What I learned at the Rolex 24 at Daytona...

Kinja'd!!! "njp1589" (njp1589)
01/27/2014 at 09:02 • Filed to: Rolex 24

Kinja'd!!!2 Kinja'd!!! 11
Kinja'd!!!

1. I need a better camera. Not that my phone camera isn't good for taking shots of cars not moving, but this is a race... so most of the cars are moving. Also zoom is nice.

2. Earplugs are a good idea. Seriously, I figured it would be loud but I did not expect it to be that loud. The worst offenders here are (IMO) the Corvettes (DP and GTLM) and the Porsches. I will invest in a pair before Sebring.

3. The race is only half of the experience. Watch the race for an hour, then walk around for a while... get some food, talk to some people, it's a really good time.

4. A garage pass is awesome. More than worth the $10 they charged.

5. Next time, I'm camping. This is way too much fun for just one day.

Either way, I had an amazing time and I can't wait for Sebring. Maybe I'll be able to convince some of my friends to come.


DISCUSSION (11)


Kinja'd!!! 'Wägen, EPA LOL > njp1589
01/27/2014 at 09:53

Kinja'd!!!0

I'll be at WGI if you feel the need to come up north in 6 months.


Kinja'd!!! njp1589 > 'Wägen, EPA LOL
01/27/2014 at 09:59

Kinja'd!!!0

In 6 months the weather might just be decent enough.


Kinja'd!!! TheBaron2112 > njp1589
01/27/2014 at 10:08

Kinja'd!!!2

6. MRN has a food show.

A food show.

A FOOD SHOW.


Kinja'd!!! 190e30-Now with COSWORTH > njp1589
01/27/2014 at 10:27

Kinja'd!!!1

As for the noise aspect, you probably lucked out on the fact that they weren't running any RX8s this year... Don't get me wrong, they sound great, but fter a while the wailing is just beyond ear piercing. I brought a non-racing-fan friend to the track once, and while covering his ears, yelled "They sound like a suicide bomber or something."


Kinja'd!!! f86sabre > njp1589
01/27/2014 at 10:31

Kinja'd!!!1

Try and find a race scanner and hit the Racing Radios trailer for a frequency list. Listening to the teams is good fun.


Kinja'd!!! 'Wägen, EPA LOL > njp1589
01/27/2014 at 11:09

Kinja'd!!!0

Polar vortex ftw!


Kinja'd!!! MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > f86sabre
01/27/2014 at 11:15

Kinja'd!!!1

That's brilliant!


Kinja'd!!! MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > njp1589
01/27/2014 at 11:16

Kinja'd!!!1

There were some AMAZING shots being put up on twitter during the night portion of the race, I was so sad when my 2nd Vette went to the garage.


Kinja'd!!! njp1589 > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
01/27/2014 at 11:30

Kinja'd!!!0

I was pulling for Team SRT, so I didn't mind the lack of a Vette on the Podium for GTLM.


Kinja'd!!! MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > njp1589
01/27/2014 at 11:38

Kinja'd!!!0

Boooo!

No matter who you were cheering for, it sucks when a car has that good of a run to break down with 2 hours left. It was about 17 seconds off the leader when it broke. On the same lap a Z4 went down too. I don't care at all about bmw but I feel bad for the drivers/crew that ran 22 hours to fail.


Kinja'd!!! GRawesome > njp1589
01/27/2014 at 12:20

Kinja'd!!!1

You definitely have to camp next time, it's part of the experience. Waking up after a few hours sleep and heading back to the action. We were in the infield RV camping 2 years ago and were just outside the turn 1 tunnel this year. Both spots have their plus' and minus'.

I have a good camera, but I think I could benefit from lens options like a zoom and fixed focal length. I took about 2000 pictures over the weekend, mainly just shooting through the fence or from high vantage points. Still need to go through closely though and pick out the good ones.

Earplugs are nice too, my right ear is still ringing a bit from being right at the exit of the infield onto nascar turn 1 taking pictures through the fence. That was right when they were on full throttle and close to the fence. It is great feeling the rumble as they speed by though.

That's great that you got to make it out there. I was wondering how many Oppos there were there. Knowing you were there makes 4 for sure. Maybe next year we should have an official Oppo party tent, like the PCA guys did, but instead of a lot full of porsches it will be a lot full of brown manual diesel wagons.