A long, funny catch-up turns into a vivid first-time Sebring report: the town feels tiny and grim once you leave the downtown festivities, but the race week is pure automotive chaos. The big story is the trackside camping “compounds” that people build like Burning Man—complete with themed structures and years of tradition. Race day delivers at night: fireworks, burning couches, and a tense GT battle. They also debate modern partying, discuss drivers and paddock culture, and end with post-race drama and a few offbeat personal asides.
Peter returns from Florida to give his report from Sebring on homemade scaffolding, night race vibes, and the DRAMA. Also, all three of your hosts went on some kind of tangent that had to be cut from the episode, and not just for time! You can hear the secret removed bits on our Patreon-only episode 113.
You can support Alloy with a membership here: https://alloymag.com/sign-up/
Get Peter's 2025 record Half-Staff Blues here: https://peterpeterhughes.bandcamp.com/album/half-staff-blues
Your producer pal Matty, who writes these, has nothing to plug. support my wonderful co-hosts ty ty ty ˖⁺‧₊˚ ♡ ˚₊‧⁺˖
"Yeah, I I do think it's it's more temperature than anything else, but um go bowtas mode
It'd be nice to have a sauna the guy at the farmer the farmer's house we were at today had a um
sauna"
A sauna is a small room that gets really hot so you sweat. People use it to relax and feel better afterward.
A sauna is a heated room used for relaxation and sweating. In car contexts, people sometimes talk about heat management—how hot environments affect comfort, recovery, and even how you feel after long drives or events.
"Valtteri bowtas just had on his instagram story like we got a guy who set us up once now
I can have a finished sauna anywhere while i'm on tour for formula one and then the camera pans over and it's his"
Valtteri Bottas is a Formula 1 race car driver. They’re using his example to talk about how he stays comfortable while on tour.
Valtteri Bottas is a Finnish Formula 1 driver known for his time with teams like Mercedes. The hosts mention his Instagram story to illustrate how he uses a sauna while traveling for F1.
"I can have a finished sauna anywhere while i'm on tour for formula one and then the camera pans over and it's his
Like bromance buddy panning the phone over and he's just over there naked in the sauna waving like great."
Formula One (F1) is the top tier of open-wheel motorsport, with teams traveling constantly for races. The segment uses F1 touring as the backdrop for why someone would want easy access to recovery/comfort like a sauna.
"Recently returned from a first time visit to seabring florida Um a town of 11 000 people and is that real? Yeah"
Sebring is a place in Florida that’s famous for car racing events. If someone says they went to Sebring, they’re usually talking about a racing weekend and the cars that come with it.
Sebring refers to Sebring, Florida, which is closely associated with motorsport—especially the 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race. When a podcast mentions a “Sebring report,” listeners should expect discussion tied to track culture, racing weekends, and the kinds of cars that show up there.
"... some of the Porsche guys drivers and and the Taylor boys were were there just kind of you know answering Doing a q&a kind of thing in the park"
Porsche is a well-known German car brand, and they also race in competitions. When someone says “Porsche guys,” they usually mean the Porsche racing team or drivers.
Porsche is a German sports-car manufacturer that competes heavily in endurance and sports-car racing. In IMSA-style contexts, “Porsche guys” typically refers to drivers, teams, or cars associated with Porsche’s racing efforts.
"got to the track found the the You know place to get like my credential and stuff"
A “credential” is an access pass (often wristband, badge, or lanyard) that determines where you’re allowed to go at a race event. For tracks, credentials are commonly required for pit lane, paddock, or media areas.
"He's like
[823.0s] No, he's got to go to the pre staging area
[826.3s] what I discover
[828.2s] Is that the pre staging area?"
It’s basically the “waiting line” before your car is officially set up to run. You drive into it first, then later you get moved into the exact spot where the race timing starts.
At drag strips and similar motorsport venues, the pre-staging area is where cars line up before they’re fully staged for a run. Officials or systems then move cars into the staging area when it’s time to start the timing sequence.
"because there are no I mean, there's like a few kind of like VIP areas where you can like pay to reserve, you know your your spot for your fucking you know giant RV or whatever but most of it"
Some events sell “VIP” spots so you can get a better location than the general crowd. It’s usually about convenience and space, like where you park or set up.
VIP areas at motorsport venues are reserved sections where fans or teams can pay for better access or preferred placement. These areas often come with perks like closer proximity, easier entry, or more space for vehicles and RVs.
"And the spots that are like the party zone spots Which is like a huge area of the of the track of the infield Um That's all just like it's open like there's not even fucking, you know, like at walkins glenn"
The infield is the space inside the race track. Some events turn it into a big hangout area or camping zone.
The infield is the area inside the track boundaries, typically between the turns. Many events use the infield for camping, fan zones, or “party” areas because it’s contained and close to the action.
"So I I had messaged him just being like, you know, hey man, I'm coming to seabring [1062.6s] Where where do I want to camp that I'm like not going to be like in the shit?"
Sebring is a famous race track in Florida. Race weekends there often involve lots of planning for camping and getting close to the track.
Sebring refers to the Sebring International Raceway in Florida, known for endurance racing and a multi-day paddock/camping culture. The speaker’s focus on camping access and proximity to pit lane/media areas fits how Sebring weekends are organized.
"Which was just basically like right across, you know right over the bridge from [1093.3s] From the the front straight, which you know gets you over to the media center pretty quickly and pit lane and all that stuff"
Pit lane is where race teams pull in during the race to do things like tire changes. It’s usually a restricted area, so location and access can be a big deal.
Pit lane is the service road along the track where teams stop for pit stops, refueling, tire changes, and adjustments. Access to pit lane areas is tightly controlled, so being positioned nearby can matter for how quickly you can reach team activity zones.
"Which was just basically like right across, you know right over the bridge from [1093.3s] From the the front straight, which you know gets you over to the media center pretty quickly and pit lane and all that stuff"
The media center is where press and broadcasters work during the race. If you’re close by, it’s easier to reach interviews and updates.
A media center is the hub for press and broadcasters during race weekends, typically used for interviews, press conferences, and credentialed access to information. Getting close to it can reduce walking/time barriers for journalists and content creators.
"Whatever prep for or whatever like for a 12 hour race is like ..."
A 12-hour race is a long race where the car has to keep going for about 12 hours. Teams plan ahead so the car doesn’t break and they can keep it running the whole time.
A “12 hour race” is endurance racing where teams keep a car running for roughly half a day, managing speed, reliability, and driver fatigue. Prep often includes careful setup, spare parts planning, and a strategy for pit stops and repairs.
"Whatever prep for or whatever like for a 12 hour race is like ..."
Endurance racing is about making the car last for a long time. Instead of only chasing speed, teams also plan for staying reliable and fixing problems quickly.
Endurance racing focuses on lasting reliability and consistent performance over long periods, not just one fast lap. That changes how teams prepare—more emphasis on durability, heat management, and repair readiness.
"Go buy a new car from a dealership or I could buy this old car And spend thousands of hours Fixing it ... It's like Totally irrational ..."
This is the idea of buying an older car and spending a lot of time fixing it up yourself. It usually isn’t the cheapest option, but people do it because it’s part of the hobby.
The speaker contrasts buying a new car with buying an older one and spending “thousands of hours” fixing it, which is a classic project-car mindset. It’s often driven by hobby motivation, not pure cost efficiency.
"Daytona is the same thing for NASCAR and for for the 24 now I feel like"
Daytona is a famous race track in Florida. NASCAR and other racing events both happen there, so the vibe can feel similar even though the cars and rules differ.
Daytona is most famously associated with Daytona International Speedway in Florida, a key venue for NASCAR and major endurance racing events. When people say “Daytona is the same thing,” they’re comparing the spectator experience and culture across different racing series at the same track.
"Daytona is the same thing for NASCAR and for for the 24 now I feel like"
NASCAR is a popular American racing series with stock cars. People often talk about the fan experience and atmosphere as much as the racing itself.
NASCAR is a stock-car racing series in the U.S., known for oval tracks, close racing, and a strong fan culture. In this segment, it’s used to contrast the “vibe” and cost of attending races versus other events.
"...end up at at turn seven which is the the hairpin turn which [2338.4s] I mean it's the thing I finally fucking understand seabring now like the layout..."
A hairpin is a super tight corner where the track basically turns back the other way. It’s usually where drivers have to slow down a lot and place the car carefully to get back up to speed.
A hairpin turn is a very tight, slow-speed corner where the track turns back on itself, usually requiring heavy braking and precise steering. At Sebring, “turn seven” being a hairpin makes it a key spot to watch for braking points, traction, and driver line choices.
"...s a great, uh very exciting move in in, uh Uh in gtd where antonio foco, uh I was sad because I was r..."
The Golf is a compact car that’s made for everyday use, like commuting and errands. Some versions are built to be quicker and more performance-focused than the standard model. If it’s mentioned in the episode, it’s likely because a particular higher-performance version is being discussed.
The Golf is a compact car model known for being practical for everyday driving while also supporting performance-oriented versions. It’s significant in car conversations because there are multiple trims and special editions, including higher-performance variants that get discussed in motorsport or enthusiast contexts. In the podcast context you provided, it sounds like the Golf is being referenced in relation to a specific performance category or setup (like a GTD-style racing context).
"But but yeah, I mean the press box used to be in that glass tower. It's not anymore like that's vip shit now
I used to I used to say this about uh detroit and I think like there's"
The press box is where reporters and media people sit during a race. It’s usually a special area with a good view of the track.
A press box is the media viewing and working area at a race track, typically elevated and equipped with sightlines, power, and communications. Changes to the press box can reflect upgrades in how events are covered and how VIP/media access is managed.
A grid walk is basically a pre-race walk around the cars lined up for the start. People use it to look at the cars and talk to the teams before racing begins.
A “grid walk” is when drivers, media, and fans walk through the starting grid before a race. It’s a chance to see the cars up close, talk to teams, and capture media content.
"You'll remember uh at the um, the rolex 24
That race started. I was gonna ask if he was in that pile up"
The Rolex 24 is a famous long-distance race where cars run for about 24 hours at Daytona. Teams race for the best overall result and also for their class.
The Rolex 24 is a major 24-hour endurance race held at Daytona International Speedway. It’s a cornerstone event for sports car racing, where teams and drivers compete over a full day for overall and class victories.
"That race started. I was gonna ask if he was in that pile up
He I think he's the guy who caused it."
In racing, a “pile up” is when multiple cars crash into each other and end up bunched together. It can force many cars out of the race and slow everything down.
A “pile up” in racing usually refers to a multi-car crash where cars collide and stack up, often triggering additional impacts. These incidents can quickly reshape the race by causing retirements, safety car periods, and damage that affects drivability.
"And everybody in the paddock who would like presume you've spent a ton of money to just be associated with these guys"
The paddock is the “team area” at the track. That’s where crews work on the cars and where people notice what happens during the race.
The paddock is the team area at a race track where cars are serviced, crew members work, and teams interact. It’s also where reputations spread quickly—especially after incidents that affect other competitors.
Corvette is Chevrolet’s famous sports car. When Corvette teams are racing, a lot of fans show up, so you’ll see longer lines for their drivers.
“Corvette” refers to Chevrolet’s performance sports car brand, which has a strong motorsport and fan following. In racing paddocks, Corvette teams often draw big crowds, which can affect the length of lines at fan events.
"Kevin estra ... had been uh Ordered to um ... basically basically followed followed team orders ... and then ... Felipe nazar and the seventh car disobeying team orders and passing him for the win"
Team orders are instructions the race team gives drivers during the race. Sometimes they’re meant to protect the car or secure the best overall result, but a driver might ignore them if they think they can still win.
In endurance and sports car racing, “team orders” are instructions from the team to drivers on strategy—often to maintain a position, manage tires/fuel, or avoid jeopardizing the car. They can become controversial when a driver chooses to ignore them to chase a win.
"like, uh
[4349.1s] That's racing like nah doc this is imsa doc. We don't have to do that like
[4354.8s] They're not gonna fire us like I mean, that's the thing is estra"
IMSA is a big sports-car racing series in the U.S. and Canada. Teams race different cars under rules that shape how they’re built and how they race.
IMSA is the International Motor Sports Association, which runs major sports-car racing in North America. In IMSA, teams compete in classes with rules that affect car setup, tires, and race strategy.
"[4441.1s] I think they might be getting uh getting beat
[4448.6s] I mean the thing is they they they were so clearly faster than anybody else. I mean like in in one of those those uh
[4457.7s] Kind of late race cautions
[4460.3s] when jimmy and I were you know, we're in the back and and uh"
A caution near the end of a race (often due to an incident) slows the field and bunches cars back together. That can dramatically change strategy and make it easier for faster cars to close gaps or for teams to execute a restart attack.
"Anyway, I don't know what I'm gonna do, but then I saw uh president old front Got the just illegally Uh funding the tsa and I was like see Comes comes through for me again. Like look"
TSA is the agency that checks people and bags at airport security. If TSA staffing or rules change, it can affect how long the line is and how stressful boarding feels.
TSA is the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, which runs security screening at airports. When people talk about “TSA funding” or lines, they’re usually referring to how quickly security checkpoints process passengers.
"we're gonna have to go back
and um
And do some post mortem on that one and see yeah
because
Yeah, that um"
A “post mortem” is basically a review after a problem. They’re saying they’ll look back at what happened and figure out why it didn’t work.
A “post mortem” is a structured review done after something fails or doesn’t go as planned. In automotive contexts, it often means going back through decisions, diagnostics, or deal/listing outcomes to identify what went wrong and what to change next time.
Select text to request an explanation
Um, I've been writing all week. I've been trying I've been like so I mean it's so fucking slow because um
I've just been very um
Just busy with bullshit too. Just like appointments and in
um
Yeah, making your making your signs for the no kings rally today. Exactly. Yeah. Oh, yeah
That's that takes a lot of time
Down with this sort of thing. Wait, was it today? It was did I did I missed they lived out today?
It was big live out there again
I missed it again. I was also doing a bunch of bullshit and writing so solidarity
Yeah, but um
Guys gotta get some lamps
Yeah, lamb access
Get the lamb hookup somebody get some of the hookup with somebody who's got little lambs
The thing they say the thing about
The thing about like going to to florida
um
I mean you guys know that like I mean you've heard me complain for months now about just like how
I mean, they're sick or just like racked with pain and and you know, it's just like
Just it's just been just been non-stop
Just kind of shit show for me and my body for months
Um, hang on someone's chanting outside our window
Chanting
Did they think you're the kings? Yeah
I heard something I'm backing you up on that
Are you at the some kings rally?
Oh go out on the go out on the porch and yell at him
Darkie
So so then I I've you know, I went I
Drove to florida and spent in the better part of a week in florida and then drove all the way back
um
And when I got back, I mean apart from being like really tired from driving
Uh straight through pretty much
um
Like
Like I felt I felt I felt good
It was like a very very alien thing or was like like, um
Why I woke up and like
Nothing hurts today. Like nothing's bothering me
like yet and and um
And I went to like
I went to physical therapy like on you know, I got I got back on on monday like around midday on monday and um
and tuesday is my
pt appointment so I so I go to and and uh my dude's just like, you know, well, how you feeling?
You know, and I'm just like it's weird. I feel like
I feel weirdly fine
And and uh, he says well, let's see like, you know
You know, put your put your arms up and you know, like do the just like, you know, do the range of motion things, you know, and and
And I go through and every one he's just like
whoa
Like
The restorative power like like basically like
Well, I don't know. I mean is there stuff you want to work on still?
Wow
Went by and I just reset my whole shoulder all the bones vibrated back into place
Um, like can we do some deadlifts or?
Yeah, I mean, that's what he did. He had me like lifting weights and shit. Um, wow, but um
Anyway, but but of course the punchline is
um
Today I woke up and and like and you know since then
You know, it was nice here when I got back and or at least, you know, moderate and then like the last couple of days
It's like back to being, you know, like fucking sub sub freezing and um and just like shitty
And it's like and I'm right back to just being like
I know
And it's like, yeah, my shoulder fucking hurts again
And I woke up with a fucking migraine this morning. It's like god fucking damn it, man. I had a week
I got like a week off
That's pretty good. But uh, yeah, it's like do you think it was the heat?
I don't I wonder, you know, I have to I have to think it was like
I mean, maybe some part of it is is psychological, but I do think that like
I do think that when it's cold, I just like I hunch up more, you know, yeah
Tensing up
Yeah
I do for sure
I mean, I think there's a psychological thing too like where you're just stresses. Yeah, like causing you to
Right, but I will tell you I don't I don't like the idea
That having to go to florida. Yeah. Yeah, that's like
like if if if
If the thing that I have to do
To like not worth it live pain-free is move to florida
Not worth it. I mean, I had a good time. I had a good time in florida. Yeah. Well, that's gonna be part of florida
Um, I had a really I mean as always I always have a good time in florida. Um, but I
Really have a hard time imagining
living there
The uh
You should run some experiments on it though. You should turn up the heat in your house for a day and see if it feels better
Yeah, you should uh
Did you sleep? Did you camp?
I did camp
Because I will tell you
If I have
like
Dakes and pains and like tight muscles. Yeah, like seven out of ten times
It's
From sleeping in too soft of a bed and if I sleep on the floor for a long time
It straightens everything out or if I camp like usually like I will
That really does tend to help me
Um, like I I've been sleeping on the floor for weeks and a little dog mat down on the floor
Like a dog
It does it does help a lot like my shoulders and hips and stuff
But you should experiment with that too because if you could figure it out
Be a whole new world could be the heat. Yeah try this try a sauna. I do. I do finish. I think
Yeah, I I do think it's it's more temperature than anything else, but um go bowtas mode
It'd be nice to have a sauna the guy at the farmer the farmer's house we were at today had a um
sauna
Then I was eyeballing it like I could make one of those together in the weekend
Listen
Valtteri bowtas just had on his instagram story like we got a guy who set us up once now
I can have a finished sauna anywhere while i'm on tour for formula one and then the camera pans over and it's his
Like bromance buddy panning the phone over and he's just over there naked in the sauna waving like great. I love formula one now
Thank you kind of laugh very good. Great. I am my quality of life is so much better. Anyway, there are guys who build
Isanas wherever you want forward forward that to uh, what's your name georgia?
Yeah
Oh my god, that's right. I read another half a million words of georgia. I have to update you guys on at some point
It's not do you want to get into oh, I mean I wait well, let's well, let's let's go let's go peter mode
Oh, is that a patreon thing? Yeah, yeah, we have time to get to georgia at some point
I'm almost due to read or which is like now. I don't now. I'm horrified. I don't have no idea
How bad it's going to get for me not for them. They're doing fine for me
There's a little pump house in the backyard that I promised I would turn into a playhouse this summer
But I'm like thinking about it and it's like
That could be a sauna
Good and really sweat it out. Yeah
Anyway, is this the stuff you wanted to talk about peter? I was trying to anticipate
I was trying to gas. Oh, no. No, my stuff is I mean my stuff is just all
Just my trip my my seabring my seabring. Okay carry on. I'm in my mind. Okay. I was I was uh,
I was imagining
The list of things that you compiled prior to coming on
And I was trying to anticipate
So that's what I was talking about the lambs. That's what I was talking about the sauna stuff
I've done hot guy watch now. We're on track. Yeah
Uh
What's the podcast? Oh, yeah, it's our show
Uh, it's tired the car podcast for people who understand that cars are bad
With your friends rory and maddie and me peter
um
Recently returned from a first time visit to seabring florida
Um a town of 11 000 people and is that real? Yeah
um
Yeah, like one of the one of the first um
Like I gotta say man the the
The thing that that um when I joked in the chat about um
About seabring making Daytona
Yeah seem like paris. Yeah, um, I'm not fucking joking like
Like
I expected it to be like trashy but not
But like a town 11 000 people smaller than traver city. I mean, it's a it's a town but um
But it's it's it's a small town. It's a very small town. I mean, there's fucking nothing there. I mean, it's it's just like like there's a little
You know tiny cute little downtown where they had the um
The the transporter parade and and the kind of you know, the uh
Like the the night that I got down there like on tuesday night
They had like the little kind of
The thing in town, you know, like the the imsa imsa night in town, you know people can come out and
And um, and it was nice, you know people came out and and that little park that little downtown area is nice
I sat ate Cuban food like while the
transporter parade went by
um, and it was a scene, you know, there were lots of people there and there were some cars and and um
and you know dunham was there and and uh
um some of the
the Porsche guys drivers and and the
Taylor boys were were there just kind of you know answering
Doing a q&a kind of thing in the park and hey, you know, it was it was fun. Um
but um
but yeah, you get like
a couple blocks from that park and um
It's pretty fucking grim, man
like sea brings kind of a fucking armpit
and and um true florida
Yeah, it was a military base, right?
Well, so so so I mean that's the town the the airfield is is like it's I think it's like seven miles something like that outside of town
um
So so you drive you drive out of sea bring proper
Um, and it's you know, like 10 minute drive down the road
And that's when you get to the the airfield
And um, and that's where where the track is
um
There's not much there. I mean there's a fucking airport. There's there's kind of like that that um
That pit structure
um that I sent you guys the pictures of that and that um like when I I
I pulled in and uh
You know, I found I mean the camping thing it was it's a whole fucking thing man like where
I mean, I showed up in the in the early afternoon
Um, and I kind of took my time, you know, I mean I uh
You know, I got into to florida in the early a.m. And after you know, taking a couple of cat apps on the way down and um
Um
And and I rolled you know roll
Like I say it took my time wash the car off because the drive was just like like I was driving through fucking blizzards all night
um coming down through the mountains in west virginia and shit
um
And and I didn't want to have like filthy car all week. So I like I stopped and washed my car and um
and then
yeah, I got to the
got to the track
found the the
You know place to get like my credential and stuff
um
And I said well, so I thought I've got like a campground like where do I do I just go there like oh, yeah, I just go around there
Okay, cool. Um
So I go to the entrance thinking like I'm just gonna like roll right in right and
There's no line or anything
Um, and I pull up and I'm like hey, I've got this, you know
You're like oh, well it doesn't open until two
Um, I'm like, okay. Uh, it's like 10 till right. Um, can I just like post up here or whatever?
Well, and the guy like calls to you know his his buddy. He's like
No, he's got to go to the pre staging area
what I discover
Is that the pre staging area?
um, which is like
Back down the street back down this other street
And it's like to the south of the track. There's just like this fucking
I mean like 10 football fields of of space
Of field
That's just like
rows upon rows upon rows of
RVs campers cars
This is the
The pre staging and like and it's totally unclear like where to fuck it like where the back of this thing is, you know
Like I'm just like like there's nobody there's nobody directing like I'm I keep stopping and like asking people
I'm like, is it my am I going to yeah? Yeah, let's go to the staging area
Okay, man. Um, so I I drive to what I think is the back of this thing and like pull in pull into this this
What seems like the last row
Behind, you know, some dudes in a fucking, you know camper one of those
RV america campers or whatever rental things and um
And I get out and I'm like, so is this
Am I good?
Yeah, they're like, yeah, man. It's cool. How's it going? What appear?
um, I was like, oh good and and um, but no, this is the priest so so the way this fucking works
Is this pre staging area?
Opened a month ago
Like a month prior to the race
And people people come before that and they
Pre-stage for the pre-stage so that they can fucking get their spot in line because there are no
I mean, there's like a few kind of like VIP areas where you can like pay to reserve, you know your your spot for your fucking
You know giant RV or whatever
but most of it
Like and the good the good most of the good spots
And the spots that are like the party zone spots
Which is like a huge area of the of the track of the infield
Um
That's all just like it's open like there's not even fucking, you know, like at walkins glenn
There's like the the shit like burned into the ground, you know for like the spaces like delineating the space
There's none of that shit, man. I mean, this is just like
It's just completely open and just kind of like yeah, man. Go for it
You know you do you and and so people
so it's just this kind of like
kind of just chaos thing that
um
That somehow it is kind of like works out
um
But people do I mean people like like show up a month ahead of time
And just spend the whole time camping or like like lots of people are local
So they'll just like show up the day that it opens
Drop their their, you know RV there and then drive home or whatever just so they've got their spot in line
But I mean these are people people who have been doing this for like decades
Um, they have their spots. They have their their their compounds, you know around the track that they
You know keep from year to year and
and rebuild
I knew where I was going
Because I had contacted my buddy who I met at at indy last year my photographer friend
Can't who I just you know was camping next to
And uh, and he like shoots for like a few different teams and um
So I I had messaged him just being like, you know, hey man, I'm coming to seabring
Where where do I want to camp that I'm like not going to be like in the shit?
You know basically because like I want to have access to the shit. I want to be like
You know, I want to be able to like you don't want to sleep there. Exactly. I don't yeah
It's like I wanted I want to be able to get away from it too
and um
And he like showed me on the map like where he would be and
Which was just basically like right across, you know right over the bridge from
From the the front straight, which you know gets you over to the media center pretty quickly and pit lane and all that stuff
Which that's that's what I wanted and
So I ended up just camping next to him again. Um, and um, but
But it was just like like it's a whole fucking thing man and and
And the it's not just
It's not like at other races where
You know people just pull up and set up their their campsite
um
Here people set up
Like entire compounds, you know where they they'll have like
multiple, you know big groups of of people
Lots of vehicles they'll circle like they'll array them and like
Circles kind of creating like these courtyards along the track
It's very cool the way they you know like a big part of like the backside of the track
um
there's
Uh
There's like a walkway between the track
So there's like the track and then the fence and then this kind of like
You know 10 foot
kind of walkway or whatever and then another fence and that's where the campers are and um
So those guys the those campsites are basically track side, but there's also like a buffer where you you know, you don't have to be like
um
You know we're just like foot traffic can can walk past
and uh
But but these people who are in these track side sites
They start
Like immediately as soon as they fucking get there
They go to work
They they fucking bring lumber, dude
They start fucking erecting these like
You know, it's like like you know like at a trade show, you know
Like when people have like these these like portable structures
I mean people come in with like fucking scaffolding
And like and like trail, you know
I mean some of them are just like pre-built like on on trailers that they just tow in and it's kind of like ready to go there
um
These dudes who who I pulled in behind like when I when I pulled into the pre-stage thing
um
You know, I start talking to them and they're like, you know, oh, we just you know
We just came in I came from this place and he just flew in from st. Louis and blah blah blah
Um, but we got buddies here and and you know, we they've got a like we're gonna have
Like you got to find us man. You got to find us. You got to come back. We'll be between you know this turn this turn
um
We will have the we will have the best set up here. They also told me
they'd been coming since the early 90s and um
You know, I I I asked him I said like is it pretty crazy over
where you guys
camp
and
and he's just like
Ah man, it's it's like it's like 10 percent what it used to be man
You know and and he said that that
Him and his his dudes they all started coming like in the early 90s. I think they're about the same age as me
maybe a little bit younger
So, you know would have been like in their late teens early 20s
um
And they said that he said that like then
it was um
You know, it was it was basically a shit show and um
We lost matty. Uh, he says it'll be right back. Um
That um
Yeah, you would just see like uh
People like fucking in the open
like, you know, it's like
Um, like that kind of so like a real kind of yeah, just debauched totally
Spring spring
Spring bright
Like that that kind of vibe
Um, and he's like, yeah, that doesn't really happen anymore. Um, but he said also that like
The older the old timers
Then you know when they showed up, you know guys who had been coming like since the 60s 70s 80s
Like they're like they they said the same thing. It's like, oh man. This is like, yeah, this is nothing compared to what it used to be
So you can just imagine like I don't know what was going on there in the 70s
If it was just like I haven't seen anybody get eaten here in a long time
Exactly
This is pretty horrible now. It was just like a full on, you know, like orgy or whatever
um
but um, but yeah, that was that was funny to to uh to hear about and um
It's funny the structure thing. It's like, uh
If there's one thing that like car people are really bad at it's understanding, um the
value of their time and it's like
You know like spending however long it takes to build the structure at home or set it up
Whatever prep for or whatever like for a 12 hour
race is like
Such a such a car person thing to do or it's like, oh, yeah, if I I could I could
Go buy a new car from a dealership or I could buy this old car
And spend thousands of hours
Fixing it at at greater expense and then I would have a lesser car at the end. It's like
Totally irrational
Which it checks out that makes sense
Yeah, yeah
Well, and that's also it's I mean
It's not just for the 12 hour race. I mean it is I mean this was
You know the gates open on tuesday
So they're setting this shit up. So I mean, you know, you're gonna be there all week like this. This is a week long thing
um
But yes, I mean, yeah point point taken I mean it is
But but I mean the amount of of just like
Yeah, just kind of work and and planning and
Because it's it's also just like
Like it's it's not just building the shit. It's it's um
Like these things are all
They're all themed, you know, like this is it sounds like burning man for non losers
Yeah, no, it's it is it's kind of it's kind of automotive burning man, you know where it's like
Oh, yeah, we put up, you know, here's here's the here's the western saloon that we do every year, you know
And it's like and it's a fucking like it looks like an old west saloon and they've got
You know, there's fucking there's like a steer skull above the thing, you know and and um
And and there's like a million of these things just around the track all different ones and you know each turn like they've all got their
you know
You know the turn nine crew. We're the turn seven crew. We're the turn ten crew, you know and and um
Yeah, it's it's it's it's pretty
I mean, it's it's unique. I haven't I haven't encountered
That anywhere else although
I will say I mean the the other part of this is that
Every one of these things the thing that unites them all
um
And I wrote about this in the the story is that it's um
They are all unified by by this this this common theme of just
Getting fucked up
Like we are here to fucking rage
And but but the way that this manifests, it's like it's not in people actually raging
It's just like in this all this like fucking like cracker barrel kitsch shit just everywhere
the signs and flags and just like, you know
Like like it's beer o'clock or what? You know, it's just like the corniest
um
Yeah, and and um and I mean this is just it's everywhere and and it's funny the
um
My my other neighbor, you know camping neighbor a guy who pulled up on the other side who who
um
Guy like a few years older than me
First time at sea bring but he's he's been coming to daytona for a long time. He's he's like a tallahassee guy
um
good dude and and um
You mean that's his favorite mountain guts album or he's from tallahassee. He's he's from tallahassee. Okay. Just to clarify
Well, he does have he did work like in in like
He's like live, you know, he's like he's he's worked in concert stuff like for for decades, whatever
Um, uh, he's like, oh, I never worked mountain goats. Uh, you know, I've heard of you guys. Yeah
um
but uh
Anyway, he um
He was he was kind of he was very uh
Not not like
He he's he's he's kind of like I don't know man. I'm kind of reserved in judgment on this whole thing
Like I see I'm seeing a lot of performative silliness around
Like he wasn't buying it, you know guys drinking matcha. They got their tote bags. They got I mean
It's not it's not like that but it's more just like diddy and buck out
No, it's it's more like it's more it's more like fucking it's it's jimmy buffet, man
It's it's that kind of like yeah, totally jimmy buffet. It's like you're you're not here to get fucking
Drunk, you're right to to drink three beers and go to sleep at 10 o'clock
Exactly, but you have the accoutrements of someone who's here to kill themselves with all
That's or I think I think for a lot of these people and and I mean
And I don't want to I don't want to over general generalize because I mean there were plenty of fucking younger people there too
Um, plenty of people younger than me and people partying, you know, and um, but
But a lot of a lot of these crews
Like the big trackside crews
Um, it seems like I mean they're they're boomers and and up and they're people who have been coming here
And and maybe who were were there during, you know, for the rowdiest of the rowdy times. Yeah
But like yeah, you can't do that in your 70s. No, I was gonna say that's like that's been my experience too with most of the racing stuff
like a lot of the
Is that it's just
It's not that fun
To drink a ton if you're hungover for three days
Daytona is the same thing for NASCAR and for
for
the 24 now I feel like
And I don't know if that's better or worse. I feel like for me most of and I and I will say I have not been to like some of the more
Out of supposedly out of control NASCAR races, but it's also like
Shit's expensive to go to now
Uh, and it's like you know what I mean? It's like
I feel like maybe it's a
Different vibe because it's something that you go pay a lot of money for versus like
Something that is more or less free to do. You know what I mean? Like, yeah
I wonder I wonder if like, I mean, I've never been to any of those like grid life
things I wonder if if
Which I know kind of cater to it to younger
Good life is pretty chill. They're graphic and and you know, they've got like
you know
Techno music and like rave style. They're pretty chill. I don't know if people are actually like
Like throwing down or whatever, but yeah, I I mean, I think like I guess in general
The
This is gonna sound crazy to say, but I'm trying to think of like the last time that I saw
A like party party where it was like, oh, this is dangerous like this is like this is a situation
I have we lost have we lost our our american
Like will to party. I think that may be the case. I think
I mean, you don't even really see stuff like like, I mean it used to be you would see you would see spring break
You know, there would always be like news stories coming out of spring break about just like how you know
People had just died of alcohol violence and out of control
I guess maybe like during during during covet like, you know at the beginning of covet, right that spring break
You know, and then those guys said if I get the rona get the rona or whatever, you know, it's like, I'm not gonna suck
Although that boy's got long covet now. I don't want to party anymore
Maybe that's what happened. Damn. I'm trying to I'm trying to think like even
Like college tailgating doesn't seem that crazy anymore. And it's like, right
Yeah, people even get like killed like during like hazing rituals anymore
Hazing is pretty pretty out of fashion these days. They're all those lawsuits, right? All those frats got sued
Right. Uh, did I ever tell you guys this this the story about going to the frat at Hillsdale College? The uh
Hey tyron podcast listeners
It's your producer pal matty. Oh, what's this in the middle of the episode? That's right
I had to cut out so many anecdotes that rory told that are so funny that are only on our patreon episode for this week
Episode 113. So to hear those you're gonna have to wait for that one if it's not out yet
Or if you are back listening, it's probably in the feed
Uh, you'll have to go to patreon.com slash tired pod t i r e d p o d to hear
Everything I cry out of this episode. Uh, you'll be hearing from me again a little later. Bye
Many such cases
You just yeah, it's being in trouble being in trouble as a mindset being trouble is a fake idea
As the great as the great poet once said it's being in trouble is uh
Is uh, what is it? Uh, it's a sign of weakness. It's a it's a
It's a societal construct. Now. What do you say? It's uh
Anyway, um, but don't don't do it. Don't ever think you're in trouble. Um, it's true
I don't what we're talking about. You're not you're not in trouble. You're not in trouble
Until unless and until and unless you uh allow somebody to convince you that you are in trouble. Yeah
Yeah, I and I like I will I will even say
I've been in a jail cell and unconvinced that I was in trouble and I was chopping it up
I was chopping it up with the deputies who were in there and they'd let me go early
and I
I think that's a
That's the power of the in trouble mindset or not being a trouble mindset
One of the one of the guys actually said I can't believe they brought you in for this and I was like me either
Right, seriously, he was like we'll get you out of here and I was like appreciate it. Let me go
Just uh
Oh
man, you should you should teach like a um
Like a master's seminar or something
New jordan peterson your woke two is going to crown you the new clean your room. You're not in trouble guy
Don't worry about cleaning your room. No one can tell you to clean your room
Don't worry about it. It'll be fine. It'll be fine
It's fine
The king of work too seriously man in trouble. Yes
No, the the it'll be fine motivational speaker
so real
Uh, wow, it's true. I will be I I don't even I don't even know how to follow any of that. What were we talking about? We were talking about, uh
If we're fret boys not like a drink anymore. Yeah the partying at sea breaking
Long long story. I'll cut to the chase in terms of the partying
45 minute digression. Yeah, no, it's fine. I saw so little actual partying. Yeah
Until no
Until
it got dark
on race day
like
10 hours into this 12 hour race
We've been here all fucking week, you know
And it's just like come on. This is like all fucking talk. No action
Yeah, um
And then uh, and then I met up with jimmy around around sunday
Good um friend of the pod jimmy friend friend of the pod jimmy pelsari
And
And we we we wandered over
To to the kind of to the shit show, you know to the the the
That that back back stretch like between those those turns where all the the real action is
um
and
Suddenly now
like
It feels like a party, you know, like with the cars going by
You know with the brakes glowing and the fucking exhaust spitting fire and the car's going down to you
And now like people are really out and it's like
Like yeah, and and and like all these places that I had walked past like, you know a dozen times
Throughout the week and just been like
Nothing, huh? Whatever whatever man like now it it had come alive and um
And jimmy you know and the thing is like like these all of these spots like where these people have these places
They want you to come in, you know, it's not like this is just for us
Yeah, I know no they're fucking hosting a party. They want to fucking, you know, like they're harangue, you know
It's almost like they got barkers, you know, it's like come on in, you know
And um, so we ended up, you know jimmy bought a shirt, you know turn 10 crew shirt or whatever
um
We we went up on the their their platform and and watched uh for a long time
Totally great super like the vibe was was was like awesome and
You know we headed down we passed my dudes who I I had I had found my my guys from from the uh,
From the pre-stage area like early in the week and and they're set up
It was it was fucking incredible
It was like it was so
So sketchy
But I mean it was like fucking three stories the top the top platform is just like this like very narrow platform
That's got two couches on top of it and it's just like to get up there
Like you have to climb this fucking ladder that I mean the ladder itself is perched upon like the second story platform
That's already like 20 feet in the air
That is not the ocean four foot distance is required for a ladder
And this ladder this ladder is like straight up just like fucking vertical, you know
And I've got my fucking chunky hocus on and I've got my camera and shit
And the dudes it's like he's like go to the top go to the top man. It's safe
Dude, I want to go in there with a clipboard and they like ocean regulations for a scaffold and be like like bro
If you got to tell me it's safe like no, that's a classic. I'm safe
But I went out there the thing is I went up there
I went up there. It was awesome. I mean it was fucking rad. You could see forever. I mean it was just like
I mean it was as sick as
But anyway, so so you know jimmy and I like we we walked down we we end up
at at turn seven which is the the hairpin turn which
I mean it's the thing I finally fucking understand seabring now like the layout
The thing about like watching it on tv. I mean I've watched it for fucking years on on you know youtube or whatever
videos and stuff
And it all just fucking looks the same, you know, I mean it's just flat and there's just you know the background is just
Fucking RVs and trailers and shit, you know or just like warehouses at one spot or you know
Like sometimes they go past the airport or whatever, but it's just like
It's it's everything just looks like everything else. It's impossible to tell where they are on the track
Now I fucking get it turn seven is the one is like one of the few spots where you would recognize it because that's where they
Go around that corner where there's the hotel
I am on the outside of the corner
But on the inside there's like a like a viewing mound and a grandstand and and this is one of the areas where like
I mean it's it's a really cool spot to watch and and there's like the videos
You know, they've got one of the big kind of portable video screens there, too
So you can actually like like that's kind of where I wanted to
End up for the end of the race
Because we just be able to
It's like it's a good action spot for the cars, but it's also like you can you can
You know actually keep track of what's what's happening in the race as the race is winding down
But it's also
Um
I had I had noted earlier in the day
there were a number of
Conspicuous couches that were newly arrayed on on this
Embankment and this is this is a thing that you would see like, you know throughout the week, you know
People with their couches and it's kind of there's kind of the famous
Sebring thing of like at the end of the race. They set the car just on fire
We used to do that. We used to do that at michigan state, too
Go on
Yeah, so so anyways, so we end up down at at at turn seven for the end of the race pretty exciting
um and
You know last last few laps. There was there was a great, uh very exciting move in in, uh
Uh in gtd where antonio foco, uh
I was sad because I was rooting for for the uh for the harder racing aster martin
That was leading with with dudu barrakello
but, um
foco
Last lap final lap like made the move and uh had been hounding hounding that car for for laps and got past them
But that was cool porches
Porches had been winning the the whole fucking race whatever we can talk about that later, but um
Point is race ends fireworks go up the fucking couch is now on fire
The thing i'm just like like and just and everybody's just fucking, you know, it's just this this sea of humanity
Surrounding this, you know what's now like a bonfire just going like
You know flames just 20 feet in the air with this backdrop of the fireworks going off back here
um
Super fucking apocalyptic super awesome. You know it's like
And you know it burns for like 10 minutes or whatever and then you hear like the walk walk, you know the
It's like oh shit here comes the fucking
You know, it's like they're gonna spray everybody run, you know, because
They get out the fire hose and they're spraying
um
Yeah, it was it was um
It was pretty awesome. It was pretty rad and and
Yeah, it really felt like like the whole the whole week
Was just kind of waiting around
for for those
For those those last two hours and that thing and the thing I said to jimmy as we're you know as we're walking
and and we were both just fucking drinking it in and
And just how how great it was just you know the cars, you know and and just the vibe and and the people and everything I said
The problem with most races
Is that they happen during the daytime?
It's so much fucking cooler at night, man
In the dark, it's just another fucking animal. Yeah
There's just something magic about it. I mean, it's like every fucking race that I've ever been to
That's in the dark. It's just that's true
It's just rad. Um, yeah
And and with sea bring it's so compressed, you know, it's just like this this this, you know
Little sliver at the end that you get but um, but man, it's that's the money
there is
I
think it does go back to my
my being tired
thesis of
How nice it is to be tired like when you've been doing something all day you wake up early in the morning
And it's like you're 12 hours into it and you're starting you're starting to get into the zone of
Good tiredness or like good fatigue when like yeah magic can happen
Yeah, well, especially when you've been just like listening, you know
Years have been pounded by fucking race cars for 12 hours. Yeah, it's like it's taken it out of you like you're the like getting like
That fatigue and then it's like yeah, the good
The good that's good. I jimmy has told me and you have told me I think now that sea bring is more fun than daytona
Um, which I always have such a good time at daytona and I I need to
To do sea bring at some point. Um, yeah, I don't I don't know. I don't know if I would say it's more fun
It's um, it's just it's a different it's a different animal. It's a different thing
um, it's
Yeah, um, I don't yeah, it's I'm still kind of wrapping my head around the experience. Um
It's it's mostly not that pleasant because it is so so just kind of primitive and shitty. Yeah, you know
It's just um
I mean, there's not really any comfort. There's not like a cool, you know, the fucking even like the media center, you know, which which
I I had access to
It's
It's just like these tiny rooms with no windows. Yeah
You're not even up in the fucking thing, you know, like like the there used to be I
Oh, I um
I met uh, steven cole smith said to say yeah, he he emailed me and said he met you and that you seem like a guy
Yeah, yeah, no he it was it was uh
Yeah, do you have steven cole smith stories?
He's I liked him. He's the best. Yeah. Oh, okay. Cool. Yeah
He uh, I don't have any bad stories about steven cole smith. I'll say that
cool
um
But yeah, I mean, but he was telling me how like, yeah, the you know
The the press box used to be up, you know, where you think it would be in the in the tower with the you know
Because there is a tower, you know, um in on that kind of that pit laid structure that that um
That has all the the uh
The years and the flags and the cars that was cool. Yeah
That's the thing that fucking knocked me out when I fucking pulled up
And and saw that because it goes back to 1950 fucking
Man
And and just like and going and I mean I I knew
kind of
I hadn't I had I mean I knew the history
But it's like when you actually fucking go back
Yeah, and and look at at not just the the people who I mean, you know, fondio won there twice
There is the fondio terrace
Yeah
And and the back part, you know that the fondio chicane, which is that the back part of the track that we were walking along
But um
But like
I mean fucking mike hawthorne. Yeah, you know
um
Like fucking rene dryfus. Yeah, I mean they're like he's just fucking names from another like they were like
Another age, you know, I mean fucking rene dryfus is like a fucking pre-war driver. Yeah, you know
He drove fucking bugatti's in the 30s. There is
Go ahead
No, I mean that's that's I'm so just like that layer of it is crazy
But but yeah, I mean the press box used to be in that glass tower. It's not anymore like that's vip shit now
I used to I used to say this about uh detroit and I think like there's
There are places
That are old and that have not been
Kind of like substantially remodeled when it's like, yeah, probably they they should you know, like right sea bring
Would probably benefit from a little spit shine here and there
But the
The their value kind of like as that
I don't want to say like a museum or whatever, but it's like in detroit. It's like
You know, you go to a major american city like chicago or or new york or whatever and it's like
Those cities have been
Remade half a dozen times since since the turn of the century, you know since whatever
Uh in detroit has not it's like detroit came into existence
and froze
Mostly in the 60 50s and 60s and it's like so like the the level of like
it's like
The same buildings the same door handles the same elevator buttons were all here like they were all you know
I mean, it's like and that's like probably the similar thing at sea bring where it's like
Yeah, this is like uh kind of shown its age a little bit, but it's also like
Uh fund you touched this thing that's here now
That's a thing, huh?
And I mean and I mean the track the track itself the course itself has has sure
Has has has evolved, you know over time. It's gone through through a number of different layouts
But but there are large sections of that course that have remained constant since since that time, you know since the original
um layout and and
But kind of most importantly is just
the
The general air of the place, you know
it it
It's impossible to think that it has
That it was any different then, you know, I mean, yeah, right just because you know
Yeah, I mean it's because it's just it's just this kind of inhospitable place
Yeah
and um
And there aren't you know, I mean apart from like, you know
That that tower, you know being this kind of like tiny concession to like well, we got it
We need a vip space somewhere
And that hotel
I mean, that's it like there are no fucking amenities
So weird like permanent ones. I mean the thing is like, you know, there are
I mean like for camping and stuff, you know, I mean they bring in like the portable showers and stuff that are actually quite nice
I mean, it was it was fine. I never felt like
uh
Yeah, I was I wasn't uncomfortable in in that like in a hygiene way, but um, but it just yeah, it's it's um
I also I think I also got lucky just because this year was
Uh extremely mild temperature wise like it's usually very hot and very dusty and dry
um, and it was uh, it was
Super nice the whole time I was there like race day was like the hottest day and and that got up to like
I think like 82 or something. You know, I mean it was it was very comfortable
It's funny the like
I love
I love the MC schedule for this but like
You have
This world of people who are like
I have been to monaco have go to the mall every year
Do you like I said I said this in the story, man
Like I love I love
I love making them go to Daytona and see ring and just like
Got have a look have a look around fellas. Like this is what the rest. This is what america is like and it's like
I mean, that's the thing I have to think that that I mean, I actually I asked um
I have I have a whole list of of like my my kind of impressions and encounters of of of people that I ran into but um
But one of the people I talked to briefly was um, it was this guy harry king who is is a young driver who is um
English
Kid who's who's driving uh with nicked handy in the uh, the aio
Uh
Porsche the the rexie or yeah, roxy this this weekend
But um and he
He apparently is just like this total phenom, you know, and and um, I forget like what what series he's come out of
You know, it's like Porsche stuff or I think like, you know, whatever english series, but um
But he's he's kind of like this this real kind of up and coming
Driver and and and pairing him and he's english and pairing him with nicked handy. He's he's kind of like a young nicked handy and and um
Uh, but I saw you know, I spotted him, you know, just like
before the the grid walk out there and and um
And I was just like hey man
You know, is this is your first time here?
He's like, oh, yeah, you see that first every everything here every, you know, everything this season, you know, like this this whole this, you know
um
Everything that i'm doing this year, you know, and it imsa will be new i've never raced in the states before
And uh, and I asked him just kind of like like what I said
It's my first time here, too
And I got to say like i'm kind of like I mean, what do you think it's kind of a dump, right?
Yeah
And he was he was very diplomatic
Um, oh, yeah, yeah, I mean he was he was way fucking too polished. I mean like like all these fucking young drivers
Yeah, yeah, just like way too polished to give me the answer that I was like
I mean it was actually very funny because
Um, I don't know if he just like had noticed, you know, like my laminate
Said media or whatever, but it was it was almost like I had just I had just like pulled the cord on him
Because he immediately just started talking about like, you know, the car's feeling really good and we've got a really great shot for this week
You know, you know, I'm just like
Okay, man
I'm gonna go fight for you this sucks
Like no, no, this isn't real. This is an alloy. Look it says alloy on it. What is that? It's like i'm not actually like
Yeah, yeah, no, no, no. It's not like that at all. I'm just here to talk shit, man. Yeah
This just gets me in for free this
Uh, but it's cool
He was I mean that's that is genuinely the line that I use when I get into a conversation with somebody that I
Something I hear some shit that I'm not supposed to hear. I'm like, yeah, I'm not gonna remember this
Let's be 24 hours from now. How would I know? How would do I look like I'm taking notes?
right
But that's the thing is like like I have to think though that for those guys
You know for drivers coming over from from Europe or or wherever else in the world
Um and and coming here specifically to race in imsa
um and going to places
like fucking seabring
I mean, I don't they are getting no go ahead
They are getting a more accurate
um, yeah
Their idea of what the united states is is so much more accurate and representative than that of almost any other person
Coming here for work or as as a tourist, you know
um
Yeah, it's true. It's very and it's very
I mean, it's like I don't even know
And it's like, I don't know. I guess I only go to europe for work or as a tourist. So
this is like kind of stupid to say but it's like
What would be the equivalent in europe of a place like seabring?
I mean, there certainly are places like that in in england and germany like where they race bangers and like
Yeah, I mean, I live in the town or whatever, but like I've definitely I've definitely played in
In some towns
in the uk or in germany or in uh, you know, they're just like
Yeah, this is this is like this is not a
This this is there's no reason to come to this place. Yeah
I mean, there's there's a lot of places. Go ahead
Good. No, but I was just gonna say I mean, but I mean in some ways. I mean when it's not in germany, um
uh, those are some of my favorite places to go because because it
They are the places where it's like. Oh, this is a real place. This isn't. Yeah. Yeah, this isn't
I mean like just showing off here just out of curiosity. I mean, it's like when I was in fucking per
You know when I did that that, you know land rover trip in peru
um
And they took us to fucking, you know cusco and and machu pichu and and you know and did like this insane drive
My favorite fucking part of that was the fact that we ended up in that weird city
Wonkayo like for an extra day because you know our plane out, you know our flight out of there got got
cancelled
Um
And this town which is just like
Just a city. I mean, it's it's a proper city just like in central peru
That is like
It's not a place that anybody goes to it's not there's not a single tourist there. Um, it is just a real
gritty
Authentic fucking like it's just a real place. It's a place where people live, you know and and um, and it was so cool
You know and it was just full of fucking red, you know like eighties
You know toyotas and hundays and shit, you know for me to take pictures of and and um
But I loved it. I mean I loved just that it was it was so like
Like oh, this is this is actually
Peru, you know, it's it's it's um
Yeah, like I felt like I got more of a sense of of what life is like here
The two days that I spent in that city than I did any
Many other part of it
There are there are places up here and I was like reading a news story up here about like, um
It's like whatever I was like, uh
Kids who live in these little towns up here and it's like oh they have to make a decision about like
Whether they're going to stay in this town or like go elsewhere to like pursue a career in education or whatever
and the
Just of the article was like well, why do they have to?
Choose between their home and like having a career and
The thought that is in the back of my head is like I'm from small town. I'm like
I like I feel like I have a right to say this or maybe like at least like the context to say it
But it's like why did these towns exist at all and it's like
like Traverse City
Um
It's like whatever it's on the water at least like you know what I mean like there's a port there like I could like okay
Maybe like that's a con that's a reason historically for a city to exist
but there are so many cities up here that are just like
Absolutely no
geographic
Significance or difference from yeah, like like the absolute wilderness
That is 20 miles in the other direction and it's just like there's a town here
And it's like, uh
I don't I mean like that's that's I guess like the seabring thing where it's just like why is this here
Why it's like from a european perspective. It's like what like what but it's like because some guy came here
And it was free and he was like all right
Look, you know what I mean like or like the fucking wheel fell off my wagon. So I guess this is where I live like it's like
um
Yeah, it's like
I I love I love that for the europeans to come and get that experience. It's a very very satisfying for me
Yeah, it's it's kind of like um
It's it's it's sort of just like the very long the very long arm of history coming back where it's like hey
Yep
It's kind of your fault that we're here. Yeah
And uh, you guys did your your your forefathers did this and ours have done this and here we are meeting in the middle somehow
Yeah
Now the one european who does not deserve to suffer any kind of uh slings or arrows at seabring is of course our
Beloved main man ferdy havesburg who you ran into peter
Yeah, I did ferdy. Yeah, had had a had a really nice um
So he was here driving
um
I can't remember if he
He was at he was at detona, right? Was he driving the same car?
Is he doing the full see he he must be doing the full season with um
He was in
the um
The number 18 the the era motorsport
Lmp2 car, which is the the navine rau
car that's the guy who um
Yeah, navine rau is is uh the tech billionaire
um
What I did look up his let me pull up his um, please
Oh, shit, we're out of the areas
Uh, he he founded a company called nir nir vana n e r vana, of course. That's clever. Yep
Yeah, um nir vana the company
The band it was let's say it's a it was a leader in the deep learning field
Oh, yeah, of course before he founded that he was a neuromorphic machines researcher at qualcom
Where he focused on neural computation and learning in artificial systems
So he's an ai guy and he his his company's called unconventional ai and I think it's worth like four billion dollars or something
um, but he's also the guy who um
You'll remember uh at the um, the rolex 24
That race started. I was gonna ask if he was in that pile up
He I think he's the guy who caused it. I think he was he was he was the uh
He was the the culprit the guy who was at fault. Wonderful who set off that chain reaction of of the billionaire bloodbath
Um
But um
But yeah, and and he I have to say I mean I did encounter him, you know throughout throughout the week just kind of
He
You know a lot of these guys like they're very they're very type a and very just kind of like
Intense and especially like the the the techie guys. Um
He seemed nervous. He seemed he seemed like um
Yeah, I did not I did not yeah, I he did uh from him at all. He did uh
Pretty publicly fuck up the last race for every well. Yeah
And then and then get called on the carpet by the rest of the field uh for the whole rest of the weekend
I would be
I don't know how you show up to see bring if if you do that at Daytona
And everybody in the paddock who would like presume you've spent a ton of money to just be associated with these guys
Uh, and they're looking at you like you are the biggest fucking loser on the face of the planet. Yeah
I mean good for him for going but I would be nervous too. I'd be uncomfortable
I'd be like, you know, that might be a moment where I'd be like I am in trouble
Yeah
You know what this is a this is a rich guy who does have an
Sort of interior self. That's very exciting. That's he's not a mark andreason guy
He hasn't read the book. Well, he's probably uh several times smarter than mark andreason
True. Yeah. Yeah, the other the other part. I mean they did have at their
Um
At their autograph table like you know, they have the the autograph session on like the day before the race or whatever were
You know, all the teams like put out their their
tables in front of their their garages and and you know fans can go and
Get their shit signed or whatever
They had a bunch of boxes and of course like, you know, I mean
The the rexie
booth is is just like a complete fucking crazy party going on
with you know, dj lcd sound system and pumping and you know, like
fucking dinosaurs dancing around and
You know seven zillion fucking kids waiting in line and
You know and and like, you know the the wane taylor, you know
They've got they've got a big line and in the corvette guys
I got a big line and you know
And then there's like the other table
It's like there's nobody fucking waiting
Fucking in the aeromotor sport line
But they they did have boxes and boxes of shirts of free shirts
And
And I grabbed one and I got it. You guys are gonna laugh because it's just
It's I mean they spent
I mean, I have to think they spent several thousand dollars just printing these these shirts
Um, and this is this is what they came up with
Awesome, it's just it's just a picture of the car of the race. Wow
And it just says 2026 msa
um
sports car championship
It doesn't even say the name of the team. It doesn't say the name of the driver really good
It's just it's the most fucking generic that rules
That rules that is like I tell you what though from here that looks like it's in registration looks like a good print
Oh, nice. Let's go on the back. It just says unconventional a.i. That's funny
It's just so that sucks and like that's so good. Yeah, that's great. That's like an ironic
That is it's like a the share zone t-shirt. Yeah
Graphic design is my passion with the frog. You know, yeah
It's so it's so it's so weak, you know, it's like come on guys
I mean, it's cool that you you want to give away shirts, but it's like
Could you I mean, no, no, we'll just have my son do it. He's he's a graphic designer
I mean the thing is this is a this is a this is a case where a.i
Would have made something better
You fucking have an a.i. Company. Yeah, give it to the a.i
Have the a.i. Design a shirt, man. It'll be better
That's pretty that's pretty bad
It's pretty good, but um, but yeah at the table
At the table with uh, navine brow and
whatever other
silver driver
was furdy and
and um, and
And I've met him before and you know years ago like took took a
Picture selfie with it
Which just like I thought was funny at the time just because it's like ha ha ha i'm you know
Me with a hapsburg
And yet um
And then and then you know come to discover in the uh kind of intervening years that it's like
Now furdy's actually kind of fucking furdy rocks. We love furdy
He's he one. He's a very capable. I mean he's he's not a fucking
He's not a rich guy. He's getting paid. He's not a paid driver. He is getting paid to drive
At a very I mean he drives for out fucking alpine, you know in the wek
I mean he's he's like it's a serious thing a top tier dude
um
And um and and it seems like at least part of his politics are kind of right on
um, and I
I made a point
I I approached him at the table and kind of got close enough to him kind of in his ear that like the other guys wouldn't hear
I just I just said hey man
um
I'm pretty sure you're the only person here who has um talked on your socials uh about your support for uh for palestine
And I just want to tell you uh that I respect the hell out of that
And um and he smiled really big and he shook my hand and he said thank you brother
And um, I just thought that was fucking cool. That's great. Um
That's right me again, uh, we bullied adam adelson for about 10 minutes
So that's also in the patreon along with a couple other anecdotes, uh, some inappropriate comments. I made and uh
You know what? I'll I'll leave a little mystery
patreon.com slash tired pot episode 113
Yet untitled as I finish editing episode 112
Look forward to that. Uh, if you're not subscribed yet, also
You are missing out on some really fun stuff. So hop in five bucks a month. You know how it is
Okay, that's it for me for this one actually. Okay, bye
um, but so it was just very very funny to get his kind of um
insider perspective on the uh, the
Yeah, probably got to keep that off the pot unfortunately, but
Yeah, that's very funny.
I was like going through and I'm like, I'm pretty sure I know this
I'm I'm figuring this out or I'm I'm two or three clicks away from knowing that this is
Yeah, uh, but that's uh, that that's very funny
really good
Yeah
Yeah, oh, but uh the the thing the last thing I was going to say was did you guys catch the the uh, the post-race
drama
at the
Girls were fighting
Yeah, I did not I did I did not make it back to the um
To the uh, well, I did make it back to the to the media center to get my shit and um, but I did not hang around for the uh
The post-race press conferences. So I did miss the um, the extremely awkward
uh
press conference where
um
Kevin estra
Who had been driving the the six car?
um, and had been uh
Ordered to um
Oh, yeah, basically basically followed followed team orders
um
and and then
um only to have
um
Felipe nazar and the seventh car
um
disobeying team orders
and
passing him
for the win and um and estra basically in this in his press conference, which is saying, you know
I mean it was you know, we fought very hard and and estra who is like like one of the most fucking
Like balls out aggressive
Like cutthroat fucking drivers like
You know, yeah
Like any like in sports car racing
anywhere
Like he kind of very pointless, you know, he said
You know, it's it's a great, uh, you know victory for the team. Um, unfortunately, it's you know, I I
It has always been my
um
You know like part of
You know, I I came up, you know, I am loyal to this team and and I respect team orders and and that is you know
Unfortunately, you know other people, um, maybe have a different agenda or whatever
And it's like he's saying this as fucking nazar is just like two seats away. Just kind of going
Yep
It's also just like scoreboard
Yeah, yeah
like, uh
That's racing like nah doc this is imsa doc. We don't have to do that like
They're not gonna fire us like I mean, that's the thing is estra
I mean, he's coming over from from the wek, you know, where he's been racing for the last several years
I mean, he would come over for the big races here occasionally
um
But um, but this year is his first year doing the full season in imsa with uh Porsche having withdrawn from
Yeah
They're not gonna fire you don't have to listen to that. Just keep going. You're not in trouble. You're not in trouble. It'll be fine
You're not in trouble Felipe
Yeah, you can't get in trouble. I mean look at rory carol driver coach. I should have been like
Should have been in his year. Hey listen, if they tell you you don't have to do you don't have to do that shit
They're not gonna fire you
Yeah, you're good
But yeah another one too for the Porsches
Well, it's good to see them getting a break out there
Porsche
Well, and and also in the in the other classes. I mean they they won in them
in
gtd
Like I said, no they won in ggd pro they won in uh, yeah
Nice to see them getting a getting a break finally
Yeah
I think they might be getting uh getting beat
One would have to imagine that there's some uh some conversations about that between the other uh teams
I mean the thing is they they they were so clearly faster than anybody else. I mean like in in one of those those uh
Kind of late race cautions
when jimmy and I were you know, we're in the back and and uh
And it was like when the wheeling car was was you know in the the Cadillac was in third
Between the two Porsches and it's like all right, you know cars are grouped up now
and and acons
Jack acons in in the in the Cadillac
And jimmy's just like
Gotta make something happen, man. Now's the time. You know you got it. You got it. You know gotta go for it
and
You know and they come around first first green lap
Then they come around the next lap
It's like the Porsches are like three seconds out man
And I said to jimmy I was just like dude. He can't make something happen if he can't catch them like they're fucking running away
They're not yeah, they're schmovin
Yeah, that was my impression too. It was just like
You know my
My philosophy with the airport is to arrive and be parking like 20 minutes prior to boarding
um
And it's served served me really well. I think I've only been burned out at once
um
Gonna be a little less cavalier this time. Well, maybe give it 25 minutes. That's no, but that's the thing is I don't like
I don't like being pressured
by
the circumstances and I feel like
Yes, it is more of a challenge if there's a four-hour line and I have to get on my plane
uh in 10 minutes
But that's kind of the fun and Christina was like
Um
She was like you're wasting all of our family's luck on this stupid shit. You should be saving it up first
Actually matters. Yeah, and I was like, that's interesting. That's actually that's actually a very good point. That's interesting theory. We're all gonna need need some luck
Yeah
so
Anyway, I don't know what I'm gonna do, but then I saw
uh president old front
Got the just illegally
Uh funding the tsa and I was like see
Comes comes through for me again. Like look
I I wouldn't say I agree with it
But it's like it is a stroke of good luck for me personally like
It is it is going to make my life somewhat easier
over the next week
So, um, here we go. Speaking of of of our wives. Can I can I can I just add one one final?
Yes, by all means
Uh
Patricia told me that she
Went to a psychic today. She hasn't been to a psychic in, you know, 20 years or something
But it's like something that she would occasionally, you know, just checking and just
Changed vibe check. Yeah
She's she's considering she's she's uh considering some some work
options
but um
So she talks to this lady for a long time. They do they throw some cards or whatever and and um
um and
apparently
I I never came. I mean, she wasn't really looking for for
psychic, uh
insight into
Into my fortress or our fortress together or whatever
um
But maybe at some point she mentioned something, you know, but she was married and
Um, and as she's she's leaving well the psychic is going to know that she's married
I guess so. Yeah, obviously
Also, also notably wearing a ring in a in a uh in a place that indicates anyway. Good. Damn. Yeah. Good. Yeah
Sure, that comes over here
You could be excited
Dude, you're cold read man is is is what came up in the first still ball. What kind of pressure?
Well, the the she she asked
My wife
If her husband
Works with cars
Oh
And
And uh and she said
Um, well, yeah, I mean he he has and and um, yeah, he
He does do some like is is he going to keep doing that? She said yes. I see that he's he's going to
continue
to work with cars
I think uh, wow and I said wow and I said I said
Did she say anything about me getting paid?
Because because because because the word work kind of implies
Well, no, you are working. You are doing
Yeah, it's it's how how much you're compensated or alienated or et cetera from labor with
That's a key preposition with cars fair point. You're sort of working in communion with a car when you look at the
When I when I drop my kids off in the morning
At school. I tell them I am going to work. It doesn't matter that I'm not getting paid for it
I mean, they don't know that part of it, but I am going to work. I go sit in front of my
And do do stuff on the website so
Well, anyway, I
I I thought that perhaps the fact that that the psychic foretold
My my continuing to work with cars
um, maybe maybe that's maybe that's a an indicator of
of uh
Things to come on. Yes
yeah, hopefully, um
Well, we should I should have given her some shit to ask about because I got some some pitches out there that could solve
A lot of our problems
With regard to getting paid to do work about cars, but anyway, call the hotline yourself. It's a whole thing
Yeah, maybe maybe give me the phone number. I feel like the husband's gonna work with cars
It's probably like a 5050 like, you know, like it but it's not I mean listen, I don't feel like that's a 5050
I feel like that's that's a pretty unusual thing
Especially in Rochester if you if you were in metro Detroit, it's like, uh, does your husband work in cars?
That's what the psychics do is they're like is your husband more and then like you're as you're kind of going to be like
Well, oh, yeah, he does he drives a car. He drives a car to work every day
The thing that she said the thing that she said was was does he drive an uber?
And
And of course patrice said no
But but she said well, I see I see him driving a lot
I see in the us of a but yes, that's how he gets around. No, that's right. That's how you get around. You're right
Yeah, here's the thing
The the fact that she I mean I did drive a lot like that fucking drive
Yeah, I mean I drove to fucking florida and back word in a car like more or less non-stop
That's the longest. I mean I've done I've done lots of long drives over the years, you know, 12 and 15 hours here and there
But I haven't done a fucking 20 plus hour drive
um
In like 20 more than 20 years. Yeah
um
So that was that was pretty uh, I mean it was it was great. It was fun
I loved it. It is great. Would have been cool if it had been like a real college shot like I see a pan swap
I see
In the future and the blue why hasn't why hasn't he fixed his sub? It just eats a pan swap
I see it. I see it in my mind
Him and a very small man and a much an older man who was the editor of car
I see I see a I see a lift in in northern michigan
He's in a welder. You see the former editor of car and driver and a larger man and a smaller man
Cartoonish almost in their divergent proportions helping you pan swaps
There's there's a man who keeps saying it'll be fine about your car
A small mouse-like man who's got stuck on a wheel bearing is rotating slowly
Now that
Uh
Yeah, man, I feel like we got a couple
I have my work cut out for me this week fellas. I got a lot to do. Sorry. No, it's good. I'm going on spring
When we wait too much time between I start. Uh, it's a yammering. No, it's no, it's all right
We we owe we owe our listeners. We owe them a fun one apologies apologies to listeners for our um
Our uh, what do you call it?
Absence. Well, yeah, we're gonna get caught up for you now with this one with this one
Yeah
All right, many approved. Stay tired. Stay tired. Stay tired. Rory safe travels. Yeah, Rory safe travels. Uh, we'll see you out there
Best of luck. Uh
Yeah, we'll be uh
Be interesting week. We'll see uh, see you at the end of it
I can't wait to hear about uh
Yeah, I mean a lot of exciting
reveals
Uh, I believe there is one
Did you see that?
God this this episode is never gonna fucking end. Did you see that they fucking killed the the other honda? Yeah, I am
Then just keep killing hondas man be a feeler
The sooty honda be a feeler
I feel I think we gave that one a feeler that I gave that one a pretty low chance of
of uh of success we're gonna have to go back
and um
And do some post mortem on that one and see yeah
because
Yeah, that um
That was not gonna work
First they killed the zero and I feel uh, I feel uh, like you should have thought about this one
kind of uh, yeah that one kind of prestige like I feel uh
I feel uh, yeah, I feel I hardly know
You
Request an explanation for:
1 cars
1 cars featured
Request an Explanation
Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.
Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.
Want to learn more?
Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.
See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark.
Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.
Report incorrect info
Suggest better explanations
Flag missing cars
More from Tired: The Car Podcast For People Who Understand That Cars Are Bad
