Nov. 30-Dec. 1, 2002 -- I used to go to Sebring to watch the IMSA 12 hour race when I was in college. I won't say how long ago that was, but people like Peter Gregg, Hurley Haywood, John Paul, the Whittington brothers, and Danny Ongias were the ones to watch. BMW introduced the first of their M series cars and Mazda was debuting their all new Rx-7. (You know; the ones we refer to now as "first generation".) So, for me to have the opportunity this year to race where I used to watch the "big guys" play was something akin to returning to my racing "roots". Plus, my Mom, who still lives in Tampa, stuffed me with a great Thanksgiving meal before I left for the track. Who could ask for more?

Central Florida Region put on a very enjoyable, easy-going yet well run event for me to end the season with. And what a bargain! A comparatively low entry fee for three races during the weekend, with the final race counting toward 2003 SARRC points.

They used what is now known as the long course, 3.7 miles, but with the "club" paddock on the north end. This essentially made pit road a short cut through Cunningham Corner, with Start / Finish just before turn 9, and just ahead of the pit entrance. Naturally, I had to pull out my old maps of the 5.2 mile layout from when I used to watch the 12 hours. Although the infamous Warehouse Straight and North-South Runway Straight are no longer part of the configuration, most of the rest of the original roads are still being used. In particular, Pit Row and the Front Straight are still almost identical to what they were so long ago. The feeling of nostalgia I felt coming out of Sunset Bend, under the Goodyear Bridge and past the original starter's stand defy description. I had read that the original track configuration, with so many long straightaways, was somewhat boring to drive. Even though the new layout is considerably shorter, it also has five more turns than before. In my opinion Sebring has evolved into a fun track with lots of great passing opportunities and several interconnected sequences of turns to enjoy.

Just out of chance I met Kent McBee while I was there. He was coming in with a load of fire extinguishers after having worked a corner Saturday when I went out to try to walk some of the track before dark. I knew he looked familiar, but I didn't quite make the connection until we happened to meet again after dinner. It's fun to meet someone whose column you look forward to reading in SportsCar every month, and to find out he's really a pretty nice fellow in person as well.

-- Art Thompson

2002 Races

November
   Sebring
   ARRC
October
   Roebling Road (SIC)
September
   Road Atlanta
July
   Road Atlanta
May
   VIR
   Memphis
April
   Kershaw
March
   Gateway Park
   Road Atlanta
 

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