Sebring Raceway means "NO GRANDSTANDS"

[mazda1]

The 12 hours of Sebring is the biggest and most important sports car race in the US, also the most difficult racetrack to watch the race in the world! I've been to many race tracks in North America and this is the only place that I can't see the grid, pitstops, race action etc... That little grand stand on the last turn is horrible , especially when they park trucks all the way to the fence and block most of the back straight. Something must be done!!!!

[fieldodreams79]

there are a few of great places to watch the race, but i would have to agree with you; it is a little weak for the stature of Sebring and the 12 hours.

i have enjoyed the spectating as well as the festivities on my two visits.

[Hugewally]

Originally Posted by mazda1

The 12 hours of Sebring is the biggest and most important sports car race in the US, also the most difficult racetrack to watch the race in the world! I've been to many race tracks in North America and this is the only place that I can't see the grid, pitstops, race action etc... That little grand stand on the last turn is horrible , especially when they park trucks all the way to the fence and block most of the back straight. Something must be done!!!!

And yet as a fan you can walk on the grid before the race and stand along the front straight fence line during the race.

[mazda1]

Originally Posted by Hugewally

And yet as a fan you can walk on the grid before the race and stand along the front straight fence line during the race.

You can walk the grid at every ALMS race, and you can stand by the fence in the pits at most other races too. At Road Atlanta you can read the teams computers (some of them at least) and still they all have grand stands. I was standing 10 feet form MS's Ferrari in the pits at Indy back in 2005! I saw them whole engine R&R from Ruben's car! The next day, I sat in the grand stands. Every racetrack Needs them, every racetrack have them. Not Sebring.

[Hugewally]

Well, if you're willing to pay for them they do have grandstand seating, so whats the problem then?

[mazda1]

Originally Posted by Hugewally

Well, if you're willing to pay for them they do have grandstand seating, so whats the problem then?

Obviously you have been to Sebring. Don't you think we should be able to see the grid right before the race starts, See the pit stops. Don't you think a grand stand in the main straight helps follow the race better, for those who care of course. Sebring removed the grand stand to sell the spots to RV's. This is the " For the Fans " series! They are more for the money than for the fans, don't you think?

[Purist]

If there was a stand there, I wonder if it was out on the grass when the cars could use virtually the whole width of the runway. It would be a royal pain in the ass to drill through 18in. of concrete to put down the poles for a grandstand right along the pit straight.

[mountainstar]

It's not the most comfortable place to see a race. Unless you have an RV or vehicle it's roughing it on flat concrete. There are a few small grandstands and spectator mounds I recall. I probably would not go back unless I was fully equipped or involved with the race.

[Splendid Cat]

At least you don't have the Gulag-esque fences at Sebring we have in Europe.

I have always enjoyed Sebring because of the unobstructed viewing in comparison with other circuits.

Unless you pay a premium for grandstand tickets at Le Mans the viewing is dire, especially on the pit straight.

[fer312t]

Sebring Needs (imo):

- A new, proper, functional scoring pylon/tower (which distincly displays class, and overall scoring) Again, this is a major world endurance event and what they have know looks like something from a run down short track or high school stadium (inoperable bulbs and all.) Nothing fancy needed...

- At least a couple of video screens (one across from the pits, and at the hairpin etc)

- A non-VIP or 'RV only' area in which to watch the cars through two of the best corners in American Motorsport (turn 1, turn 17.)


- Don't let the raceteams monopolize 1/2 the space in the pit box terrances. This is extremely annoying, having paid for a pit box seat...to have huge area cordined off (Audi being the biggest offender) and these are nearly always empty or underutilized...

That little grand stand on the last turn is horrible

That thing is perfectly positioned for instant sunburn death

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by fer312t

- A new, proper, functional scoring pylon/tower (which distincly displays class, and overall scoring) Again, this is a major world endurance event and what they have know looks like something from a run down short track or high school stadium (inoperable bulbs and all.) Nothing fancy needed...

I don't understand why they not use LED displays on circuits:




They can use it for class and overall scoring, but also for news (car # is crashed; driver ... is in car # now). There's room for sponsor messages. You see these LED displays turn up at smaller sport events so it's must be possible to put 5 to 10 displays at bigger motosports events.

[Andy77]

I don't understand the fuss completely. At the 24h at the Nürburgring most spectators are out in the woods and not on the grandstands around the gp-circuit and out there ain't grandstands either. Of course, around start and finish the gp-circuit grandstands look a bit more full but the most of the spectators are still in the outskirts along the Nordschleife.

[Speed-King]

At the Nordschleife the spectator areas are, however, above the track... and you have natural grandstands at Brünnchen or the corner before the Karussell, whereas Sebring is almost completely flat.

[Andy77]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

At the Nordschleife the spectator areas are, however, above the track... and you have natural grandstands at Brünnchen or the corner before the Karussell, whereas Sebring is almost completely flat.

So it needs a camper van and you have your grandstand

[Zurbert82]

For the record there are many circuits that are better off without grandstands such as Lime Rock which features natural hillside seating where you can view in some places more than half of the track. I understand Sebring is flat however based on some random youtube videos it looks like there are still decent viewing areas. Grandstands at Sports Car Racing events are over-rated anyway. Why sit in one spot while you have the freedom to roam the entire circuit?

[JHamilton]

If any of the grandstands or scoring pylons, etc. were there, I'd never use them. I'll be in Green Park in the Hairpin drinking a beer with everyone else and listening to Hindy on the radio.

[The Badger]

I attended Sebring in 2003 and was pretty happy with the circuit the way it was ..... I dont normally do grandstands as there are so many excellant corners around the track and lots to look at .

But ..... its true that the straightway is full of mobile homes .

[HORNDAWG]

Motorhomes.





L.P.

[Lola T70]

Is the rustic nature of Sebring and the very traditional annual Sebring fans waiting for the gates to open to get their annual spot on their favourite viewing spot not part of the romantic appeal of the race?

The track has not changed much in layout in 40 years and has not bent to the pressures put on them to change the track by promoters as other tracks have done.

I also personally like the idea that the fans treat it like an pilgrimage and return to their nesting place year after year.

[TWK]

There is no problem getting to the fence anywhere on the Sebring circuit. There are viewing mounds, and otherwise just walk up to any area, and you'll likely be offered a beer (if not someone's wayward girlfriend).

From the drive over around to the paddock, you can walk the track, stopping along the way, as close to the track as at any road course in North America.

Only IRL and NASCAR fans bring up this rather ridiculous idea periodically. If you want to pay a lot of money for a grandstand seat they have them (they can't sell them out, so that should tell you something). Otherwise, find a friend (that's clearly your problem, you don't have any), and wrap yourself around a nice cold one (or that (now ex-) girlfriend along the fence.

[TWK]

Originally Posted by The Badger

I attended Sebring in 2003 and was pretty happy with the circuit the way it was ..... I dont normally do grandstands as there are so many excellant corners around the track and lots to look at .

But ..... its true that the straightway is full of mobile homes .

I never saw anyone in a motorhome group turn anyone down who wanted to join them along the front straight. (I can only take the huge noise trapped against the pits there for a while, though.)

[JagtechOhio]

Fire,
That's a great idea. Casual fans don't have a clue about what's going on most of the time: the LAD display fixes the problem and boosts sponsor exposure like you pointed out. Capital suggestion.

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by JagtechOhio

Fire,
That's a great idea. Casual fans don't have a clue about what's going on most of the time: the LAD display fixes the problem and boosts sponsor exposure like you pointed out. Capital suggestion.

Are we talking about car mounted displays? How shock resitant are these? Wouldn't they break at Sebring in a matter of laps?

[Dead-Eye]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

Are we talking about car mounted displays? How shock resitant are these? Wouldn't they break at Sebring in a matter of laps?

I don't think he meant car-mounted. But having a few stationary ones around the track would be a good idea, I agree. And probably cheaper than building a new scoring tower.

[fjn356]

Compared to Le Mans, I will take Sebring any day because you can get close to the track at Sebring and I hate sitting in one spot for 12/24 hours. Grandstands would be nice, but I move around so much that they would need to be open seating. What I really dislike at Sebring is the lack of timing and scoring data displays. Even with RLM, I am frequently without the info I want about the class/car I am interested in. And if I am confused, what must a newcomer be experiencing?

Why cannot ALMS provide Wifi? I can take a netbook if they cannot afford the displays and video screens. The cell networks will just not handle the volume for smart phones, although I am now trying to use one at some tracks.