I got home from the track at about 2.00am this morning. I think it is safe to say that a jolly good time was had by one and all. Despite some inclement weather on Thursday/Friday, which caused some tent aviating, flooding and the (could-have-been) catastrophic collapse of the Turn Ten "Grandstand" - everyone was in good shape, by the time I arrived at Hendrick Field, at about 8.30am Saturday. Well I say everyone..... apparently Mark Every (JPC) had been singing again and was still in his pit, according to Steve Brown, recovering from yet another rousing performance of 'Mustang Sally'.
It was great to see the familiar faces at Pigeon's Breakfast ('Santa' Phil, Pidge, Steve, Gab, Gab's brother, Smokey, Bob U and Chris). I figured the race was going to start at 10.00am sharp, but was laughed-at and scorned. So I was still standing in the detritis of Camp Pigeon, enjoying my breakfast (4 cans of Nigerian Lager - well, it was St Paddy's) when the grid howled away, at, erm, 10 o' the clock.
I had my manservant/son-in-law, Seth in tow, to take care of coolbox dragging and driving duties, and this allowed me to waft around the spectator enclosures with grace and ease. We spent a couple of hours at the hairpin, before the inevitable trudge to Turn 10 (Abandon hope, all ye who enter here). The place had a very orange feel to it. After courting favor of presence to Turn 10 head-honcho, the venerable Jupiter John, who is one of the nicest guys I ever met, who should pop-up off the sofa, but old baldy himself, Andrew Zarse! He was clearly tired of the "What the f*ck are you doing here?" greeting - and had clearly partaken of an alcoholic breakfast himself, but it was a special surprise that he had made it after all.
I think I bumped-into just about everyone on the forum, who made the trip - it was a pleasure to meet them for the first time - or to renew past acquaintences.
The weather stayed fine, I didn't quite run out of beer, though had to rely on my cache of 'Safety Bud' towards the end and I didn't incur the wrath of 'er indoors for coming home burned to a crisp as I usually do.
I want to say a special thankyou to The Amazing Randy Prewett - who makes all of us so welcome, in his role of Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Turn 10/Team Impala. And thanks again to Jupiter John and Lee Self for the hospitality and friendship. Also a special mention has to go to Paddy Slabberkoorn and his orange army - JLU's all of 'em! I am fearful of another jumbo boozing session tonight, as a farewell until June - it's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it.
What a great weekend - and to all of you's who couldn't make it (US based or from Europe), we missed you, had a few beers in your honour - and will hopefully see you in Florida next year (or maybe in Georgia for the Petit Le Mans, later this year).
Matt
