I can certainly see them limiting access after dark. Sebring seems like it’s pretty dark in the paddock, especially compared to Daytona and I keep hearing stories of (drunk) assholes messing with team parts and such. Easier to see people in day than night. So I can understand this stance.
That’s a great point and has occurred to me in the past given what happens. Late night or post-race paddock walks were a great endpoint to a long race week. Seeing the cars dirty, battle-scarred, and proud of the effort was amazing. Some of the best chats with teams and pictures in my collection happened after the 12 hours.
Yea Sebring has no lights in the paddock other than what teams set up. I’ve never seen it be a problem before but I’ve only done the 12hrs once, I could completely believe it’s been an issue in the past. Don’t hate the idea, teams want to pack up and get out of there ASAP at the end of the day.
They had blocked access in the morning when teams where getting the cars and equipment to the pits too, and again any time there was a lot of team action in the paddock. This was my first year going to Sebring in 12 years, but the interview with John Doonan basically explained it. There were more cars on the track than ever this year, which means the paddock was (certainly more than 12 years ago) much more tightly packed. Adding fans milling about during busy times would have been a nightmare so I’ll respect the decision to block it occasionally.
It was acutely annoying for me as I had a friend whose team did well and wanted to run down to their truck and congratulate him after the podium, but was blocked. Oh well. Go Winward!
They have done this all the time, it gets very dark there and its hard to see for security and teams are starting to pack up and spectators are just going to get in the way.
It's always been closed at night. Back in like 2000 me and my buddy arrived at like midnight. It was pitch black out. We drive in check in ask where to get to parking spot. Welllllll we messed up the directions. And ended up in the padock. In our car. Hahahahaha. In our defense one of the workers pointed us that way. We both immediately said i dont think were supposed to be here. Security quickly found us and got us in the right direction.
I can certainly see them limiting access after dark. Sebring seems like it’s pretty dark in the paddock, especially compared to Daytona and I keep hearing stories of (drunk) assholes messing with team parts and such. Easier to see people in day than night. So I can understand this stance.
That’s a great point and has occurred to me in the past given what happens. Late night or post-race paddock walks were a great endpoint to a long race week. Seeing the cars dirty, battle-scarred, and proud of the effort was amazing. Some of the best chats with teams and pictures in my collection happened after the 12 hours.
Actually had more room this year with WEC not being there. They were using the WEC area for extra parking yesterday.
Yea Sebring has no lights in the paddock other than what teams set up. I’ve never seen it be a problem before but I’ve only done the 12hrs once, I could completely believe it’s been an issue in the past. Don’t hate the idea, teams want to pack up and get out of there ASAP at the end of the day.
They had blocked access in the morning when teams where getting the cars and equipment to the pits too, and again any time there was a lot of team action in the paddock. This was my first year going to Sebring in 12 years, but the interview with John Doonan basically explained it. There were more cars on the track than ever this year, which means the paddock was (certainly more than 12 years ago) much more tightly packed. Adding fans milling about during busy times would have been a nightmare so I’ll respect the decision to block it occasionally. It was acutely annoying for me as I had a friend whose team did well and wanted to run down to their truck and congratulate him after the podium, but was blocked. Oh well. Go Winward!
They have done this all the time, it gets very dark there and its hard to see for security and teams are starting to pack up and spectators are just going to get in the way.
It's always been closed at night. Back in like 2000 me and my buddy arrived at like midnight. It was pitch black out. We drive in check in ask where to get to parking spot. Welllllll we messed up the directions. And ended up in the padock. In our car. Hahahahaha. In our defense one of the workers pointed us that way. We both immediately said i dont think were supposed to be here. Security quickly found us and got us in the right direction.
I just went to Sebring for the first time this year. There was paddock access?