I'm headed to the Glen in June. First time there.
Where are the best views to be found around the course? Anything I should watch out for?
Wife is coming as well, so camping is out. We have a B&B a few miles away.
Zach
I agree with Chris...there are grandstands at the top of the esses to watch and are a really good vantage point.
there is a tunnel between the last two turns that puts you near the heel of the boot, then another that gets you into the inside of the 'boot' area, so you can get to where Chris said about watching them come down the hill into the boot (called the laces of the boot)
there are also grandstands just outside the track at the last turn before going onto the front straight that are pretty good.
Be prepared to walk a lot. The track is HUGE
But the BEST vantage point is behind the wheel of a car Watkins Glen is one of the greatest tracks to drive...anywhere....if you have any chance to get touring laps or anything like that...take it!
From inside a 914 Race Car
My car was underpowered for this event, and Watkins Glen is a horsepower circuit.
I had about 140 fhp, the MG more than 160.
Nationally competitive F Prod 914-4 engines can put out in excess of 180.
The black & white 914-6 had more than 200 fhp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmwlAK7k10A
My third race ever was at Watkins Glen, when Papa Smurf had a 2L/6 engine.
Chris looks (and I'm sure is..) much faster than me!
Sorry for the poor video...Sony Handycam...way before HD.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ET-56tOjFi0
If you want to experience what its like to go FAST around Watkins Glen....Here's Leh Keen in a PCA race. He did not qualify so he started in the back. Remember, these guys are the fast cars!!
Chris, not sure if you've seen this...very entertaining. Notice some of his passes..."YOU CAN'T DO THAT" I tell myself sometimes when I watch this!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyM-egecTlw
F1 Watkins Glen '66,the sound was awesome,the place out in the wilds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6K78YKA9UE
Nice lap. Never get tired of that drive.
https://www.google.ca/search?q=watkins+glen+blimp&biw=1280&bih=616&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=UwYSVZGYJ8uxsASH-oKYAw&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#imgdii=_&imgrc=4oUYOu6sVjdDJM%253A%3BfIIxNmAU8NjceM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fpthumbnails.5min.com%252F518363107_30_229_164.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fon.aol.com%252Fshow%252Ftranslogic-517191339%3B229%3B164
https://www.google.ca/search?q=watkins+glen+1966&biw=1280&bih=616&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=rQYSVa3FKvTfsATUmYGgCA&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Watkins+Glen+International/@42.4864689,-77.2205988,277469m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x89d05bfa817006e1:0xcc40c4181091258b
Friend took the blimp from Akron to the Glen a few years later as his dad was at Goodyear.
The same Lotus was on display in the British Exhibit at Expo67 the following summer.
(Anyone know what the rules are regarding RC microcopters at race events?)
I can tell you about the Track too, but since I'm originally from there I can tell other things. Exercise your knee and walk the Watkins Glen Gorge, visit some of local wineries. The Watkins Glen International Racing Research Library is cool (I'm a Member) - get a Map of the original Circuit there and then go drive it! Boat Tours on Seneca Lake, Corning Glass Museum, my parents old house where I grew up, etc
Being a competitor, I never realized just how good the spectator vistas were there; over 20 years at the track and I never left the paddock or pits! But a few years ago we did a Koni/Continental race the same weekend as IndyCars and I spent the Sunday checking out the place.
Wicked cool.
Turn 1 outside bleachers are excellent for seeing cars come out of T11, down the front straight, into T1 and through T2 and into the Esses.
The bleachers on driver's right in the Esses are a great place to watch them come out of T2 and set up a pass into the Bus Stop ("Chicane", "Inner Loop", whatever).
The downstream end of the Bus Stop is wicked cool, you get to watch them set up a pass on the straight and then take it going into the chicane...and then see if they can hold into to it existing the chicane and into/through the Outer Loop.
Walk/drive through the tunnel into the Boot, and walk around its perimeter. Plenty of good spot to see them going through the ankle, into and through the toe, up through the sole and heel.
Bleachers on driver's right for exiting the boot (or coming through the Short Course), then T10/T11.
Earth berms driver's left T11 (either from driving inside the boot or across the T11 bridge) to watch them come out to T10, through T11, and down the front straight.
Finally, the front straight bleachers give you a good view of T10/11, front straight, T1, and some limited viz of T2 through Esses.
Personally, I prefer to wanted the whole track during the day and check out all these places. Each has its own plusses and it's a fantastic spectator track. Wish they'd bring back F1!
This is why Leh now gets paid to drive...races the Weathertech Porsche....
Man among boys...though in that video I think he was only like 24ish
Are there any spots where you can sit on a hill or get a vantage not blocked by fences for photography?
We are going to head up Thursday, and probably spend Friday touring the area (winerys, gorge, etc). Head to the track Saturday and scout for spaces and watch the race Sunday.
Zach
There are fences (FIA & Nascar mandated) everywhere. You can get high enough in the grandstands to get shots with a good lens. To get closer you need a Press/Photo Pass.
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