. (Max won the race that day)

 

simnettpratt

Lifer
Nov 21, 2011
1,516
2
The best racing they had here in Dallas was before they built the big damn oval (I don't like ovals, but bad racing is better than no racing), and it was SCCA Trans Am headlining on street circuits. We did have a downtown F1 race in 1985, but I didn't know I liked racing back then.
They raced around Addison airport and sidestreets, which was cool because they replaced the 30mph street signs with real 130mph signs, and you could drive on the streets after the races with the rubber still on the track.
After that, they raced around Reunion Arena, which was better because they had General Admission, so you weren't limited to a grandstand, and could move corners between races. Great battles between the Corvettes and Esprits in front in World Challenge, but drove a CRX at the time, so would root for the CRXs vs the Miatas in the middle. The CRXs had more power and would pull away in the straights, and the Miatas would pass in the corners, with a lone Isuzu pickup ten laps to the rear. I drive a 2nd Gen Miata now - greatest car ever made by man.
Then they built the big damn oval and we got NASCAR and IRL. I had season tickets the first eight years. The best race was an extra: American Le Mans on the street circuit! Maybe the coolest looking race cars ever, along with a bunch of spec Mazda series'. After the race, we were walking the two miles back to our car, and a bouncy guy in a rental Taurus gave us a ride.
'Hey, did you guys see the 65 Viper? That was me!'
He was still all bouncy and happy. Really want to go see the E and G Production guys duke it out at Laguna Seca, Watkins Glen or Lime Rock. Real racing.
ssjones, you and I would get along, but one of us would have to leave twenty minutes early, so your MG and my Miata wouldn't meet on public roads ;)

 

ssjones

Moderator
Staff member
May 11, 2011
18,982
13,002
Covington, Louisiana
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Simon: you better give me a 30 min head start!
Endurance races are great in that you can move around and not be limited to one viewing spot.
We did the F1 Race at Indy twice, but we were locked into our seats and in a two hour race with those crowds, movement was limited. Qualifying was fun, you could roam about at will.
Baltimore has had two Grand Prix's, thru the Indycar. We hung around Danica Patrick the first year, which was interesting. But, the race stunk, too tight, a major wreck right off the opening lap. That race was delayed 90 minutes in 100 degree heat. We vowed not to go back, but did last year for the American LeMans race on Saturday, but it too was delayed by a major wreck on lap one. I probably won't get fooled three times...
The best racing in this area is the Vintage race at Summit Point (May, Brian Redman's Jefferson 500). Lots of old cars, driven at speed. You can walk thru the pits at your leisure. One year I hung out with Bobby Rahal while he tried to fix the brakes on a Porsche. The Vintage Race at Watkins Glen is even bigger, that is in September. Cars you think that you might not ever see, driven at speed, those are fun events.

 

tinpan

Starting to Get Obsessed
Oct 17, 2013
133
2
I got it in my blood early on. When we lived in Belgium, my father brought a 1963 Chrysler Imperial with him and sold it. He bought 2 Ferrari's a 365 and a 330GT 2+2. In 67 and 68 we drove those to the SPA Francorchamps F1 race and rooted Ferrari on. Been a Ferrari fan ever since, little did I know we would have to wait 30 years for another World Championship. In the early 80's we used to go to Summit Point and watch Paul Newman race his Datsun. He was very cool, you could walk the pits and we were able to sit down and have a couple beers with him and his crew, although I think it was us having the beers lol.
As an Andretti fan, it pleases me to see Rahal having to fix brakes....:).
I think Nascar and Indy car have lost the formula. Sports Cars and F1 are what I like to watch. You are always welcome to watch the race in my garage, though I usually watch the races alone....don't want anyone jinxing the results...lol

 

dmcmtk

Lifer
Aug 23, 2013
3,672
1,709
Forza Ferrari! Glad to see the 555/Level 5 Motorsport/Ferrari 458 was the winner in GT Daytona, a very exciting last few laps!

 

ssjones

Moderator
Staff member
May 11, 2011
18,982
13,002
Covington, Louisiana
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Robin: Too bad we don't live closer, I'd love someone to watch a little F1 with, it's a crowd of one in my town. (Formula what?) I sure would have loved to have seen Newman race at Summit Point.
I have a picture with Rahal from that day (not a huge fan, but who doesn't want a pix with an Indy winner?). He was not a happy chap as his car kept breaking and then he finally packed it in. My brother snapped a pix with me when he had just climbed out of the car and he looks like he was going to spit nails. It's in my office, every once in a while it catches someones eye so asks "what was that guys problem?". (to date, only one person has recognized him).

 

simnettpratt

Lifer
Nov 21, 2011
1,516
2
I'm a crowd of one for F1 also. Couldn't believe they moved the US GP an hour away in Austin, but haven't had the funding to go. Still prefer vintage racing or anything SCCA though.
ss, in my old CRX days, my VW GTi buddy and I would try the twenty minutes head start thing because we knew each other, but it never worked. I had more straight line speed but a major push, and he could outturn me on his three wheels.

 

ssjones

Moderator
Staff member
May 11, 2011
18,982
13,002
Covington, Louisiana
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My Dad had an original GTI....

My NX2000 would lift a wheel in certain corners (I have a picture of it exiting the Bridge at the old Watkins Glen road coarse on three wheels, somewhere)

Vw_autox.jpg


 

simnettpratt

Lifer
Nov 21, 2011
1,516
2
Ah, ye olde NX2000, that brings back memories :) Another car that proves you don't need a zillion dollars or a zillion horses to be having constant fun. Unfortunate Japanese half used bar of soap styling though, your MG has one of the classiest looks ever. I used to play a game in my red 88 CRX, and see how long it took me to see someone having more fun. It never happened, FWD and major push notwithstanding.
Absolutely in love with my 2nd Gen 99 green Miata though. I know you have a real one, but got mine with 24K miles for $9,000, literally cheaper than a Honda Civic, and you can't have more fun. The 99-00 green ones have bigger wheels (15", other colors have 14s), the Nardi steering wheel and the Torsen diff. RWD and 50-50 weight distribution rocks, and with 140hp (figure about 105 at the wheels), the throttle is not an on/off switch. Mine has flyinmiata sway bars (major improvement, only $200), so I just need coilovers and I'm done with the handling.
Maybe one day a small +40hp Garrett turbo up front, and I won't have to upgrade the clutch. You know Jeremy Clarkson called the MX-5 the all-time best British sports car, right?

 

ssjones

Moderator
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May 11, 2011
18,982
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Covington, Louisiana
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I autocrossed the NX along with a few track days, which only proved I'm not a great driver...but I had fun, laugh out loud in your helmet fun.
I came real close to buying a 2nd or 3rd Gen Miata, it's still on my short list. I can take the ribbing from my British Car club buddies!

 
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