Rolex 24hr vs 12hrs of Sebring.

  • Thread starter Thread starter LSX
  • 15 comments
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What race should I attend?

  • Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 12 Hours of Sebring

    Votes: 8 44.4%

  • Both

    Votes: 10 55.6%

  • None

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    18
LSX

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Edit: 62 views, 1 response and 4 votes. Come on guys, I need some help here!

Alright let me just start by saying this.

I know that ALMS is more prestigious than Grand-Am.
I know that ALMS has higher technology.

But, here is my predicament. I live very close to Daytona International Speedway, I live 140+ miles from Sebring. I want to attend my FIRST endurance race ever this coming spring. I'm not sure what I should attend first though. The 4 day tickets for both the Rolex 24 Hours and 12 Hours of Sebring are $90.00 each. I've been to many races at Daytona, but from the infield, you can't see very much, but since the Rolex is ran on the road course, I know the viewing will be better. It's just January in Daytona can really be hit or miss. It will either be freezing, raining, breezy, hot or all of the above. Sebring is in March, which will be warmer. Keep in mind, I'm dragging my girlfriend to whichever (or both) event I'll be attending because I don't have friends who appreciate sports car racing, not that she does, she just puts up with my adventures. :lol: I'm am however trying to minimize the "I'm cold, I'm hot, I'm tired." :lol:

I'm just torn, because I think Sebring will involve less pain. Daytona is just so close though...

Some pros and con's for each.

Daytona-

Pro's-
-Close to home
-Know my way around, to leave and get food locally, know where not to go so as to avoid being shot.
-24 hour race
-Grand stands for good viewing (outside of the infield.)
-Garage access with the 4 day ticket. (Daytona has a VERY nice paddock, with VERY good views into the garages through glass windows.

con's-
-Unpredictable weather
-Windy COLD grandstands
-Limited infield grandstands (2)
-I don't know that I can walk around and get better views of the action if I get grandstand tickets, which I most likely will do, because the infield will be crowded and lacks any real grandstands. I mean, I can walk from turn 1 down to turn 4, I'm not sure if I can walk under the track into the infield.
-24 Hour race


Sebring-

Pro's-
-Great access to many viewing areas around the track
-Better chance of comfortable weather.
-Travel to see more of my home state.
-Higher tier of sports car competition.
-12 hour race

Con's-
-140+ mile car ride.
-12 hour race
-Unfamiliar location (Food, hotel, ...)
-Don't have any idea what to expect.


I just need some help with my decision making. Don't so much base it only on the fact that the DP cars are weak compared to the the ALMS prototypes, do take it into account though. If you have attended either race, I'd like to hear your experience or advice. Or, just advice from others who have attended endurance races on what to do, or what I should expect. Endurance racing is really cool to me, I've finally decided I need to get off it and just go attend one, or two?

So please GTP, help me!
 
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Back in the Group C days (late 80s early 90s) I went to Daytona almost annually for the 24. I went to a few of the races with the spyder-type cars, those that now run ALMS. I have ZERO interest in the DP cars, they are bleeding pimples on the ass of motorsports. That said, the production classes of GrandAm have some very good racing and probably more variety of cars than ALMS.

I've never been to Sebring, although I've purchased tickets twice. Both time something came up at work, couldn't go, had no trouble selling the tickets.

The 4-day ticket at Daytona gets you everywhere. You can wander the infield, and there is plenty of viewing along the infield course, and inside the west banking. You have access to the garages (and not just through the windows) and the grandstands. Seating in the grandstand is not reserved for the 24, so you can go anywhere you like in the stands. I've always camped when I went. They have reserved camping available in the infield, and the rest is first-come-first-served. The reserved has a fee.

Sebring doesn't have garages, the teams set up awnings from their transporters in the paddock, but all Sebring tickets include access to these areas. Sebrings add 25$ for a parking fee to park in the infield. Again, numerous excellent viewing areas, and for my money, much more interesting cars and drivers. Camping is no extra charge, but again, first-come-first-serve.
 
Thanks wfooshee. I could not find anything about the infield camping, other than 350-700$ for infield parking for four days. It's 45 dollars to camp OUTSIDE turn four, which I guess is better than nothing. Daytona does sound a little better now. But like you also said, Sebring will have more interesting cars and drivers. I appreciate hearing your experiences from the Rolex, it helps.
 
Assuming that "both" isn't an option, you should go to Sebring. It's one of the best races of the year, in any formula. Daytona really hasn't been the same since it started being a GrandAm race. I know that a lot of talent gets brought in for Daytona, but then so does it for Sebring. You've basically got two opportunities to see the LMP1 cars in America in 2010, make sure you don't miss them!
 
I'm with Giles, I voted both but if that's not an option, you NEED to see Sebring. One of the races I think everyone should get to before they die.
 
As others said both is you have the money. but as for Daytona you should get the Infield pass over the Grandstands. I went into the grandstands once last year for a different perspective of turn 1 and 7. But i preferred the infield a lot better and if your worried about a place to sit just bring a collapsible chair. Sadly i didn't get to head out to Sebring last year like i wanted to but i plan on making it out there this year as well.
 
^^^ With the weekend pass, you get infield, grandstand, and paddock. You wander around wherever you like.

That's at both races, by the way, though Sebring gives you paddock access even with the cheapest ticket.
 
Thanks guys, as it stands, I'm shooting for both. I'll have to see where my money is at after Speedweeks. Rolex being top priority of Speedweeks this year, as well as the Bud Shootout and ARCA race combo. I'd like to make the Nationwide race as well, but that's a long shot. I'm really going to try and make Sebring in March though.
 
I will thanks. It's about time I took advantage of the two tracks. I thought Sebring was much further South, and Daytona I've only really attended Nascar races. I've been to the Brumos Porsche 250 in July, but I just sat in my Pepsi 400 seats, didn't get up to walk around. Grand AM might not be the best series out there for innovative technology, but it sure has some good racing.
 
Sebring is great. You get to walk around the whooole place and they have plenty of stores where you can buy memorabilia and food. 👍 Just expect a lot of rednecks with their RVs partying a lot. You will see a lot of beer.

As for the racing experience, it's great! Again, you can walk around the whole place so you can move to different corners of the track whenever you want. There's this bridge that goes above the track. When you're crossing that, the cars scare the **** out of you going around 160ish MPH.
 
I'll likely party with those Rednecks as I'll have 3-4 days down there. I've been reading there is lot's of partying going on the whole time. I'm going to try and camp for sure.

I'm looking forward to all the good vantage points I've been hearing about. Walkover bridge sounds cool too.
 
I read today in Autosport that the Audi R15s won't be racing at Sebring in '10. This is down to the fact that Audi claim they can't make the car compliant with new rules, and Peugeot have refused to grant them a waiver on some elements of the rules.
 
Aw, don't tell me the French would change the rules in some tiny little way to benefit a French racing effort?

Again?
 

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