Sebring

[canamman]

I have not been to Sebring yet but St.Pattys Day
at Sebring sounds dangerous. Ya'll have fun but pace
yourselves so you don't sleep away the 12hr. In other words,
just keep it to 2qts of hooch instead of 3.

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by canamman

I have not been to Sebring yet but St.Pattys Day
at Sebring sounds dangerous. Ya'll have fun but pace
yourselves so you don't sleep away the 12hr. In other words,
just keep it to 2qts of hooch instead of 3.

Yeah, the 'Irish army' is ferocious!

[fergus_r]

Will really appreciate the slightly cooler weather, if the forecast turns out to be accurate.

Anything worth seeing in the town of Sebring? I'm not staying there, so just wondering if it's worth having a look at the end of one of the days.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by fergus_r

Will really appreciate the slightly cooler weather, if the forecast turns out to be accurate.

Anything worth seeing in the town of Sebring? I'm not staying there, so just wondering if it's worth having a look at the end of one of the days.

I'll be honest. I don't think there's not much in central FLA to visit. There's some swamps, lakes, oranges and fires.

[fergus_r]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

I'll be honest. I don't think there's not much in central FLA to visit. There's some swamps, lakes, oranges and fires.

Thanks, that's very much the impression I've had

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by fergus_r

Thanks, that's very much the impression I've had

I've only passed through so I'm not one to talk. Especially with such poor grammar.

[jimclark]

Originally Posted by canamman

I have not been to Sebring yet but St.Pattys Day
at Sebring sounds dangerous. Ya'll have fun but pace
yourselves so you don't sleep away the 12hr. In other words,
just keep it to 2qts of hooch instead of 3.

I do presume you mean per hour...


Then...

[Lanky Turtle]

Originally Posted by fergus_r

Will really appreciate the slightly cooler weather, if the forecast turns out to be accurate.

Anything worth seeing in the town of Sebring? I'm not staying there, so just wondering if it's worth having a look at the end of one of the days.

A few things I think are worth doing:

Drive around the little downtown circle which is called Circle Park Drive. Not much to do here but it's a neat little downtown area to see and this is where they used to have the race car inspections in the 50's and 60's before driving the cars to the track.

Stop by Chicane's Restaurant Bar which is located at the Inn On The Lakes. The food's kind of pricey but good and if you sit by a window you'll have a good view of the lake. But mainly check out the bar area which has tons of old pictures from the races up on the walls. Plus a lot of the teams stay here so you'll always see crew guys hanging out. Like one year I sat at the bar next to Doug Fehan and noticed Franz Konrad was at the next table over.

At least one of the days drive to the track via Kenilworth Blvd./Airport Rd. so you can drive directly through the orange groves and smell the freshly blooming orange blossoms.

[jimclark]

Hmmmm. The last time I was in old downtown was in the 80s.

http://downtownsebring.org/

Is the little "cat" restaurant/diner still there? (iirc, on the E.S.E. "corner" of the circle)

[fergus_r]

That's mega info, thanks!

Flying out tomorrow

[ATLFalconsFAN]

Here's something annoying:

If you go to the Sebring website and look at 2017 tentative schedule you will see a short list of things for Wednesday. One of those (the last for Wednesday) is listed as a track walk for 90 minutes. From memory it seemed that the competitor track walk was only listed on the very detailed schedules that showed things like load in times, chapel service times, lunch schedule, various race track minutiae things.

So, when I read this on a listing that only shows the on track activities it leads me to believe that perhaps this means that this is a public track walk, and that gets me very excited. Excited enough that I will leave my house extra early on Wednesday for my ten hour drive so that I can get there in time for it. (I remember doing a public track walk at Mosport once and it was fantastic, made me wish that all tracks did it)

So today I call the raceway and talk with someone there. Here's a basic transcript from memory of our conversation:

Person answering the phone (PATW):
Hello, Sebring International Raceway how can I help you?

Me:
Hello, I hope you are having a nice day. I have a question about something on the schedule for Wednesday. It says that you have a track walk scheduled, is this open to the public?

PATW:
I'm not sure, do you mind holding so I can get an answer?
*Puts me on hold*

PATW:
There is no track walk, you must be looking at the wrong schedule, where did you see this?

Me:
I saw it on your website.

PATW:
No, that is not on our website.

Me:
It is, I am looking at it right now.

PATW:
Well you must be looking at the wrong thing, there is no track walk. Look for the schedule on our website.

Me:
Yes, the schedule on your website says there is a track walk.

PATW:
No it does not.

Me:
Okay. Thanks for your time.
*Obviously did not feel like arguing*

What do you all make of this? Does anyone else feel like calling and trying to get an answer? Does anyone know where we can get the old proper schedule?

[fergus_r]

Well it's still there for all to see!

https://sebringraceway.com/sebring-e...dule-of-events

https://sebringraceway.com/images/20...t-schedule.pdf

I suspect it's best asking somebody at the time, although that's obviously not much help for you when you're driving down.

[fieldodreams79]

Safe travels, fergus!

Originally Posted by Lanky Turtle

A few things I think are worth doing:

Drive around the little downtown circle which is called Circle Park Drive. Not much to do here but it's a neat little downtown area to see and this is where they used to have the race car inspections in the 50's and 60's before driving the cars to the track.

Stop by Chicane's Restaurant Bar which is located at the Inn On The Lakes. The food's kind of pricey but good and if you sit by a window you'll have a good view of the lake. But mainly check out the bar area which has tons of old pictures from the races up on the walls. Plus a lot of the teams stay here so you'll always see crew guys hanging out. Like one year I sat at the bar next to Doug Fehan and noticed Franz Konrad was at the next table over.

At least one of the days drive to the track via Kenilworth Blvd./Airport Rd. so you can drive directly through the orange groves and smell the freshly blooming orange blossoms.

See? Lakes and oranges.

Orange Blossoms!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecp-nD5aXIs


That's cool info about the DT circle. Didn't realize that. And I've driven past the lake restaurant every year I've been. Maybe we'll stop this time!

[scottypinthemix]

If you're unfortunate enough to have to work...


Raise your hand if you'll be completely useless at the job tomorrow

[Lanky Turtle]

Originally Posted by ATLFalconsFAN

Here's something annoying:

If you go to the Sebring website and look at 2017 tentative schedule you will see a short list of things for Wednesday. One of those (the last for Wednesday) is listed as a track walk for 90 minutes. From memory it seemed that the competitor track walk was only listed on the very detailed schedules that showed things like load in times, chapel service times, lunch schedule, various race track minutiae things.

So, when I read this on a listing that only shows the on track activities it leads me to believe that perhaps this means that this is a public track walk, and that gets me very excited. Excited enough that I will leave my house extra early on Wednesday for my ten hour drive so that I can get there in time for it. (I remember doing a public track walk at Mosport once and it was fantastic, made me wish that all tracks did it)

So today I call the raceway and talk with someone there. Here's a basic transcript from memory of our conversation:

Person answering the phone (PATW):
Hello, Sebring International Raceway how can I help you?

Me:
Hello, I hope you are having a nice day. I have a question about something on the schedule for Wednesday. It says that you have a track walk scheduled, is this open to the public?

PATW:
I'm not sure, do you mind holding so I can get an answer?
*Puts me on hold*

PATW:
There is no track walk, you must be looking at the wrong schedule, where did you see this?

Me:
I saw it on your website.

PATW:
No, that is not on our website.

Me:
It is, I am looking at it right now.

PATW:
Well you must be looking at the wrong thing, there is no track walk. Look for the schedule on our website.

Me:
Yes, the schedule on your website says there is a track walk.

PATW:
No it does not.

Me:
Okay. Thanks for your time.
*Obviously did not feel like arguing*

What do you all make of this? Does anyone else feel like calling and trying to get an answer? Does anyone know where we can get the old proper schedule?

I think they have a track walk every year, just for the competitors which is what I'm sure this is. I don't know how it ended up on their schedule for fans, and neither do they apparently, but I would almost guarantee the track walk is not for the public.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by scottypinthemix

If you're unfortunate enough to have to work...


Raise your hand if you'll be completely useless at the job tomorrow

Working on that now. I am working Wednesday as well......

[fergus_r]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

Safe travels, fergus!

Thanks!

[fieldodreams79]

Safe travels to everyone! Weather is looking great *knocking on wood*


Hope to be Southbound and down this time tomorrow night. I am too tired to pack so I'll have a Guinness to see if that "helps" anything.

[fergus_r]

Day one impressions:

Sebring is special.
Some of the people are special 😂

Great experience, bring on tomorrow.

[Lanky Turtle]

Originally Posted by fergus_r

Day one impressions:

Sebring is special.
Some of the people are special 😂

Great experience, bring on tomorrow.

There's some special people there alright. Especially after the sun sets.

[fieldodreams79]

Although it's a little cool here at the old airfield, it's a beautiful day to be at the track and not at the office. We did get into the sauce a bit too much last night, but these things happen in Green Park.

I'm a bit peeved that they've removed all porta lits from Green Park. Keeps me hovering close to the comfort station.

Originally Posted by fergus_r

Day one impressions:

Sebring is special.
Some of the people are special 😂

Great experience, bring on tomorrow.

It's a bit "controlled" this year, but there's still some silliness and silly people. Wouldn't be the same without it!

[canamman]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

Although it's a little cool here at the old airfield, it's a beautiful day to be at the track and not at the office. We did get into the sauce a bit too much last night, but these things happen in Green Park.

Do you have a favorite spot to camp there like Petit?
Which which part of the track will you be hanging on the fence the most?

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by canamman

Do you have a favorite spot to camp there like Petit?
Which which part of the track will you be hanging on the fence the most?

Since we don't get there until well after the first comers get there, we've always camped in Green Park close to the hairpin as we can get.

There was a big screen in the hairpin that worked at least at the end of the race that was nice - could see it from our campsite but other than the hairpin, we wander to T10, which is good for people watching as much as the race, T3 is great, outside of Gurney/Big Bend are all great. Wish I had the energy to make it to the backside of the circuit. Say i'll do it every year, but once again, didn't make it...

[fergus_r]

I guess being young helps me, I was able to lap the circuit a few times from Wednesday to Saturday. No idea how many steps I did in total but I certainly felt it after each day. Sunday was tough for me until the evening rolled around, I'm not great in the heat so it was a long day until then!

I quite enjoyed watching at the hairpin- such a simple corner but great to watch the cars hard on the brakes then powerslide on exit. Good in the races too, not a lot of passing but when it does happen it quite often ends up with some wheel-banging.

Had a lap round the track shortly before the 12 hours, got to say it's a testament to virtual race simulators (thinking of iRacing.com) at how accurate they model the tracks- every bump I felt in person were exactly where I expected them to be thanks to the simulator.

[fergus_r]

As for the spectator experience- wow, for a major event that's the best I've ever experienced. No traffic, parking was easy as anything (and you're not miles from the car), even on race day it surprised me how easy it all was. Some great viewing points around the circuit and little in the way of catchfencing to disrupt the view. I got some great footage.