Searched before I posted, but didn't see anything..PLM is next weekend. Posting it up in "off topic", because the ALMS ain't exactly Grassroots..
So, y'all coming? I'd sure rather camp next to you guys than the other animals in the infield..at the moment, I'm thinking the hill overlooking the entry to Turn 5. Up there, we're close to the bathroom, and can see over the top of the stupid fences.
Only problem is, the $2010 Challenge is the same weekend.
I still have not decided... I may hold out for the savannah historics, cuz my little sister goes to college down there, and it would be nice to see her.
Ooh, the Savannah Historics sounds like a nice one! And in the Nov. CM (I suscribe to both mags), the staff reports Jack Baldwin sez the Hutchinson Island track is a little more interesting than people give it credit for. Jack even wrote a turn-by-turn for it.
I don't think I realized the Challenge was the same weekend..
I'll be bringing the family to the Petit again this year. I cant wait to hear the prototypes and see the BMW / Ferrari / Porsche / Vette GT2 battle.
friedgreencorrado wrote: Ooh, the Savannah Historics sounds like a nice one! And in the Nov. CM (I suscribe to both mags), the staff reports Jack Baldwin sez the Hutchinson Island track is a little more interesting than people give it credit for. Jack even wrote a turn-by-turn for it. I don't think I realized the Challenge was the same weekend..
Methinks Baldwin under-states the track quality.
It's a unique "street" circuit in that it was purposefully-designed as a track that would be used as a public road for planned commercial development. But, it was/is a real track.
The PacWest Indycar (CART) team ran demo laps at the inaugural event, for some publicity and to see if the track could accommodate the series for a real race. That was FUN to watch.
NATCC, Indy Lights and F2000's were the feature races and all seemed to adapt to the track quite easily.
I'm flying in Thursday night, will be at the track all day Friday and Saturday - pretty excited for my first trip to Road Atlanta 
Kabel, from where? Just curious. Road Atlanta's local to me, and has been one of my favorite places in the world for almost thirty years now. If we GRM folks can agree on a place/time to meet, I'm sure we'll make it a good time for you! I ain't the only "local" guy here for Rd.A..
Ill be there. Got free tickets last night in a raffle! I'm gonna try to get a EZ-UP on spectator hill as well as my tent on the back straight. Just look for the Revo Technik tent. Oh, fresh pots of coffee will be served by me! 
Missing it for the first time since 2001. Meh.
Um... Someone brought their houseboat... 
DukeOfUndersteer wrote: Um... Someone brought their houseboat...
Strangely enough, not uncommon here. There are two big resevoirs here, and a lot of the locals have all their party facilities (alcohol storage/music playback systems/refridgerated food storage) on their barges.
I'd have to start a new thread to explain how & why the local fans do E36 M3 like this at Petit. Long story short, the locals were in the habit of camping here in the Fall back when the SCCA Runoffs were here. Dr. Don decided to replace the Runoffs with the Petit to keep the track making money during the Fall. Petit got "big", and a lot of the locals that attended the Runoffs in a tent as kids now go full-tilt crazy now that it's a "Pro" race, and since they're now adults with real jobs, they can do stuff like this.
In reply to friedgreencorrado:
Flying in from Orlando Thursday night. Staying in a Westin off I-85 somewhere between Atlanta and the track.
My plan is to be there all day Friday and Saturday. You know the track better than I, what is easy to find and what is a good time?
I'll pm you my contact info
Yeah, the Challenge and Petit share weekends. Most of the GRM staff will be at the Challenge (I know, a shock), but Steve and Intern Zach will be up at the Petit. Stop by the booth and say hi.
Some friends of GRM will also be there: Kabel (hey, he's family), Peter Brock and Patrick Long. Look for Shane Lewis, too. He drives a GT3 Porsche. By the way, if you do see him, stop him and ask for an autograph. He's definitely one of us--just a nice guy who knows how to drive. He also has some cool sideburns.
Oh yeah, a PS. Andy Lally, also a nice guy, is running this weekend. He's also big with the tweeting thing: @AndyLally. To keep tabs on Patrick Long, follow @pLmotorsport.
One day we will make it down there, but this year I will have to watch it tape delayed on my vacation. Hopefully the hometeam gets another good finish.
kabel wrote: In reply to friedgreencorrado: Flying in from Orlando Thursday night. Staying in a Westin off I-85 somewhere between Atlanta and the track. My plan is to be there all day Friday and Saturday. You know the track better than I, what is easy to find and what is a good time? I'll pm you my contact info
ALMS makes it easy for folks on any ticket to access the paddock ("For The Fans" they say, right? ) as long as you're on foot. Even though it's quite the walk for someone without an infield car pass (most spectator parking is actually "outside" the circuit, and the hills here are much steeper than any track map can show), it's worth the trip. Most of the vendors (including the food!) will be along the crest of the hill above the front straight. Climb the hill to the Suzuki bridge over Turn 11, and go straight until the road is closed to automobile traffic.
If you get tired of walking, Rd.Atl usuallly runs a series of shuttle busses during Petit. They will get stuck in traffic on the access roads behind all of us who have car passes, but since the race is damn near 10hrs long, don't sweat it. Enjoy the atmosphere.
As far as actually keeping track of the race goes, bring a radio that picks up FM frequencies. Preferably one that you can hang on your belt, and use earphones. The track PA system is also broadcast on a small transmitter on "pro" weekends. Can't recall the exact frequency, but IIRC, it's down around 93 or so. Also IIRC, there are signs on the infield roads that tell you what frequency you need to tune.
Other stuff: Passing zones at Road Atlanta: Turn One, Turn Ten (the chicane where "The Dip" used to be), Turn Seven. For the brave (Rock on, Allan McNish!!), also the approach to Turn Five (I was never brave enough to make a move on somebody there, but the pros should have more talent than I!!) and Turn Seven (risky! leads onto the longest straight on the circuit! Bad exit equals bad lap time!)
Turn Nine is a pretty good place to witness just how berkeleying fast modern Prototypes actually are.
Other stuff about living at Rd.Atl: even though the bathrooms in the infield have what looks like a place to take a shower, NONE of them have hot showers. I'm cool with that during the Summer..but in the Fall (and yeah, I've done it at previous Petits, when I spent the whole week there), I only go there when no amount of alcohol is enough to disguise the smell. The only reliable hot shower at Road Atlanta is the big bathroom on the edge of the "Club" paddock, behind and slightly South of the Tower on the track map (please recall that the Track Map has "south" at the top..yeah, it's ridiculous..but it's traditional! )
David S. Wallens wrote: Yeah, the Challenge and Petit share weekends. Most of the GRM staff will be at the Challenge (I know, a shock), but Steve and Intern Zach will be up at the Petit. Stop by the booth and say hi. Some friends of GRM will also be there: Kabel (hey, he's family), Peter Brock and Patrick Long. Look for Shane Lewis, too. He drives a GT3 Porsche. By the way, if you do see him, stop him and ask for an autograph. He's definitely one of us--just a nice guy who knows how to drive. He also has some cool sideburns.
As a Corvette fan (hey, I'm an American!), I have to admit that I always look for Pat Long and Shane Lewis. Probably not for the reasons you mentioned, though, David...
In reply to friedgreencorrado:
I'm flying blind so this is all good info. I will be getting to the track as early as I can muster both Friday and Saturday (7-8am-ish). I do plan on trying to park infield, any pointers on that?
Kevin I envy you! But I will be at the Challenge.....GRM staff--big screen with Petit airing on Saturday? Yes?
kabel wrote: In reply to friedgreencorrado: I'm flying blind so this is all good info. I will be getting to the track as early as I can muster both Friday and Saturday (7-8am-ish). I do plan on trying to park infield, any pointers on that?
I'd recommend an even earlier arrival time; the infield parking is limited and fills-up VERY quickly.
Also, dress for the conditions. Here's the weekend forecast:
"Tomorrow...Sunny high near 80 lows 47-54
Saturday...Sunshine high 77 lows 46-53
Sunday and Monday...Partly to mostly sunny and cooler than normal highs 68-72 lows 41-49"
Enjoy.
oldsaw wrote:kabel wrote: In reply to friedgreencorrado: I'm flying blind so this is all good info. I will be getting to the track as early as I can muster both Friday and Saturday (7-8am-ish). I do plan on trying to park infield, any pointers on that?I'd recommend an even earlier arrival time; the infield parking is limited and fills-up VERY quickly.
What he said! They may also charge for an infield parking pass (the RA website says $40, and limited availability). So many people camp at this event that they really try to discourage folks not living there all week from driving into the infield.
oldsaw wrote: Also, dress for the conditions. Here's the weekend forecast: "Tomorrow...Sunny high near 80 lows 47-54 Saturday...Sunshine high 77 lows 46-53 Sunday and Monday...Partly to mostly sunny and cooler than normal highs 68-72 lows 41-49" Enjoy.
Yeah, we still call that "Runoffs Weather" around here when it comes in October (the Runoffs were here from 1970-1993). Short sleeves and sunscreen during the day, a sweater or coat at night. Watch the corner workers slowly shed layers during the day, and piling them back on at night..
Well I certainly over-packed to be ready for cold-warm-hot weather and that is why I hope to find infield parking. So much easier to have a "home-base" close by to retreat to and get at supplies.
With the return of Audi and Peugeot no to mention the NA debut of the 911 hybrid. Plus my favorite team, Dyson Mazda, has shown great improvement this season. It seemed to me this was the year to go see it for me. I still had to fork over a chunk of change to get there, but I have been fortunate enough to have Mazda comp my event pass to this event, so there is that.
t-minus 3 hours til my flight...
Where is everyone sitting tomorrow? I have always enjoyed turn 10?
Wow what a track! I saw a lot of GRM shirts out there, sorry I did not stop and say hi to any of you. I was constantly on the go I was having so much fun. Photos going up soon...
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