Page 42 - KCRPCA Mar Apr 2019

visit, the pre-race grid was populated, but never felt crowded. In 2004, we could stand next to Paul Newman sitting casuallyonhisgolfcart.Fastforwardto 2019 and the grid was mayhem. Ropes lined the path for the DPi’s as the cars and drivers were ceremoniously pushed into position. Beyond that, the tri-oval lawn and front banking was standing room only. Taking our position once again in the Turn 1 grandstands, the start of the Rolex 24 is such a rush. It was cool to see those in my family who had never experienced anything like this watching in honest amazement of the skill of those forty-seven drivers coming together into that very narrow Turn 1. I think we’ve gained a few new racing fans.
For anyone who watched the race, they know it rained a lot. And they know it ended under a red flag, one of many flags not colored green. As one driver stated during a sleep deprived TV interview, this race feels like an entire week rolled into one 24-hour period. As a spectator that also holds true. The adventurous
souls in the family ventured back to the track until 1:30 am despite spending the entire morning and afternoon shivering in the unusually cold temperatures. A person hasn’t really experienced a Rolex 24 without smelling the late night campfires, humoring a random drunk 356A owner, or knowing the make and class of the cars rushing past, entirely by sound.
We stayed dry Sunday, watching the race from the comfort of the living room couch. As quickly as the weekend began, it was over. And so was the race. Fernando won, Porsche didn’t, and I was sitting in the airport a mere four feet from my sister’s new favorite Mazda drivers. What a great weekend!
- Sean
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