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24 hours of Daytona

To: autox@autox.team.net
Subject: 24 hours of Daytona
From: Heyward K Wagner <sportscar48@juno.com>
Date: Mon, 01 Feb 1999 16:06:39 EST
I was at the 24 hours as a SCCA corner worker, here are some observations
on this years event.

Race politics can ruin almost anything.  The USSRC, a division of SCCA
has proclaimed that the Can-Am car (AKA WSC) is the "premier racer" in
the world and thus should be the winners of what they believe to be the
"premier sports car race" in the united states.  The problem is that the
GT1 (Porsche, Panoz, etc) are faster, especially when the Can-Am cars
have to stop for fuel more often than GT1 because the rules require a
smaller tank.  As for the premier sports car race in the United States,
there where more exhibiting cars at the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta and
there are 23 better races every year at the runnoffs.
        There was also no support races to speak of this year, (see also:
politics).
There was a two hour vintage race on Friday.  It amounted to a two hour
rolling car show.  In past there has been a Speedvision Cup race (See
also World Challenge, Firehawk, Escort Challenge, Playboy, etc.)  This
has provided an exciting race for spectators as well as a chance for
developing drivers to showcase their tangents in front of the teams they
hope to drive for.
        We did have a great time, it was a fun event, but the event needs
a lot of improvements if it expects to be considered one of the worlds
greats.  Much like winning Indy under IRL, winning Daytona without the
GT1 class is not as impressive.


Heyward Wagner
ES Honda Civic Si #48
North Carolina Region 
Flagging And Communications


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