Daytona Memories - Again
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Note:
My articles are based solely on my thoughts and observations. Normally I do not
offer statistics, although at times I may reference what different broadcasters,
among others, have said or alluded to.
The
following article was written several years ago and I decided to bring it back before
NASCAR and Daytona started the 2018 season. I have heard and read that some
people at the NASCAR channel on SiriusXM along with some internet racing sites
seem to think RFF likes to live in the past. I wish to state that this is not
true at all. We only want to share memories because of the history of the sport
and the fact that we lived during a different phase of the sport of auto
racing. I hope people reading this will do so with that in mind. Please enjoy a
trip down memory lane.
While
living in Orlando during 1960's, I had opportunities to attend quite a few
Daytona 500 races. I attended these races with friends that I worked with, one
of whom was the local race track promoter. I worked in the concession stand at
his track in addition to my regular job. It was an exciting time in my life. It
became tradition to go to Daytona the day before the Daytona 500 so we could
cruise around Daytona and drive by The Best Damn Garage in Town several times
hoping to catch sight of Smokey Yunick and different drivers hanging around. No
one was allowed inside that garage without Smokey's permission so we would just
look as we drove by. Then it was on to the Steak 'n Shake for food and to see
who was there. After that it was back by
Smokey's garage and so the cycle went for hours until we returned to the track.
I have lots of happy memories of Daytona and Speed Weeks during that time.
My
favorite memory is of the first 24 hour race at Daytona that I not only
attended, but also experienced my very first camping trip during that same
weekend. The year was 1966 and although there had been some endurance racing of
lesser hours at Daytona prior to this, a 24 hour race at the track was
something new. The promotions were exciting as drivers would be coming from all
over the world it seemed. Plans were formulated to make sure our group had one
of the best camping and viewing spots in the huge infield. Tickets were
purchased in advance and our camp spot was selected by two track promoters who
were part of the group. Food and drink were planned, prepared and packed along
with items that would be needed for sleeping and personal upkeep. Six of us
would be sharing one small pop-up trailer that had very little room. We would
take turns sleeping and keeping the fire pit going. Along with many other
campers, we had a small fire pit which was watched and tended constantly. We
arrived a day before the race was scheduled to start. That Friday night we
visited a place called Club 92 which was across Hwy 92 not too far from the
track. We talked with a few of drivers there, including assorted Grand National
drivers. We were all very excited to be at this huge track with a road course
incorporated into the big oval and part of the infield which was fenced off to
accommodate many fans whether they would be camping or just parking their
vehicles and sleeping in them. It was also very exciting to drive or walk
around the infield and watch the race from different spots and have different
views of how they were running the track.
There
were a few scattered buildings which had food and restrooms. There was a news
room which I believe served as a type of media center also. This building
housed lots of land line telephones and teleprinters.
Technology was not as advanced then as it is today so news was not as readily
available. The push button telephone which replaced the old rotary dial phones
had only been available for three years. Now it is mostly cell phones that the
reporters use. Back then one could get updated print outs of what cars were
still running and their positions at certain intervals from the teleprinter.
After
watching many headlights during the night and finally falling asleep for a
couple of hours, it was fun to wake up to fresh coffee along with sausage and
scrambled egg sandwiches which were cooked on the grate over the fire pit. Then
we freshened up and went to the news room for the latest print out to see what
had transpired during the night. I am not sure if I had a favorite driver in
the race. At that time, I was new to sports car racing and I took it for
granted that the track promoters knew who was good so I pulled for the ones
they suggested. I remember they were pleased with the results. We talked about
the fun we had for weeks. We felt lucky to have been a part of that exciting
weekend which was all too short.
Many
years have passed since that time and although the 24 hour race was shortened
and even discontinued for a few years, it came back because all types of auto
racing had become more popular and the energy crisis had passed. Since that time my love of all types of
racing has never wavered. I find it is just amazing what mere mortals can do
with these wonderful driving machines that we know as race cars. Each and every
year, technology abounds and the cars change due to this and to the engineering
that is now available. It is an exciting time in all types of motor sports. We
all look forward to the changes that come with growth and advancement of
technology.
Thank
you for reading and commenting. Please keep it clean and do not bash. You may
also email comments to me.
