This is the longest race in the United States and marks the beginning of the road racing season. Now I have been there twice and cheered for Porsche in both of them. 1973. While living in Georgia I went to this race and saw Peter Gregg and Hurley Haywood win overall after the prototypes dropped out. They drove a 3.0L Carrera RSR with the duck tail. What I found most interesting was the race between Peter Gregg and John Greenwood in a tricked out Corvette. First I’d see the Carrera turn out of the infield onto the banked tri-oval NASCAR course followed some distance behind by the Corvette. About mid-way on the banking, the Corvette would pass the Porsche. Then as they approached the start/finish line and turned into the infield, the Corvette would start braking early and the Porsche would re-pass him, brake late, and tuck into the infield again in the lead. What amazed me was the consistency of the drivers, lap after lap.
2011. Again I am at this race. And of the 6 podium positions, Porsche took 3. In the Prototype class, Porsche was third, just 23 seconds behind the winner after 24 hours of racing. In the Production class, Porsche 911s took 1st and 2nd place. I met Hurley Haywood, now the patriarch of American Endurance Racing, with 5 Daytona 24 Hour wins. He seemed a bit discouraged mid-day on Sunday the 30th. After hearing about my memories from 1973, he stated “I wish I had some of the luck we had back then, today. We sure needed it.”
Saturday morning, we passed the Porsche Pavilion and parked for a while in the PCA Corral. But we returned to the Pavilion. This was about the best deal we have ever found at a race. For about $50 per person, we got a wrist band and had an air conditioned, carpeted pavilion with buffet style meals included. They had an open bar and big screen TVs. There I met several very interesting people including Hurley Haywood. Finally their Porta-Potty was the best, most luxurious that I have ever seen. A real good deal.
After the race ended on Sunday afternoon, Bret Jacobson and I started driving toward VA. It is 750 mile onewayandwestoppedovernightnearSavannah.AswedroveNorth,thetemperaturedroppedfrom about 75 degrees in Daytona Beach to 34 degrees when we got home. From sunny and warm to overcast andcold. The bottom line was a very fun trip and I plan to do it again.
Drive safe.
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