Road Atlanta trip 2007
04-26-07 Road Atlanta
Day 1
I am writing this from the infield of Road Atlanta in Braselton Georgia. It is about 1900. I have just spent the last 12 hours in and out of the rain in my 1977 Datsun 280Z. Right now I am listening to the patter of light rain on my tent while sipping a glass (plastic) of box Merlot. Classy huh? There are a few mosquitoes in the tent with me already. If, that is, you call these measly little insects mosquitoes. They are hardly one quarter inch long. I don't think they will have much success piercing this Louisiana skin! Out of my door I see the Z in the misty haze. Out of the window behind me I can see turns five and six. Tomorrow morning the sound of angry Porsches will fill the air as well as the smell of racing fuel. I can't wait for that. That's what's happening now. Let me tell you about day one.
I awoke before the alarm at 0425 and got ready. I was to meet Fred and Dave at the Home Depot on the other side of town for 0530. We met up and were off. This year Fred had the tickets so there was no way for me to forget mine (see last years story). Fred lead the way in his 1970 Datsun 240Z. I was in the middle and Dave was in the rear in his Jag. All went fine with no mechanical troubles (see last years story). We were making good time all day. Right up until............Atlanta. Man that place sucks to high heaven! I mean driving through there is pure H-E-Double-hockey-sticks! I do this every year and hate it more each time. I don't mean just regular old hate. I mean the kind of hate that coats my soft moist beating heart in a black coating of hate the consistency of roofing tar! If you are reading this and you are from here take no offense. I hate all big cities equally and avoid them at all costs. Next year we will have to find a way around this place. I wasted a quarter tank of gas and an hour and a half driving. If I was going to use this time and fuel it might as well be on some sweet Georgia back roads. Anyway, I am glad we are finally here and I am going to get back to my box of wine.
Day 2....Or should I say el dia dos?
We left base camp this morning to go get the cars washed and some parts. Washing went fine but one thing disturbed me as some one thing usually will. The car wash talked to me in English and then mexican. Why, I ask you, do I have the need to have an American car wash machine speak to me in this foreign tongue? We finished and went off to Auto Zone. The man there said he did not have what Fred needed and sent us down the road five miles. No problem there as I don't mind a little extra cruising. I was appalled and amazed at what I saw as we crossed a bridge into town. I now knew why the car wash spoke spanish. There was spanish lingo everywhere! It was as if we had somehow crossed the southern border by going north east. There were signs entirely in espanol. I had no idea what they were selling as I am an American in America. This small Georgia community has been overrun with almost all mexicans. Look, I don't want to turn this into a rant against ILLEGAL immigration, but WAKE UP! We are being invaded. If this were a town full of people of latin nations here legally they would assimilate and speak the language of this nation. Turning Gainesville Georgia into little mexico is NOT what legal citizens do. Ok, the rest of the day was very nice. The weather is beautiful and the racing is great. Fred and my Z's have shown really well and we are cruising them around every chance we get. Man, they are shiny! I skipped the MRE for lunch and got an Italian sausage po-boy. That about broke me so I think I will be back on MRE diet tomorrow. We went to the skid pad at about 2230 to take some night pictures. Tomorrow the real racing starts and I hope to get some photos.
Day 3
I still have a flat air mattress. I can not seem to win in this department as it happens every year. I figured I will go to Wal-Mart and exchange it today. Here's how that went. I took off in the morning to find a Wal-mart. On the way through little mexico I spotted a water tower with airport markings. I tried not to go but the car wanted to so I had no choice. I found Airport drive and wouldn't you know it lead me straight to it. Gainesville has a really nice airport with a 1940's art deco control tower. It is an ex-Navy base. The folks there were really nice and I took a good bit of video of the FBO. I stood at the fence and made sad faces but to my dismay, no one offered me a ride. Maybe next time. I went to the local friendly Wal-Mart to exchange my flat mattress. After waiting in the stinking customer service line for fifteen minutes I get to the front. The cashier was of latin descent (whouda guessed?). I asked if I could exchange the mattress because it had leaked. “Do you have receipt?”, she asked. I say,”No, I bought it in Louisiana and I am camping.” “We no can esschange air bag with no receipt.” she claims. I will NEVER set foot in another stinking Wal-Mart again! I am just getting over that anger. We showed our Z's and looked at all the beautiful cars in their respective areas and watched spec Miata races. Those guys really go all out! I ate a fine MRE of Thai chicken and rice for lunch and now I type in the tent while the cars do parade laps. I met some really cool people at their campsite and ended up at the Classic Motorsport tent where there was a party with free beer and cool conversation. We stayed out pretty late but had fun.
Day 4: Time to go home
My air mattress did not leak at all this final night. It is a miracle and I don't hate Wal-Mart as much but I will still avoid them at all costs. I woke up early with a headache from all the free beer. I got all my junk packed up at about 0730. I was on the road for 0800. The trip went well in all ways. The Z ran perfectly all the way home. The engine stayed nice and cool and I only lost about a pint of oil total. This was pretty sweet as I was cruising at over 100mph at times. I was like a road remora latching onto every speed shark in my path. I made the 650 mile trip from Atlanta to my driveway in 8.5 hours total! My AVERAGE speed was 82.1 mph!
Disclaimer: If an officer of the law happens to read this it is just a joke. I went 70 the whole way. Also, the picture of my speedometer in the photos section is photo shopped.
In Montgomery, AL a guy I was following came over to talk to me and look at my car. One of the coolest things though was in Gulfport, MS. I was cruising along and noticed a car holding on the side of me. Looking over, I noticed a woman in the back seat of a minivan taxi blowing kisses my way. I am sure she was kissing the Z and who could blame her. Stuff like this makes a trip fun. Strangers talking to you as you pump gas and chicks blowin' you kisses on the interstate. That's how we roll when we drive a Z!
'Till next year.