Detroit Grand Prix

[Axerjk]

This was a hell of a weekend! I ended up going both Friday and Sunday.

Here is a short, action packed video of the IZOD Indycar race, as well as some pictures from the weekend! You'll see the A-10 Warthogs fly over in this one. I will have a vid of the Grand-Am practicing soon!

I hope all of you flaggers are going to bed for about 36 hours straight!

Chris

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View this entire album: Detroit Grand Prix

 

[sca037]

Thanks Chris, looking forward to seeing all the stuff you caught!

Those rotaries were superfreakingloud, just like god intended I guess ;-P

We at Station 8 had the only 'alert' call of the weekend when the Indy Lights #15 did a major 2-wall smack at the fastest part of the circuit then rocketed into our tirewall barrier (thankfully the driver was OK)......that was an OH SH*T MOMENT for sure

Brian

 

[Axerjk]

Thanks Chris, looking forward to seeing all the stuff you caught!

Those rotaries were superfreakingloud, just like god intended I guess ;-P

We at Station 8 had the only 'alert' call of the weekend when the Indy Lights #15 did a major 2-wall smack at the fastest part of the circuit then rocketed into our tirewall barrier (thankfully the driver was OK)......that was an OH SH*T MOMENT for sure

Brian

I heard about that! We left before that happened, but that's a real shame.

I agree on the RX8s, those things were screaming! I loved how the blue one kept spitting flames.

Chris

 

[sca037]

Video of the Peter Dempsey (Indy Lights #15) crash that ended in our tire barriers;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=degdgFuRelw

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If you watch real closely you can see our Yellow Flagger (Adam) bailing ;^D
Brian

 

[Axerjk]

Woah!! I heard about that crash, but we had to leave early so I didn't see it. That was not good. I saw the yellow flagger guy jump away!

Chris

 

[sca037]

Woah!! I heard about that crash, but we had to leave early so I didn't see it. That was not good. I saw the yellow flagger guy jump away!

Chris

Next time Chris, maybe YOU will be the Yellow Flagger that bails :wink:

Dream Team 8 (2012 DGP) by NSXbrian, on Flickr

He hit our concrete wall about 5 or 6 blocks upstream of the station, then like you saw slid along the wall into the runoff (and luckily right to the Holmatro Safety 2 team truck).
They had to fix leading-edge issues at both contact points.
The gear oil smell from that crash persisted for the rest of the weekend

Brian

 

[Axerjk]

LOL You certainly have balls, giving Jiffy the bunny ears! You guys look like you're having a ball!

Chris

 

[sca037]

^^^ You got that right, Chris!

Just so you know, we 'scored' all our incidents over the weekend on our patented Schwing-O-meter.
The levels are "Meh", "Maybe", "OK", and "Schwing".
It had to induce a Yellow Flag at a minimum to get to "Maybe", we're a tough crowd :tongue:
I think you can see where the Indy Lights wall hit rated !!!!

Brian

Schwing-O-meter by NSXbrian, on Flickr

 

[Axerjk]

Uh oh, is there a measurement below "meh?"

You guys put a lot of fun into it!!

Chris

 

[sgraybill]

Great weekend; I enjoyed meeting the flag crew at turn 8. The last time I saw the races in Detroit was 1987 when Formula 1 ran the street course through downtown Detroit. In 1987 Ayrton won for the second year in a row.

Photos left to right:
1-2 Flag crew turn 8
3-5 Leaving & entering turn 7
6-7 Turn 9
8-10 Approaching turn 7
11-13 Indy Lite #15 after hitting wall on back straight
14 Turn 8
15 Run Rocky Run, turn 8
16-19 Turn 8
20 Into the run out at turn 8
21 View of downtown Detroit near turn 8

 

[sca037]

^^^ Steve, GREAT pictures, thanks for sharing.

It was fun having you hang with our Flag Crew, we started working the DGP in 1987 too so got to experience the last couple years of F1 before CART took over.
Belle Isle is a much better place to race than the mean streets, eh?

Brian
(Chris, if it's below "Meh" we can't be bothered to score it ;^)

 

[sgraybill]

Brian,

I agree with you about Belle Isle. Much better access for the fans, better viewing angles, and a more attractive location. Working the back straight was a treat; I will do it again if I am able. Have a good season at Waterford.

 

[ThumperAC]

thanks for sharing the pics, what did you do to pass the time during the IndyCar race delay?

also, what happens to the wrecked car debris you get to pickup off of the track?

 

[sca037]

thanks for sharing the pics, what did you do to pass the time during the IndyCar race delay?

also, what happens to the wrecked car debris you get to pickup off of the track?

Aaaargh, don't get me started on how much time IndyCar wastes in our day.
The track breakup was somewhat unforeseen, but they already schedule a 2 hour concert and other non-racing cr@p into the day making me wonder why we need to be on the island for a 6:30am meeting.
Of course even when the track is 'cold' we still have to have someone on Comm in case an IndyCar official breaks a nail or something
I've never seen another series that has such blatant disregard for its volunteer's time.

As to race car parts, yeah we had quite a few that weekend!
The smaller stuff usually gets pitched, unless a worker or fan really wants a memento. That large splitter assembly from the Mustang we carried over to the paddock and offered it back to the team. They were VERY grateful, and said that part has a $1300 retail price.
Having said that, we do have some 'trophies' from decades of playing in traffic hanging in our garage :biggrin:

Brian

 

[Axerjk]

6:30am meeting!!?? That is absurd!! I think it would have been tough to survive that weekend.


Here is part of the Grand-Am series. I included the two 458 Italias and the Audi R8 to keep the video short. I might make one with the Porsches and the RX8s spitting flames.

Chris


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[sca037]

^^^ More fun video!

Hey Chris, since you're buds with the driver I have something from that #69 458 Italia for you.

No, not car parts though :biggrin:

Brian

 

[Axerjk]

Really! I can't wait to see it! I'm kind of glad it's not car parts, because that means he took the car home in good shape.

Chris

 

[Axerjk]

Here's the screaming Porsche GT3s at the race!

Chris


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[sca037]

Your current camera really does capture the sights AND sounds well!

Thanks,
Brian

 

[pjr300]

[Homer Simpson voice]

mmmmmmm..... car parts....... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[/Homer Simpson voice]