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Mr. Rick
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« Reply #15 on: February 02, 2004, 11:18:06 am » |
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Yeah, the DPs were using their rain tyres too quickly and they were on the verge of running out of GoodYear supply which would have handed the win to the Orbit Porsche - it stinks!! Those guys deserved it!!
But no-one deserves to be robbed of a 24 hour victory with 30 mins to go, whatever had transpired before. Devastated for Andy Wallace.
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Matt Harper
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« Reply #16 on: February 02, 2004, 11:04:11 pm » |
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Jesus - that was one tough event to spectate - so God knows what it was like to drive. Fax and I (and several other American friends) arrived at the track around 9.30am Saturday and did the usual sustained heavy drinking until the kick-off at 1.00pm. Even at that point the skies were looking somewhat threatening as we sat up in the main stands, above the tri-oval. The start was quite spectacular and the nature of the run into the infield course (track narrows by about 50%) provided some lunging overtaking moves - and the inevitable offs.
Excellent race credentials got us on the pit wall, where Fax had Tim Sugden making him coffee and discussing race strategy. The rain was relentless and heavy enough to put our campfire out, during a short trip to Daytona Beach for R&R and one of the best tit bars I've ever been to. The strippers outnumbered the punters - and it was a busy place (Lolipops, if you're ever in Daytona).
Got back to the Speedway about 1.00am and things were getting ugly. We had cautions off and on throughout the night. A return trip to the pits had us leaning over the wall and eyeball to eyeball with first Andy Wallace and later Tony Stewart in the Citgo car. Pretty special, despite the deluge. We also witnessed the one by one failure of the Multimatic DP's - each suffering terminal engine management failure. We saw both Brumos entries in bits and the relentless charge of the Flying Lizard 996.
By daybreak the place was silent - nothing on the track - slashing, sideways rain, everything f**k*ng soaked - very un-Florida. After several hours of bizarre nothingness, it all started again. The Wallace Earnhardt Stewart car was strong, but wounded and the whole thing eventually came apart at the seams. It was good that Andy Pilgrims car was positioned to pick up the pieces - but as Rick says was there by default. In reality the race should have been Johnny Mowlem's. MVP, for me, was Michael Rockenfeller in the Flying Lizard. He was fast and clean all race long and deffo one to watch.
Not the best 24 hour race I've attended, but certainly the wettest - and yes, that does include Le Mans 2000.
Roll on Sebring (I was going to say 'The 500', but I know you guys are somewhat scornful of NASCAR)
JPC - your Rolex 24 at Daytona 2004 shirt is secured - Dave will do the honours for Sebring.
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If it\'s good and fast, it won\'t be cheap. If it\'s fast and cheap, it won\'t be good. If it\'s good and cheap, it won\'t be fast.
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Fax
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« Reply #17 on: February 03, 2004, 02:12:07 pm » |
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As Matt said, the relentless rain made it a difficult one to sit through. However the pit passes and the company made it a damn fun event, right down in the thick of the action during the night hours. Did manage to get myself scolded for carrying a beer in the pits, didn't even realize I had it with me. Fortunately Daytona is a sprawling beachfront party town and after a major face-stuffing at Hooters our knockout of a waitress tipped us off to Lolipops...Holy Christ! Must have been a hundred girls working the place, everyone of them looking like they just stepped off the pages of Playboy. More eye candy than you could possibly keep up with. To say that place will be doing a brisk business over the next couple of weeks is a massive understatment. Roll on Sebring and may it be dry!
John
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Andy Zarse
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« Reply #18 on: February 03, 2004, 06:20:07 pm » |
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Apart from the tittie bars, which obviously would have no appeal,  You lot are utter jammy bastards. |
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I wouldn't sit there if I were you, it's still a bit wet.
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hgb
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« Reply #19 on: February 03, 2004, 06:41:55 pm » |
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I must agree there.  |
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I don't care - I'm a racing driver and I'm here to win, not to finish third.
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Matt Harper
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« Reply #20 on: February 03, 2004, 08:08:05 pm » |
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Apart from the tittie bars, which obviously would have no appeal, You lot are utter jammy bastards. [attachment deleted by admin] |
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If it\'s good and fast, it won\'t be cheap. If it\'s fast and cheap, it won\'t be good. If it\'s good and cheap, it won\'t be fast.
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Matt Harper
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« Reply #21 on: February 03, 2004, 08:12:09 pm » |
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Apart from the tittie bars, which obviously would have no appeal, You lot are utter jammy bastards. Sorry I don't want to rub your noses in this guys - I know I'm a jammy bleeder - but check out these babies.... |
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If it\'s good and fast, it won\'t be cheap. If it\'s fast and cheap, it won\'t be good. If it\'s good and cheap, it won\'t be fast.
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Dave H
CA Veteran
Sr. Member
 Offline
Posts: 432
burrrrrrrrppppp
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« Reply #22 on: February 03, 2004, 08:15:59 pm » |
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How come you're slumming it in the grandstand? Where's your UPS suite?
Are your vaccinations up to date sitting with that bunch of animals?
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Matt Harper
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« Reply #23 on: February 03, 2004, 08:23:07 pm » |
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Actually I asked for 'em Dave. We were in their suite for the Pepsi 400 and it has a restricted view - added to which I nearly boiled my taters off. I don't mind a bit of shoulder to shoulder with my rednecked kinsmen. I'm thinking of installing webs between my fingers and having a few teeth pulled out, so I look the part.
Boogidy boogidy boogidy....... Let's geddit owwn!
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If it\'s good and fast, it won\'t be cheap. If it\'s fast and cheap, it won\'t be good. If it\'s good and cheap, it won\'t be fast.
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smokie
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« Reply #24 on: February 05, 2004, 08:24:16 pm » |
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Matt Harper
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« Reply #25 on: February 05, 2004, 08:35:14 pm » |
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Hi Smokey
Safe - yes, generally. Undisturbed? Probably not. They're a rowdy bunch, these kids. Daytona Beach hotels get some serious hammer (NASCAR events, Bike Week, Spring Break etc. etc.) You should be OK if your hotel is not too budget priced - but I'd still take a black light, which reveals bodily fluids on bedding, carpets, drapes, lampshades, ceilings and the like. (heh heh heh) Avoid hot tubs at all costs - and if you fancy a pint in O'town with Fax, Dave and myself before or after the race, let me know.
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If it\'s good and fast, it won\'t be cheap. If it\'s fast and cheap, it won\'t be good. If it\'s good and cheap, it won\'t be fast.
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smokie
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« Reply #26 on: February 05, 2004, 08:40:14 pm » |
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The hotel has a bar where they had wet t shirt contests last year. I came a close second . The place was a total riot, and I did plenty of "sightseeing"... The surprise this year has to be car hire - with a strong £ v $ I thought it would be cheaper, but it seems to have gone up. Any thoughts? |
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Matt Harper
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« Reply #27 on: February 05, 2004, 09:26:52 pm » |
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The surprise this year has to be car hire - with a strong £ v $ I thought it would be cheaper, but it seems to have gone up. Any thoughts?
Hi Smokey, I'd have thought so too. How much have you been quoted? Where are you flying into? Tourist rates are deffo higher than domestics. I'll see if I can get a rate for you, if you like. What type of car and for how long? Matt |
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If it\'s good and fast, it won\'t be cheap. If it\'s fast and cheap, it won\'t be good. If it\'s good and cheap, it won\'t be fast.
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Canada Phil
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« Reply #28 on: February 05, 2004, 11:02:43 pm » |
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Hi Smokey, I have had some succes with http://www.nationalcar.com/servlet/DocHandler/index.html?329a282c85ec2524They will hold a reservation with your email address so easy to do over the web. be sure to check the specials section and some times cheaper to get a bigger car for a week than a small for a few days. 5 days is minimum for a week. Insurance is the killer for you unless your credit card offers insurance to cover you in USA. $165 on todays special. Canada Phil |
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smokie
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« Reply #29 on: February 05, 2004, 11:51:51 pm » |
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Hire is from Sat evening to Sun afternoon (therefore 8 days), collect from and return to Tampa.
I'd really like to have a convertible but that would set me back about £260 a week (which isn't too bad, but over budget) so I'm looking at a compact which I thought I'd found at about £165 (but having just checked Dollar its come up as £204)
Phil is right, I need the whole shebang for insurance.
I did consider getting the car from Sat to Wed just for the off-circuit part of the week, then dropping it back at Tampa and Greyhounding down to Sebering, and back again on Sunday. Not sure it saves a whole load though, and certainly adds hassle...
Someone here has recommended getting a compact as they will often upgrade you on arrival.
The main companies (Dollar & Alamo) request that UK bookings are made through their UK websites, so, being ignorant about the insurance ramifications, that's what I've been doing. I'm wondering if I'd do better just turning up and seeing what I can get on the spot.
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