The 25.5 hours of Sebring 2014

So a week ago,  a Priority Mail envelope arrived and I opened it.  Inside was 1 four day ticket to the 12 hours of Sebring.  I knew it was my boy's (we share a name after all).  Inside I was excited for him, but sad that I wasn't invited as I have always wanted to go.  I've been to the track for a vintage race, but never the craziness that goes on in the track (Have heard stories).  He had gotten the ticket through his school's engineering club or something.

Anyway, Thursday night he comes home and tells me he can't go.  Has to work and will miss his ride, etc. and do I want the ticket.  I say maybe as even though it's only 2 hours away, I didn't feel like going by myself for the whole thing.  I post up on Faceybook, and start calling friends.  No one can go, kids, plans, etc....I do talk to one friend who gives me his buddy's home phone number, but he's up at the track with a camper since Wed.
I call and leave a message figuring he won't call back.   All day, I call people.  Nothing.  About 5 minutes after I tell my wife, I'm not going, this guy calls back.  He says, bring it on.  I mention I will drive up early on Sat so I'm there for the green flag at 10AM.  He mentions that traffic will SUCK in the AM and come up tonight.

Parking is $50 and the ticket was over $100 (but my boy got a deal).  I said, that's a huge point, and yes, I will come tonight.  I arrived at the track at midnight.  They for whatever reason did not charge me to park (I wasn't asking !).  From there I had to traverse one party after another,
passing a B&W Dodge Monaco that looked way too familiar (no PA on the roof though) found out the next day, the hundreds of people were watching two guys performing a full set of Blues Brothers!   Couple of drunks walked into the side of the car as I crept along, on the phone with my contact giving me turn by turn directions and 45 min later I got to the camp!


Shot taken next morning. Rope lights and music going the night before.

Didn't get pics of the pool of Jell-O with the love doll in it that was next door. Parties were raging around until about 4:30 AM....
It was cold for Florida (high 40s) so I opted to sleep in the back of the wagon instead of putting up a tent.

I didn't sleep well only getting about 2 hours of shut eye, until I woke up.

So I woke up around 7 and the rest of the camp starting waking up...Sean, aka "Dumpster Diver" (his Hash name) in above photo owns the '65 Airstream. It's a work in progress as he got it totally gutted with a leaking roof.

Anyhoo around 8 AM cars came onto the track for some warm up and to dry off the track.
First shot of the day was lucky!:


I think this is the Viper that caught fire and burned to the ground later....

It was hard with the cheapy digital camera to time the shutter...

I deleted about 50 of these, lol

FInally I panned the camera was excited I got one in frame!

Damn tree jumped in front of me!


Double Decker Couch! (Lego movie fans will understand)


The scene down by "The Hairpin" or turn 7. Just to the right is a Jumbo Tron which is nice. We watched the start of the race from here.




MMM LS7


GTP Corvette


Das Krautwagens!

Took a walk up the back of the track from Turn 7 to Turn 10. Our camp site was at Turn 8.
Things started getting interesting at Turn 9:


Watch out for the Skunk Apes! Green Park is the area I was in and is notorious for the parties and what not....


Smoker Envy!!


This is a campsite! The hot water heater has a chilled Keg in it. There was a saloon and pressbox upstairs! All built onsite since Wed morning.


Turns 8&9...

Right about when I got to Turn 10 (a hard 90 degree right that I hate when I play Forza), a caution came out. This sucked but it was great for photos!


Patron Honda


Ferrari Italia - Notice the LED displays. They show position in the class during the race. Red is Pro, Blue is Pro-Am. Four classes running side by side.


Mazda Diesel


Aston Martin which is obvious by the car number, lol


His teamate 009


The Delta Wing! It is a very cool car to watch.



Another Vette




Couple of Ferraris. Luigi would be happy

[URL=https://s190.photobucket.com/user/sprocket100/media/Sebring14/104_0656_zpscc0fbeed.jpg.html]


911, R8, Italia




Apparently a strut broke and severed the fuel line. It melted the track, they had to patch the asphalt I heard.


New Class for the 2014 race!

Damn,I remember when the daytona prototypes were brand new and breaking down at every corner.Noone thought they would last but look at them now.As popular as this race is I have always wondered why one of the many millionaires that finance some of these teams hasnt had the track ground flat.Its so bumpy that watching the race at night can cause motion sickness what with the headlights nonstop shaking.Track has some great history,great that you got the chance to go to the race.That deltawing looks like a starwars fighter since they enclosed the cockpit,remarkably fast with only 325 hp and runs away from the other "aero" cars in the straights!

After the walk back I took a rest at the camp, while the Vikings got there garb on for the walk.
These two are brothers and have been coming to the race for at least 15 years in a row. They are quasi-legendary among the regulars...


Getting ready to go pillage!


I totally forgot my Viking Helmet. Dammit!


Between turn 6 (overpass) and turn 7. Walking with the Vikings was slow as many people wanted photos.




Looking casual and blending in....


Delta Wing exiting turn 5.




You always gotta get a photo op in front of a deputy's Panther! Ramon the beer bitch for the Vikings


This was a camera misfire, but the elephant looks pissed! Several ladies, took great interest in his trunk, lol


I love this shot as it looks photoshopped, lol. See the guy taking their picture?

I was surprised you could walk through the garage area


The Delta Wing almost ran me over! You had to be on your toes back here...


One of the early front runners in for repair.


I need a garage like this!


Barely got my camera out in time! He was in a hurry


I need to upgrade to this level!




Heading back out!


The back straight. Easy 180 I would guess they were flying


even Vikings need to rest






He got back out there and finished.




Yeah, I'm glad I went....OMG they were so hot in those outfits!


Turns 3&4



Under Caution


Z4

Best use of a Crown Vic, ever!


Turn 2




Another Panned shot that would have been good. I like it anyway as the dude is laughing about it.





Sweet LTD


I would have liked to get a shot of my wagon on this bridge, lol


Late in the day a neighbor let me up on his tower.




It was noticeably louder up high as the grass and retaining wall was not deflecting or absorbing any of it.


Green Park! Our camp is just off to the right



Sweet old Datsun!


Sun going down.

I watched about half an hour in the dark and then left for home to beat the crowd out of the park. I got home 5 minutes before the race ended.

I still don't know who won, lol

So from the time I left my house on Friday until my return was 25.5 hours.....2 hours of sleep, I packed alot in, lol.


I know that NASCAR has bought the track.  There was a plan to repave it, but the drivers and everyone did not want that done to preserve the track.  Many long timers are worried that NASCAR will screw up the whole 'experience' in the name of making more $$$ like they did at Daytona.

Would have loved to see a picture of the girls walking away from you,guess I will have to use my imagination!

Flasheroo wrote:

Would have loved to see a picture of the girls walking away from you,guess I will have to use my imagination!

I should have, it was magnificent.....I was actually on a quest for some food as I had been drinking beer all day and I needed some food and I could smell the pizza tent...

I am going to be 59 shortly and food would have been the last thing on my mind after seeing those beautys.Well maybe a slice of pizza,maybe 2 slices!  

They were repping the sponsor of the 007 Aston Martin. I got one of the posters too.

Flasheroo wrote:

... and food would have been the last thing on my mind after seeing those beauties.Well maybe a slice of pizza,maybe 2 slices!  

... or something else that also smelled like fish.


Great photos Roo, Thanks for posting them up.


Daverooo