Anyone in daytona tell us about the crowds?

[thebear]

Originally posted by The Badger
I was lucky enough to get to see Sebring last year . This might help some of you people if you need accomodation . Try getting in touch with the local department of commerce at Sebring and explain that you are looking for Bed & Breakfast . The local people get in touch with them and let them know if they have rooms available for the race . It worked for me ..... good luck

You could also try: http://www.marshalspost.com/circuit/80.html. As the author of that post and the others about US tracks, I will be happy to assist either by PM or on a new thread if someone wants to start one.

[paul-collins]

Lions and badgers and bears, oh my!

[skycafe]

To The Badger, I now have pain in my side from laughter. Yep, if you are nowhere, then you must be in Sebring!

Also, helpful hint, if there is a dog still lurking about that means there are either no gators, or they are slow (or, it is a very fleet footed hound!). Gators like dogs best of all. They don't have a breed prefence but we Floridans prefer to think they will go for a poodle with painted toe nails before they will go for a blue tick hound!

I hope you are coming back this year as I request you go to same banks and try to change Euros again! I recon they will still not know what a Euro is.

Quote from forever ago: "you headed out to that furin car race? Damn nation, I will tell ya, them things may be small be they do some catterwalling like nothing I done ever heard. Like when the hounds tree a she racoon that done got babies."

Wolf spiders are good by the way. Big as your hand but they eat bad stuff. They do sort of clomp around. Ah, paradise!

[TDDWEST]

Originally posted by thebear
You could also try: http://www.marshalspost.com/circuit/80.html. As the author of that post and the others about US tracks, I will be happy to assist either by PM or on a new thread if someone wants to start one.

Bear:

I'm trying to figure out where your from,...Melbourne is about 85 miles South of Daytona, But Daytona is about 125 miles NE of Sebring?

[aerog]

Originally posted by GP Racer
The Speed Channel broadcast team said that the infield was far more crowded than the previous years, but they never gave an exact or even approximate amount of how many.

I heard that and find it hard to believe. I skipped last year because I was sick... but in 2002 I got there fairly early because I was shooting the race (ISC photo) and couldn't find a place to park anywhere. I drove around for an hour and finally gave up and parked across the street and walked in. The areas across from the track had a lot of cars in them too, although certainly nothing remotely like any of the NASCAR-related races.

As for the huge attendance figures the press, and Speed in particular never seem to mention that there isn't much in the way of seats at the infield. There are two small areas of seats just after the international horseshoe, and then another small area of seats at the second infield horseshoe. Combined we're only talking seats in the hundreds.

To put that in perspective: The front-stretch grandstands seat about 100,000 - and those are almost empty during the sportscar races. Obviously there are hundreds of cars and RVs parked all over the infield, but 50-100,000 people worth? Maybe, but I can't see it - on the other hand there's a constant turn-over of people leaving and coming in during the 24-hours so maybe combined... still can't see it

Anyone interested in going to Daytona to see different cars don't forget about the fall finale's. It isn't a 24-hour race-a-thon but there's a great mix of cars and good racing over the course of a few days, and the weather is usually better.

[The Badger]

Originally posted by skycafe Wolf spiders are good by the way. Big as your hand but they eat bad stuff. They do sort of clomp around. Ah, paradise!

Thats what I was afraid of , Bad-Ger !!! Those bloody things are like "shelob" from lord of the rings ..... I hate spiders

[The Badger]

Originally posted by Aysedasi
What are the transport routes (and costs) between deep space and Sebring like, Badger?

I paid about USD 700 for my flight . Austria (And Im not Austrian like some smartass's on this forum) to Amsterdam to Detroit to Orlando . But for those of you leaving from the UK im sure you can get a flight a lot cheaper and direct too . The train ticket wasnt that much , cant remember exactly , but I wasnt shocked and that journey from Orlando train station was just under two hours . The train passes right through the town where "TDDWEST" resides , quick stop for a few beer's . I got myself a week ticket and that cost me somewhere around 75 bucks , someone mentioned that the price has gone up by 20% this year but its still a good price if you ask me . If any of you peeps have never been there and are toying around with the idea of going ..... GO !!!

Believe it or not ..... Monza is only 4 hours drive away from me but in my opinion a lot more of a pain in the ass to get to than Sebring is half a world away . I cant go this year but I will go again ! Its a great place but next time I would like to camp there . The late night parties are something to behold

[thebear]

Originally posted by TDDWEST
Bear:

I'm trying to figure out where your from,...Melbourne is about 85 miles South of Daytona, But Daytona is about 125 miles NE of Sebring?

Melbourne is close enough. From Sebring it is about 65 miles South then East to I-95, then 60 miles North. Too much to write in a sig. As the `crow flies', Sebring to Daytona is about 200 miles and too many hours due to local traffic and the necessity of passing thru Orlando on I-4 (Interstate = Motorway).

[The Treester]

Just got back... yawn....

100K, get real, more like 50K. It was fairly easy to get around in a cart before the race. The stands were empty as usual down the front straight. But I was definitely shocked to see how many people stayed during the course of the race in the horrible conditions!

...yawn, sorry must catch up on sleep!

[skycafe]

Originally posted by The Badger
Thats what I was afraid of , Bad-Ger !!! Those bloody things are like "shelob" from lord of the rings ..... I hate spiders

Wolf spiders will shoo away when you show them agression. The brown recluse is pretty hard to find-DON'T stick your hand in any holes or deep shadowy areas and you'll be fine.

I would be wary of the wild boar. My advice would be not to try agression tactic on them, but simply start looking for suitable trees. Should you chose to however bring a boar to the track, there will be plenty of people in the Green Park to assist with the BBQ.

You mentioned nothing about snakes. I guess maybe I shouldn't either....


But seriously folks, your main concern would be mosquitos if we continue our wet and mild winter; and they will only want a bit of blood.

[thebear]

Originally posted by skycafe
But seriously folks, your main concern would be mosquitos if we continue our wet and mild winter; and they will only want a bit of blood.

Current conditions in Central Florida: raining pitchforks and hammerhandles, similar to what shut down the Rolex 24.

On the lighter side, a short quiz:

"Question"

You are sitting behind the wheel in a car keeping a constant speed, on you left side there is an abyss.

On your right side you have a fire engine and it keeps the same speed as you.

In front of you runs a pig, larger than you car.

A helicopter is following you, at ground level.

Both the helicopter and the pig are keeping the same speed as you.

What will you need to do to be able to stop?
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Answer:

Get out of the car, step down from the merry-go-round and leave you seat to someone younger.

The children's merry-go-round in the amusement park is primarily for the younger children.

[Fab]

Originally posted by thebear
"Question"

Charming ! I love this one ! I'm gonna tell it to my daughters, they'll gonna love it too !

[aerog]

Originally posted by thebear
Current conditions in Central Florida: raining pitchforks and hammerhandles, similar to what shut down the Rolex 24

Speak for yourself! It's 67° and hardly a cloud in sight just outside Daytona - just got in from putting the top down on the MG to go to work

[Fab]

Originally posted by aerog
Speak for yourself! It's 67° and hardly a cloud in sight just outside Daytona - just got in from putting the top down on the MG to go to work

Same here in weast of France ! A real race weather ! I'm off for one hour or two for a ride...

[GP Racer]

Originally posted by aerog
Speak for yourself! It's 67° and hardly a cloud in sight just outside Daytona - just got in from putting the top down on the MG to go to work

Alas, my Fiat Spider sits, forlorn in the garage, awaiting the next snow storm to come our way tonight. It only sees the light of day, when I have to open the garage door to get my snow shovels and salt out.

i don't like you aerog...

[Tim Northcutt]

I just want it to be nice from March 16-22....

I'll be at


SEEEEEEE-BRING....

with freezing rain and literally 2 inches of ice on my dead-end street (and that street is 3/4 mile long!), I can hardly wait until I get on the plane!!!!

[skycafe]

Tim, leave your weather behind!!!!!

[Tim Northcutt]

That's the Plan!!!!


Believe me...that's the Plan!!!!

[Patrick B]

Im not sure what the attendance was like compared to previous years since it was my first time to Daytona. But Saturday morning had some pretty healthy crowds...

My Daytona pics

[The Badger]

Originally posted by skycafe
You mentioned nothing about snakes.

Thats cuz Ive blanked them outta my mind . At least with respect to LeMans the snakes are easily spotted , they have two legs over there !!! I did meet a few snakes on my travels while in the Sebring area ..... I nearly stood on one and the other was a baby Boa around my neck , It turns out that I didnt really mind them after all . I just had the problem of extracting her from my mouth

[The Badger]

Originally posted by Tim Northcutt
I just want it to be nice from March 16-22....

I'll be at


SEEEEEEE-BRING....

with freezing rain and literally 2 inches of ice on my dead-end street (and that street is 3/4 mile long!), I can hardly wait until I get on the plane!!!!

You could wait if you knew exactly how they work !!! Ah well ..... you only have to suffer that flight for about 2 hours !!!

[The Treester]

Originally posted by The Badger
You could wait if you knew exactly how they work !!!

Really!!!

Tim stop by the paddock at Sebring and I'll explain to you how they work, commercial planes of course!