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50th Anniversary of Rolex 24 - THIS WEEKEND IN DAYTONA!!!


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Posted

Wow! How time flies! Another year has passed and the Grand Am Rolex & Continental races are upon us! An awesome road racing event to kick off the racing season will occur this weekend at Daytona! Whether you follow the big boys or not, the Rolex 24 truly is where pros & schmoes compete together! Whether you're a fan of pro racing or a fan of grassroots racing (even Lemons/ChumpCar racing!), this event is where you can see it all! Many of our NASA bretheren past & present will be competing in the races...and/or attending the race as a spectator. On the spectator side, the Grassroots Motorsports Magazine really puts on a great hospitality tent the whole weekend. There is TONS to see and do at the track and very worthy of a road trip.

 

I leave tomorrow nite as a Grand Am official and will help with parking, setup & tech. I'll be on pit lane for most of the racing action and likely for 50% of the 24 hour race beginning on Saturday. For those that are new to this gig, the Continental GS & ST races (more NASA like) will be on Friday, with a 2.5 hour race beginning ~1PM . The Rolex DP & GT 24 hour race will begin at 3:30 on Saturday and continue, well, for 24 hours until Sunday.

 

If you're attending the race, Grand Am expects this to be THE biggest Rolex 24 to date and while the stands will not be filled to capacity, the infield participation will exceed that of any NASCAR event. All infield camping spots, suites, parking spots, etc have been purchased/reserved (i.e. sold out) and infield parking will be at a premium. You may have to park outside the speedway and get shuttled in if you don't already have a spot. Here are some inside tips on where to go and when:

 

1) The Continental cars are all paddocked in the "Blue" garages (near center). The Rolex cars are all paddocked in the "Yellow" garages (near pit in).

2) The Grand Am hauler (race central) is located in the Yellow garages and that is where tech and the Sunoco gas pumps are located.

3) Tech Inspections for Rolex racers is from 10-3PM on Wed....Continental racers from 3-5:30PM on Wed in the Yellow garage area. Lots of car activity and I'll be working. Stop on by and look me up!!!

4) Track will be hot Thursday for practice sessions. I expect to be on pit lane. Anywhere is good for viewing.

5) Continental race on Friday. I highly recommend a pit pass as you can go anywhere. Following the race, the podium drivers head to victory lane and their cars head to tech in the Yellow garages. Either spot is awesome to get caught up in the action. I'm usually accompanying cars to tech.

 

FRIDAY NITE - NASA AI/CMC and any NASA members are invited to the Ocean Deck (http://www.oceandeck.com) on the beach for a toast. We did this in years past and got past and present racers, champions, directors alike to show up. Let's make it 8PM upstairs for social hour and let's raise a toast @ 9PM to NASA & American Iron racing! Once we get a critical mass we can move downstairs if need be. (I think we had ~50 people in years past.) If there are any changes, I'll post it up here.

 

Got to go to bed early though, as Saturday will be a busy day with parade pageantry and roadracing. Hope to see many of you out there. I really enjoy it when people stop me and I get to catch up with our many racers. So...who's going to be there???

 

For more information, go to:

http://www.grand-am.com

http://www.facebook.com/tacovini

http://www.facebook.com/americanironracing

...and for those of you at home, I think the race is televised most of the hours on Speed!!! Check us out there!

Posted

See ya there Todd! I'll be doing some NASA FL stuff and helping a Conti/Rolex team with some photo/video stuff.

 

And, in for Friday night with TurboShortBus and any other NASA FL folks who would like to attend

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Posted

Yep, Mark Reed and I wll be there. I know a few other SE AI/X/CMC racers that might join us also. I've had some good times at the Ocean Deck but what happens at the "Deck", STAYS at the "Deck". I can already tell that we're gonna need some designated drivers...

 

Ed

Posted

See everyone there, We will have the whole team, Cheryl, Jim and the boys and I are all heading down Thursday. See everyone for drinks, might have to let the boys take a nap while we enjoy some refreshments.

Posted

As Mark said, we are flying in Thursday early afternoon and will have a motorhome on the infield. Looking forward to seeing everyone for a few drinks and some great racing.

 

j

Posted

Cool!

Roof, a couple "other" Nasa racers and myself will be in the Yellow RV camping in infield (between nascar turns 1 and 2). Heading out tomorrow (Thur.) afternoon.

If we dont catch up before hand during Conti race Fri., we'll see you guys Fri. night at the happy hour place, and AI/CMC after party.

 

-Chris F

CMC #14

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