John - I'm assuming you're coming again this year.  We'll be there from Weds night in 1A RVing all the way through Sunday night.  Will be in Turn 3 this year.
dh

John - I ended up watching it on the YouTube live-feed which was pretty decent.  The golf started early cos of rain delays in the week, so Fox thought "where's the money?" for 2 seconds.

Unless you were sneaking beer in in backpacks, every entry from Houx last year refused any alcohol in coolers.  This had nothing to do with glass.  They allowed it in during the week, but on race day it was strictly enforced.  This was all under a local ordinance change that went into effect the week before the race.  What a farce.  So basically, if you want cold booze and plan to do serious drinking (vs. sipping 4 cans of warm crap you sneak in), you're apparently obligated to get your wallet out trackside.  Utter waste of time in my humble opinion.

John - I'll deffo be at Sebring, and I might just get out of bed and walk to the track for Indy 

Not based on this year surely!  They were obviously turning people away in droves if they had booze on them given the last minute change in ordinance the week before the race.

I can't imagine going back to that event based on this year.  Utter waste of time.

Hey John:

Matt and I finally threw in the towel and decided to go back this year after a loooong break.  Meet Matt in Philly on Weds and fly to Paris together.  Head to Jumelles Thurs afternoon, and meet up with the group on Fri am at the track.  Wish you were coming back too. Seems like our last hook-up at Sebring was eons ago.

I've had pretty good experiences with US Le Mans tv coverage over the last few years, but I do think it's become steadily worse and this year appears to have got it all wrong.  Nothing like last year's morning volleyball instead of Sarthe coverage!

John:

I'm at 33K ft somewhere over PA heading to NYC and then onto Houston before the final leg to MCO on Thursday afternoon.
Tonya will be flying in from Indy so I'll meet her there and we'll drive over to the track.  My flight arrives about 7:15 pm so after scoring the renter (the cheapest rental car I've ever had so it may be like Joe and Tiny from Happs driving in Ireland), I'm guessing we won't be at the track before 10 pm.  The crew should be at a relatively predictable state of reality by that point, so it should be a fun roll-in.  What time do you think you'll pull-in on Friday?  Can't wait to see you brother.  When was the last time you saw Tonya?

Start my trip on Sunday via New York and then Houston.  Land in Orlando Thurs evening, meet my Mrs, and then to the track to meet up with what's left of the Nigerian.  Ironically, we drive down to FL the following Thursday for family Spring Break down on Sanibel.  Should be a half-hearted detox.

Yes Steve - another reason my passion for the event has diminished - 20 years of transatlantic trips to France gets old too.  My home to Le Mans is about 4100 miles - to Sebring, it's less than 1100 miles.

This is one of the primary reasons I threw in the towel on the whole event after twenty years.  When the "pain in the ass" factor outweighs fun, find something else.  Sebring IS Le Mans of old, and probably a bit more fun still.  Le Mans will not get better.  It'll just continue to be over-sold and under-delivered for all the reasons already mentioned.  I miss the family/friends group part, but "Le Mans the event" has been on life support since about 2006 IMO.

I was actually referring to the death marches one has to make to get anywhere at the Sarthe.

Rich - I'm so stoked you guys are signed-up.  Can't wait!  No more silly talk of long-distance drives from Indy.  I'll be flying down for sure - trying to see if I can drop the kids in Sanibel with the Outlaws for the weekend and convince Tonya to come too!  It's all a little more civilized than Le Mans trudgery...

I vaguely remember the Petit.  That's the place that turns everything RED and is almost as cold in the evenings as Rolex, even when glorious in the day!

I'm a no go, but Matt was making some rumblings about going when I talked to him a couple of days ago.  I suspect it depends on whether he can secure his man-servant.

It's game on from Indy.  Will be Thundering down I65 and then I75 on Thursday - early, so it looks like we'll be leaving ahead of you Fax (no need to check mirrors for silver Panzer Tank coming up on you moderately above the speed limit).  Traveling down with Alex, my brother-in-law who's attended about 35 consecutive Indy 500s but never been to a road circuit.  What a treat he has in store.  Will arrive at the track Thurs evening and fishtail outta there early Sunday.  Can't frickin' wait!!

I remember her limping around in the dark hours under my assistance.  Hope she's all fit for duty again!
I was going to stuff Stephen in the back of the Road Toad and hyperspace my ass up I70 on Sat am but I've got a commitment I can't bail on.  Sorry!

I'll drop you a line to catch up.  Sebring is shaping up nicely but I wouldn't write off the Petit either.

Rich and Nick are deffo coming over from the Uk so it's gonna be serious business in Florida