Daytona 2014 - Florida 2

We drove the route we would take to the parking lot for the race, two days before, Just to make sure our memories were working. Then we drove around the track. It is fun to see the vendors and drivers rigs all set up.

Sunday morning we left early and the traffic was not too bad. Drove to the same parking lot, # 10, where we parked last year. It is out in the country side. You get off of high way 4 and take two lane roads through horse country, past barns, county fair grounds, and plowed fields. Lot 10 is a grass and alfalfa field that has been cut down. We remarked how the recent rain had kept the dust down. Last year it was very dusty. We didn't have far to walk to catch a school bus to take us to the race track. They have a loading area set up and people to get the buses parked and you on them as fast as possible. You are off the high way, parked and on the bus as fast as you can move. They remind you to park close and lock your car. The buses drive on the sides of the roads and in the turn lanes and on the frontage roads. I counted 6 school districts.  I found my self just as excited as I was last year. This is the 500 ! 250,000 fans WOW. We had pre race pit passes and went behind the pits and saw how they were set up. Found a car from Idaho, bought tee shirts and hats, a shot glass and drinks. Walked around the infield and then across the straight away into the stands. OK we all know about the high banking on the corners, but did you know from the infield .up to the stands is an up hill  hike across the straight a way stretch between turn 4 and the finish line and turn 1. And then you have to climb a ladder to get up to the gate off the track into the stands ! Boy if the guard had not lent a hand I am not sure I would have made it. Our tickets were as good as last year, at the top of the first section and the people around us were happy to be there.

We enjoyed 30 + laps before it started raining. The race stopped as soon as the rain started. We sat in a down pour for three hours. I know crazy - crazy. Well finely my underwear was soaked and I had had enough. If the school buses were not running we were going to take a cab back to the car. The crowd getting out of the track was awful. Pushing, shoving, the bleachers dripping, rain coming through.the cracks. I felt very short. We made our way out to the tram. It took us from the front to the back of the track. There we caught a school bus back to the parking lot. I am so glad they were running the buses, we were not the only ones leaving. The people at the gates reminded us to hang on to our tickets. They would be good when they started the race.

Our wonderful farmers field was now a swamp. We are lucky we were among the first to arrive at the lot. I was wadding in water and mud up to my ankles. Black mud, grass, rocks and trying not to get my shoes sucked off ! Our rental car was a Dodge Avenger and my traveling companion is a race car driver. That combination got us out of that quagmire. We drove out behind cars being pushed by people, trucks driving back and forth trying to find their way out. Just because you drive a big truck dose not mean you know how to drive. As we approached the road out of the lot, a driver in an Impala stopped and signaled us to go ahead. He could see we were going to make it if we didn't stop.We maneuvered around and over obstructions , shifting and keeping our momentum up and bounced up in front of the Impala. I'll bet AAA was busy that night. We were covered with mud and grass from the truck ahead of us. I saw one girl standing by her car with the rear quarter panel hanging off. Thank you Impala.

Back at the hotel it took a few hours, a tub, and lots of hot water to get me warm and in a good mood again. " do you want to go back ? Our tickets are still good." I will not print my response. They started the race after a 6 and 1/2/hour delay. They ran in the dark.The race was on TV. That was good enough for me, "hello room service ....." Can you imagine that parking lot in the dark after 3 more hours of rain .....

The next morning I began my trip south. I planed on seeing the coast of Florida down to Key West. As soon as we got south of Orlando the weather was better. Only a few hours of rain a few days later.
More later. Thanks for tuning in.